Is Cruising The Best Holiday For Solo Travellers? A Guide To Single Cruising
Are you someone that has always dreamt of a cruise, but worried about going alone? Rest assure, Iglu Cruise is here to help.
Is cruising your best option?
Cruising is great for single travellers and offers a safe, secure environment to enjoy some quality 'me' time whilst also making friends. An environment with singles, groups, families and couples makes for an interesting atmosphere and a cruise is one of the only places you will be able to find this mixture of people so close together. It encouarges engagement and provides the opportinity to meet new people - without any pressure or obligations.
Cruise lines offer so many activities that you will never find yourself bored or tired of your own company. Whether you want to take part in an activity alone or as part of a group, a cruise has it all covered.
Finding a single cabin…
Single cabins on cruise ships are notoriously difficult to come by, but with cruise lines finally beginning to cater for the single traveller, there has never been a better time to find your desired single cabin.
Single cabins and are extremely comfortable and spacious. Take a look at our blog about Single Cabin Cruising for more information.
During my recent ship visits I made a point to investigate the single cabins and see how they looked. I was particulary impressed with the single cabins onboard P&O Azura, who boast a large number of rooms, amost as big as the standard cabins.
Alternatively, if you prefer to share a room there are a few 'find a partner' programmes offered by cruise lines. This programme allows you to be matched with another single traveller of the same gender. The benefit being you avoid any extra single supplement, making it cost efficient. Not many cruise lines offer this now; therefore some people set this up themselves on forums such as Cruise Critic.
Table for...
Dining can be an awkward time for single travellers, however not on a cruise. The main dining room will seat between 4 to 8 people per table and you can request to be sat with other solo travellers if you wish. A good thing about dining on a cruise is you have so many options so you can tailor your dining to exactly how you want it. Dining time, venue, who you sit with and how many people can all be chosen before or during your cruise.
Dining with others is a great way to meet people and make friends and with dining featuring as a key event on a cruise, there is no better place to solialise. If you prefer to simply dine alone in a more casual venue then this is also an option as most cruise lines boast freestyle, buffet type restaurants.
Activities designed for you…
Many may think that a cruise is full of activities that you have to take part in, however this could not be any further from the truth.
Cruise lines offer a wide range of activities for everyone and gives you the option to participate or just watch. The activities and entertainment on a cruise ship are world class and in a whole other league to the entertainment of traditional holiday resorts. Hosted at various times, you the option to go to attend at your own leisure, and as a sole passenger you can schedule your time how you wish.
Many cruise lines will arrange singles events for solo travellers to meet and make friends. These are a great way to meet other people in the same situation as you and find people to meet up with during your cruise.
Some cruise lines also offer dance partners to single travellers. Gentleman dance partners are great for female solo cruisers and offered by Crystal, Cunard, Fred Olsen, NCL, Silversea and Holland America. If you are a male travelling alone then you will not find it difficult to find a dance partner as single female cruisers tend to outnumber male single cruisers!
Whether you want to sit and read a book alone or dance the night away with new friends, you can be sure to enjoy every minute of your time on a cruise.
Paying double…
One of the down sides of travelling alone is the dreaded single supplement. However cruise lines have now realised the potential for single travellers and are offering excellent no single supplement and singles deals… great news :-)
With no single supplements you pay on a per person basis instead of paying for the price of the whole room. With more cruise lines starting to offer this it is a good idea to ask what supplements are offered at time of enquiry.
Norwegian Cruise Line are an excellent cruise line for offering great singles deals. The newer ships such as Norwegian Epic boast the largest amount of single rooms at sea. They have a section of 'Studios' that have their own entrance, single rooms and a private lounge excluisvely for Studio guests, perfect for single cruisers to socialise in an area specifically designed for like-minded people. Pre-dinner canapés will be served here so cruisers can meet new friends before they go to dinner and even arrange to go to evening shows and activities together.
At a glance…
Here is a table outlining what the different cruise lines offer for solo travellers:
Time to get out there…
I hope this blog has given you an idea of what it is like to cruise as a single. I believe that cruising is the best holiday option for solo travellers and no other holiday can give you the choices that a cruise can. Everyone has their own ideas of what they like to do when they go away and that is why a cruise is so great, because you can do what you want, when you want, alone or with new friends.
There has never been a better time to get yourself out there. As a solo traveller… the cruise world is your oyster!
Take a look at our current Singles Deals and be sure to sign up to our newsletters for our monthly selection of the Ten Ten Deals for Single Travellers.
By Sally Grimes