If you are single and have always dreamed of taking a cruise but are not sure what to expect, then rest assured that cruising by yourself need not be a lonely experience. A cruise will offer you the same facilities and space of a land based resort, with the added bonus of visiting and exploring new places and importantly the opportunity to meet and make a whole host of new friends.
Most cruise lines have welcoming parties for single guests, where you can take the opportunity to get to know other single cruise passengers. Another way in which to mingle with fellow guests is through you area of interest and onboard lectures such as wine tasting, culinary classes, and card games to name a few. Or if you choose a themed cruise everyone will have the same interests thus making it easier to form new acquaintances.
Let's Dance
Some cruise lines including Crystal, Cunard, Fred Olsen, NCL and Holland America all offer gentlemen dance partners, so there is never any need to feel like a wallflower. If you are a solo male on a cruise then you will find many eager dance partners, as single female cruisers outnumber male solo travellers three to one.
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Table For...
If you are concerned about dining alone, then you will be pleased to know that seating ranges between 4 - 8 per table, so it is perfectly acceptable to ask to be sat with other solo travellers. As a rule passengers are usually sat together that are similar age groups. There are also different dining options on different ships, for instance open-dining where you can choice to sit where you would like to each evening. This is a great way to get to know more people instead of being sat on the same table each evening.
Single Supplement
One of the drawbacks of travelling solo on any holiday is the dreaded single supplement. But times have changed and as the cruise industry realises the potential for single travellers there are some great bargains to be had. Also cruise lines offer you the opportunity to buddy-up with another solo traveller of the same
sex thus saving you money on your stateroom. Other cruise lines such as Costa, NCL, Orient Line, Holland and America, Cunard and Swan Hellenic all offer single cabins on some of their older ships. Do not be put off by sailing on an older ship, many of the major cruise ships have undergone expensive refurbishment packages, and now offer up-to-date facilities and amenities to rival the newer ships.
More room for you
There are also luxury cruise lines that offer smaller ships such as Royal Caribbean, Seabourne, Crystal, Regent Seven Seas and Silverseas that are now adding a less than 25% supplement on a cruise for a solo traveller. When you compare prices this could make cruising on a luxury ship a more affordable option, than a larger
more commercial ship with a heavy supplement.
Share a Cabin
However, if you feel that travelling solo may blow your budget, you could consider a cabin share. By using a "Find a Partner" program, offered by many lines, you could be matched with another solo passenger of the same gender, which means no extra supplement. Sharing a cabin with a stranger may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it does mean savings!