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All Insider and Sea View cabins are designed for 1 to 3 or 4 “sailors.” Virgin cruise line's website allows solo cruisers to choose “1 sailor” at the beginning of every search for voyages. All prices shown are then automatically converted to the cruise fare for a single, rather than the standard price per person, double-occupancy rate. Because cruise fares are based on double occupancy in each cabin, cruising as a single person can be expensive. Cruise lines make up for the absence of another passenger by charging what they call a "single supplement" that can be as high as 200 percent of the standard price. The upside is that there are singles cruise deals out there, though it might take some digging. Of course, it's not just a low price that makes for a good solo cruise.
Affordable Cruise Lines for Singles
Another great pick would be Virgin Voyages' four-night Fire and Sunset Soiree sailings from Miami on Scarlet Lady. They include stops at Key West and a private beach club on Bimini, plus a sea day to get to know your fellow passengers. The cost for a single "sailor," as Virgin calls them, starts at around $700. The line's newer Edge Class ships have a younger, hipper ambience than their older ships.
Best for Solo Travelers – Cruise Critic’s 2023 Editors' Picks Awards
Cruisers traveling alone can seek out others at the bar (no worries about the bar tab — drinks are included) or escape to a quiet sun deck spot with a book when they're tired of socializing. Daily shore excursions and tours are included, so you'll always have a group ready to explore with you on land. The vessel boasts 46 cabins specifically designed for lone travelers — as do its newer sisters, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady. We haven't yet sailed in one of their solo rooms, but based on what we saw when we toured Scarlet Lady, they might just become the coolest digs-for-one around.
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On Silversea's expedition sailings, you can also share meals with ship naturalists and expedition guides who join passengers in public dining venues. From my experience, they are always amenable to a friendly dining companion and some good conversation. Silversea also hosts welcome receptions for solo travelers at the start of every voyage to kick off the mingling process.
Cruises
The large casinos offer yet another opportunity to meet other singles on board — particularly at the table games. Margaritaville at Sea is another line to consider with plenty of gambling singles on board. Twentysomethings who have a larger travel budget and wish to cruise on their own can look for cruise lines with solo cabins. These rooms for one are in limited supply, so they can be priced at a premium and sell out quickly.
Try short three- to five-night cruises on low-cost mainstream lines like Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean, where you'll find more young adults and more of a party scene. Singles on a budget can also save money cruising on older, smaller ships across the mainstream fleets, which typically have lower cruise fares. As on dry land, activities are often the best way to meet people on a cruise. If water sports are your thing, book a tropical cruise with a schedule of shore excursions that involve snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving and similar activities. Choose tours focused on wildlife watching, historical sites or food and beverage to meet shipmates who enjoy the same.
I love a little movement when I cruise (how else do you know you're at sea?), but if you don't, consider yourself warned. Other Royal Caribbean ships with solo cabins include some of the line's giant Oasis-class vessels, including Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. Several of Royal Caribbean's older Voyager-class and Radiance-class vessels also have solo cabins.
13 of the best cruise lines for solo travellers - The Times
13 of the best cruise lines for solo travellers.
Posted: Thu, 09 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Best cruises for singles over 60
Chartered singles cruises take the work out of finding other singles because you'll travel together in a group, often with a host to organize everyone. On larger ships, the charter will connect you with other group members through planned onboard meals, gatherings and activities. On smaller vessels, the tour company might charter the entire ship, so every passenger is single. Just 100 square feet but superbly designed to maximize storage space, the solo rooms on Norwegian Epic are clustered around an exclusive Studio Lounge. It has a bar and television area where solo travelers can mingle at daily hosted happy hour gatherings.
Silversea Solo Cruises
On small ships, you'll see the same people again and again — on tours, in lounges, around the pool and so forth; this increases the odds you'll strike up a conversation and soon become fast friends. On big ships with thousands of passengers, you might go days without seeing the same person twice. On board, Tauck directors and cruise directors take special care of solo travelers, and communal tables at mealtime make it easy to meet other travelers.
While cruising is, overall, incredibly safe, crime on board can happen. Like any form of travel, it's best not to let your guard down, especially if you go off alone with someone you've just met.
Ease of booking aside, the line is also readymade for solo cruisers. Virgin cruises, like Scarlet Lady, offer a wide array of edgy extras and are designed for socializing. The best solo cruise deals are on cruise lines that have studio or one-person cabins. These cabins are often smaller than standard staterooms and typically only have one full-sized bed (rather than the common twin/queen configuration). Look for studios on Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America, P&O Cruises and Cunard. Looking at all these criteria — price, cabin options and a welcoming environment — I've identified five lines going the extra mile for cruisers traveling alone.
Cunard does try to accommodate passengers who wish to dine solo, but this depends on each voyage's occupancy. The line's biggest and newest ships, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, offer 12 solo cabins. They are all ocean view rooms (perfect for that Holland America Alaska cruise you've been dreaming about) and range from 127 to 172 square feet. They feature all of the same amenities of a double-occupancy cabin, but with a twin bed. Visit the maitre d' on the first day of your cruise to ensure you are seated at the same table or group of tables with other singles for dinner in the main dining room. Dance classes, trivia games and port tours also put you in the right place at the right time to strike up conversations with others looking to make new connections.
Social hostesses on luxury lines can introduce you to other solo travelers, too. Holland America Line is renowned for its commitment to solo cruisers. There are plenty of activities that can be delightfully solitary or a means to meeting others (like HAL's excellent culinary offerings, from hands-on cooking workshops to wine tastings).
There's plenty to do on board and in port to help you meet people. A warm-climate Royal Caribbean cruise with your best buds can be an ideal option for the over-30 set. We recommend one of the line's newest and biggest ships so you have plenty of options for food, entertainment and hangouts to try. From slides and water attractions that get your heart racing to dance clubs open until the wee hours of the night, these ships have plenty to offer young singles and plenty of places to meet new friends.
All cruisers are usually escorted across the dining room by the maitre d' or other staffer, which is a nice touch, especially when you are traveling solo. Lines to consider include AmaWaterways, Viking River Cruises, Avalon River Cruises, Emerald Cruises and Uniworld River Cruises. River cruises also sometimes offer reduced single supplements, making them more affordable for those traveling alone. Single travelers in their 60s and older with a large travel budget should consider luxury cruise lines like Seabourn Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises.
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