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Should you go on a cruise alone? Here are my top reasons why cruising is perfect for solo travellers…
Do you love the idea of solo travel but feel nervous about being completely alone? Taking a solo cruise could be the perfect solution.
A cruise is the ideal balance of solitude, self-indulgence, and social events. Cruising solo can be a great way to ease yourself into travelling alone – and it’s also easy to meet people on board if you feel like making new friends.
Below, I’ve detailed my top seven reasons to consider cruising as a solo traveller. Bon voyage!
Why I Love Solo Cruising
I’ve been on a few cruises now, usually with groups of friends. But I recently set sail on my first-ever solo cruise and I have to say, I’m a complete convert.
It was such a peaceful experience: the perfect way to completely unwind and get some serious me-time. But there were loads of great activities, excursions and social activities (including single cruiser meet-ups), so it was also incredibly easy to make friends.
In fact, I spent the whole week dining and hanging out with a great group of ladies – we even partied at the Silent Disco one night! Just because you’re cruising solo, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the bars or entertainment. Below are my top reasons to embrace your selfish side and go on a cruise alone…
READ MORE: Tips for Taking a Cruise Solo
7 Reasons to Try a Solo Cruise
1 – Ease Yourself in with a Ready-Made Itinerary
Port visits and excursions offer fantastic opportunities to explore a wide range of of new lands and cultures – without having to plan it all yourself! If you want the adventure of planning your own trip and travelling solo, this might not be for you. But for a first-time solo traveller, a cruise could be a great way to ease yourself in.
Cruises come with a ready-made itinerary, taking a lot of the planning and research off your hands. And once in port, you can book guided tours or excursions which will allow you to see as much of the place as possible in the short amount of time that you have there.
It’s solo travel with none of the hassle! And for the days when you want to just wander about alone and see the sights, you have that option too.
2 – You’re In Charge
Cruise holidays are all about indulgence and relaxation. But if you’re travelling with someone else – even someone you love dearly – there’s always going to be a bit of compromise. If you do a solo cruise, you’re completely in charge.
Holidaying alone allows you the opportunity to be a little selfish and tailor every aspect of the trip to your personal tastes. This means you can make your cruise is all about the kind of self-indulgence YOU want!
No one nagging you to get up if you want to lie in or spend hours napping on a sun lounger. No one telling you not to book your second spa treatment in a week or making you feel guilty for eating your third ice cream of the day! Just doing whatever you feel like, with no compromises: in my opinion, that’s the ultimate indulgent holiday.
3 – It’s Easy to Make New Friends
Cruising solo doesn’t mean you have to be a social hermit for a week or two! Most ships provide plenty of opportunities to meet new people and spend time with your fellow solo cruisers.
Many cruise lines organise meet and greet events for solo travellers, and most will gladly seat single diners together in the restaurants so that you’re not eating alone (unless you want to). Singles nights and cocktail parties are great places to meet people and get chatting.
Even outside the solo cruiser meet-ups on my recent cruise, I frequently found myself chatting to people by the pool and on my shore excursions. Cruises tend to be pretty social experiences, with lots of events and activities throughout the day – so it’s pretty easy to meet people.
4 – You Don’t Have to be Social
All the above said, if you want total solitude, a cruise really is the perfect place. Cruises are all about flexibility, so you can tailor everything to exactly how you want to travel.
And if that means lazing by the pool with a book and not talking to anyone… no one is going to judge you!
I was worried about “forced fun” on my solo cruise, but all the activities are optional and avoidable. And whenever the poolside entertainment started, I simply retreated into the spa for some peace and quiet!
If pool parties and aqua aerobics aren’t your idea of fun, you’re allowed to sit them out (or simply take a stroll to another part of the ship).
5 – Solo Cabins can be Cheaper
Ok, not always – as many companies will make you pay a single supplement. But some cruise lines offer smaller solo cabins which can be significantly cheaper than traditional cabins or family suites. Others occasionally offer deals for single cruisers or waive the single supplement – so keep an eye out and try to be flexible with your holiday dates.
6 – No Kids!
If you’re travelling solo, opting for an adults-only cruise could be perfect. Not only is it likely to be a more relaxing experience on deck, but you’ll probably find more solo travellers on board – which means more people to meet.
It’s possible to meet couples and groups too of course, as many people take cruises specifically because of the social aspect. But you may find more like-minded travellers on an adults-only cruise.
Even if you don’t book an adults-only cruise, many ships have private, adults-only areas where you can get away from it all. For example, Princess Cruises have The Sanctuary (read more in my review), Marella Cruises have the Verandah, and Carnival have the Serenity Adults-Only retreat (find out which is the best Carnival cruise ship for your needs here).
READ MORE: Check out my review of the Marella Explorer
7 Enjoy Some Much-Needed Me-Time
In life, we tend to spend a lot of time trying to please other people – bosses, family members, clients, etc. Solo travel is a great way to reset the balance and spend some time pleasing only yourself. It’s nice to be selfish and self-indulgent for a while! But more importantly, it’s good to get a little solitude and spend some time getting to know yourself.
Wherever you do it, solo travel can be good for the soul. And if it starts to become lonely, a cruise is a great place to be as you have so many options. Cruising solo gives you the best of both worlds, so it’s a great choice for your first trip alone.
Read more
7 Tips for Taking a Cruise Solo
Everything You Need to Know about the Regal Princess
Have you ever taken a solo cruise? Would you like to go on a cruise alone? Scroll down to leave a comment with your thoughts, tips, or questions!
