🧳SOLO CRUISING — IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
One person. One cabin. Zero compromising. Or… potentially twice the price? 😂🚢
“Right…
I have a question.
Would you go on a cruise… BY YOURSELF? 🤔
No partner.
No friends.
No family.
Just:
YOU. 😎
Now some people hear that and think:
‘That sounds AMAZING!’
Other people think:
‘Absolutely not. I'll be talking to myself by lunchtime.’ 😂
But here's the thing…
Solo cruising has changed.
Cruise lines are building cabins specifically for one person.
There are solo meet-ups.
Solo lounges.
Activities where you can meet other people.
And you can spend an entire day doing exactly what YOU want.
Want breakfast at 7am?
Go.
Want breakfast at 11am?
Go.
Want to spend all afternoon by the pool?
Go.
Want to get off in port and explore for six hours?
Go.
Want to stay onboard and eat pizza?
NOBODY CAN TELL YOU OTHERWISE. 🍕😂
But…
there is one rather important problem.
THE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT. 💷
That innocent little phrase can turn:
£800pp
into:
£1,400… £1,600… or even £1,800. 😳
So....
IS SOLO CRUISING ACTUALLY RIGHT FOR YOU?
We'll look at:
🛏️ Solo cabins
💷 Single supplements
🍽️ Eating alone
👥 Meeting people
🚢 Choosing the right ship
🏝️ Excursions
💰 Finding solo deals
😳 The awkward bits
❤️ And why solo cruising might actually be AMAZING.
Let's sail solo. 🚢❤️
1️⃣ 🧍 FIRST THING — SOLO DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN LONELY
“This is probably the biggest misconception.
SOLO DOES NOT MEAN LONELY.
You can be:
Alone
without being:
Lonely.
There's a huge difference.
You can spend:
☕ Breakfast alone
📚 Reading alone
🏊 By the pool alone
🌅 Watching the sunset alone
and then…
MEET PEOPLE.
Go to:
🎯 Trivia
🎤 Karaoke
🍹 Solo meet-ups
🎭 Shows
🏓 Activities
🏝️ Excursions
And suddenly…
you're having dinner with five people you met two hours ago.
Then tomorrow…
you've all forgotten each other's names. 😂
But that's cruising.”
2️⃣ ❤️ THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE — YOU'RE IN CONTROL
“This is where solo cruising gets seriously good.
You're not negotiating.
You don't have:
‘What time do you want to eat?’
‘Where do you want to go?’
‘Do you want a balcony?’
‘I don't want to do that excursion.’
‘Can we go shopping?’
😂
You just decide.
Want:
🌅 Sunrise?...Yes.
🏝️ Beach?...Yes.
🎭 Theatre?...Yes.
😴 Afternoon nap?...YES.
🍹 Cocktail at 2pm?...OBVIOUSLY. 😂
You have complete control over your holiday.
And if you've spent years organising holidays around other people…
THAT CAN FEEL INCREDIBLY LIBERATING.”
3️⃣ 💷 THE BIGGEST DISADVANTAGE — THE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
“Now…
HERE WE GO.
This is probably the biggest financial pain point for solo cruisers.
Most traditional cruise cabins are priced on the assumption that two people are sharing.
So if one person occupies the cabin…
the cruise line may apply a:
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT.
And this can be substantial.
Cruise industry guidance says the supplement can range from relatively small increases to 100% or more, depending on the cruise, cabin and cruise line; in some cases, a solo traveller can effectively pay nearly double the per-person fare of two people sharing. (Cruise Critic)
So you might see:
£800pp and think:
‘Brilliant!’
Then select:
1 ADULT
and suddenly:...£1,450. 😳
EXCUSE ME?!
😂
And that's why solo cruising requires a completely different kind of bargain hunting.”
4️⃣ 🧮 DON'T ASSUME THE SOLO CABIN IS CHEAPER
“Now here's an insider trick.
You find:
SOLO CABIN
Fantastic!
No single supplement.
Perfect.
BOOK IT!
Not so fast. 😂
You need to compare:
🛏️ SOLO CABIN
versus
🛏️ STANDARD CABIN + SINGLE SUPPLEMENT.
Because sometimes…
THE ‘SOLO’ CABIN ISN'T ACTUALLY THE CHEAPEST OPTION.
Cruise Critic's current guidance specifically recommends comparing dedicated solo cabins with standard double-occupancy cabins after the single supplement has been applied; availability and pricing can vary substantially by sailing. (Cruise Critic)
So…
DO THE MATHS. 🧮
Don't buy the word:
SOLO.
Buy the best value.”
5️⃣ 🛏️ SOLO CABINS — THEY'RE GETTING BETTER
“Now…
the good news.
Cruise lines have realised:
PEOPLE WANT TO TRAVEL ALONE.
And they're responding.
Norwegian is particularly well known for its solo cabin programme, with Studio cabins and dedicated social space on selected ships. Royal Caribbean also has solo staterooms on selected ships, while several other mainstream and UK cruise lines offer solo cabins or solo fares on certain vessels. (Cruise Critic)
And that's important because:
YOUR CABIN IS STILL YOUR SPACE.
Nobody is asking:
‘Do you want to share with a stranger?’
😂
You get:
🛏️ Your own bed
🚿 Your own bathroom
🧳 Your own mess
YOUR OWN RULES. 😎”
6️⃣ 🌊 BUT SOLO CABINS CAN BE SMALL
“Here's the catch.
Some dedicated solo cabins are:
TINY. 😂
You're not necessarily getting:
🌅 Huge balcony
🛋️ Separate living room
🛁 Giant bathroom
You may get:
A VERY CLEVERLY DESIGNED SMALL ROOM.
And that's fine…
if you're someone who thinks:
‘I only need somewhere to sleep.’
But if you love your space?
COMPARE THE CABIN SIZE.
A standard cabin with a single supplement could potentially give you much more room for not as much extra money.”
7️⃣ 🌅 SOLO BALCONY — YES, THEY EXIST!
“Now…
this is where things get interesting.
Because solo cabins aren't always:
INTERIOR CUBICLES.
More cruise lines are offering solo cabins with:
🌊 Ocean views
🌅 Balconies
✨ Better layouts
And there are also ships where a solo traveller can book a standard balcony cabin if they're willing to pay the applicable supplement.
So if you love:
☕ Coffee outside
🌅 Sunrise
🌊 Ocean views
DON'T ASSUME YOU HAVE TO GIVE THAT UP JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE SOLO.”
8️⃣ 🧮 THE SOLO CABIN MATHS
“Let's do a very simple example.
Option A...Solo cabin:...£1,100
Option B...Standard balcony:...£900pp
Plus a 75% single supplement:...£1,575
Suddenly…
THE SOLO CABIN WINS.
But imagine instead:
Solo cabin:...£1,300
Standard balcony:...£900
Plus 25% supplement:...£1,125
Now:
THE STANDARD BALCONY WINS.
This is why you can't say:
‘Solo cabins are cheaper.’
Or:
‘Single supplements are always terrible.’
It depends.
COMPARE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS FOR YOUR SAILING.”
9️⃣ 🎓 WHEN ARE SOLO DEALS MOST INTERESTING?
“Here's something to watch for.
REDUCED SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS.
Cruise lines sometimes run offers that reduce or remove some of the single supplement on selected sailings.
Travel sellers and cruise lines may also promote solo-specific deals.
Cruise Critic notes that reduced supplements and solo promotions can appear on particular sailings, while some luxury and river operators frequently use lower or zero-supplement offers. (Cruise Critic)
So instead of:
‘I can't afford to cruise solo.’
try:
‘WHEN ARE THE SOLO DEALS?’ 👀
That's a much better question.”
🔟 📅 SHOULDER SEASON COULD BE YOUR FRIEND
“Remember our bargain-hunting?
SHOULDER SEASON. 🍂🌸
For solo cruisers, it can be particularly interesting.
Look at:
🌸 Spring
🍂 Autumn
Less popular dates.
Outside school holidays.
Because demand can be lower…
and that may mean:
💰 Lower fares
💷 Reduced supplements
🛏️ Better cabin availability
And you're not competing with:
EVERY FAMILY IN BRITAIN. 😂”
1️⃣1️⃣ 🎓 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS — YOU HAVE AN ADVANTAGE
“Now…if you're solo, here's the good news.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SCHOOL CALENDAR. 🎉
No:
🎒 School holidays
🚌 School runs
📚 Homework
👨👩👧 Family schedules
So you can potentially travel:
MIDWEEK...TERM TIME...SHOULDER SEASON...OFF-PEAK
And that flexibility can be your superpower.”
1️⃣2️⃣ 🚢 CHOOSE THE RIGHT SHIP
“This is REALLY important.
Not every ship is going to feel the same for a solo cruiser.
If you want:
👥 MEETING PEOPLE
Look for:
Solo cabins
Solo meet-ups
Social activities
Solo lounges
❤️ RELAXATION
Look for:
Quiet spaces
Smaller ships
Adults-oriented environments
🎉 ENTERTAINMENT
Choose a ship with:
Bars
Shows
Activities
Social spaces
The ship's atmosphere matters.
A family-heavy ship during a school holiday…
could feel very different from:
A ship with a strong solo community.”
Cruise Critic's recent solo guidance notes that some shorter, family-heavy sailings can be poor environments for meeting other solo travellers, while longer or smaller-ship itineraries can improve the social experience. (Cruise Critic)
1️⃣3️⃣ 🍽️ THE DREADED — “TABLE FOR ONE?”
“Let's talk about the awkward bit.
DINNER.
You walk into the restaurant.
Host:
‘How many?’
You:
‘One.’
And suddenly you've got:
THE LOOK. 😂
Now…
DON'T PANIC.
Eating alone can feel strange at first.
But on a cruise:
NOBODY CARES.
Everyone is eating.
And there are plenty of ways to make it easier.”
1️⃣4️⃣ 🍽️ HOW TO AVOID EATING ALONE — IF YOU WANT TO
“If you don't fancy eating alone every night…
look for:
👥 Solo meet-ups
🍽️ Shared dining
🎯 Group activities
🚢 Cruise roll calls
👫 Shore excursions
And ask the dining team what your options are.
Some cruise lines have solo events or hosted dining opportunities, and cruise-community resources regularly recommend solo meet-ups and shared activities as easy ways to meet people. (Cruise Critic)
And here's an important point:
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SOCIALISE.
That's the beauty of it.
You can meet people.
Or…
NOT.
It's your holiday.”
1️⃣5️⃣ 👥 FIND THE SOLO MEET-UP
“Here's my advice:
GO TO THE FIRST SOLO MEET-UP.
Even if you're nervous.
You might walk in thinking:
‘What am I doing here?’ 😳
Then meet:
👩 Another solo traveller
👨 Someone on their first solo cruise
👩🦰 Someone who has done 20
And suddenly:
YOU'VE FOUND YOUR PEOPLE.
If you don't click?
No big deal.
You've got the rest of the ship.”
1️⃣6️⃣ 🎯 ACTIVITIES ARE YOUR SECRET WEAPON
“Want to meet people without walking up and saying:
‘HELLO, I'M ALONE.’ 😂
Join an activity.
🎯 Quiz
🏓 Ping pong
🍸 Cocktail class
🎤 Karaoke
🎭 Theatre
💃 Dance class
🏎️ Racing
And suddenly you're talking to someone because:
YOU'RE BOTH TRYING TO WIN. 😂
Cruise activities are one of the easiest ways to meet people naturally. (Cruise Critic)”
1️⃣7️⃣ 🏝️ SHORE EXCURSIONS — GREAT FOR SOLO CRUISERS
“Here's another excellent way to meet people.
GROUP EXCURSIONS.
You already have:
🚢 Same ship
🏝️ Same destination
🚌 Same tour
And probably:
The same problem finding your way back to the ship. 😂
So you've immediately got something to talk about.
And if you're worried about exploring independently on your own…
a group excursion can give you:
🗺️ Structure
👥 Company
🚌 Transport
⏰ A defined schedule
without having to organise everything yourself.”
1️⃣8️⃣ 📱 JOIN THE PRE-CRUISE ROLL CALL
“Before the cruise even starts…
FIND THE ROLL CALL.
Depending on the platform, cruise communities often have sailing-specific groups where passengers introduce themselves and arrange meet-ups.
And sometimes you may recognise people before you ever step onboard.
So instead of boarding thinking:
‘I don't know anyone.’
you might already know:
‘That's Sarah from the group!’
Easy.”
1️⃣9️⃣ 📚 SOLO DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO BE SOCIAL
“Now…
let's reverse it.
What if you don't WANT to meet anyone?
THAT'S FINE. 😂
You can spend your cruise:
📚 Reading
🎧 Listening to music
☕ Coffee
🌅 Watching the ocean
🏊 Swimming
🧘 Relaxing
AND NOBODY HAS TO KNOW YOUR BUSINESS.
One of the advantages of solo cruising is the ability to completely disappear into your own holiday.”
2️⃣0️⃣ ❤️ THE BEST SOLO CRUISE LUXURY — NO COMPROMISE
“Think about it.
You don't have to negotiate:
‘What shall we eat?’
You choose.
‘What shall we do?’
You choose.
‘Do you want to get off here?’
You choose.
‘Do you want a balcony?’
YOU choose.
‘Do you want to spend tomorrow in your cabin reading?’
YES. 😂
That's a pretty amazing kind of freedom.”
2️⃣1️⃣ 😳 BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE AWKWARD MOMENTS
“Because…
SOLO CRUISING ISN'T MAGIC.
There can be moments where you think:
‘Everyone else is with someone.’
You might see:
❤️ Couples
👨👩👧 Families
👯 Friends
And you're sitting there with your cocktail thinking:
‘Should I be doing this?’
Here's the answer:
YES.
You're allowed to enjoy your own company.
And honestly…
MOST PEOPLE ARE FAR TOO BUSY WORRYING ABOUT THEMSELVES TO WORRY ABOUT YOU. 😂”
2️⃣2️⃣ 📸 THE “CAN SOMEONE TAKE MY PHOTO?” PROBLEM
“Okay…
THIS one is real.
You're in:
📍 Rome
🏝️ Caribbean
🇬🇷 Greece
and you want a photo.
You set up the perfect selfie.
It looks okay.
But:
YOU WANT THE FULL BODY SHOT. 😂
So you have two choices:
A. Selfie stick
B. Ask someone.
And honestly…
ASK SOMEONE.
Most people are happy to help.
Then offer:
‘Can I take yours?’
Congratulations.
You've just made a friend. 😂”
2️⃣3️⃣ 💼 SOLO CRUISING CAN ACTUALLY BE EASIER
“Here's something people don't think about.
One person is much easier to organise than four.
You're not dealing with:
✈️ Four flights
🚕 Four transfers
🍽️ Table for four
🛏️ Four people's preferences
🏝️ Four excursion decisions
YOU JUST GO.
And that can make spontaneous travel so much easier.”
2️⃣4️⃣ 🛏️ WHAT CABIN WOULD I CHOOSE SOLO?
“If you're asking me…
I'd think very carefully.
💷 ON A BUDGET?
Solo inside cabin.
🌊 WANT LIGHT?
Ocean View.
🌅 LOVE YOUR OWN SPACE?
Balcony.
💎 WANT THE FULL EXPERIENCE?
Suite.
But here's my biggest solo-cabin tip:
DON'T ASSUME THE SOLO CABIN IS THE BEST DEAL.
Compare it against:
STANDARD CABIN + SINGLE SUPPLEMENT.
Every...Single...Time.”
2️⃣5️⃣ 💰 THE SOLO CRUISE COST FORMULA
“Your real cost is:
🚢 Cruise fare
💷 Single supplement
or
🛏️ Solo cabin price
✈️ Flights
🏨 Hotel
🍹 Drinks
📱 Wi-Fi
🏝️ Excursions
💰 Spending
And there is no second person to split:
🚕 Taxi
🏨 Hotel
🍽️ Private excursion
with.
So solo cruising can be more expensive in some areas.
BUT…
you also aren't paying for someone else's:
🍹 Drinks
🏝️ Excursions
🍽️ Shopping
💎 Spa
EVERY PENNY IS YOUR DECISION. 😂”
2️⃣6️⃣ 🧮 THE SOLO DEAL GOLDEN FIND
“Here's what I would search for:
SOLO CABIN
AND
LOW/NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT.
Then compare:
📅 Different dates
🚢 Different ships
🌍 Different itineraries
🛏️ Different cabin categories
And especially:
SHOULDER SEASON.
Because the goal isn't:
‘Find a solo cruise.’
It's:
‘FIND THE BEST-VALUE SOLO CRUISE.’ 💰”
2️⃣7️⃣ 🤝 SOLO CRUISING VS SINGLES CRUISING
“Now…
these are NOT the same thing.
SOLO CRUISING
means:
YOU ARE TRAVELLING ALONE.
That's it.
You may want:
😌 Peace
❤️ Me-time
🌍 Adventure
🚢 Freedom
SINGLES CRUISING
can sometimes mean:
YOU'RE LOOKING TO MEET OTHER SINGLE PEOPLE.
Very different objective.
So before booking:
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.
You don't need a dating holiday just because you're travelling alone. 😂”
2️⃣8️⃣ 🚢 WHAT TYPE OF ITINERARY IS BEST FOR SOLO?
“I'd look at:
🌍 PORT-INTENSIVE
Great if you want to explore.
🌊 MORE SEA DAYS
Better if you want to use the ship and meet people onboard.
🚢 LONGER SAILINGS
Can give relationships time to develop.
🛳️ SMALLER SHIPS
Potentially more intimate social environment.
🎉 ACTIVE SHIPS
Great if you want activities and easy conversation starters.
2️⃣9️⃣ 🏆 “If you're still wondering…
answer these:
❤️ DO YOU ENJOY YOUR OWN COMPANY?
Yes?
Great.😎 DO YOU LIKE MAKING YOUR OWN DECISIONS?
Excellent.
🧳 ARE YOU COMFORTABLE TRAVELLING ALONE?
Good.
👥 ARE YOU HAPPY MEETING PEOPLE SOMETIMES?
Helpful.
😌 OR DO YOU WANT TOTAL PEACE AND QUIET?
Also fine.
💷 CAN YOU HANDLE THE POSSIBILITY OF A SINGLE SUPPLEMENT?
Important.
🚢 DO YOU LIKE CRUISING?
Hopefully.
THEN SOLO CRUISING COULD BE FOR YOU.”
🏆 3️⃣0️⃣ THE BIGGEST SOLO CRUISE SECRET
“Here's what I think is the biggest secret.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO GO.
How many holidays get cancelled because:
‘They can't get the time off.’
‘They don't have the money.’
‘They're not interested.’
‘They want to go somewhere else.’
‘They're waiting to see.’
And suddenly…
ANOTHER YEAR HAS GONE BY.
Solo cruising says:
‘I'M GOING ANYWAY.’ ❤️
And I think there's something incredibly powerful about that.”
“So…
IS SOLO CRUISING RIGHT FOR YOU?
Maybe.
And here's the honest answer:
IT'S NOT FOR EVERYONE.
If you hate your own company…
maybe not.
If you need everyone around you all the time…
maybe not.
If the single supplement makes the cruise financially painful…
you need to shop carefully.
But if you think:
‘I want to travel.’
‘I want freedom.’
‘I don't want to wait for someone else.’
‘I want to decide what I do every day.’
Then…
WHY NOT? ❤️
Because solo cruising can mean:
🌅 Your sunrise.
🍹 Your cocktail.
🏝️ Your excursion.
🍽️ Your dinner.
🛏️ Your cabin.
🚢 Your itinerary.
YOUR HOLIDAY.
And here's the really brilliant bit…
YOU CAN BE ALONE WITHOUT BEING ALONE.
You can meet people when you want.
Disappear when you want.
Join a quiz.
Skip the quiz.
Eat with people.
Eat alone.
Go ashore.
Stay onboard.
YOU DECIDE. 😎
So don't let:
‘But I'd be travelling alone…’
stop you.
The better question is:
**‘WOULD I RATHER GO ALONE…OR NOT GO AT ALL?’** ❤️
And if your answer is:
‘I'd rather go.’
Then maybe…
Sometimes…
YOU JUST NEED TO BOOK IT. ❤️
I'll see you…
🚢❤️SEE YOU ON BOARD!
