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Because I'm not beholden to anyone else's schedule, I can easily join and leave travel groups as I please. I've made some of my best friends while traveling solo and we now often plan trips together. My spouse and I met because he was traveling alone through California, my home state, and I gave him an impromptu tour of Southern California. Though most destinations are worth visiting as a solo traveler, there are some that are easier to navigate than others. One thing you can count on, however, is that you likely won't be the only one doing it. Solo travelers are one of the fastest-growing travel demographics, with more people traveling alone to new countries each year.
Solo Cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruising Solo: 5 Tips For Solo Cruise Travelers - Forbes
Cruising Solo: 5 Tips For Solo Cruise Travelers.
Posted: Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
I'd failed to write down the address of my destination, trusting the driver to have it. Then, because I'd failed to put a travel notice on my credit card, my debit card was declined at the airport's ATM. At the age of 19, I purchased a plane ticket to Nicaragua and ventured on my first-ever solo trip to Central America. Ten years and 30 countries later, I still believe that traveling alone is one of the best ways to see the world. A bigger caveat, perhaps, is that these solo cabins have become so popular they often sell out far in advance, and at prices that aren't much better than booking a cabin for two. Norwegian also offers four solo cabins on its Hawaii-based Pride of America.
Cunard Line
This specifically applies to those no-supplement studio cabins; they are very hard to get on some itineraries, so booking a year or more in advance could be necessary. When booking standard cabins, six to eight months out is about right for booking shoulder season or repositioning cruises at the best price and for finding luxury lines waiving or lowering the single supplement. Once the ship pulls into port, you can venture on a shore excursion with other guests or strike out on your own.
Tips for Traveling Alone and Why You Should Go on a Solo Cruise
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. If you want to occupy one of these cabins alone, you'll pay a premium that, in cruise world lingo, is known as the "single supplement." Often, that premium is 100%.
Norwegian debuted a studio cabin in 2010 and was the first major cruise line to create accommodations for one. These cabins come in at just under 100 square feet—enough space for a full bed. They don’t offer sea views, but the cruise line does include access to a lounge where they can meet other solo travelers over snacks. The lines that operate small ships are also more prone to offering discounts for solo travelers, which results in a higher percentage of individual cruisers onboard. That said, for the most part, the lines operating bigger ships are offering the most dedicated solo cabins. They also offer more onboard activities, from Broadway shows to rock-climbing walls, that you don't need companions to enjoy.
Cunard Solo Cruises
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. River cruise lines are a popular choice for solo cruisers, and AmaWaterways, Tauck, and Uniworld frequently offer low to no single supplements. This luxury cruise line doesn’t offer solo suites, but it also doesn’t charge solo cruisers double the price to book a cabin of their own. Not only are more cruise lines adding solo cabins, but the single-traveler cabins aboard ships are also getting more spacious and luxurious. Seabourn Cruises is ideal for solo cruisers who want a little luxury in their vacation. The line's small ships, with their cozy and social atmosphere, mean that singles won't be overlooked.
When it's time to slow your heart rate, escape for a spa treatment or perch yourself at one of the many bars onboard and swap travel tales with the bartender. The bigger Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss all have an 82-cabin solo complex, while two older ships — Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway — have solo areas with 59 cabins. There's so much to explore, and lots of people to meet when cruising the Mediterranean. Reserve a spot in a yoga class or get to know new people at the Casino, whatever you prefer Princess Cruises makes it easy to relax and meet new people. Bond with fellow passengers on a shore excursion or learn about the art of wine tasting, whatever your taste, Celebrity Cruises lets you enjoy in style.
The line is planning to add solo cabins to several additional ships this year, giving travelers even more options to sail solo. Silversea also hosts welcome receptions for solo travelers at the start of every voyage to kick off the mingling process. 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. Credit Norwegian for kicking off the trend of more solo cabins on cruise ships.
Company (Only) When You Want It
That's a bonus for solo cruisers looking to hop on any of the line's itineraries, including a Seabourn Mediterranean cruise. Even though agents can sometimes help you find the best singles cruise deals, they have little incentive for doing so. If an agent books you on a cruise with a double-the-standard-cruise fare single supplement, they make more money. Unless it's an agent you have used before and trust to find a bargain, you might be better off on your own -- in more ways than one.
Take your pick of Holland America, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, newcomer Virgin Voyages and even Cunard. If you're after a spoil-yourself solo vacation, luxury lines like Seabourn and Silversea offer reduced fares for those traveling alone. You'll also want to consider which lines charge single supplements when looking at fares, as this can actually increase costs. Avalon Waterways waives single supplements on its European river cruises and on some itineraries in southeast Asia. About 10 percent of Avalon passengers are solo cruisers, but you’ll want to book early to join them.
View award-winning vacations sailing from your backyard and discover deals you won't have to go great distances for with our collection of cruises near you. The Solo Cruise Company, your companion for unique journeys, embraces the allure of exploration and believes in the power of solo travel. All cruises featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Having sailed in one of Norwegian's cabins for one, I can confidently declare them among the coolest solo digs at sea. I particularly love the futuristic "Jetsons"-like design and the multicolored mood lighting.
To trade stories, and cocktails, with like-minded travelers from around the world. Now when you cruise solo with Norwegian, you’ll enjoy more freedom and choice than ever. We’ve doubled the number of Solo Staterooms across our fleet by adding Solo Balcony and Oceanview rooms, in addition to Inside rooms and Studios. So come aboard with friends or family – or take time to meet new people, then watch the sunset from your private balcony. Few luxury lines offer studio cabins, but they sometimes run specials with a low or no single supplement.
For the Mediterranean and most other European cruises, look at March and October when the season is beginning or winding down. Joining meetup groups, walking tours and day trips and taking cultural dance or cooking classes are all interesting ways to learn about the place you're visiting in a social environment. As a solo traveler in Hawaii, I went on an adventure tour of the North Shore where we could snorkel, hike to waterfalls and kayak. While I was nervous about feeling left out of the group at first, I met a fellow solo traveler on the tour bus who happened to feel the same. We kayaked through a sea turtle sanctuary together, nearly spilling into the water in excitement whenever a sea turtle bobbed its head above the surface. Later, we met up for a sugar-sweet scoop of shave ice and swapped contact information.
In 2010, the big-ship line debuted an entire zone of small "studio" cabins for one — 128 in all — on its then-new, 4,100-passenger Norwegian Epic. Most cruise ship cabins are designed for two, and the cruise rates you see advertised for these cabins are per person, based on double occupancy. That means the rates are only available to customers who will be sharing the cabin with a second paying passenger. Virgin Voyages cabins are easily configured (and rearranged mid-cruise) for both sleeping and entertaining, giving solo cruisers all the comfort they need and none of the “welcome to my tiny space” vibe. We've hand-picked the crème de la crème of luxury cruise lines as our partners to ensure your journey is nothing short of extraordinary. The most affordable options for cruising solo might be short cruises.
With no plan B, I cried and walked from the airport to a nearby hotel in the dark. The hotel receptionist took pity on me and helped me call my bank and my family back home. We also arranged for a new driver to take me to my destination in Popoyo, Nicaragua the next morning.
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