The Pros of Cruising Solo

GUIDE TO SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

The Pros of Cruising Solo
By: Susan Bigmore

Are you single and dreaming of taking a cruise, but unsure what to expect? Worried about sticking out like a sore thumb, being surrounded by smug singletons or everyone trying to be your friend and having to hide in your cabin to avoid them? Cruising is an ideal get way for solo cruisers; it offers the breathing space of a resort getaway, pampering service and the chance to visit a new place almost every day. Here are some of the top reasons and tips for going solo.

Booking your cruise

Like any holiday you need to ask yourself what appeals to you. Do you want something where you can relax, or that’s informal, or has plenty of entertainment on offer, etc? Your local travel agent should be able to pick the cruise line and ship that’s right for you. If you want to do some initial research yourself, the internet is a minefield of information whether you search on the cruise lines’ own pages or on a cruise community such as Inside Cruise where people post their own reviews.

Roll call

If you want to check out some of your fellow cruisers before you set sail, sign up on a cruise forum like Inside Cruise. On there is a section called "Roll Call" where you can meet others who are going on the same cruise. A lot of cruisers start a roll call a year or more before the cruise itself, giving them a chance to get to know other passengers beforehand and maybe arranging to share excursions and guides. For solo cruisers it’s a great way to find out if there will be other singles onboard. If you join a roll call before booking a cruise and find someone you seem to get along with you could end up sharing a cabin and saving on single supplements.

Plenty to keep you busy

The trouble with staying in a resort is that there aren’t always lots of activities you can take part in. All you end up doing is wondering around the local sites by yourself. Cruise ships, however, offer plenty of activities both aboard and on-shore. Onboard you could be learning how to cook, wine tasting, taking part in a keep-fit class or listening to a guest lecturer. If you choose to go ashore as well as visiting the local sites, you could go cycling, horse riding, abseiling, snorkelling to name a few! Getting involved in activities is a great way to meet people as you’ll have a common interest, which is good for breaking the ice.

Easy to meet people

Many cruise lines welcome singles onboard with receptions where they can meet other solo passengers. For example, Island Cruises hold a ‘Solos Lunch’ at the beginning of each cruise. Even if they don’t, getting involved in organised activities is ideal for meeting fellow passengers and making friends. Dining rooms mainly have seating for groups of 4, 6 or 8 people and can be an easy way to meet new friends. If you want to be seated with other solo cruisers, make sure you ask the Maitre'd and they will accommodate your needs. Passengers tend to be grouped together with others of a similar age and background, so you’ll never feel left out. Dance the night away

If you like to dance but don’t want to be a wallflower, fear not. Some cruise lines, such as Fred.Olsen and Orient Lines offer male dance host that are selected on their dancing ability. If you’re a male travelling alone and love to dance, you’ll certainly have your pick of the ladies as they outnumber men travelling along by three to one.

Sense of community

As everyone is literally in the same boat (excuse the pun), there tends to be a lot of camaraderie. Unlike holidaying in hotels where you tend to see fellow holidaymakers at mealtimes only, you can (if you want to) see other passengers throughout the day, whether it be lounging by the pool or taking part in activities. Therefore, as a rule, cruisers tend to bond giving a sense of community where people look out for each other.

Safety

For starters, there are always plenty of people, including staff, around so you’re highly unlikely to get pestered. Also, you don’t have to worry about wandering around late at night to get back to your room as you won’t be walking along dark streets trying to find your hotel. If you take an organised excursion you will be in a group on land too, best in certain countries if you’re a solo female traveller. Although, of course if you want to you can go it alone and go at your own pace if you prefer.

Hopefully we’ve set your mind at ease about going on a cruise by yourself. The only downside we can think of is single supplements. Some cruise lines hit you harder than other, but if you don’t mind sharing a cabin some lines offer a share scheme and will partner you up with someone of the same sex and similar age. But don’t forget, your cruise agent should know which cruise lines are best for singles, whether it be age range, single supplements or special activities offered to introduce single cruisers to each other.

So go on, book that cruise. You don’t know what you’re missing out on.

Susan Bigmore is the web editor for www.insidecruise.co.uk, a cruise community packed full of articles and discussions as well as www.idealcruising.co.uk a specialist cruise travel agent.