A solo cruise is an excellent vacation choice if you’re looking to experience exciting destinations around the world and make new friends along the way.
Sometimes you don’t want to wait to see a destination until you have a travel partner who can go with you. Maybe you just like the introspective time that a solo vacation can provide.
Traveling alone doesn’t mean you have to rough it, backpack, or do all the planning yourself.
If you’re considering taking a cruise vacation by yourself, here are some solo cruise tips to help make your journey an unforgettable experience.
Is taking a solo cruise affordable?
You don’t have to be stuck on a budget cruise line or spend a fortune to enjoy a solo cruise vacation. This is good news if you’ve heard of the “single supplement,” which happens when cruise lines add on an additional fee when a traveler books a double occupancy stateroom for just one person.
Booking a single stateroom can be just as affordable, if not more so, than any other type of vacation experience.
Does Celebrity Cruises have cruise ships with solo cabins?
We keep our finger on the pulse of travel trends here at Celebrity Cruises. It hasn’t gone unnoticed that solo travel is—and has been—steadily on the rise.
We’ve added more staterooms to our fleet that are solo-traveler friendly. Don’t miss out on a trip of a lifetime because you don’t have a travel partner who can go with you.
Single Staterooms on Apex, Edge, and Silhouette
As part of the Celebrity Revolution, our fleet-wide modernization, there are more options than ever for the solo traveler.
Celebrity Apex features 24 single staterooms, the highest number of single staterooms in our fleet. Celebrity Edge is home to 16 solo staterooms with an Infinite Veranda. Celebrity Silhouette will also have 4 inside single staterooms perfect for solo guests. Meanwhile, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent both have 32 single staterooms with an Infinite Veranda.
The single stateroom is 131 square feet, giving you plenty of space to move around. Not only are single staterooms spacious, but they’re also outfitted with the same modern, sleek design and luxurious amenities like all of our staterooms.
On Celebrity Edge, the single stateroom with infinite veranda is perfect for solo cruise guests.
The infinite veranda isn’t like your normal cruise ship balcony. With the push of a button, the doors to your veranda seamlessly open and fold into the sides of the room, bringing the outdoors in, making it perfect for those who love to explore on their own.
What are the best cruises for solo travelers?
The best cruises for solo travelers depend on the experiences you most want out of a vacation.
Are you a thrill-seeker looking to cross items off your bucket list? Want to see the capital cities of Europe without hotel-hopping and planning all your own accommodations and train travel? Are you more interested in hiking or history?
We’ve crafted different itineraries for travelers of all kinds, from introverts who prefer fewer social activities to extroverts who thrive on meeting new people.
Craving time in the sun against the backdrop of white sand beaches and crystalline waters? Consider a 7- or 10-night Caribbean cruise, where snorkeling and diving shore excursions are bound to introduce you to people with similar interests and a sense of adventure.
Some of the best cruise destinations for history buffs are located in the Mediterranean, where you can tour thousand-year-old churches in Italy or see the ancient ruins of Greece up close.
There is no shortage of options for cruisers who are traveling solo.
What about solo cruises for seniors?
Senior citizen cruises provide a worry-free vacation featuring world-class accommodations and a vacation experience tailored to their interests. Our cruises have onboard activities to suit everyone, from thrilling entertainment and live music to speakers series and guided meditations.
On solo cruises for seniors, accessible staterooms and excursions for all types of mobility levels ensure our guests see as much of the world as they desire.
Tips to Make New Friends During Your Solo Cruise
Just because you’re cruising solo doesn’t mean you have to be alone. Here are a few ways to make friends—and memories—onboard.
Get to Know the Crew During Your Solo Cruise
We pride ourselves on having a friendly, engaging crew from all around the world. Many of our cruise passengers enjoy talking with them and learning about the area of the globe they’re from.
Martini Bar
Finding a bartender you get along with so you can have your own “local” bar on the ship is an easy way to feel comfortable in a lounge while cruising solo.
Get to know your cruise director, who you’ll often see walking around the ship. If they know you’re a solo cruise passenger, they may give you some insider tips on upcoming activities or entertainment you won’t want to miss.
Get Out and Mingle the First Night
You might be tempted to unwind in your stateroom the first night, especially if you had to travel a long way to get to your solo cruise and are still feeling tired from the journey. However, spending time in public spaces on the ship is a great way to meet new people and one of the best things to do on a cruise.
Celebrity roofdeck
Strike up a conversation and make some new friends on the very first night of the cruise. Nothing is better than a familiar face when you’re traveling solo.
Check the program in your stateroom before you head out to the next activity. You may find events that are solo cruiser friendly.
Casino
Exchanging stateroom numbers is helpful, too, so you can call new friends later on in the cruise to arrange times to meet up for dinner, a drink, or games.
Say Yes to Dining with New People
Joining people for dinner is a great way to make friends and have a fun meal at the Main Restaurant or in a specialty restaurant.
People will likely be intrigued by you traveling on your own, want to get to know you better, and enhance their own dining experience. Even couples like to socialize and meet new people on vacation. Since you’re all travelers who enjoy seeing the world, it’s easy to swap travel stories.
Opt for an Assigned Seating Time for Dinner
As a solo cruise traveler, you may benefit more from doing a traditional assigned seating time instead of dining at different times.
With an assigned seating time, you’ll be sat at the same table each night with other cruise passengers and the same crew waiting on you. It will give you some familiarity as your tablemates, server, and sommelier get to know you and your dining preferences—and sparkling personality!
If you don’t feel totally compatible with the other folks at your table, talk to the maître d’ and ask for a different table.
If you’re seated at a table on your own, have a book or journal on hand. A journal is a lovely way to pass the time at dinner, giving you the opportunity to reflect on the day and write about all the amazing things you saw in port or did on the ship.
Book Shore Excursions Through the Cruise Line
Anchorage, Alaska
Shore excursions highlight the best parts of a destination and provide unforgettable experiences. Bond with fellow passengers by exploring the port together. You’ll have the chance to run into them again on the ship for more fun and conversation.
When you book a shore excursion, you know you’ll be spending your day surrounded by other travelers on your ship. Most ports have multiple ships calling at them each day, so it’s better to spend the day making new friends with people who will board your ship at the end of the day.
Alaska
Choose an excursion that features a hands-on activity. This gets people out of their element and provides easy conversation starters. Chatting with others while hiking through a rainforest or waiting on a zip-lining platform can lead to fun conversations.
If you go on a sightseeing shore excursion on a bus, try to sit up near the front so you’re close to the guide. They’ll usually be open to conversations and are a wealth of knowledge on the destination you’re visiting.
You can ask questions and also learn about what it’s like to live there. It’s a way to have some socialization throughout your solo cruise day in port while also learning more about the city or town you’re visiting.
Galapagos
The best part? All the details are taken care of for you. You’ll be conveniently guided right to your shore excursion transportation from the ship. You’re guaranteed to be back to the ship in time before it leaves for the next port.
Take Classes Onboard
Join in our beverage and culinary programs and mingle with like-minded passengers who, like you, appreciate a glass of fine wine or an expertly prepared meal. Onboard classes and seminars give you the chance to see cooking demonstrations, learn about the art of wine tasting, and more. You can even create your own wine blend onboard.
Read: Best Wine Cruise Destinations
If wine isn’t your thing, you can learn the art of bartending in a Mixology 101 class. Sample a martini flight at the Martini Bar. Into whisky? Try the Macallan Flight Experience, which lets you taste a trio of whiskeys.
A casual class environment is a great way to meet others who share your interests.
Start Planning Your Solo Cruise
Paris, France
Ready to cruise solo? Browse itineraries and book your single stateroom today, or call one of our vacation specialists at 1-800-852-8086.
