Learn About Solo Cruises for Single Adults: Planning, Safety, and Onboard Activities
uise “just to try it” and accidentally opened a whole new chapter of how I travel.
I’ve now done multiple solo sailings—Caribbean, Mediterranean, even a repositioning cruise where half the ship was working remote—and I can say this: solo cruises for single adults are wildly underrated.
This guide is everything I wish someone had told me before I scanned my first boarding pass alone.
Why Solo Cruises Actually Work (Even If You’re Introverted)
When I tested my first solo cruise, I expected to feel awkward and very, very visible. Instead, I felt…weirdly free.
Here’s what clicked for me:
- Built-in structure: You’ve got a floating resort with a daily schedule handed to you. No “Where should I go tonight?” decision fatigue.
- Choose-your-own-social-life: You can be wildly social or fully low-key. On my last cruise, I had nights where I shut my cabin door at 9 p.m. to watch a movie, and others where I ended up singing ABBA at the piano bar with people I’d met 30 minutes earlier.
- No constant logistics: No checking train times, moving hotels, or dragging luggage through cobblestones. Your cabin is home base.
A 2023 CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) report noted that over 20% of cruisers now travel without a spouse or partner, and lines are scrambling to add more solo-friendly options. You’re not the odd one out—you’re the growth market.
Choosing the Right Cruise Line and Itinerary
This is where your experience can go very right…or very meh.
Cruise lines that treat solo adults well
When I tested different lines as a solo traveler, these stood out:
- Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) – They were one of the first mainstream lines with dedicated solo “studio” cabins and a private solo lounge. I met more people in that lounge over free coffee than anywhere else onboard.
- Royal Caribbean – Great for active singles. Think rock-climbing walls, FlowRider surf simulators, trivia, and bar crawls. Some ships have a few solo cabins and regular solo meetups.
- Virgin Voyages (adults-only, 18+) – If you want zero kids, a more modern vibe, and late-night energy, this is interesting. I sailed solo with Virgin and never once felt like the token single.
- Holland America & Cunard – Skew a bit older and more traditional, but if you like lectures, ballroom dancing, and solo-friendly enrichment programs, they can be fantastic.
Upscale lines like Oceania and Regent Seven Seas occasionally reduce or waive solo supplements—worth watching if you want smaller ships and a quieter atmosphere.
Itinerary matters (a lot)
From my experience:
- Caribbean & Bahamas – More party vibes, beach days, shorter cruises (3–7 nights). Good if you’re newer to solo travel.
- Mediterranean – Culture-heavy, great food, lots of ports. Days are busy exploring; nights can be chill.
- Alaska – Very scenic, more nature-focused, lots of solo-friendly excursions like whale watching and glacier hikes.
- Repositioning cruises (e.g., Europe to Caribbean) – Longer, cheaper per night, with a lot of sea days. Better if you like reading, writing, working remote, or deep relaxation.
If you’re nervous, I’d skip the 3-night “booze cruise” style sailings at first. They can feel more like a college party than a relaxing solo getaway.
Planning: How to Avoid the Solo Traveler “Tax”
The big villain in solo cruising is the single supplement—that extra charge because cabins are priced for two. Sometimes it’s 100% (you pay both fares). Ouch.
How I’ve reduced costs as a solo cruiser
Here’s what’s actually worked for me:
- Hunt for solo cabins
NCL’s studio cabins, some Royal Caribbean ships, and a few other lines offer dedicated solo cabins with reduced or no supplement.
- Watch for “no single supplement” promos
I’ve scored deals where the supplement dropped to 0–25%. Good times to look: wave season (roughly January–March) and shoulder seasons.
- Be flexible with dates and ships
Older ships and off-peak dates are usually cheaper. I once grabbed a 10-night Mediterranean sailing solo for less than a 7-night peak-summer Caribbean cruise.
- Use a cruise-focused travel agent
Not just any agent—someone who lives and breathes cruising. They often see solo deals and group space you’ll never find on your own, and they’re typically paid by the cruise line, not by you.
- Factor in “nickel-and-diming”
The base fare isn’t your real price. Add in gratuities, Wi‑Fi, drinks, excursions, and specialty dining. I keep a simple spreadsheet so I don’t pretend a $699 cruise is actually $699.
A 2022 report from CruiseCritic suggested solo travelers can sometimes pay 150–200% of the per-person double rate once supplements are factored in—so being strategic really matters.
Safety: The Part I Was Most Nervous About
I won’t sugarcoat it: I stalked cruise safety forums before my first solo sailing.
What I found—and then tested in real life—is that solo cruising feels safer than many land-based solo trips, if you use basic precautions.
Onboard safety
How I handle things now:
- Cabin security – I always use the deadbolt and door viewer. I don’t prop my door open “just for a second.”
- Alcohol limits – I have a personal rule: 2–3 drinks max if I’m alone. It’s not because ships are inherently unsafe; it’s because clear judgment is my best defense.
- Public spaces – I stick to busy bars, lounges, and areas with staff around. If someone’s vibes are off, I leave. No explanation needed.
- Staff help – On one sailing, a guest kept “accidentally” bumping into me. I mentioned it—quietly—to guest services. Within a day, he’d been warned, and I didn’t see him again. Crew take these things more seriously than people assume.
The U.S. Department of Transportation tracks reportable crimes on cruise ships under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA). Numbers are low relative to total passenger volume, but I treat that as comfort, not a free pass to be reckless.
Port safety for solo cruisers
Where I tighten things up:
- Stay in main areas – I don’t wander far off in ports I don’t know, especially at dusk.
- Booked excursions over random “taxi tours” – I prefer ship-organized or well-reviewed, reputable local operators.
- Minimal valuables – Passport stays in the cabin safe (unless the port requires otherwise). I carry one credit card, some cash, and a photocopy of my ID.
- Share your plans – I drop a quick message in my family group chat with the port name and tour I’m doing that day.
Has anything bad happened to me? Nothing beyond minor annoyances and one aggressively overpriced frozen drink.
How to Actually Meet People (Without Feeling Weird)
I’m naturally introverted. Left to my own devices, I’d read on deck and talk to no one for seven days. But when I want connection, cruises make it easy.
What’s worked for me repeatedly:
- Solo/singles meetups – Most big ships list these in the daily schedule (often on day one or two). They can be hit-or-miss, but I’ve met dinner buddies and excursion partners there.
- Fixed-time dining or shared tables – If there’s an option, I choose a larger shared table. By night two or three, it feels like a little pop-up friend group.
- Trivia, game shows, and classes – Zero-pressure ways to chat. I once ended up in a “Friends” trivia team that turned into a nightly bar crew.
- Theme nights or dance classes – Perfect icebreakers. I’m still friends (online) with someone I met during an absolutely disastrous salsa class.
The key for me: I don’t chase connection. I show up where people gather and let conversations happen naturally. One or two good cruise friends can completely change your week.
Onboard Activities That Shine When You’re Solo
Here’s what I gravitate toward when I cruise alone:
1. Enrichment and learning
Cooking demos, wine tastings, destination lectures, photography workshops—this is where solo shines because you’re not negotiating schedules with anyone.
On an Alaska cruise, I went to every glacier and wildlife talk. By the final sea day, the naturalist recognized me and started tipping me off to the best viewing spots.
2. Fitness and wellness
I use sea days as “health reset” days:
- Morning walk on the jogging track
- One fitness class (yoga, spin, or stretch)
- Steam room or spa pass if I can swing it in the budget
Working out solo never feels awkward on a ship. Everyone’s busy doing their own thing, and a lot of people are trying to balance out the dessert buffet.
3. Quiet corners and creative time
Some of my best writing days have been at a nearly empty lounge with ocean views and bottomless coffee. I’ve:
- Brainstormed business ideas
- Worked through life decisions
- Read entire books I’d “never had time for” on land
Solo cruising is sneaky therapy if you lean into the alone time.
4. Nightlife on your terms
You can:
- Catch the production show from the balcony, then duck out early
- Sit at the bar and chat with the bartenders (they’re often the most interesting people onboard)
- Wander between live music venues until something clicks
Because you’re solo, you never have to have the “So…what do you feel like doing?” conversation. You just go.
Who Solo Cruises Are (and Aren’t) Great For
Based on my experience and way too many hours in cruise Facebook groups:
Great for:- Single adults who want structure but not schedules packed with tours
- Remote workers who can handle ship Wi‑Fi (test speeds and packages carefully)
- Newly single people wanting a safe, low-pressure way to travel again
- Introverts who like social options but don’t want to commit 24/7
- People who hate the idea of being “stuck” on a ship (even if there’s a ton to do)
- Those who need total price transparency—cruises can be great value, but the add-ons are real
- Anyone expecting the ship to function as a dating app on water; yes, romance happens, but it’s not guaranteed or automatic
Final Thoughts from Someone Who Went “Just Once” and Got Hooked
When I recently discovered how easy it was to board a ship alone, drop my bag, and have a full week of choices with zero pressure to entertain anyone else, I honestly wondered why I’d waited so long.
Are solo cruises perfect? No. Single supplements sting, some sailings skew more couples/families than “solo tribe,” and not every meetup will feel like a Netflix rom-com.
But if you’re a single adult looking for a mix of independence, low-stress logistics, and the option (not obligation) to be social, cruising solo is one of the most surprisingly empowering ways to travel I’ve ever tested.
If your gut’s already leaning yes, that’s your sign: price out a sailing, join a ship-specific Facebook group, watch a few ship tour videos on YouTube, and picture yourself walking up that gangway on your own terms.
I’ll warn you though—once you realize you can just…go? You may never wait for someone else’s vacation schedule again.
Sources
- Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) 2023 State of the Cruise Industry Report - Industry data on cruise trends, including solo travelers
- U.S. Department of Transportation – Cruise Line Incident Reports - Official data on reportable crimes and safety on cruise ships
- U.S. Department of State – Cruise Ship Passengers - Government guidance and safety tips for cruise passengers
- Norwegian Cruise Line – Studio Staterooms for Solo Travelers - Example of solo cabins and amenities for single cruisers
- Forbes – Why Solo Cruising Is On The Rise - Overview of the growing solo cruise market and traveler behavior
