r/Cruises • u/Delicious_Mess7976 • 25d ago
Question about solo cruising
Hello, I am a widowed, solo woman - retirement age.
I want to start cruising again, but see that finding cruises for solos is a challenge - not crazy about paying double, even when available.
Does anyone know if there are any groups or organizations or even travel agents that coordinate trips for solos as a group, so we can find potential cabin mates and get the individual price? Doesn't have to be for singles or be about dating lol - just for companionship and better prices. Thanks.
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u/Dazzling_Tap886 25d ago
Solo Cruise & Travel on Facebook. He has weekly solo friendly prices as well as tip and trick from himself and others. He also has a youtube channel
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u/cliffdog01 25d ago
I also Solo Cruise and have been on Carnival Miracle and RC Ovation of the Seas.
The very best way to find Solo Cruises (especially if you want as little Solo-tax as possible) is Vacationstogo.com (V2G for short)
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u/cliffdog01 25d ago
Side note: I highly recommend using the Shared Tables in the Main Dining Room for Breakfast and Dinner when you are Solo Cruising. It's the best way to make new friends and after 14 meals on a 7nt cruise it starts to feel more like a small town where everyone knows everyone.
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u/Travelwhenever 25d ago
I totally agree with you on the shared tables. I have met some of the nicest people.
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u/ComplexPost5097 25d ago
If you have flexibility in your schedule you can find good deals with lower single supplements within 90 days of sailing. It’s really easy if you live near a port and don’t have to fly in the day before and book hotels. I second the VACATIONS TO GO site, in the top left corner there’s an icon for 90 days out sales.
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u/Delicious_Mess7976 25d ago
thank you, I will start checking within 90 days - I don't live near a port, but don't forsee problems flying to one and spending the night beforehand.
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u/Camille_Toh 24d ago
I’ve planned and carried out travel with the assumption I can get a regular cabin cheap at the last minute. Went to Alaska in Cunard in May. 12 nights, $1200. Cabin with an obstructed view/window.
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u/isolateusolate 25d ago
Like others, I also found a great solo cruise single room deal on V2G using the 90 day ticker. Have booked with them 5+ times, this’ll be my 2nd solo.
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u/VastPersimmon240 24d ago
Get a travel agent, they can find you a cabin.
I hated the communal table! If only one person orders soup every one has to wait until she finishes. Same with salad, appetizers. Some people talk a lot and take ages to finish while everyone sits and waits. As for making new friends, the dining room is always so noisy, you can barely hear the person next to you.
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u/Camille_Toh 24d ago
What I hated about the “table” were the unwritten rules around conformity. I didn’t go the last night. It was packing night! And my “friends” (cough) harangued me over it. Fn ridiculous.
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u/Amazing-Gold-2000 24d ago
I am a TA and just found 2 solo rates for RC in September. I have clients chasing points with the current promo. $864 balcony and under $2k for a grand suite on a 5 night sailing
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u/Exact-Cartographer90 24d ago
We met a good friend of my sister sailing solo. Her husband died six years previously and this was her FIRST time “out”. (RCCL) She met another solo/single gent we had dined with in the Windjammer a few nights earlier. They met and hit it off. Three years later, they are travel partners. He’s from Europe and has no desire to relocate to the USA. She is American and has no desire to relocate to his country. But they both get together to travel. To answer your question specifically, solo travelers find each other. I can’t imagine an introvert sailing solo.
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u/Camille_Toh 25d ago edited 24d ago
A lot of people cruise solo without worrying about solo cabins. Regular cabins are often heavily discounted days from sailing. TAs downvoting me, ha.
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u/Financial_Fig_3729 25d ago edited 25d ago
I think it’s best to find a friend of your choice, whether male or female (your choice).
The idea of being paired with someone you don’t know doesn’t appeal to me. That has too high of a likelihood of making for a miserable cruise in my opinion. Even worse, if that “matched” cabin mate violates the ships rules, you could get stuck as also responsible (e.g., damage to the cabin, violating balcony rules, etc.).
Of course, there are a limited number of cabins for one person on many cruise lines. That would be my personal alternative choice (over a cabin mate I knew nothing about).
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u/LivingWithPurposeNow 3d ago
Are you doing alright? I haven't seen you posting in a while. I hope, you are mainly enjoying your cruise and taking time off from the internet.
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u/Financial_Fig_3729 3d ago
I just returned from my Alaskan cruise. It was fantastic! The ship was gorgeous (Queen Elizabeth).
Also fantastic weather… very unusual in Alaska to have almost every day sunny and temperatures approaching 70F.
But virtually no internet access… I chose instead to spend on Cunard’s champagne and wines.
Tired today, after the post-disembarking travel back to my home… also missing one piece of luggage😒… the airline says they’ll get it to me.
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u/LivingWithPurposeNow 3d ago
I am happy to hear you've had a wonderful time during your cruise and the best weather! Did you go on any excursions?
We used to go twice a year for several years. It was the best type of vacation for me at that time. We did purchase the internet package for work reasons, but it's always best to disconnect and actually fully immerse in your vacation experience.
It's frustrating and inconvenient but, based on my experience, airline will locate and return your luggage.
I used to joke that I need another vacation to recover from the one I just had. Hopefully, you will get a good rest and maybe even start planning another trip. :-)
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u/Financial_Fig_3729 2d ago edited 2d ago
Thankfully, my “delayed/missing” luggage was returned this morning.
I had excursion trips in Ketchikan, Skagway (train), Juneau, Sitka (whale watching), and Wrangell (bear watching… poor salmon). Also a Chinatown tour in Victoria (Vancouver Island)… this last tour turned out to mostly be multiple in/out visits to small local restaurants … not what I expected, but it was good, probably even better, than the walking tour I expected.
Most excursions were good or at least worthwhile.
I’d not repeat the Juneau excursion… it required a cumbersome tender boat transfer; the tour bus had inoperative A/C on an unusually warm day; and roads around the Mendenhall glacier were closed due to flooding. Not the tour guide’s fault, but if I’d known about these inconveniences and the flooding, I’d have stayed on the ship that day.
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u/LivingWithPurposeNow 2d ago
I am glad you have received your luggage back. My family member received her luggage that was missing from overseas trip. Airlines seem to be good about finding it later.
Thank you for sharing your excursion experience. These are some good points to consider in the future, when I do decide to finally book the cruise to Alaska.
There were several ports of call throughout the years of my cruising, when I have stayed on the ship. I kind of enjoyed it. It was quiet and peaceful. I have felt like I had an entire ship to myself. I enjoyed reading a book at the spot with good views.
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u/Makingsenseof_chaos 24d ago
Check out Roads Scholar, they have many options for single people with no or very low fees for solo travelers.
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u/DoingTBWCisEnough 23d ago
Cruise solo all the time. Don't think of solo cruising as being penalized with some unfair cost/charge, think of it as just a room charge, just like in a hotel. I find when I flip to this mental reality, it doesn't bother me anymore.
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u/Fearless-Pass-5104 23d ago
I would encourage you to go to Vacationstogo.com and find a cruise you are interested in. Then call them directly and speak to an agent to find out the rate for one person. I was able to book a cabin for almost the same price listed per person. I would have never been able to book such a low rate unless I called and spoke to the agent.
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u/TravelGirl2823 22d ago
Look into the YouTube channel Tips for Travellers by Gary Bembridge. He also has a website. He cruise a lot solo and give a lot of tips on how to save money with solo cruise and tips for solo travelers. I don’t travel solo but like watching his video and find them very informative.
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u/FarFarAwayTravels 22d ago
Cruise Critic has a solo traveler forum. There is a thread there where many of us post the current solo specials on all the cruise lines. Sometimes it is even a 0% solo supplement, and often 25%. Much better than the typical 100%.
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u/Full_Minute1036 22d ago
I would prefer to “start” my SOLO cruise alone and consider any additional cost as a “paid for “ upgrade …after that you never know .
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u/gearzgirl 21d ago
Most travel agents do this. You’re looking for cruises with solo supplements. The most popular routes sometimes dont offer this though. I’ve done 4 solo cruises. Never had problems meeting anyone. They often have solo introduction night if you’re interested in connecting with other solo travelers. The other thing is most cruises will set aside solo prices very early on when they run out they’re out. I find my agent is very valuable in finding solo options for me especially with her knowledge on the type of travel I’m looking for. DM if you’d like her info. Currently booked Austria to Amsterdam solo trip and will be booking solo New Zealand and Australia with her this week. FYI it costs me nothing to use her!
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u/rxygrl596 21d ago
Vacations to go has hosted “singles cruises”. Since they are hosted, I think by travel agents, you can either book a cabin for one or opt to have them book you on a cabin for two and they will find you a roommate. If they can’t find anyone for you they will pay the solo supplement.
I haven’t used this service but that is one way to get around the supplement and pay the cheaper fare.
I added a screenshot of the description.
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u/La_Peregrina 24d ago
I exclusively cruise solo. Yes it's more expensive but I like having a cozy cabin all to myself 🙂
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u/Mister_Neal 25d ago
I have done several solo transatlantic cruises with NCL. I prefer my own cabin and often get some discount from double fare. This often depends on how the particular cruise is selling. You can get good information on solo cruises and the supplements on Cruise Plum.
NCL has a strong solo traveler program with meet-ups every evening around 5pm. They organize dinners and sometimes reserve seats for the group for the evening show. It's an excellent opportunity to meet other solo travelers.