Cruising has emerged as one of the most popular ways to travel in 2024. It’s a great way to see the world and explore several different destinations in one trip.
You can fall asleep in one country and wake up in another. No airport stress required!
But solo travelers often pay a premium for cruise travel or feel uncomfortable when they dine alone. The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way.
So, which cruise lines are best at considering the needs of solo travelers?
According to a new report from USA Today these are the 7 best cruise lines for solo travelers:
7. Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises offers a wide range of activities designed to appeal to solo travelers, including singles-only parties, yoga classes, and other celebrations that are easy to enjoy solo.
Although Princess Cruises doesn’t currently offer single cabins, that’s all set to change. Its new Sun Princess liner, which launches later this year, will be the first of the line to have solo cabins. This is a sign of just how important solo travelers are to Princess Cruises.
The intimacy of Princess Cruises is something that all passengers value but it is particularly important to solo travelers as it enables them to meet new people with ease.
6. Holland America Line
Holland America is a cruise line that already offers solo staterooms on some of its ships. If you can get your hands on one of these coveted staterooms, you will save money as you won’t have to pay a single supplement for your vacation.
Other aspects that make Holland America so attractive to solo travelers include the wide range of on-deck group activities, which are a great way to meet new people. Holland America also offers excellent shore excursion options that appeal to solo travelers.
In the most recent Cruise Critic Awards, Holland America was named as the ship that offers the best service, and it is a great choice for solo travelers looking for a premium experience.
5. Azamara
Azamara is a relatively small cruise line boasting just 4 ships that can each carry around 700 passengers. The focus of an Azamara cruise is providing an up-scale, luxury experience that works well for solo passengers looking for a relaxing, adult-focused experience.
Although children are permitted on Azamara ships, families are openly discouraged, and there are no children’s programs on board.
For solo travelers, you will find low single supplements and an intimate atmosphere that ensures solo travelers are warmly welcomed.
4. Viking Cruises
Viking Cruises is one of the world’s most well-known and highly regarded European river cruise specialists. Some of their ships offer single staterooms, but if you can’t get one of these, you’ll find single supplement promotions for as low as 25%.
Viking tends to appeal to an older audience, but you’ll find that the passengers are well-traveled and keen to make friends, share conversation, and ensure solo travelers are welcome.
There is no assigned dining room seating on Viking Cruises. This is good news for solo travelers who can sit at different tables each night or change their table to sit with their new-found friends.
3. Crystal Cruises
Crystal Cruises is a small company with just two liners. But both of those liners offer single guest rooms with ocean view rooms. And if you want to book one of these rooms, there is zero single supplement policy.
Crystal Cruises offers luxury cruises, and you can make the most of a personal butler, free Wi-Fi, and plenty of space to relax and unwind in peace. If you want to meet people, you’ll find plenty of opportunities, but these are also great cruises for solo passengers looking for solo experiences.
Dining alone is often the most daunting aspect of solo travel. But you don’t have to worry about this because Crystal offers a solo table at dinner each night, where you can choose to sit with other solo passengers.
2. Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival cruises have a reputation for being the most fun ships at sea making them a great choice for younger solo travelers. The people on board are known for being friendly and welcoming and lots of people choose Carnival for their solo cruise experience.
Unlike many of the other lines on this list Carnival doesn’t offer single cabins. But what it does regularly offer is great deals for solo travelers and single supplements are often waived as part of these offers.
Carnival offers single mixers on its cruises, and you can also join the Facebook group for your sailing to meet other solo travelers on board before you travel.
1. Grand Circle Cruise Line
Officially, the best cruise line for solo cruisers is one you may not have heard of! Grand Circle Cruise Line is a small company that offers affordable river cruising experiences.
Unlike mega cruise ships like Royal Caribbean that cater to 1,000s of travelers the Grand Circle Ships only carry between 86 and 162 passengers at a time. This means you get an intimate experience and the chance to really get to know your fellow passengers.
Popular with those over 50, Grand Circle is a good choice for solo travelers because of its free or low-cost single supplements and small group shore excursions. The line even offers roommate matching services if you want some company, as well as an online forum where solo travelers can connect before they board the ship.
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