The 25 Solo Cruise Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make!
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- čas přidán 1. 06. 2024
- Cruising solo has become a popular option for many cruisers. When it comes to taking a cruise as a single traveler, there are several things you need to know. We put together this video with 25 cruise tips for singles to help those navigating the waters as a party of 1.
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SOLO CRUISE TIPS
0:00 Introduction
1:12 Pick Your Cruise Line
1:26 Know the Demographics
1:50 Choose the Right Itinerary
2:12 Opt for an Adults-Only Cruise Line
2:40 Select the Right Size Ship
3:28 Look for Meetups
4:10 Right Onboard Activities
4:50 Consider a Theme Cruise
5:15 Beware of the Single Supplement
6:00 Dedicated Solo Cabins
6:48 Book Early
7:24 Look for Sales and Promotions
8:15 Dining Solo
8:33 Speak with Maître D’
9:14 Request a Table Change
9:35 Specialty Dining
10:25 Bar or Counter Seating
11:08 Room Service
12:17 Reach out on Social Media
12:48 Act Responsibly While Onboard
13:25 Live a Little (or a Lot)
13:48 Going Ashore
14:12 Join a Cruise Line Tour
14:54 Tips to Explore on Your Own
15:32 Do Some Homework about Ports
16:15 Hire a Private Driver
SOLO CRUISE TIPS
Traveling alone can sometimes be daunting, but cruising as a single can be a unique and rewarding experience you won't forget. Choosing the right cruise line and ship ensures a memorable cruise. When cruising as a single, be sure to pick a ship that has amenities you will actually use. Some cruise lines cater more to solo cruisers than others, offering meet ups and other events just for single cruisers.
Another cruise tip for singles is to examine the cabin options. Know the overall costs of the cabin and whether there is a single supplement. While most mainstream cruise lines do charge solo travelers that dreaded single supplement, some cruise lines do offer solo cabins, referred to as studio cabins. NCL even features a whole Studio complex with a lounge and other amenities. Other cruise lines, like Virgin Voyages, offer special discounted rates for single cruisers.
Additionally, remember why you decided to take this solo cruise in the first place. Do as little, or as much, as you want. Cruising solo is a fantastic way to just relax or to meet new people. You can join social activities on board, such as dancing classes, trivia games, or cocktail parties. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to make new friends and connect with people worldwide on a cruise.
When dining as a solo cruiser, speak with the host on the first night of your cruise. That way, you can get the ideal seating arrangement for you, whether that means a private table or a large table to mingle with others. Also, don't be afraid to inquire about switching your assignment if you don't like your table after the first few nights.
Further, specialty dining is another great option for solo travelers. Sometimes, they offer bar-style seating which is an excellent alternative to dining with others. Remember, there is always room service as well if you need a break from the crowds.
When going ashore, remember to keep your wits. Make sure to have the contact information for the ship with you just in case something happens. While we recommend a cruise line tour if you are venturing off on your own, some solo cruisers may opt for private tours as well. This could be the best way to do and see everything, with the help of an expert guide, even if it will cost you a bit more money.
GET MORE CRUISE TIPS FOR SINGLES BACK ON THE BLOG:
ttps://eatsleepcruise.com/complete-guide-to-cruising-solo
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Did my first solo cruise on Viking just to see if I could fly that far alone and cruise that long alone and now I’m 10 cruises booked solo 😂. Love my family and friends but there’s nothing more relaxing 😎 then cruising solo.
That's awesome to hear! Happy cruising!
How about the double the cost factor?
@@joanmartell9975 it really sucks but peace of mind is priceless lol
I've always had wanderlust in my veins...I hate having to compromise on where I want to go and what I want to do.
Plus, in my experience, some people just become so needy traveling. If I am not getting paid to take care of someone, I'm sure as hell not doing it for free.
#Solotraveler4ever!
Going on my 4th solo cruise right now! Decided if no one can come with me, i'll go solo!
I''m going on my 4th solo cruise in Oct. I would rather travel with someone but it has to be the right person. I don't want someone who won't do a thing without me.
"I don't want someone who won't do a thing without me."
Same sentiment here! This is why I love cruising solo.
I’ve done 2 solo cruises over the last six months. Met some good people. Amazing trips! Can’t wait til the next trip!
I'm a solo traveler! I love it! I can move and do things at my own pace and timing. Also, you save money by traveling solo.
So true!
Exactly. Don't bring sand to the beach. No companion, no problems.
I've been on 50 cruises solo. No answering to anyone, room and bathroom to yourself. Eat when and with whom or alone.
Pick the room you want, regardless of price. You can savebup.. I tour on my own, walk the port. Never had a safety issue. If I ever felt funny, I came back.
Planning my next solo cruise. Loved, loved the way you emphasized safety with socializing…ie watching drinks being made etc. so true. And going out by yourself on excursions. Can’t be said enough…I leave a note in my room when I go including my identity and clothes and where I’m going. I travel for a living and I couldn’t agree more. Traveling solo is awesome. And watching videos like yours are so encouraging. Thank you for your wonderful video.
Great safety tips!
Great idea! I also liked the private driver idea, I never would have thought of that.
Be sure to look up the anti spiked drink scrunchie cover.
Good for Virgin for trying to be the most fair with rates. Having solo cruisers practically pay for double occupancy is entirely ridiculous.
I just cruised on Virgin for the first time 2 weeks ago and I say Good for Virgin on everything. It was a fantastic cruise!
Agreed. Virgin is great, and they treat single cruisers well. Happy cruising.
I’m all about cruising for one. Looking at value rather than price is my biggest tip. The solo cabins are not always a good value. I’m so glad you mention that not all solo cruisers want to be social.
I've just done my first solo cruise, I only like being social among new people in very small doses, it worked perfectly for me.
Great video. I really want to try solo and this has good info!
Virgin Scarlet Lady has solo balcony cabins. I just booked one. Reasonably priced too.
Good to know. What itinerary?
Just booked Scarlet Lady from Miami to Barcelona repositioning cruise May 2025. Solo Balcony cabin.
I've been on 9 cruises and 3 of them were solo. My tenth cruise is in November on the Scarlet lady!! I'm going solo, so this will be my 4th solo cruise. I love traveling with family and friends, but there is something so relaxing and liberating about solo cruising 😊 I do hate the single suppliment😢. It is so wrong and unfair, but I don't let it stop me. They need to put more solo cabins on the ships. I've been on Carnival once as a solo and on Royal twice as a solo. I had an amazing time!! I've been on Norwegian, but I wasn't solo. I'm so excited about trying Virgin Voyages for the first time😊😊!!
I have cruised solo and with family and friends (20 cruises and several more booked) and I have enjoyed both ways. Unfortunately, my husband can’t always take off when I want to cruise and I can’t always find someone to go with me, so I have no problem going alone. It is the absolute most relaxing time for me. I was on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady 2 weeks ago (with family). It was my first sailing with VV and it was fantastic. The food was top notch, the staff was so friendly and helpful (my aunt was in a wheelchair). The Wake and Extra Virgin were my favorite restaurants. You will have a great time.
Thanks for your feedback. Glad to hear you enjoy cruising solo. Have a wonderful trip on Scarlet Lady.
Annette Byrd, yes, the Single Supplements can be significant. However, some cruiselines treat solo passengers much better than others even in that respect: e.g., Royal Caribbean usually charges 100% Single Supplement, but it gives solo passengers DOUBLE Cruise-Points, which means that you can advance up the ranks of the loyalty-programme twice as fast.....and you might find that travelling solo in a Suite will get you up to TRIPLE points....
I love Virgin Airlines so I would probably love this ship esp. without children.
Thank you so much for this video! While I love to cruise with my best friend, I also enjoy cruising solo - - you've explained things so well that I think people will have a different perspective on traveling alone. Great job! Thanks!!
Thanks, glad you found the video helpful. Happy cruising.
I’m cruising solo on Virgin over Christmas. It’ll be my second cruise and I’m really not sure that it’ll be a cruise line for me but it has solo cabins so I’m going. I’m not planning on going ashore as I’ve been to the locations several times. I’ll be tucked somewhere quiet, reading.
I am going on my first solo cruise with Norwegian and I am really excited. This was very informative, thank you.
Glad you found it helpful. Have a great cruise.
Were you able to get a solo cabin and if so, was your only option for a solo cabin inside?
I'm booked into a solo oceanview on Norwegian in October. @@catherine9515
About to try it😊😅
Awesome. Please let us know your experiences. Happy cruising.
Please understand that NOBODY on your ship cares if you’re a solo cruiser. Don’t be self-conscious. I’ve met so many great people and made new friends as a solo cruiser. Solo traveling offers great freedom…..enjoy it!
Well said! Which cruise lines have you sailed with?
Norwegian, Virgin, Cunard, Celebrity
I am thinking of going on my first cruise ever to Alaska or Norway. I am going solo
I'm looking into taking my 1st cruise, and it seems to be a daunting task! At my age (68) this could be my first and only cruise (on a fixed income now since retirement), so I don't wanna screw up and pick the wrong one. To be honest, the first half of your video stressed me out even more than I was before. So many choices, options, and factors to consider. Normally it's a good thing, but when you've never done this before, it's scary. Through my limited research so far, it appears that Norwegian is the best choice for solo travelers. However, based upon where I'd be embarking from, only the Norwegiam Epic is available, and the reviews and CZcams videos are less than encouraging. So I don't know where to turn now!
Don't allow yourself to get overwhelmed. I have travelled solo for years and am just a little older than you. You might try Princess cruise line as their demographic seems older. Also joining what is called a group cruise might be for you. Lets Go travel ---Alison---has videos you might have seen and they host group tours. It just means you book with a group, sometimes get a lower fare and they welcome you to dine with them if you like. I have cruised on several NCL ships solo not in the solo cabins and had a great time. You can do as little or as much as you want alone . It is all about attitude. If you haven't travelled solo before another good option is an all inclusvie land location to get your feet under you so to speak. Some people have never even eaten in a restaurant alone---if this is you---go do that for starters. Cruises are good for built in safety factor and logistics of solo travel because once on board you have no luggage to move from place to place alone etc.
Give it a try---my motto is if I wait for others to want to do something I could wait forever. Lots of benefits---you also get to do what you want to do when you want to do it.
I’m a solo cruiser and travel with Princess. I’ve never been disappointed. I sit at the “happy to share” table for meals and have many wonderful conversations. There are always plenty of people to meet and enjoy but you can set your own schedule as a solo cruiser. Happy sailing!
Princess are cutting back, have a look at 'Tips for travellers', he's been solo for nearly 20 trips.
Check out an additional channel called "solo cruise and travel" you may find additional information and reassurance by getting the additional perspective.
Hi and thanks for this informative video. Recently retired and looking to go on my first cruise, probably solo. I have been looking at lots of videos and have a question about something I keep seeing on the beds. At 5:32 there are two beige/tan things with the words luggage on them. What are those? Like I said, new to this so sorry if it sounds like a dumb question.😮 Oh yes, I am now subscribed. 😊
Those are for you to use if you like to unpack or pack with your suitcase on the bed. It keeps the bed clean. Happy cruising
Thanks for watching. Those are bed protectors the cruise lines use so you can unpack and keep the bed clean. Happy cruising and thanks for subscribing.
Very helpful planning points! Glad that you mentioned several cruise-lines for comparison. Tip: Cunard is pronounced KYU-nard....not cuh-nard.
Glad you found the tips helpful. Happy cruising.
Celebrity Beyond Apex and Ascent solo cabins with virtual balcony.
Great options for solo travelers.
@@Eatsleepcruise1 Deck 6 midship
@@frankcutronijr How obstructed are those rooms and are public areas below or other cabins?
@@simplywanda1065 you see the life boats underneath you
@@frankcutronijr Doesn't sound too bad as long as you can see the water straight out if seated. How about noise?
Its now 2024 and a lot has changed.
Good video, but the narration is often difficult to hear and/or understand. The speech is way too fast and the words get lost when the narrator's inflection causes his voice to go down.
Glad you found the video helpful.
You can slow the audio playback on CZcams by clicking on the video in the top right option button
Your voice starts off strong but then drops off at the end sentences. Just need a little more practice.
He does not have a "radio voice" (no joke), which does not make a pleasant listening experience on a phone. I think, he sounds better through larger speakers.
Have to cruise solo. Wife passed away and most people I know don't like cruising. I also don't like sharing a stateroom with others. Those single staterooms are very small. Don't cruise on NCL or RCCL. Went on cruises on each line. They have an inferior product. Don't like to be connected to the outside world while on a cruise. Been on one solo cruise.
Which cruiselines would you recommend?
@@junglette I like most of the crulse lines the Carnival Corp. owns. Used to like Princess, but, with increases don't think I would like them. Cruising today isn't the good deal it used to be.
Ncl is the best for solos.
@@bettyb1581 Went on an NCL cruise. Didn't like it.
@@harlanabraham7772 what ship did you go on? I've been on Encore 3 times love the shows and entertainment. Joy was great and Escape and breakaway I didn't like at all. So it depends what ship. Also went on Bliss great entertainment beautiful ship
Tip #3: circa minute 16:46: Caribbean is authentically pronounced as KAH-ruh-bee-un....not kuh-RIB-ee-un. It is the adjective derived from the noun Carib (KAH-rib), the indigenous people of the archipelago....until invading European colonisers destroyed most of them. It is a much better choice of terms than West Indies, which was a historical mistake by Columbus et alia, who wanted to find another route to India and Asia by travelling westwards....As fate would have it, the Caribbean is much more West African than Indian or Asian....even now, hundreds of years later....
Thanks, for watching Brent. Happy cruising.
Good info about the history.
The Arawak called and asked why you call the Carib, who were also "invading colonisers" indigenous. They think you might be a racist.
@@richardkrauss80 Obviously not! I am not the one who chose the naming of any country or region. I am simply doing a public service of explaining the history of the Caribbean and the correct pronunciation of an important word for every resident, for every traveller to/through the region, and for the tens of millions of cruise-passengers each year who go to parts of the Caribbean Basin....which stretches from the south coast of Florida/U.S.A.. to the Atlantic side of Mexico to the Atlantic side of all of Central America to the Caribbean-facing countries of South America.....
Gosh all of this footage of masked people is so awful.
Get therapy 😂