Guide To Solo Cruising - Part I
According to Celebrity Cruises Travel Blog, a solo cruise vacation is a great option for those wanting to explore a variety of destinations and make some new friends along the way. It can also be time for those who are maybe just looking for a chance to unplug, decompress and enjoy some introspective “alone” time. No matter your goal, the outcome is an amazing experience that will leave you with a new appreciation of yourself. Follow along as I delve into my favorite subject…solo cruising!
Part I-
-PREPARING TO BOOK YOUR SOLO CRUISE ADVENTURE!
Between deciding on the destination, length of the cruise, cruise line, type of room, and more, it can be very overwhelming. Most of us, as solo vacation travelers, would prefer not to have to pay as if a second person were with us. Sometimes the “solo supplement” is even more than double the cost. It’s outrageous! So, finding a cruise with a no or low single supplement is key. A “solo” or “single” supplement is more or less the cost for a room or cabin that is intended for two or more travelers. It seems like finding a cruise with a low/no single supplement is mostly luck of the draw…being in the right place at the right time. But Gary Bembridge at Tipsfortravelers.com says there are four ways to find a low cost solo trip: Solo rooms; solo deals, solo group cruises and sharing with another solo cruiser.
My experience has been that I was able to keep the single supplement low when booking either very early (a year or more in advance) or very late (45 days or less before departure). A good place to start, is www.cruiseplum.com. Another site for searching low solo supplements is www.vacationstogo.com. You can easily search for solo cruises with no or low single supplement on these sites. MSC Cruise Line seems to be the big winner here. I have not cruised with them but would not rule it out. I know a few people who cruise with that line and have enjoyed it. However, I have been “loyal to Royal” for 20+ years so I am mostly looking at Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises when I search. There are more and more cruise lines beginning to cater to solo cruisers, offering not only solo cabins but including a solo traveler meetup on the first night so you can meet other solo adventurers. Virgin Voyages tout themselves as “catering to solo travelers”, but NCL and Celebrity, amongst others, also offer solo cabins. Remember that If you approach your search with an open mind and with some flexibility, it can be a lot of fun seeing the deals you can find at various destinations around the world!
For my LGBTQ+ family, all the major cruise lines will host an LGBTQ+ meet up on the first night. Hopefully, the solo and the LGBTQ+ meet-up times don’t overlap since this is a great opportunity to make even more friends on board! On my recent solo cruise, of the six of us solo’s who met the first night, 3 of us headed from the solo meet-up to the LGBTQ+ meet up together! By the last night the whole solo group went together down to the LGBTQ+ meetup. Such a great group of people.
The simplest way to book your solo cruise vacation is to utilize a travel agent, particularly one that specializes in cruising. They will be tasked with tracking down your solo cruise with a low or no single supplement. However, if you’re like me, the search is part of the excitement.
Typically, I use Cruise Plum to begin my search and then go to the cruise line site to investigate further. If doing your own search, the best way to see the total costs is to proceed as if you are going to book. That way you will see if there will be additional unexpected charges. Often the cost you see initially is much different as you move forward through the booking process. If you decide you don’t want that particular cruise, simply start the search over. As long as you don’t enter payment information you will be ok.
Consider costs before you begin your solo holiday search. It’s best to start with an idea of how much you want to spend in total. In addition to the cruise fare, it will cost you more if you want drinks and/or Wi-Fi included. And, at least on RCL, you have options for each. There is a classic drink package and a premium package for drinks. With the premium package you can basically have any drink you want on board but the drinks in your mini fridge are NOT included (unless of course, you put it there). Wi-Fi also comes in a basic and premium. Premium internet is Starlink (satellite internet), at least on Celebrity Cruises, and has very fast internet, like what you might have at home. The basic Wi-Fi is “basic”ally useless. You will not be able to use WhatsApp with the basic package or really do anything with any speed. (Think old dial-up days). You will also need to consider expenses for airfare, tolls, hotel (if needed before or after your cruise), ride-shore or taxi, casino money, if you are a gambler, tips, souvenirs, food and drinks when ashore, costs for specialty restaurants and/or drinks on board if you don’t purchase the drink package, excursions and/or rentals at the ports, travel insurance, port fees and taxes, childcare or pet care (for your pets/kids while you are away), and I am sure there is more I left out. What starts as a “cheap” cruise fare can add up in total expenses well beyond your intended budget if you are not careful. For example, a year ago I booked a cruise to Alaska and was pleasantly surprised at the low cost of the cruise and the airfare. However, what I failed to look into beforehand was the cost of excursions in Alaska. They are much higher than what I was accustomed to when doing a Caribbean route. They were worth every penny, though, I’ll tell you that. Alaska is incredible! I digress. Bottom line is “proper prior planning prevents poor performance”.
Start the search for your solo adventure here.
Part II-
-PREPARING FOR YOUR SOLO CRUISE TRIP
“COMING SOON”