The best tips for solo cruising
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Solo cruising is on the rise, and cruise lines are now offering a multitude of specialised accommodation and entertainment offerings. In 2025, a massive 12 per cent of all cruisers cruised solo, up from just six per cent in 2024.
This means that more than one in 10 people you see on a cruise is cruising solo. However, the number of solo travellers is generally higher on luxury and expedition lines where cruisers are visiting destinations for a purpose (like Antarctica or the Arctic), or want to travel with like-minded people in an intimiate setting.
But larger cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Holland America are making more space for solo travellers and offering them perks to make big ship cruising more enticing. This can come in the form of specialised solo cabins, slashing the single supplement, preparing activities for solo travellers, creating workstations for remote workers and more.
If you’re one of the many cruisers who is thinking about taking a punt on a solo cruise, here are some of the best tips to get you started and make sure your first solo cruise isn’t your last!
Pick the right cruise line
Picking the right cruise line for any type of cruising is important, but for solo cruising there are extra considerations. While you’ll want to pick a line that suits the vibe you’re looking for, you’ll also want to pick a line that specialises in solo cruising.
This means a line that either offers solo cabins or deals on the single supplement, as well as a line that runs events for solo travellers and has a sociable vibe.
Check here for the best lines for solo cruising, with stand out lines including Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Oceania Cruises and more.
Ask your cruise line what activities they have for solo travellers
While as mentioned, cruise lines plan for solo travellers in varying degrees, nearly every cruise line offers some sorts of activities for solo travellers. The best thing you can do is ask crew members or at guest services what activities are on, and then you can decide if it sounds like something you’d be up for.
The types of activities you can expect range from pub crawls and karaoke down to simply dining together or having icebreaker sessions, so whatever you enjoy, it’s likely you’ll be able to find something that’s your speed.
Making some initial friends also makes it easier to then join other activities onboard, whether that be jumping into bingo, trivia, dance classes or whatever else.
Think about your destination
Certain destinations are more likely to bring a certain vibe with them, which you should be aware of if you’re looking for something particular in your cruise.
For example, if you’re looking for more of a party atmosphere and want to prioritise socializing and meeting people, a shorter cruise to nowhere is probably most likely to bring this atmosphere.
Whereas if you’re looking to avoid a more party-focused vibe, generally cruises that are longer and go out to more remote areas tend to attract an older and more relaxed crowd. For example, a cruise out to the Kimberley, the coast of Western Australia or Tasmania will likely bring a more relaxed crowd.
Don’t let being solo stop you!
Due to the attached stigma, sometimes when cruising or travelling solo it can be common to opt out of certain experiences or activities because you feel insecure or unsure about doing them solo. The best advice is to go ahead and do it anyway!
On a cruise ship this might look like heading to a specialty dining restaurant, going to the theatre or comedy club, joining trivia or whatever else.
While it’s natural to be nervous, and specific events for solo travellers and singles can help ease these nerves, remember that no one’s really paying you much attention, and you’ll always be glad you took a leap and did it. One of the best bonuses of solo cruising is being able to manage your time and activities yourself, so why not take advantage of it?
The tricks for dining
Many solo travellers list dining as one of the more ‘intimidating’ settings, as it looks very apparent that you’re alone. As mentioned above, this shouldn’t be a real deterrent for you, and in reality no one will take much notice of you, however, there are alternatives.
Most cruise lines have an option in the main dining room to be sat with other solo travellers, this makes for an easy option if you don’t want to dine alone.
If you really want to avoid dining alone another easy option is getting room service or takeaway and eating it back in your room. However, as mentioned above, if you do want to dine in a restaurant, you should absolutely go for it!
Opt for group shore excursions
A great way to meet people is to book shore excursions, whether through the cruise line or through a local operator that are in groups, as opposed to wandering around port by yourself. A shore excursion offers an easy way to be in a group with people who are on your ship in a setting that makes it easy to chat.
If you pick a shore tour that’s specifically aligned with your interests such as snorkelling or hiking or history, then you’re also likely to meet like-minded people and it’ll be even easier to make friends.
Get an internet package
If you’re travelling solo, it’s likely that you’ll want to have at least some form of connectivity to be able to stay in touch with family and friends. Giving someone a call is also a great way to stave off any feelings of isolation if they do happen to arrive.
It might be worth investing a bit extra in a streaming package, this makes it easier to have a little movie night by yourself, which is a great way to relax and unwind after a day of socialising and exploring.
Feel free to embrace your own preferences
While many of the tips in this list are for meeting people, remember that there’s no real pressure or expectation to do this. If you simply want to be at sea to relax and sightsee, rather than socialise, that’s perfectly okay as well!
Cruisers are also fantastic places to not just relax, but indulge in some self-care, such as spa treatments, lying by the pool with a book, sitting in the spa, taking fitness classes, going to the gym and more. While these activities might not be as social, if you’re just looking to unwind and refresh, they’re perfect to make sure you come back from your vacation feeling fully refreshed and revitalised.
Remember that more people do it than you think
When travelling solo it can feel like everywhere you look you see couples, families and lifelong friends travelling together, but this isn’t the reality. Thousands and thousands of cruisers opt for solo cruising as their preferred method of cruising, and it continues to increase in popularity.
Not only is solo travel in general on the rise, but many report cruising to be one of the best ways to travel solo, because the nature of cruising creates a much more communal form of travel.
While the idea of strolling up to someone at chatting to them at a resort or hotel might seem totally foreign, this is totally common on a cruise and you can generally expect a much more social and open ambiance.
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My pet peeve is actually how difficult it can be to get a table for 1, because not everyone wants to eat with a bunch of strangers. Solo travel may mean you like to do things by yourself.
Unfortunately, asking for a table for one – which should be simply a table for two – often triggers a whole process where only share tables are offered, then after some discussion a call is made to another dining room, etc… often while couples continue to be accommodated. And when you are finally led to your table it’s as ‘one only’ (or something similarly negative), then as soon as you sit down they quickly remove the other table setting. For the record, this is uncomfortable for the guest, not the dining alone. I’ve only encountered a very few ships that recognise that many guests prefer to dine alone, and set up the dining rooms accordingly.