5 Tips for Taking a Cruise as a Solo Traveller

Is solo cruising the way to go? This blog post has top tips for making the most of a cruise.

Have you been on a cruise? Would you considered one? Have you got any other tips to add?

Inflation is turning holidays into rarer, sparser, and arguably more boring events, especially if you have to rely on a single budget as a solo traveller. Could a cruise be the answer? Some people are even considering life full-time on a ship: according to Heart, Angelyn and Richard Burk have found that staying full-time on a cruise ship and travelling the world can cost as little as £35 a day—and they get food, medical care, and cleaning services to boot.

Even if you’d rather not sail indefinitely, booking a cruise is a fantastic approach to getting a stellar holiday as a solo traveller. Budget holidaymakers who dislike spending exorbitant amounts can have days of inexpensive fun. Simultaneously, those who seek novel experiences and journeys will get all desires satisfied through the cruise's multi-destination itinerary. If you’re ready to take the plunge, here’s how to make the most of travelling on a cruise.

Book the right cabin

To maximise your comfort during your stay onboard, choose the best cabin for you. As a rule, the cheapest cabins are the smallest and placed in the cruise's interior, usually at the bottom of the ship. Cruise liners like Virgin Voyages even offer budget cabin options for solo travellers. The most expensive, of course, will be large suites at the top that offer gorgeous vistas. If you’re splurging and want a full-on opulent experience, you’ll want to choose a room along the lines of the latter option. However, you won’t need an al fresco view of the ocean if you aren’t planning to spend a lot of time in your room, or a large room if you're travelling alone. Or if you’re sensitive to light and on a cruise to Norway, for example, cheaper cabins are perfect for ensuring you’ll get to slumber in complete darkness despite the country experiencing round-the-clock sunlight in the summer. Select the cabin aligned with the cruise experience you want.

Make the most of onboard amenities

Savouring the sun and lounging by the crystalline pool is a wonderful way to spend time on a solo cruise. However, don’t forget that cruises offer all-inclusive travel experiences. This means one of the best ways to maximise your holiday is to take advantage of everything you paid for on board. Take the amenities available on Explora Journeys—their first-of-their-kind ships are crafted to ensure your safety and enjoyment. You can enjoy a luxurious thermal spa, top-notch fitness facilities, nine distinct culinary experiences, and unlimited beverages all by yourself. If that weren’t enough, a team of hospitality experts is at your service to curate authentic and cultured experiences to enhance your enjoyment. When you’re on a solo cruise, don’t forget to make the most of these amenities—especially since you're not sharing them with anyone.

Join on-board activities

Want to try something new during your solo holiday? Cruises give you the perfect opportunity to do just that. Every day, you’ll receive a newsletter outlining activities and events you can try on the ship, from indoor rock climbing and scavenger hunts to mixing drinks. Saga Cruises even offers ballroom lessons! Go for any activity that piques your interest. It’s all free, after all—and learning a new skill on the waves adds an extra fun factor

Forge friendships

Making friends on the high seas is a great way to have more fun on your holiday as a solo traveller. You’ll learn a host of new stories and perspectives, not to mention have a new person to enjoy your cruise experience with! If you're travelling alone, the Norwegian Cruise Line offers a solo lounge exclusively for passengers who’ve booked solo studio cabins, giving you a spot to meet people looking to mingle. You can also join solo meetups, request to share a table during meals, or participate in a sports match—so be sure to get yourself out there

Take advantage of ports of call

Part of the fun of cruises is that not all of your time will be spent at sea. While the journey will be mostly touch-and-go, looking out the window and exploring new places before moving on to the next is key to maximising a cruise trip as a solo traveller. You can do this effectively by hopping onto the activities at your cruise's various ports of call. You can take a tour of local historical sites or join adventure excursions. You can even consult locals on the area's hidden gems, which is how discovered the otherwise secret trail known as Narnia Falls on Hawaii's Big Island was discovered. With many cruises offering the opportunity to customise your itinerary, you have the opportunity to access exciting landlocked experiences. You won't know about them unless you look for them—so be sure to exhaust all the possibilities before you head oceanside again.


Going on cruises is an excellent way to get a wonderful holiday experience as a solo traveller. Maximise it with these tips!

For more articles about global travel, visit the rest of the blog.