Which cruise line(s) do you prefer as a solo?

I'm curious as to what people's thoughts are on the different cruise lines and how they cater for solo travellers versus solo travellers' experiences with the different cruise lines. i.e. just because a line doesn't specifically cater for solos doesn't mean a solo can't have a good experience and vice versa.

I've only cruised twice, and only once as a solo cruiser, so my experience is limited to say the least. The time I travelled solo I went on a b2b on RCCL's Jewel of the Seas in 2008. This was before anytime dining on RCCL, I believe, and I chose late dining. The first sailing, I was placed at a table of 8... I was the only person at the table. Thankfully, I was rescued by some kind people at a nearby table or I don't think I would have returned to the dining room. On the second sailing, I was placed at another large table, this time the table was actually full - no room for me. Seriously. Thankfully, I had made friends with some people from the Roll Call boards who knew the maitre d and she rescued me to their table! Honestly, how do they arrange their table seating!?

There weren't any organised solo activities that I was aware of, but that was okay with me. I live on my own and am not a big socialiser so I enjoy my own company (although, call me crazy, I prefer not to sit on my own at a table for 8 in a full dining room). While I met many lovely people, I did find it frustrating that some people (well-meaning as they were) didn't understand that, as a solo traveller, I was perfectly okay with being on my own and didn't need company 24/7. There was a time and place. But I digress.

So, anyhoo, what is your experience with the different cruise lines? Do some offer activities for the solo travellers to mix and mingle and make friends? Do some have a better way of arranging tables at formal dinner times to ensure solos are included and/or catered for rather than left feeling like they should head for the buffets? Are the anytime dining arrangements better for solos/are they better on one line than on others? Are the single supplements better/worse on some lines than others?

:confused:

My 2 solo cruises have been with RCCL and I currently have one booked with Celebrity, but I will probably switch it to Royal. I felt completely comfortable on there since I was familiar with my surroundings; Celebrity doesn't appear to offer the same evening night life that I enjoy with Royal.

I should point out that Celebrity's single supplement for this sailing was too good to pass up. It's less than $1,000 for an Oceanview room. I might not be able to give up that deal.

In case anyone is interested, we are in the process of putting together a Cruise Critic solo cruise for November 2013. The month is all we have chosen at the moment because we are waiting for all of the itineraries to come out.

It will be a group of solo cruisers of all ages and situations. Some married, some not. This isn't a "single's group". I'm married but my husband refuses to cruise. Eveyone will have their own room by themselves but it will also give them others to hang out with or eat with if and when they want to.

We have a thread that's titled Preliminary Official Cruise Critic Group Solo Cruise Discussion Thread if you are interested.

I have sailed on Royal Caribbean and Carnival, and am booked on NCL Epic for next December.

It sort of depends on what type of cruise you're looking for. Carnival (at least in the past, less so these days) had the most generous Single Supplemnts. So if I was going on a weekend cruise to Mexico (at the time I lived in Southern California which made weekend cruises very convenient, now I live in Northern California) these were nice cruises as a solo as there was plenty of activity and the crowd on the weekend was fairly young. As I got a little older myself, and the party cruise became less appealing I switched to Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean was and remains a very nice line. Food was good and the staff seemed to keep an eye out for solo's. It's a much more family oriented line so I had to deal a little more with people insisting I eat with them to "save me" from being alone, and that sort of thing. But on the whole, it was easy to meet people and have a group of people to select from for activities, but also be able to get some solo time if I needed it.

So it sort of depends on what you're looking for out of the experience. I had an excellent time as a solo on both lines.

Hope this gives you some insight!

Al Day

single supplement

I've got to say that's a key for me - the idea of paying double to travel alone just infuriates me, and I won't do it on principle any more (though I have in the past). My next solo cruise will be on Crystal, so I won't be surprised that it's a very different experience than my previous HAL and Princess experiences. One of the first reasons I looked at Crystal was their reasonable singles' supplements, but being virtually-all-inclusive, they're not losing as much from not being to sell extras to the missing passenger.

..... While I met many lovely people, I did find it frustrating that some people (well-meaning as they were) didn't understand that, as a solo traveller, I was perfectly okay with being on my own and didn't need company 24/7.

So, anyhoo, what is your experience with the different cruise lines? Do some offer activities for the solo travellers to mix and mingle and make friends? Do some have a better way of arranging tables at formal dinner times to ensure solos are included and/or catered for rather than left feeling like they should head for the buffets? Are the anytime dining arrangements better for solos/are they better on one line than on others? Are the single supplements better/worse on some lines than others?

:confused:

People seem to feel the need to express sympathy about my Solo state. One person on these boards had a great response that I have decided to adopt. Whenever some little elderly man or woman come up to me and ask, "Dear, Are you on this cruise all alone?" My response now is, No, I believe there about 2200 other people on this cruise also! :D

RCCL charges a lower single suppliment than Carnival but the total charge except on their very old ships can still be higher. I'm told NCL Epic has solo cabins and singles activities. I did notice that the Epic solo cabins do not charge more even if 2 people were to occupie it but at only 100 SQ feet you would be hard pressed to fit 2 people in it and the total cabin price is often the same or higher than total cabin price of a cabin for 2. I prefer carnival because they tend to be less expensive, I like the karaoke and the comedy club and the type of folks they attract always seem to be very friendly. I've gone on cruises where people, for the most part, kept to their own group but on Carnival ships I've always had dozens of people (usually folks I met at Karaoke) calling me by name and asking what I'm planning to do that night by half way through the cruise.

I chose Carnival for the following reasons.

* Assigned dining. While this ties me down to my scheduled dinner seating, it eliminates having to look for a table to sit at every time and/or the awkwardness of eating dinner alone at a big table, as people described earlier in this thread. (There doesn't seem to be as much awkwardness with eating breakfast or lunch alone.)

* Organized activities. Without having a "default companion" (i. e. the person I came with) to hang out with, anything organized by Carnival is a great thing to fall back on. And based on what I read, there's always at least one interesting thing going on at all hours of the day, such as contests by the pool, dance classes, etc.

* Low prices. With the single supplement factored in, Carnival ended up giving me the best price out of all the cruise lines I researched. The only minor downside is having to book an inside cabin to cut costs, and I'm not sure just how comfortable that'll be. But with a short cruise, it's really not an issue.

I cruised both RCI and NCL by myself. I just retired (ha! just means that I can control my own hours and work from my laptop anywhere in the world), and my DH is limited by a busy office and travel schedule. He is also a "crackberry addict" but that is another story.

I have had excellent experiences on both lines. NCL with the freestyle cruising worked well for me. Since my solo cruise with them was to the Canaries, it ran on European rules and I shared a table with different interesting people for lunch dinner each evening (they ask you if you want to share or sit by yourself).

RCI was a transatlantic cruise last Oct and there were 8 of us at the table - 3 couples and another single. We had a great time. I have two more transatlantic solo cruises booked with them. I find enough ways to meet people that I just ignore the few rude questions (is your husband here? I look at my watch - no, I reply - I think at the moment he is ..... and answer with the truth which might be at work, on a plane, or asleep in his bed).

I am not much for organized activities but prefer ships with good music and comfortable lounge space where I can read/listen to audio books/knit.

All my cruises have been solo and I have sailed on most of the mass market lines, and I have enjoyed all of them. I have not had a bad cruise on any of them. I do not use the MDR much as I prefer the alternative restaurants or the Lido over the two hour dining experience, so I like the anytime or freestyle dining style over the fixed dining. I look for the best price on the itinerary that I am looking at and go with that cruise line.

I've only done 3 solo cruises, but each one was a different line. I enjoyed each of them and would be willing to go back to each of the 3 cruise lines (Princess, Carnival, Celebrity) or to try a different one. I guess that means I don't have a preference. It's all good.

Voyages to Antiquity - little or NO supplement, dedicated single cabins with a double bed, excellent itineraries and a small ship.:)

Voyages to Antiquity - little or NO supplement, dedicated single cabins with a double bed, excellent itineraries and a small ship.:)

I checked their site and the price is expensive but seems to include everything. Do those ships have ANY evening entertainment, bars, or clubs or does everyone just go to bed after dinner.

People seem to feel the need to express sympathy about my Solo state. One person on these boards had a great response that I have decided to adopt. Whenever some little elderly man or woman come up to me and ask, "Dear, Are you on this cruise all alone?" My response now is, No, I believe there about 2200 other people on this cruise also! :D

Off-topic (and no, I'm not really old enough to remember; reruns are great!): that's actually a Gracie Allen line from the old Burns & Allen show:

Young girl: My father's very worried about me living in New York all alone.

Gracie: But you don't live here alone. Two million other people live here with you!

I checked their site and the price is expensive but seems to include everything. Do those ships have ANY evening entertainment, bars, or clubs or does everyone just go to bed after dinner.

:)Evenings have lecture/ trio in main theatre or special local groups come on to perform. There is a piano bar with a small dance floor.

Price includes everything - airfare, transfers,tips, pre-cruise hotels (breakfast only) and most of the excursions.

I do tend to go to bed early because after 4-8 hours trekking through the sites and seeing the sights, I'm pooped! - Shar

Off-topic (and no, I'm not really old enough to remember; reruns are great!): that's actually a Gracie Allen line from the old Burns & Allen show:

Young girl: My father's very worried about me living in New York all alone.

Gracie: But you don't live here alone. Two million other people live here with you!

That was a little before my time so I didn't know I was stealing material from Burns and Allen. I just thought I was stealing material from a fellow cruise critic member! LOL :D

In 2010 I sail Crystal Cruise Lines as a solo female passenger and it was one of the best trips of my life. I didn't feel alone as other passengers were quick to include me. Made several friends, was seated at a solo table for 8 which turned out to be 5 men and three women all of whom were extremely interesting (in a good way). To top it off I was bumped up to the Pen House level.

Can't wait to take another solo cruise.

Thanks for all the great responses everyone :)

And Jana60, I do like that response - I may have to borrow that ;)

Al Day, you are definitely right, as emphasised by everyone's responses, it does depend a lot on what kind of cruise you're after, I guess! Perhaps, I'll just have to make it my mission to try them all :eek:

I'm on my second solo TA this coming November. On my first I had asked for a large table, early dining. The table sat 12, and not one person spoke to me the first night. Thankfully, as someone else said, Roll Call friends came to my rescue, and I switched to their table, and all went well.

I've discovered, especially with this upcoming cruise, that the roll call helps a lot. Several of us have linked our reservations so we can sit together at dinner - late dining this time. Several group activities are being planned, and I'm doing a private tour out of Malaga that's been organized by one of the roll call people.

Now, here's one of my stories that's a little different from "won't you be lonely." I did a 5 night solo cruise on the Carnival Fantasy out of Charleston a year ago. I stayed in Charleston the night before, and as I was leaving the restaurant where I had dinner I heard a group - older couple with middle aged "children" - talking and realized they were on the cruise. So, I introduced myself and said I was cruising alone.

The older man's first question was: Are you hoping to meet a man? He could not fathom that I as a woman (even an older woman which I am) was going alone for the R&R and solitude. I simply had to be man hunting. I assured him I was not, but I was never sure he fully believed me.

I just booked a last minute solo cruise on RCI 12 day Med and leave in a few weeks. This is my first cruise where the airfare is more than the cruise!

I have completed 2 solo cruises and both have been with DCL. The first cruise was a Med cruise where I met a bunch of other solos and had a wonderful time. This was actually the best vacation I have ever had. Met alot of really friendly people who I still keep in touch with.

Then I booked a DCL solo cruise to Alaska (my second cruise to Alaska). This trip was not so great. Just met a few solos and not my type. The people I met (even on the roll calls) tended to stick together.

I just booked a last minute solo cruise on RCI 12 day Med and leave in a few weeks. This is my first cruise where the airfare is more than the cruise!

 

I have completed 2 solo cruises and both have been with DCL. The first cruise was a Med cruise where I met a bunch of other solos and had a wonderful time. This was actually the best vacation I have ever had. Met alot of really friendly people who I still keep in touch with.

 

Then I booked a DCL solo cruise to Alaska (my second cruise to Alaska). This trip was not so great. Just met a few solos and not my type. The people I met (even on the roll calls) tended to stick together.

Hi tontok,

Which sailing will you be on? I am looking at Serenade in July. Will be solo myself.

I've sailed solo 3 times on NCL. One of those times on the Epic in a studio cabin. I was quite comfortable each time, as I travel alone often enough.

On the Epic though there is definitely a lot more effort put into solo activities and get-togethers. I like being able to eat alone or with some people that I meet and want to have a meal with, their set up allows for both which I like.

All of my cruises so far have been solo and they have been aboard HAL and Carnival ships. As different as both cruise lines are, I can't say I have a favorite among the two, but I do enjoy both of them. My next cruise aboard Disney Wonder will also be solo, and I'm looking forward to it.