Need advice: never cruised. 50 yo single male. Looking for love

Hi, I am a 50 yo male looking for a cruise. Many questions.

Ratio of men to women?

Which cruises have a high # of singles?

Forgive this question: Hoping to find a passionate experience. Is a cruise a good option? Not a creep, just wanting to have a fun time.

Thanks for any advice you can send.

George

Don't stay in your cabin long.

I haven't run into a whole lot of singles our age on any of my cruises - but I've had a whole lot of fun anyway!!

I'm in your age group, and I've been on more than 20 cruises as a solo, and to be honest, there are very few "mature" singles on any line. If you're looking for romance, find a lovely lady and bring her along with you on the cruise.

I would recommend booking with a singles group, otherwise there may be very few singles on the ship.

This January I will be going on my fourth singles cruise, and of the previous three, two had more women then men. Most of the singles are on the cruise just for freindship, but there is always the chance for romance.

The two cruises I did solo, there were very few singles.

All my sailings have been solo, I'm 50-something, and I find that yes, there are not many singles/solos on most cruises, but I have a great time anyway.

I suggest you try Carnival ...it's known for being a party line, and attracts passengers who like to have fun and let their hair down.

Also, I recommend traditional dining -- assigned seating for dinner, with the same people for the entire trip -- rather than "freestyle" dining ...especially for a solo traveler. For that reason I do NOT recommend NCL, which is freestyle dining only, for a solo traveler who wants to meet people ...you can read the posts about single dining on NCL to get the idea.

I've been on two Carnival cruises (just returned from one), and BOTH times Carnival actually had made the effort to assign passengers who were sailing solo to sitting at the same tables.

On the cruise I just returned from, I had requested a 10 top when I made my reservation, and when I arrived for dinner the first night, I discovered all of us at the table were sailing solo. We had a great time, and yes, some action developed, but I'm not naming names.

Other cruise lines do not appear to make any effort to seat passengers according to any criteria, from my experience. RCI sat me at a 10 top with a group of 9 family members who were all together ...when I arrived the first night, they nicely suggested I might be happier at another table, and so I requested a move. You will find the maitre D' will usually be happy to seat you somewhere else, if you ask.

If you do meet any singles, it's much easier on a cruise to get to know them, than it is at home ...most people on a cruise are ready to have fun and to be sociable, especially if they are "alone" also.

Finally, I recommend you pick a cruise with an itinerary that interests you, and would perhaps interest other singles, and most of all go with the purpose of enjoying the cruise ...if romance occurs, that's icing on the cake, but don't go just for that, as it's a slim chance ...but then, that depends a lot on how "smooth" you are! ;)

Hi, I am a 50 yo male looking for a cruise. Many questions.

Ratio of men to women?

Which cruises have a high # of singles?

Forgive this question: Hoping to find a passionate experience. Is a cruise a good option? Not a creep, just wanting to have a fun time.

Thanks for any advice you can send.

 

George

At least on Carnival, there is a singles meet & greet, I have heard overall there is a higher women to men ratio. There might be women who are looking to hook up, buy her a couple of drinks and who knows.

Frankly, I think cruises are lousy places to find romance or even a quick fling. But you never can tell. (And you're more likely to find the latter, if anything...)

You'll find singles on most cruises, especially on Carnival where you can almost always get a decent solo room price. Look for solo deals, singles groups, or something like that - they'll attract more singles.

You also find a lot of singles on shorter cruises that run over a weekend, like the 3 night trip I just took last month from Miami to Nassau and back on the Carnival Imagination - these are mainly locals who are looking for a weekend getaway. (OTOH, 3 nights is hardly any time to meet anyone, unless you're pretty fast...) There were very few singles, on the other hand, on the longer Carnival Miracle cruise I took last March which ran 8 nights Wednesday through the following Thursday.

Single meet and greets, unless you're actually with a singles group, seem to be a bust in almost all cases. I tend to go to them on every cruise I'm on, and only once was there anything resembling an actual meet and greet. I've met more people hanging out in the disco or casino or hot tub, or even at the dinner table. (They do tend to put solo travelers together at dinner...) Shore excursions can also be good places to meet people.

I am 50, too. I have not found any midlife singles on the cruises I have been on. On the 4 cruises I have been on, they have all been Royal Caribbean, which is probably not a big singles magnet anyway. But I continue to choose Royal Caribbean because I'm very happy with their service, and my sons enjoy it as well. We will be sailing on Independence of the Seas March 7, 2009. I guess the point is to just choose the cruise you will be happy with. The rest will fall into place.

I sailed a number of times as a single -3 on Norwegian and 5 on Holland America -- when I was 60 to 66 (happily married now) There were always more women than men, and on Holland America the age range for single women seemed mainly 50 -70. Fixed seating dining at a large table is a great way to meet a few right off -- the singles meetings were rarely well attended. Best way to find romance/"action" was to check out discos, Crows Nest or Ocean Bar on HAL when there was dance music - where like-minded single women would congregate. Striking up a conversation is easier when asking for a dance than trying to sidle up to some lady in a bar. Without going into specifics, I regularly had a great time.

I have been thinking of trying a singles cruise

but if I did , I would proobably have to get one of those room share type cruises

Has anyone had any luck with those ?

I am a single mom , and my last few cruises have been with my children , age 11 & 16 , I would love to be able to meet single men cruisers and do some of the meet & greets and other activities with other singles - male & female

cruises are my favorite vacation .... :D

and I would love to meet my prince charming one day , especially if he loves cruising as much as I do !!:cool:

I have been thinking of trying a singles cruise but if I did , I would proobably have to get one of those room share type cruises

 

Has anyone had any luck with those ?

 

I am a single mom , and my last few cruises have been with my children , age 11 & 16 , I would love to be able to meet single men cruisers and do some of the meet & greets and other activities with other singles - male & female

 

cruises are my favorite vacation .... :D and I would love to meet my prince charming one day , especially if he loves cruising as much as I do !!:cool:

Please note the title description of this forum toward the top of the page:

Singles Cruises Which cruise line offers the most for single cruisers? Solo cruisers?

Note it says line, not agent, agency, or other cruise-related site or message board.

You might want to try a Google search for hosted single cruises. Per the Guidelines, the names, web sites, etc. of travel agents/agencies or other cruise-related sites or message boards --- even if "masked" --- are not allowed in Cruise Critic message board posts. Posts asking for the name, site or further information or posts offering same, will be removed as well as any replies to the removed posts. This includes asking for further info by e-mail or offering to send the info by e-mail.

Also per the Guidelines:

Only official Cruise Critic Group Cruises may be promoted anywhere on our cruise forums. This includes graphics, links, banners and references to any non-Cruise Critic Group Cruise. Any promotional material posted on the forums about non-Cruise Critic Group Cruises will be removed without notice.

Your fellow Cruise Critic members are welcome to post their experiences, just as long as they do not mention the name or site of their hosted single cruise agent, site or promote a non-Cruise Critic group cruise in any way.

An "oldie but goody" thread on this forum titled Have you ever been on one of the organized singles cruises through a major agency? may be helpful. Click here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=428875

Perhaps the Cruise Critic article titled Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers may be helpful too. Click here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=419

As for information regarding anyone's previous experience, I found another "oldie" thread on the Solo Cruisers Forum that may help you titled Room Share Program. Click here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=761130

I see you have already posted way back in April on the lengthly Carnival Cruise Lines Forum thread titled Possible CC group Single Parents & Friends on Carnival DREAM mid-June 2010 at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=747850. It appears they are going on Carnival Dream for her 6/19/10 cruise out of Port Canaveral and are having fun getting to know one another while they wait for the pricing. Perhaps it will work out that you and your family/friends can go too!!

Hope this information will be helpful and wishing you lots of

Kat

'Tis the season to be jolly...

I would recommend booking with a singles group, otherwise there may be very few singles on the ship.

 

This January I will be going on my fourth singles cruise, and of the previous three, two had more women then men. Most of the singles are on the cruise just for freindship, but there is always the chance for romance.

 

The two cruises I did solo, there were very few singles.

Hi CruisinChaos, I will be on the January 18 Celebrity Solstice Singles cruise also. This will be my sixth singles cruise with this agency. I will be on the Dec. 6 sailing of the Ruby Princess next Saturday.

Will you be at the Pre-Cruise Party on January 17? I am bringing a couple of friends with me from Wichita on the Solstice cruise. This will be their first singles cruise. I know they are going to love it.

Terry from Wichita

Please note the title description of this forum toward the top of the page:

 

Singles Cruises Which cruise line offers the most for single cruisers? Solo cruisers?

 

Note it says line' date=' not agent, agency, or other cruise-related site or message board.

 

You might want to try a Google search for [i']hosted single cruises[/i]. Per the Guidelines, the names, web sites, etc. of travel agents/agencies or other cruise-related sites or message boards --- even if "masked" --- are not allowed in Cruise Critic message board posts. Posts asking for the name, site or further information or posts offering same, will be removed as well as any replies to the removed posts. This includes asking for further info by e-mail or offering to send the info by e-mail.

 

Also per the Guidelines:

 

Only official Cruise Critic Group Cruises may be promoted anywhere on our cruise forums. This includes graphics, links, banners and references to any non-Cruise Critic Group Cruise. Any promotional material posted on the forums about non-Cruise Critic Group Cruises will be removed without notice.

 

Your fellow Cruise Critic members are welcome to post their experiences, just as long as they do not mention the name or site of their hosted single cruise agent, site or promote a non-Cruise Critic group cruise in any way.

 

An "oldie but goody" thread on this forum titled Have you ever been on one of the organized singles cruises through a major agency? may be helpful. Click here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=428875

 

Perhaps the Cruise Critic article titled Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers may be helpful too. Click here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=419

 

As for information regarding anyone's previous experience, I found another "oldie" thread on the Solo Cruisers Forum that may help you titled Room Share Program. Click here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=761130

 

I see you have already posted way back in April on the lengthly Carnival Cruise Lines Forum thread titled Possible CC group Single Parents & Friends on Carnival DREAM mid-June 2010 at http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=747850. It appears they are going on Carnival Dream for her 6/19/10 cruise out of Port Canaveral and are having fun getting to know one another while they wait for the pricing. Perhaps it will work out that you and your family/friends can go too!!

 

Hope this information will be helpful and wishing you lots of

Kat

'Tis the season to be jolly...

Thanks a lot , I do appreciate it....

that is what I am hoping for ...

to see if anyone has tried them

and what they experiences with them have been...

if they would recommend them for someone that is trying to watch their pennies

and if it would be a waste of money

for a single woman to do

seeing I have heard that the women onboard that are single out number the men

Thank you ever so much Host Kat :)

You are most welcome!

Glad to be of service,

Kat

Very simple, learn to dance and your odds will greatly increase. I am living proof of that.

Hi, I am a 50 yo male looking for a cruise. Many questions.

Ratio of men to women?

Which cruises have a high # of singles?

Forgive this question: Hoping to find a passionate experience. Is a cruise a good option? Not a creep, just wanting to have a fun time.

Thanks for any advice you can send.

 

George

I am in your age group and I am traveling RCCL in March for the 4th time solo. Always had a great time. If I meet someone to hang out with great, if not I still have a good time.

Laurie

I have been thinking of trying a singles cruise

 

but if I did , I would proobably have to get one of those room share type cruises

 

Has anyone had any luck with those ?

 

I am a single mom , and my last few cruises have been with my children , age 11 & 16 , I would love to be able to meet single men cruisers and do some of the meet & greets and other activities with other singles - male & female

 

cruises are my favorite vacation .... :D

and I would love to meet my prince charming one day , especially if he loves cruising as much as I do !!:cool:

I met a nice cabin mate on http://www.travelchums.com

Frankly, I think cruises are lousy places to find romance or even a quick fling. But you never can tell. (And you're more likely to find the latter, if anything...)

 

You'll find singles on most cruises, especially on Carnival where you can almost always get a decent solo room price. Look for solo deals, singles groups, or something like that - they'll attract more singles.

 

You also find a lot of singles on shorter cruises that run over a weekend, like the 3 night trip I just took last month from Miami to Nassau and back on the Carnival Imagination - these are mainly locals who are looking for a weekend getaway. (OTOH, 3 nights is hardly any time to meet anyone, unless you're pretty fast...) There were very few singles, on the other hand, on the longer Carnival Miracle cruise I took last March which ran 8 nights Wednesday through the following Thursday.

 

Single meet and greets, unless you're actually with a singles group, seem to be a bust in almost all cases. I tend to go to them on every cruise I'm on, and only once was there anything resembling an actual meet and greet. I've met more people hanging out in the disco or casino or hot tub, or even at the dinner table. (They do tend to put solo travelers together at dinner...) Shore excursions can also be good places to meet people.

How true this is!

I have been thinking of trying a singles cruise

 

but if I did , I would proobably have to get one of those room share type cruises

 

Has anyone had any luck with those ?

 

I am a single mom , and my last few cruises have been with my children , age 11 & 16 , I would love to be able to meet single men cruisers and do some of the meet & greets and other activities with other singles - male & female

 

cruises are my favorite vacation .... :D

and I would love to meet my prince charming one day , especially if he loves cruising as much as I do !!:cool:

I'd have to suggest the November 29th sailing on the Carnival Splendor. Wink, wink.

I have done 2 solo cruises, (I'm in my 50's. ) There were a few single women on both, and even fewer single men. I really wouldn't count much on the romance thing, you'd be better off staying home and going to a bar.. But if you like cruising, then by all means go. I really like going solo. I can do what I want, when I want, and there is no one to I have to please or be accountable for. Its great. I have a 20 night med cruise coming up, and I can't wait!!!!

Barb

If you are looking for a passionate experince for a week I feel confident you could find it. Check out the bars at 2 a.m. Is a cruise a good option, no not compared to any bar that has "passionate" women looking for a good time. Carol in CA

Hi, I am a 50 yo male looking for a cruise. Many questions.

Ratio of men to women?

Which cruises have a high # of singles?

Forgive this question: Hoping to find a passionate experience. Is a cruise a good option? Not a creep, just wanting to have a fun time.

Thanks for any advice you can send.

 

George

Cruising 3/14/10 to Caribbean single in same age group, taking teen ager with me, who will be doing her own thing

fireofficer5,

I'm also "50-something" and have been on 27 Caribbean cruises (so far).

Here's my best advice:

Carnival Crruise lines attracts high high number of "Singles" and offers a "Singles get-together" the first night of a 7 day cruise, and has a lot of "fun" activities throughout the week.

I think the best places to meet other singles onboard are: poolside, in the casino & at your assigned dinner table. (Don't hesitate to talk to the maitradi' if you're not happy with your seating assignment as they are most willing to change it to accomodate your request). Dining with the same passengers every night (traditional dining)is definitely a plus as most lines tend to seat singles with other singles. Request a LARGE table as your dining arrangement as this will increase your chances of being seated with other singles. Don't hestitateto mention to others at your table that you're traveling "solo". Sometimes they'll know of others that are also and will often try to introduce you. (I've had this happen a couple times).

My experience:

CARNIVAL: (although they tend to attract more "singles" & has scheduled singles activities), has less expensive cabins available, they tend to attract a younger clientele.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN: Still a very "fun" ship, and a bit more "upscale" than Carnival. (in my experience) has a very diverse clientele. It's not your typical NCL or Holland America crowd that seems to attract more "seniors".

Shorter cruises (3-5-7 day cruises) tend to attract more singles rather than the 8-10-14+ day cruises).

Caribbean cruises = more singles rather than the Hawaiian itienerary.

Terry (Ce2000). You've had better luck than I have.

I recently booked a "singles" cruise (8 months in advance) on the Celebrity Zenith that had a GREAT itinerary. But they called me 2 weeks before the departure date to let me know that they only had FOUR people booked for this cruise, and asked for my permission to share my cabin with a passenger of the opposite sex who was a smoker (I am a non-smoker) and offered a full refund if I wasn't comfortable with this arrangement.

Even though I was disappointed that I wasn't going to be going on this cruise, I asked for the refund and immediately called Royal Caribbeans' 800 number to ask if they had ANY cabins available on ANY of their ships departing from Miami on that same date.

As it turns out they had 1 cabin left on the SERENADE OF THE SEAS (it was the exact opposite of the itinerary I was planning to to do) but I booked it anyway. The fact that it was almost $1,000 less than the celebrity cruise I had previously booked was a bonus, and it turned out to be one of the best cruises I'd ever been on (after16 of them).

Long story short . . . I think it's really a "hit or miss" situation on any cruise. My only suggestion is to try not to book your cruise over a natioinal holiday as they tend to attract more "familes" while the little tikes are out of school. ( I was on the Carnival Triumph the week of Thanksgiving a few years ago and there were over 900 children on board!). Not only were they chasing around the pool area, but were pressing all the buttons on the wlevators and litterally took over the discoteque with all their "bubblegum" type songs as mom & dad had them out on the dsncefloor!). (NOT my idea of a fun cruise).

again, it's a hit or miss situation. I just suggest you do extensive reaearch on any "singles" agency you're looking it at.

I hope to see a review of some sort from you once you've returned from your cruise. It's always nice to read someone elses point of view.

Good luck!

RP