Looking for single/solo LUXURY cruise

[vml]

I am recently widowed and my husband and I only sailed on Crystal and loved it. Now that I'm single, I was thinking of trying a different line. We sailed on Regent once and liked it, and I'm a little reluctant of the smaller ships (too few people, too bouncy in rough seas). I'm not overly concerned about the supplement. I want to meet people but travel alone. Any suggestions? I appreciate it.

[Dancer Bob]

In my experience the larger the ship, the more welcoming for singles.

[NHBob]

I am recently widowed and my husband and I only sailed on Crystal and loved it. Now that I'm single, I was thinking of trying a different line. We sailed on Regent once and liked it, and I'm a little reluctant of the smaller ships (too few people, too bouncy in rough seas). I'm not overly concerned about the supplement. I want to meet people but travel alone. Any suggestions? I appreciate it.

 

My advice: Stick with Crystal. Since becoming widowed 14 years ago, I've cruised extensively on various lines, including Cunard, HAL, Celebrity and MSC, but I now cruise exclusively with Crystal. The ships are ideal size - big enough to have all the amenities of large ships, but small enough to make it easy to meet others. I personally will never cruise "free style" with different table mates and waiters every night.

 

If you enjoy dancing, Crystal is one of the few lines that still provides Gentleman Hosts to dance with the single ladies.

 

With the exception of a singles get-together early in the cruise, on-board programs are the same for everybody - singles, couples and families.

 

I don't particularly like port-intensive cruises and Crystal offers a good variety of cruises with lots of sea days. Since I enjoy dancing, I usually book Crystal's annual big band/ballroom transatlantic - next one is December 1, 2010, Lisbon to Miami. If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out the Crystal boards for lots of good information.

 

Bob

[kitty9]

I totally agree with Bob. I tried Regent twice as a solo and felt I was treated very badly. Open seating and solos don't work, in my humble opinion. For me, dining solo in an open seating situation is very uncomfortable. I love Crystal as a solo because you have the comfort of being assigned to a table with friendly mates who you can get to know from the very first night. On Regent, I was made to feel as a bother rather than an honored guest. I recently completed my 18th solo on Crystal, and will not go with any other line. Plus, their wonderful 25% supplement and their generous on board credit makes Crystal as all inclusive as it can be.

[pom]

I totally agree with Bob. I tried Regent twice as a solo and felt I was treated very badly. Open seating and solos don't work, in my humble opinion. For me, dining solo in an open seating situation is very uncomfortable. I love Crystal as a solo because you have the comfort of being assigned to a table with friendly mates who you can get to know from the very first night. On Regent, I was made to feel as a bother rather than an honored guest. I recently completed my 18th solo on Crystal, and will not go with any other line. Plus, their wonderful 25% supplement and their generous on board credit makes Crystal as all inclusive as it can be.

 

Hi

 

Thank you for this information, as I have always wanted to travel but alone? It cost so much to take a cruise this supplement charge , but what can you do right? How on earth did you do 18 by your self wow I just can not get the nerve to do one, I guess I am afraid of getting lost or not doing something right.

 

Thanks again

Pom

[haikou]

I am 49 and have been on 3 CC segments now.Thi smost recent one was LAX-SYD and I traveled alone this time and had a blast.A good group of dinnermates helped a lot and I specifically requested a table of singles only as I did not want to feel like th eodd person out.Their single supplement is amongst the lowest I have seen amongst luzury lines.The service is impeccable and there are none of the roudy spring break type cruisers of some of the less expensive/more crowded lines .Travel less often, maybe, but travel well I say!

[cruisingjunky]

Hi! I'm new on Cruise Critic. I've cruised alone and not-alone, and found both experiences fun.

 

Is there a big difference in price? Is the "supplement" from Crystal really that substantial?

 

I've had so many cabinmates I now know what to look for. For example, I always offer to bring 2 sets of blindfolds and earplugs. If the person responds favorably, we can continue. (That's just an example.) I do not want a cabinmate who insists on doing everything together. (Had one of those once!)

 

I like to cruise from April through September. Does Crystal have lower fares at certain times?

 

Thanks!

Cruisingjunkie

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Gee, I'm not single but I've met many singles on my Regent cruises and none of them have had a bad time. There's usually a singles table for dinner that they can join if they wish, or they can join a table of others, in couples or not.

 

Unfortunately their supplements are mostly high right now. We found a 50% one in December so that we can travel with a single friend of ours, on Voyager. We took him on the Paul Gauguin last year (which has attractive single supplements, by the way), and he had a ball.