Travelling by yourself means no compromising. It means you can choose your own adventure and fly by the seat of your pants. What better way to do that than on a cruise?
Remember, cruises can be the perfect melting pot of sweet solitude and group action, but you want to be well-informed before you book your trip. Keep reading for a roundup of tricks, tips and know-how to help you get the most out of solo cruising.
This is a fee that the cruise liner places on a solo traveller. It ensures the cruise liner isn’t out of pocket due to the lack of another body in a double-occupancy room, as the majority of cabins on cruise ships are designed to accommodate two people. If you want to avoid the single supplement, you can find ships that cater to solo travellers with solo cabins, get on the mailing lists for cruise liners so you can scope out any last-minute distress rates or find a friend to share a stateroom with (or see if your cruise ship can match you with another solo guest).
Before Norwegian Cruise Line introduced solo cabins to the industry in 2010, solo cruisers were forced to pay the ‘single supplement.’ Now there’s a slow but steady revolution as solo cabins (also known as ‘studios’) are on the rise. Here’s a quick look at which cruise ships offer solo cabins.
Royal Caribbean cruises have a My Time Dining policy which will seat solo diners at larger tables upon request. They also have a bundle of group activities to ensure you’re in good company.
The Holland America Line, which won the Australian Cruise Critic’s Editor’s Choice Award in 2017 for the Solo Traveller category, has a Single Partners Program. Part of this program is a Solo Travellers Party that allows all the solo folk to mingle and get to know each other. There are also over 40 activities to help build connections between fellow solo travellers including wine tasting, cooking demos, exercise classes and team trivia.
Norwegian Cruise Lines introduced the first solo cabins to the industry and some of their ships with solo cabins have the Studio Complex and Lounge where single travellers can chill out together. Various activities also help single travellers connect with like-minded folk.
UnCruises are smaller, more intimate affairs that are ideal for solo travellers. The group activities and special treatment from the crew make everyone’s time onboard special (but they’re not ideal for those seeking anonymity and solitude).
U by UniWorld are designed as river cruises for millennials. They have dinners that are designed to share and no solo traveller gets left behind. As added perks, there’s a silent disco, a late brunch, a WhatsApp group instead of printed itineraries, and special rates for solo cruisers who are willing to share a room with fellow solo explorer.
Crystal Cruises have Ambassador Hosts who’ll accompany solo cruisers on the dancefloor. Solo travellers can also request to be seated with other singles at dinner.
This isn't thetype of holiday you want to leave to the last minute. Single cabins are limited on cruise ships, so they can book out quite quickly.
Yes, you do. Travel insurance means you can protect yourself and your belongings from events that range from the dramatic (illness on-board) to the niggling and annoying (a damaged outfit), all of which mean wasted money. Travel insurance lets you enjoy your holiday knowing you’re covered.
Recent 1Cover data shows that 1 in 10 travellers needed medical assistance on a cruise and Medicare benefits aren’t payable for journeys between an Australian port and a foreign port, or between two foreign ports.
We recommend that you print out and carry with you a copy of your certificate of insurance as it has your policy number and our Emergency Assistance phone numbers. Some cruises even insist that you provide a copy to them in case of this exact circumstance. If the cruise staff have access to your policy information they can contact us on your behalf in the event of an emergency.
We do offer this, where applicable, but it will incur a cost. Head here for more information on extending your policy - whether it’s due to a delay or just because you are having too much darn holiday fun.
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