Ready to try solo cruising? Cruise like a pro with these helpful solo traveling tips from CruiseExperts.com!
If you are considering solo cruising, get ready to have a great time! Family and couple cruises seem to get all the attention, but solo cruising is becoming more popular, and more affordable, than ever before. It is natural to have some concerns about solo cruising, particularly if you are going to be travelling alone for the first time. To relieve your concerns about solo cruising and help you have a fabulous time, the travel team at CruiseExperts.com has put together our best solo traveling tips and advice on the benefits of solo cruising.
Take advantage of great incentives
Now is the perfect time to try cruising solo! Many of the top European river cruise lines are offering terrific incentives and reducing or waiving single supplements, those annoying charges levied on single passengers on cruises. Tauck, Avalon, and Uniworld are all waiving single supplements on selected itineraries on their European river cruises. Crystal Cruises offers single supplements as low as 10 percent – book early for the best rates!
Book early to get studio staterooms
One of the key solo travelling tips is to book early. Several of the cruise lines now offer studio staterooms for their solo cruisers, but they are available on a very limited basis. Royal Caribbean now offers studio staterooms with balconies or virtual balconies. Norwegian Cruise Lines offers something even better; their modern studio staterooms open to a common lounge area where solo cruisers can mix, mingle, and relax in a shared living space. Cunard also offers studio staterooms.
Sign up for onboard classes
Signing up for onboard classes is a great way for solo cruisers to meet other guests. You get to have fun, learn a new skill, and meet other guests. One of the benefits of solo cruising is you have a much better chance of getting off the waitlist for popular classes.
Mingle during dining
Meal times can be a great opportunity to meet new people if you take certain steps. One of our top tips on how to travel alone for the first time is talk to the maître d’ at the beginning of your cruise. Explain you will be travelling solo and ask to be seated at a table with other solo travelers. A $10 tip is a good token of appreciation. The maître d’ will make sure you are seated with a friendly group of fellow travelers. Guests who are travelling on river cruises can skip this step: meals are served family style and designed to foster a feeling of conviviality.
Bond during shore excursions
Participation in shore excursions is a terrific bonding experience. Guests on river cruises, particularly those who are travelling alone in Europe for the first time, are sometimes surprised to find just how friendly their fellow travelers are. Experienced river cruisers note that the intimate ship size, shared cultural activities and shore excursions, and family-style dinners help to foster friendships with fellow passengers.
To find out more solo travelling tips or to discover an upcoming sailing that may be perfect for you, call CruiseExperts.com today at 1-888-804-CRUISE (2784). Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and join our InnerCircle for exclusive offers and cruise news you can use! Also, check out our new Resource Center, where you can receive expert knowledge from us before your next cruise or cruise tour!