Singles cruises

Holidays for Singles

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Singles cruises with no supplements

Singles Holidays

Choosing the right holiday can be a difficult process at the best of times; for people on their own it is even more of a problem.

Yet it can be difficult, in a holiday resort dominated by couples and families, to meet like-minded people interested in making friends. Anyone who has travelled alone knows how difficult it can be to get a good table in a restaurant or have a relaxed drink at the bar without feeling self conscious.

Many lone travellers feel constrained to stay fairly close to base on holiday, missing out on the fun of discovering small restaurants and lively night-spots. Both women and men can find travelling solo a daunting experience, and can find it hard to make new friends or to really enjoy themselves.

Yet there is a way - Just try a cruising holiday.

Cruise ships are an excellent choice for people travelling alone. On a cruise, you take your hotel - and all its facilities - with you as you go.

So you can enjoy a pleasant meal, take in a show, have a night-cap in a quiet piano bar or even dance the night away in a night-club without the worry of how to get back to base afterwards.

And because a cruise ship is to an extent an enclosed society, it will offer a sense of community and friendliness often lacking in shoreside resorts.

By day, you'll find plenty of activities to participate in, from pool parties, beauty demonstrations and fashion parades to lectures, arts and crafts classes, cookery lessons and keep-fit sessions. There are even juggling lessons, vocal workshops and trapeze training sessions on Ocean Village.

So discovering new hobbies, learning new skills and making new friends really couldn't be easier.

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Port adventure
When you go ashore, you have the security of knowing that the ship's crew keep tabs on who's aboard and who isn't - so people will be aware if anything goes wrong and you don't get back to the ship.

And since all ships offer an extensive programme of organised excursions ashore, single travellers can go exploring in good company.

Younger solos will also find plenty of active options on shore tours. The days when a shore excursion simply meant a coach tour around the main sights are long gone. Coach-based tours still exist for those who enjoy them - and they're often a perfect way to see the great cities and sights of the Mediterranean.

They have also been developed to include extra elements like al fresco lunches in smart restaurants, walking tours of outstanding areas and beach stops, so passengers can enjoy a really good day out. Ocean Village offers activities including abseiling, white water rafting, canyoning and mountain biking. These hi-adrenaline activities are a great way to meet people and try something new.

But there are also plenty of other options for fun ashore; on a Caribbean cruise, for example, passengers can take a catamaran trip and go snorkelling, or dive beneath the waves in a submarine.

While in Alaska they can try their hand at kayaking, white water rafting or mountain biking.

Trying something new ashore not only creates bonds between passengers.

It also provides plenty to talk about back at the ship when they meet for dinner, on cruise ships, single travellers never have to dine alone.

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Sociable dining
Though modern ships have a fair proportion of tables for two and often a range of dining options - from intimate bistros to Chinese, Italian and Mexican restaurants - the majority of ship dining rooms still seat most guests in groups of four, six or eight.

Again, this makes them a good choice for single travellers, who can rest assured they won't be shoved away in a corner with nothing but a book for company.

On some ships, dinner tables are hosted by senior officers adept at chatting and putting others at their ease.

But even without an officer to jolly things along, many cruise passengers have established firm friendships with people they first met around a ship's dining table - and lines do make an effort to match up passengers with others of a similar age and background.

But the joy of the latest generation of big, modern cruise ships is that they leave solo travellers free to be as sociable or as quiet as they wish. Though there will be a regular place at table in the ship's formal dining room for every passenger, guests are always free to take advantage of more casual dining outlets with new-found friends, or even to eat in splendid isolation in their cabin if they fancy a bit of peace and a ‘night in' with a good film on TV.

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Sociable Activities
The same goes for social activities. Most ships will organise special singles get-togethers early on in a cruise for solo travellers who’d like to get to know each other.

Others - mindful of the fact that women tend to live longer than men and therefore outnumber men on many cruises - employ special hosts to socialise with older ladies travelling alone. Lines with hosts on board include Cunard Line, Crystal Cruises, Holland America Line, Radisson.

These hosts are carefully screened to ensure they are of impeccable character, and they play a useful role in helping single ladies make the most of their cruise by enjoying a dance, a conversation or a game of cards.

Such initiatives aim to ensure that solo travellers are not left feeling isolated or left out. But at every stage of a cruise, the extent to which they participate is left entirely up to them.

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The price for singles
One bone of contention for all single travellers - whether they are taking a cruise or staying in a hotel - is that most prices are based on two people sharing a room, so solos must pay extra to get a room to themselves.

Some cruise ships have dedicated single cabins (but these tend to fill quickly, so get in early if you want one).

Others charge a supplement - usually one and a half times the per person sharing a twin cabin rate - for single occupancy of a double cabin because the cabin must be cleaned and serviced as much for one person as it would be for two.

If this makes the cost a little steep for your budget, you could enquire whether your chosen cruise line can match you up with another single of the same sex so that you can save costs by sharing a cabin.

Many lines do this, and a potential benefit is that if a ‘cabin mate' has not been found by time of sailing, you may get the cabin to yourself (but be aware this is never guaranteed). Another option is to keep an eye out for special offers - sometimes single supplements are reduced depending on availability.

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Cruise lines who offer cruise holidays for single people include:

FRED. OLSEN CRUISE LINES
Fred. Olsen’s three ships – Black Watch, Braemar and Black Prince – are smaller than those designed for the mass market which means that there is a welcoming and friendly atmosphere from the minute you step on board. Each ship has a selection of cabins designed specifically for the single traveller, and in addition the company also operates a ‘cabin share’ programme. In addition to special social activities, there are gentleman hosts are on board so single ladies need never be long without a dance or social partner. Fred. Olsen’s unique ArtsClub and Flagship Golf programmes also introduce like-minded passengers to each other.

HEBRIDEAN ISLAND CRUISES
Hebridean Island Cruises does not charge a single supplement for guests travelling alone. Single guests are seated on the officers’ tables for eight in the Argyll Restaurant for dinner in keeping with the intimate and friendly house-party feel of Hebridean Princess and Hebridean Spirit.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Holland America Line welcomes single travellers with a ‘Tradition of Excellence’ that includes a special cocktail party that enables guests travelling alone to meet up. Lady or gent share accommodation is available to keep the costs of solo cruising down. On longer voyages, such as the Panama Canal and Hawaii cruises (12 days+), social hosts keep single guests laughing and dancing.

ISLAND CRUISES
Whether you're spending the summer basking in the warmth of the Mediterranean or chilling out during a hot winter in Brazil, Island Cruises offers the relaxed, friendly and informal way to cruise, ideal for those who wish to cruise alone. With no fixed dress code or time for meals and a range of entertainment on and off the ship, there's plenty to keep you amused, well fed and full of fantastic memories for years to come.

OCEAN VILLAGE
Ocean Village combines action and relaxation at sea and ashore into a fresh new take on holidays for thirty-to-fifty-somethings: younger, more upbeat passengers who want to get more out of their time away. Perfect for the single traveller, Ocean Village offers a huge range of activities in each destination providing the chance for passengers to mingle and explore each port. Adrenaline junkies and dedicated sun-worshippers alike have plenty of choice and can do as little or as much as they please. For the go-getters, there is water-skiing, quad biking, jeep safaris and abseiling, to name but
a few. Ocean Village even has her own fleet of mountain bikes on board for exploration ashore. However, if you want to slow the pace down, there is whale and dolphin watching, Italian and Caribbean cookery classes and catamaran trips to choose from. Ocean Village's informal dress codes and casual on board style includes high quality 24/7 buffet dining, plus waiter service options at the Bistro with a menu created by TV celebrity chef James Martin. Theres' no set dining times or fixed seating plans so you can decide who to sit with and when to eat. Calling at six destinations every seven
days, the ship offers a choice of four itineraries - two in the Caribbean, two in the Mediterranean. These can be combined into a fortnight's cruise or added to a week's hotel stay in Barbados or Majorca to give a 14 night stay-and-cruise option.

MSC CRUISES
Mediterranean Shipping Cruises' vessels have a daily programme of activities such as salsa dancing, cookery classes and bridge which encourage travellers to make new friends from the start of their holiday. An introductory reception and cocktail is scheduled for solo travellers to enable them to meet others travelling on their own. The size of the ships creates an intimate and friendly atmosphere, which ensures that those travelling on their own easily make new friends with which to share their cruise. When dining, solo travellers have the choice of being seated alone or joining a group of dining companions who are keen to make new friends and share their experiences of the day. All twin or double rooms are offered for single occupancy ensuring travelles have extra cabin space during their cruise.

NORWEGIAN COASTAL VOYAGE
The Norwegian Coastal Voyage is the ideal choice of cruise for a single traveller. As the sails along the ever-changing coastline, there is so much to see as the ships go about their daily business of delivering passengers and supplies to local communities along the way. The coastal voyage is an informal cruise for people who want to see more than just sea whilst on holiday and offers an atmosphere which is perfect for meeting fellow passengers from around the world. From September to April there are a limited number of cabins that offer no single supplements.

In addition, each winter a series of special four night Northern Lights departures are available with no single supplements. Those wanting to go further afield can travel to Chile and Antarctica with NCV this winter and three departures in November and December 2004 have no single supplements.

P&O CRUISES
P&O Cruises welcomes holidaymakers travelling on their own and offers a number of dedicated single cabins as well as a same-sex cabin share programme.

Passengers travelling alone can opt to dine at a table of fellow single passengers and there are also optional dedicated gatherings, such as daily coffee mornings. If passengers wish to attend the Captain’s Gala Cocktail receptions in a group, there are often organised get-togethers arranged beforehand so that no one need arrive on their own.

PETER DEILMANN CRUISES
The 500-passenger ocean liner Deutchland, has 80 single cabins and are competitively priced. All single passengers are invited to a special ‘get together’ by the hostess. The ship offers three restaurants on board and all passengers are allocated a table in the main Berlin, and single passengers will be seated with others travelling alone.

The 10-vessel fleet of Peter Deilmann River Cruises welcomes single travellers on all their European river cruises, and mostly offer twin bedded cabins for sole use, and the holiday is priced to reflect this arrangement. With smaller number travelling on the river vessels from 60 and Koenigstein and up to 200 on the flag vessel, Mozart, single passengers are welcome and easily able to join in and make new friends.

PRINCESS CRUISES
Those travelling on their own on any of the Princess Cruises ships will be able to enjoy a wide choice of activities and entertainment on cruises ranging from the Caribbean and Alaska to the Mediterranean and world-wide. These range from scuba diving lessons, wine tastings and aerobics classes to spectacular shows and cabarets, fashion shows and golf putting competitions. ‘Grand Class’ cruising with Princess means freedom of choice for passengers to create their own cruise experience. And singles supplements, which vary according to destination, start at only 25 per cent in the Caribbean.

RADISSON SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
Seven Seas Voyager, Mariner, Navigator and Radisson Diamond, the deluxe ships in the Radisson Seven Seas fleet, make an ideal choice for the single traveller of both sexes - the ships' more intimate atmosphere are very conducive to making new friends while on board. In particular, the yacht-like 350-passenger Radisson Diamond is renowned for its high standards of personal and friendly service. Single supplements are available on request.

SEADREAM YACHT CLUB
The two mega yacht-ships operated by SeaDream Yacht Club in the Mediterranean and Caribbean make an ideal choice for the single traveller of both sexes. With a capacity of only 88 passengers on both SeaDream atmosphere is so conducive to making new friends while on board. Of additional appeal is the personal, friendly and professional attitude of the crew and officers.

Single supplements of 75% apply on the yacht tariffs.

STAR CRUISES
Star Cruises vessels have a daily programme full of activities that the single traveller can join in with just as much as if they were travelling with others. The friendly atmosphere means it won’t be long until you have new friends to share your trip.

Our freestyle dining means you have the choice of being seated alone or staff will introduce you to a couple or group of dining companions who are always willing to share their experiences of the day.

ROYAL OLYMPIA CRUISES
Royal Olympia Cruises' vessels have a daily programme full of activities, including regular 'singles mingles', that allow solo travellers to join in as much or as little as they wish. The ships are smaller than most creating an intimate and friendly atmosphere, which ensures that solo travellers easily make new friends with which to share their trip. When dining, solo travellers have the choice of being seated alone or joining a group of dining companions who are keen to make new friends and share their experiences of the day.

SWAN HELLENIC
Swan Hellenic has always led the way among cruise lines in its attitude towards single passengers who can take advantage of the many opportunities open to people cruising alone. This has been further improved with the introduction of their new 600-passenger ship Minerva II, which has around 70 cabins - at least 10% of her capacity - reserved for single passengers. Minerva II is an ideal size for passengers to see similar faces time and time again.

The 'no fixed seating' policy in the dining room and Bridge Café gives people the chance to meet new companions at each meal. Single cruisers are also invited to their own cocktail party during the cruise. Swan Hellenic has also introduced more one-week cruises which encourage more and more single travellers to sample Swan Hellenic.