Updated January 2018
Why should being a single cruiser stop you from embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage around the world? Solo cruising might seem like a daunting prospect to some, but rest assured that you’ll be well looked after from the moment you book your cruise to when you disembark back home, waving farewell to your newfound friends and your home-away-from-home.
In recent years, many cruise lines have built ships with dedicated single cabins, and some have even started to scrap the dreaded ‘single supplement’ charge, and offer lower fares or a no single-occupancy supplement as an alternative. Popular cruise lines who offer grand world voyages, and also love to accommodate solo guests, include P&O, Fred. Olsen, Holland America Line, and Cunard.
A round the world cruise is truly one of the greatest travel adventures you’ll have in your lifetime. Imagine spending months at sea sailing from port to port, taking in the sights and splendours of numerous countries, and encountering so many extraordinary experiences; all from the comfort of your ship. With the added bonus of having to unpack your bags once, all that’s left for you to do is pick the perfect itinerary and let your adventure begin!
If an iconic whole world voyage is what you’re after, expect to be away for a couple of months at least, sailing to pretty much the most sought-after destinations on the globe, and relishing in plenty of sea days to enjoy your ship's amenities. If you’ve got a particular destination in mind, like Australasia, the Far East, or South America, look into the more destination-specific voyages that take in the all the best bits of a region and tick off some true bucket list must-sees.
From dancing lessons to sport activities, cooking classes to arts and crafts, learning a new language to insightful lectures; your days on board can be as enriching as you want. Don’t be put off taking part in any activities just because you’re going it solo, you’ll always be joined by other single cruisers or friendly passengers to make your experience more enjoyable. Some cruise lines have a fantastic ‘Solo Cruisers Night’, where you’ll have the chance to mingle with fellow single cruisers and make new friends onboard.
Think you’ll be sat alone at dinner? Wrong. If the thought of having to eat alone each night is giving you nightmares, you can take comfort in the knowledge that the many dining options on your ship mean it's easy to mingle with fellow passengers, and make new friends if you want to. Traditional dining, with an assigned table and dining time each night, may suit you best if you prefer a bit of organisation to your evening. Or, if you prefer a bit of spontaneity, you can always request to be seated with fellow solo guests as and when you enter the restaurants. The friendly waiting staff are always more than happy to help accommodate you.
When you’ve got some down time, why not take advantage of the facilities onboard and indulge in some total relaxation. Enjoy an incredible massage or a luxurious treatment in your ship's spa, in total peace and quiet; a real opportunity for some well-deserved me-time. The spa facilities on most ships are always compared to that of top-notch spas ashore, with many having well-equipped fitness centres and gyms as well.
Half the fun of your round the world cruise is exploring the destinations you visit. Shore excursions are not only a great way to discover a new place, but also an opportunity to meet some like-minded people, who share the same interests as you. Enjoy a city sightseeing tour, trek through tropical jungles, snorkel through colourful coral reefs, grab a souvenir from local markets, or see the awe-inspiring remnants of ancient ruins and relics; the opportunities are endless.
With most cruise lines, you can book shore excursions either before you cruise or whilst you’re on board. They’ll sort everything out for you, including transfers to and from the ship, and sometimes even a packed lunch. You’ll normally be part of a group during your shore excursion, so there’s no reason not to get involved and get mingling. It’ll no doubt make your experience ashore much more enjoyable and memorable if you can share it with others around you.
So what are you waiting for? Start planning, get booking, finish packing, and go world cruising!
A round the world cruise is truly one of the greatest travel adventures you’ll have in your lifetime. Imagine spending months at sea sailing from port to port, taking in the sights and splendours of numerous countries, and encountering so many extraordinary experiences; all from the comfort of your ship. With the added bonus of having to unpack your bags once, all that’s left for you to do is pick the perfect itinerary and let your adventure begin!
YOUR DREAM VOYAGE
Before you set sail on your round the world voyage, you need to think about where you want to go, what you want to see, and how long you really want to be away from the comfort of your home life for.If an iconic whole world voyage is what you’re after, expect to be away for a couple of months at least, sailing to pretty much the most sought-after destinations on the globe, and relishing in plenty of sea days to enjoy your ship's amenities. If you’ve got a particular destination in mind, like Australasia, the Far East, or South America, look into the more destination-specific voyages that take in the all the best bits of a region and tick off some true bucket list must-sees.
SAILING SOLO
Do not fear that your days spent on board will be lonely and unfulfilling. With so much to do and see on board, you’ll be wondering when you'll actually have any free time for yourself! Most ships have a daily program of events available to you in your cabin, so you can see exactly what's happening each and every day. But of course, you set the pace of your holiday, so it can be as relaxing or as action packed as you'd like it to be.From dancing lessons to sport activities, cooking classes to arts and crafts, learning a new language to insightful lectures; your days on board can be as enriching as you want. Don’t be put off taking part in any activities just because you’re going it solo, you’ll always be joined by other single cruisers or friendly passengers to make your experience more enjoyable. Some cruise lines have a fantastic ‘Solo Cruisers Night’, where you’ll have the chance to mingle with fellow single cruisers and make new friends onboard.
Think you’ll be sat alone at dinner? Wrong. If the thought of having to eat alone each night is giving you nightmares, you can take comfort in the knowledge that the many dining options on your ship mean it's easy to mingle with fellow passengers, and make new friends if you want to. Traditional dining, with an assigned table and dining time each night, may suit you best if you prefer a bit of organisation to your evening. Or, if you prefer a bit of spontaneity, you can always request to be seated with fellow solo guests as and when you enter the restaurants. The friendly waiting staff are always more than happy to help accommodate you.
When you’ve got some down time, why not take advantage of the facilities onboard and indulge in some total relaxation. Enjoy an incredible massage or a luxurious treatment in your ship's spa, in total peace and quiet; a real opportunity for some well-deserved me-time. The spa facilities on most ships are always compared to that of top-notch spas ashore, with many having well-equipped fitness centres and gyms as well.
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME ENCOUNTERS
Half the fun of your round the world cruise is exploring the destinations you visit. Shore excursions are not only a great way to discover a new place, but also an opportunity to meet some like-minded people, who share the same interests as you. Enjoy a city sightseeing tour, trek through tropical jungles, snorkel through colourful coral reefs, grab a souvenir from local markets, or see the awe-inspiring remnants of ancient ruins and relics; the opportunities are endless.
With most cruise lines, you can book shore excursions either before you cruise or whilst you’re on board. They’ll sort everything out for you, including transfers to and from the ship, and sometimes even a packed lunch. You’ll normally be part of a group during your shore excursion, so there’s no reason not to get involved and get mingling. It’ll no doubt make your experience ashore much more enjoyable and memorable if you can share it with others around you.
MAKING MEMORIES
As the saying goes, you only live once. Make memories to last a lifetime, and make everyone back home dream of your epic, round-the-world discoveries.So what are you waiting for? Start planning, get booking, finish packing, and go world cruising!
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