9 Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive compensation when you purchase via my links at no cost to you. See my disclosure for more information.
Traveling solo on a cruise can be a liberating and exciting adventure.
Some of the best cruise lines for solo travelers provide solo cabins, reduced single supplements, and social activities for you to connect with fellow adventurers on the high seas.
These cruise lines create a welcoming environment where you can be independent or social as you wish.
Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers
Below, you’ll find the nine best cruise lines for solo travelers. We’ve chosen the best cruise lines based on the number of single cabins, solo supplement pricing, social atmosphere onboard, and the number of onboard group activities.
1. Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered accommodations for solo travelers. The cruise line recognized the growing trend of individuals seeking to explore the world on their own terms and created the perfect experience for solo cruisers.
The cruise line debuted 128 studio cabins for solo travelers when Norwegian Epic launched in 2010.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Perfected Solo Accommodations: Your Studio stateroom offers all the amenities you need for your solo cruise vacation.
- Exclusive Access: As a solo traveler, you gain access to the Studio Lounge, a shared social space where you can mingle and meet other solo cruisers.
- No Single Supplement: Norwegian Cruise Line’s solo cabins don’t have a single supplement fee, which is a burden for solo cruisers on other lines.
NCL’s Studio staterooms are tailored for your single cruising experience. The 100-square-foot cabins seem small, but with so much to do on Norwegian cruise ships, you won’t spend much time in your stateroom.
Despite the small cabin size, I found plenty of storage space for my clothes and travel gear.
The biggest perk of booking Norwegian Cruise Line’s single rooms is access to the exclusive Studio Complex and Lounge. The shared social space features a bar, TV, and an area for single passengers to mingle and meet other solo travelers.
A big caveat is that these single cabins are so popular in Norwegian that they book full, well in advance of other cabin categories. If you have your heart set on one of the studio cabins, book early to secure your spot.
2. Holland America Line
Holland America Line should be on your radar when you’re cruising solo. This premium cruise line caters to your needs with a welcoming atmosphere and attentive service.
Holland America caters to an older demographic. And they’re well-suited for single seniors, offering programs and amenities that make solo travel enjoyable and comfortable.
- Single Partners Program: Holland America’s Single Partners Program organizes events for those traveling alone, allowing you to meet fellow solo cruisers.
- Dining Options: You’ll have plenty of dining options that cater to individual preferences, and you can enjoy meals at communal tables if you wish to socialize.
- Share a Cabin: The Single’s Partners Program matches guests who wish to share a cabin with another solo traveler.
Although Holland America doesn’t offer solo cabins like some lines, they have low single supplements to make cruising affordable for solo vacationers. The benefit is that you’ll receive a full-sized stateroom compared to the 100-square-foot studio cabins on other cruise lines.
One of HAL’s most popular promotions is their Single Partner’s Program, which is available on most voyages.
The Single Partner’s Program offers events for solo travelers, like a cocktail reception, mixers, games, and more. The cruise line offers over 40 onboard activities to meet other solo cruisers, including exercise classes, lectures (select departures), line dance classes, wine tasting, cooking demonstrations, Team Trivia contests, and the daily quiz.
The Single Partner’s Program allows solo cruise guests to share a cabin with another passenger. Guests who agree to be matched with a roommate are matched with a same-sex, non-smoking solo traveler.
Moreover, they guarantee a double occupancy rate, even when they can’t find you a partner.
3. Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean is a standout option for many when embarking on a solo cruise adventure.
Several Royal Caribbean cruise ships, such as those in the Quantum Ultra class, offer solo cabins.
Royal Caribbean is famous for its innovative activities and amenities. You’ll find cutting-edge entertainment and activities to meet new people, relax, and have fun.
The Studio Cabins are perfect for solo travelers. Royal Caribbean’s solo cabins eliminate the single supplement fee, making your stay comfortable and cost-effective.
Royal Caribbean doesn’t skimp on the social aspect, either.
Check the Royal Caribbean app to find out when your ship hosts a solo get-together to mix and mingle with other solo travelers. Solo travelers will have plenty of opportunities to socialize and mingle with fellow passengers.
Royal Caribbean cruises offer various onboard group activities, such as:
- Group fitness classes
- Cooking classes
- Wine tastings
- Live game shows
- Bingo
- Silent Disco
- Pool parties
- The fan-favorite belly flop competition
Solo cruising is so popular that the cruise line adds solo staterooms to their older vessels.
One innovative feature is the choice of a balcony stateroom or a virtual balcony cabin. The virtual balconies are actually interior cabins with a digital screen projecting a real-time view of the outside. It sounds tacky, but you’ll save money on your cruise fare, and the effect works surprisingly well.
4. Virgin Voyages
When considering a solo cruise, Virgin Voyages should be on your radar. Richard Branson’s Virgin Group backs the cruise line. So you know they throw an incredible party at sea.
Why Choose Virgin Voyages:
- Adults-Only: An atmosphere tailored for grown-ups, providing a relaxing escape.
- Social Scene: One of the best cruise lines for parties with a vibrant nightlife and opportunities to meet new people.
- Inclusive Cruise Fare: Virgin Voyages has inclusive cruise fares that bundle gratuities, WiFi, and dining.
Their vessels boast 46 cabins specifically designed for passengers traveling solo. The cruise line offers solo insider and solo sea-view staterooms.
The solo cabins feature a sleek design with full-sized beds and large, flat-screen TVs.
Virgin’s solo cabins are slightly larger compared to other cruise lines, but their location at the front of the vessel isn’t ideal.
Seasoned cruisers know that cabins located at the front of the ship can result in a bumpier ride. If avoiding seasickness on your cruise is a priority, you might want to avoid choosing a single cabin and opt for one in the vessel’s center.
Cabin specifics aside, Virgin Voyages allows passengers to socialize and make new friends. From group yoga to late-night parties with live DJs and the first tattoo parlor at sea, their ships provide plenty of spaces to socialize or indulge.
5. Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a long-time favorite among solo cruisers. The cruise line offers an inviting atmosphere catering to your independent spirit.
Solo travelers particularly love the cruise line’s focus on traditional cruising and the social onboard atmosphere. Cunard Line places solo travelers at dinner tables with other solo cruisers, making it easy to mingle and make friends.
You’ll find plenty of group activities to mingle and meet with fellow guests. Cunard Line offers group workshops, sports competitions, seminars, and activities to meet other solo passengers.
Cunard Line is an upscale cruise line with excellent service. You can expect attentive crew members and attention to detail.
Since 2014, the cruise line has added single cabins to their cruise ships, accommodating the growing solo travel market.
6. MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises welcomes solo travelers with open arms, providing solo accommodations and opportunities to meet with solo travelers.
You will find cozy interior and balcony cabins designed specifically for single cruisers on their Meraviglia-class ships, such as the MSC Meraviglia, Bellissima, Grandiosa, and Virtuosa.
MSC’s solo cabin accommodations are surprisingly spacious with plenty of storage. The bed converts into a sofa during the day to increase your cabin’s floor space.
MSC Cruises offers a variety of social opportunities and activities tailored to solo travelers. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to meet new people and engage in fun activities.
7. Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises offers an upscale and modern experience for solo cruisers. Your comfort and enjoyment are prioritized, with options tailored for solo travelers.
Celebrity Cruises offers single staterooms that give you a private space without a single supplement.
Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-class vessels provide an incredible experience with the Edge Single Infinite Veranda. The floor-to-ceiling window offers unparalleled ocean views that take your room to the water’s edge. Pressing a button opens the top half of the window, creating a balcony experience. Despite the small footprint, these staterooms provide a modern feel and plenty of storage space.
The cruise line provides many planned activities to join in and meet others. Whether you like sports, shows, or just hanging out, there’s something for everyone.
8. Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises offers a unique and luxurious solo cruising experience. The luxury cruise line provides a welcoming atmosphere for solo travelers.
Silversea’s ships are smaller than mainstream cruise lines.
The smaller vessels offer an intimate atmosphere, providing highly personal service and easier opportunities to connect with fellow travelers. This smaller scale creates an intimate and welcoming environment where you can make new friends or relax alone.
Although Silversea Cruises doesn’t offer specific single cabins, they have low single supplements. Sliverseas single supplements start as low as 10% on selected voyages, making it more affordable for solo travelers to enjoy the luxury and comfort of their own private space. That means you get a full-sized cabin at a low fare.
Silversea Cruises also offers several activities for solo travelers:
- Welcome Reception: Begin your journey with a Champagne Welcome Reception, a perfect opportunity to meet and mingle with other guests. This elegant start sets the tone for discovery and social interaction.
- Companion Hosts: On certain voyages, Silversea provides hosts to accompany solo travelers for dining or dancing. This thoughtful touch ensures you always have company and can fully enjoy the ship’s social life, feeling included and valued as a guest.
9. Tauck
Tauck isn’t a household name when it comes to cruise lines. But Tauck offers a welcoming atmosphere catering primarily to adventurers like yourself.
On a Tauck River cruise, your experience as a solo traveler is given special attention, ensuring you feel secure and supported from arrival to departure.
- Personalized Service: Tauck Directors provide exceptional service. They focus on the needs of each guest, making you feel well looked after throughout your trip.
- Single Supplement Waiver: Tauck is one of the few cruise lines that eliminates single supplements on select sailings. This makes River cruising more accessible for you if you’re traveling alone.
Tauck is a high-end tour operator that offers river cruises around the world.
If you’re traveling solo, you should consider a river cruise. The small river cruise ships, intimate atmosphere, and unique destinations create a perfect cruise environment for mingling and making new friends.
How We Chose The Best Cruise Lines
We looked at several key factors when considering the best cruise lines for solo travelers. Here’s what you should look for when choosing a cruise line for solo travel:
Accommodations for Solo Travelers
First, we looked for cruise lines offering staterooms explicitly designed for solo travelers. Studio cabins or single staterooms come without single supplement charges.
Cruise lines with solo accommodations were given preference as they are more cost-effective.
Norwegian Cruise Line was the only brand offering a dedicated lounge for solo travelers. The lounge provides an excellent opportunity for solo cruisers to mix and mingle. It also shows the cruise lines’ dedication to solo passengers.
Single Supplement
We also looked at the cruise line’s policy regarding single supplements. Single supplements are an additional fee charged to solo cruisers.
We looked to select cruise lines with zero or low single supplements.
Some cruise lines like Silversea Cruises don’t offer solo cabins but nearly eliminate the single supplement, making them an attractive choice for cruisers.
Other Amenities
We also considered the availability of social gatherings and activities tailored to solo travelers. Cruise lines like Cunard Line and Holland America host events that make meeting and connecting with other solo travelers easy.
The Overall Experience
Lastly, it’s about the overall experience. We considered the quality of service, onboard amenities, food, activities, entertainment choices, and variety of itineraries.
