The things people say when you tell them you’re going on a cruise alone can range from, “Aren’t you brave?” to “Gosh, lucky you!” But it doesn’t take bravery to cruise solo, as ROL Cruise will take care of you from booking to disembarking your vessel, as well as being on hand for anything you may need throughout your voyage.
I have never found travelling as a singleton too daunting because I know how much fun and rewarding it can be. To the uninitiated, all I can say is - why leave all the fun to the couples?
I recently met a lady on her first solo cruise who had seen an itinerary that she fancied and had gone for it. She told me, “I never knew there was so much to see and do onboard as a solo passenger. I found the cruising experience so much easier than expected as people were so friendly and welcoming when joining the many activities onboard during the day and in the evening.”
In that sentence, she summed up all that is good about solo cruising: the people you meet, the amazing list of activities and the vibrant social scene.
What do I like most about solo travelling? The freedom! Whilst it’s nice to have a companion, for me it’s better to decide every day what I want to do. So, to all those on-the-brink soloists I say, go for it! You will be so glad you did.
All the cruise lines cater to solo travellers because we are a growing market. Solos are being courted now as never before. Until perhaps ten years ago, there were no single cabins, just double for single occupancy but now ships are being re-fitted with cabins designed just for one.
Ships also include solo meetings onboard. In the past, this would be mostly elderly people but now, the age range has dropped considerably and both men and women are taking part. These meetings are a great way for people on their own to meet each other.
My only tips directed at solo travellers are to board with a smile on your face and do whatever takes your fancy.
For me, as a woman, I spend less time worrying about being single than I do about dressing for a formal evening in my sparkliest kit so I can make a grand entrance down a sweeping staircase into the dining room, there to be helped by a kind waiter to my table. It’s worth getting someone to take your picture during this - like a film star! Then I will see a great show in an enormous theatre and finally try my luck at the casino.
With regard to the choice of cruise lines, it’s horses for courses, but having said that, the basics are always the same: top-quality accommodations, top-quality service and top-quality entertainment with excursions ashore at every port of call. If you want a medium-sized ship that can squeeze up narrow Norwegian Fjords, choose Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ beautiful Balmoral, if you want to cross the Atlantic on a majestic Cunard ship, Queen Mary 2 is for you, whilst P&O Cruises provide a wide and amazing variety of onboard entertainment. But truly, all of the modern cruise ships will give you the holiday of a lifetime, single or otherwise. Don’t hesitate - the world awaits! 
