Travel Autistic

Should I Take a Solo Cruise?

If you’re asking this question then the answer is yes and I’ve got seven reasons why. It took me years to work up the courage to take a solo cruise. Before that first cruise I was so nervous I actually cancelled and only rebooked because the deposit wasn’t refundable. Since then I’ve taken many cruises and I always book my next while still on board. Here are seven reasons why you should book a solo cruise today:

1. Cruising is a cost effective way to see the world

Once upon a time it cost a fortune to cruise on your own and even now there are some cruise lines that will still charge you a ridiculously high solo supplement, but many cruise lines have caught onto the fact that the solo travel market is huge and they have adapted accordingly. Some cruise lines have solo specific cabins, which are priced for solo travellers. You may have to search around a bit, but there are lots of amazing offers for solo cruisers. Last year I did a week long cruise in Alaska for £450 and earlier this year I did 10 days in the Caribbean for £900. That does not include drinks but does include food. I’ve yet to find a nice hotel that you can stay in for less than £100 per night, including all meals, and when you consider that your cruise fare includes travel to multiple locations, it really is difficult to find a better value holiday.

2. Solo Cruising Is A Great Way To Make Friends

I like meeting new people and I like making new friends, but I don’t always find this easy. I’m not the kind of person who will just go up to someone in a bar and start talking. Solo cruising makes it really easy to meet new people. Many cruise lines have solo meet-ups. Sometimes these meet-ups are hosted and other cruise lines do a self-hosted option. People who turn up to these are there because they want to meet new people. I have yet to take a cruise where I didn’t make friends.

3. There’s No Pressure To Socialise

While I love to meet new people, I also like being able to do my own thing and choose when I want to be around other people. I like being sociable but I don’t like the pressure that sometimes comes with travelling with other people. Solo cruising provides the perfect balance for me. I can socialise whenever I want to but there’s no pressure to take part when I just want a quiet evening.

4. It Reduces Anxiety When Visiting New Places

I have an anxiety disorder and after covid I really struggled to travel like I used to. Before covid I loved solo travel, I would just arrive at a destination and find my way around the city on public transport. After covid the thought of doing this filled me with so much dread that I couldn’t even consider it. Cruising has really helped with that. When I visit new places I usually book an excursion with the cruise line and this allows me to see new places without having to worry about how I’m going to get there or back. Solo cruising really helped to build my confidence up again after covid and I would definitely recommend it for people who want to travel solo but are too anxious to do so.

5. You Never Have to Eat Alone

Personally, I enjoy a solo meal and I will often take some time to myself on cruises to enjoy a good book and a nice meal, but I know that some people absolutely hate eating alone. Some cruise lines have solo tables so you can be seated with other solo cruises, others arrange bookings at the solo meet-ups.

6. You Will Never Be Bored

There is always something happening on a cruise ship. During the day cruise ships have programmes of activities and at night there’s usually a lot of different entertainment. Activities vary by ship but can include things like scavenger hunts, quiz’s, puzzles, and sporting activities. Different ships have different facilities. Some have things like water slides, climbing walls, go karts, arcades etc. and others have more limited facilities. Every ship I’ve been on has sports courts, a spa, a gym, a casino and a pool. What I like is that there’s lots to do with other people but it’s also possible to be entertained on your own.

7. There’s Plenty Of Time To Relax

Most cruises will have at least a couple of sea days. Sea days are exactly what they sound like, they’re days spent at sea. Most cruise lines will put on additional activities on these days but what I like about them is that they’re time to relax and recuperate before the next port. I’m the kind of person who likes to see as much as possible when I travel and I rarely take time to relax while on holiday, there just isn’t time. When I arrive home I’m usually more tired than when I left! With cruising the relaxation time is built in and because I’m at sea I don’t feel like I’m wasting my time.