Embrace solo cruising

14 Feb 2017

The days of Billy No Mates being frowned upon while on the road are long gone. Today's travellers – seeking to reconnect with themselves – are increasingly opting for solo travel, whether that's tackling the Camino in northern Spain or yoga retreats at an ashram in India.

Previously, solo travellers were ‘punished’ for wanting to travel alone – single supplements meant that solo travel was even more expensive than travelling with a partner or friend. Today, we are seeing a surge in solo travel, especially with women, and a myriad of facilities catering to this need.

Solo travel on the high seas has also become increasingly popular, says Norwegian Cruise Line’s General Manager Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Christian Boëll. “We realised that we would have to innovate to cater specifically for this market and were the first cruise line to introduce special Studio cabins that are the perfect-sized room for solo cruising, as well as a Studios Lounge which is a great way to meet other single cruisers.”

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Most of Norwegian’s sailings offer singles meet-ups for those cruising alone, with events like Sailing Solo and Mingle or Social Local Hours on board for those seeking to make new friends on board.

Of course, the great thing about sailing solo is that you have no pressure from anyone else to do anything other than what you want to do – and with Norwegian’s Freestyle cruising concept, this means you can eat and drink where and when you want, and with whoever you please.

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For select sailings, Norwegian has reduced its single supplement to be less than double the cruise fare. This means that solo travellers can book a regular stateroom at a reduced price, although the solo travellers staying in the Studio cabins are not subject to a single supplement.

Finally, a cruise represents a unique opportunity for solos to learn new skills, participate in group activities and enjoy a myriad of entertainment options. From Wine Tasting classes at The Cellar to Broadway shows onboard such as Priscilla Queen of the Desert and dazzling performances of Cirque Dreams, solo travellers can enjoy o-board experiences on their own, or in the company of new friends.

“As always when travelling solo, a cruise can mean time alone, or time in the company of others – it’s always on your terms,” concludes Christian.