Cruises Can Be Great Vacations for Singles
If you've a solo traveler and you've ever thought of taking a cruise, you might have been turned off by the fact that cruises are associated more with families and couples.
In fact, cabin prices are based on the assumption that there will be two occupants.
So when you see a cruise advertised for $700 a week, that's actually $1,400 for the cabin.
They're assuming you're bringing someone along.
That's great for those couples, but what about us singles? Fortunately, there are a couple ways to get around those prices.
The most obvious is to find a cabin mate to share the bill with.
This can be anyone from a friend you know to someone you meet on the Internet (the popular Cruise Mates message board has a section devoted to matching solo travelers up with other singles who are looking for a cabin mate to share the prices).
If you can't find anyone that way, you can also ask your travel agent about cruise lines that will find a roommate for you.
For example, the lines that do this will charge you the $700 instead of the $1,400 for that week-long cruise, and they'll put you together with a same sex roommate that is also traveling solo.
One of the perks of going this way is that if the cruise line can't match you with someone (apparently this happens pretty frequently), they'll go ahead and give you the cabin for the $700 you agreed to pay.
That way you get a room to yourself at half the price! Also, when you talk to your travel agent, you may find that they do some bookings especially with singles in mind.
Some agents will book a block of cabins for singles, matching you with same sex cabin mates, as they can.
In addition, these travel agents may send someone along to organize special activities for singles.
This can be a great way to meet people to dine with and go on shore excursions with.
Some cruise ships as well, if they find out they have a number of solo travelers on board, will organize events just for this segment of their population.
This is actually what you'll be getting if you sign up through a website that specializes in singles cruises.
The main cruise lines don't actually have cruises that have only singles on board (alas, we solo travelers are still a fairly small segment of the cruising population), but you can certainly find singles events for having fun with other solo cruisers on board these big ships.
You can book through those guys or go to your local travel agent and get much the same kind of vacation package.
Now, what if you're a solo traveler who likes being solo and isn't interested in spending a lot of time being "hooked up" with other singles?What if you just want to do your own thing?What if you're looking for peace and quiet? You can still do that on cruises.
Here are ways to escape the family vibe: If you book passage on longer trips, you'll be less likely to be surrounded by children.
(Parents rarely take children on cruises longer than a week.
)You'll also find more retired folks, so the overall atmosphere tends to be less party-oriented.
Also, if you sign up for a boutique or small-size ship, you'll find fewer families with kids too since the smaller ships don't offer the kind of children's entertainment venues that the large resort ships do.
So, there are lots of ways singles can have fun on cruises.
Don't assume that because the television commercials show families having a blast that there isn't a place for you!
In fact, cabin prices are based on the assumption that there will be two occupants.
So when you see a cruise advertised for $700 a week, that's actually $1,400 for the cabin.
They're assuming you're bringing someone along.
That's great for those couples, but what about us singles? Fortunately, there are a couple ways to get around those prices.
The most obvious is to find a cabin mate to share the bill with.
This can be anyone from a friend you know to someone you meet on the Internet (the popular Cruise Mates message board has a section devoted to matching solo travelers up with other singles who are looking for a cabin mate to share the prices).
If you can't find anyone that way, you can also ask your travel agent about cruise lines that will find a roommate for you.
For example, the lines that do this will charge you the $700 instead of the $1,400 for that week-long cruise, and they'll put you together with a same sex roommate that is also traveling solo.
One of the perks of going this way is that if the cruise line can't match you with someone (apparently this happens pretty frequently), they'll go ahead and give you the cabin for the $700 you agreed to pay.
That way you get a room to yourself at half the price! Also, when you talk to your travel agent, you may find that they do some bookings especially with singles in mind.
Some agents will book a block of cabins for singles, matching you with same sex cabin mates, as they can.
In addition, these travel agents may send someone along to organize special activities for singles.
This can be a great way to meet people to dine with and go on shore excursions with.
Some cruise ships as well, if they find out they have a number of solo travelers on board, will organize events just for this segment of their population.
This is actually what you'll be getting if you sign up through a website that specializes in singles cruises.
The main cruise lines don't actually have cruises that have only singles on board (alas, we solo travelers are still a fairly small segment of the cruising population), but you can certainly find singles events for having fun with other solo cruisers on board these big ships.
You can book through those guys or go to your local travel agent and get much the same kind of vacation package.
Now, what if you're a solo traveler who likes being solo and isn't interested in spending a lot of time being "hooked up" with other singles?What if you just want to do your own thing?What if you're looking for peace and quiet? You can still do that on cruises.
Here are ways to escape the family vibe: If you book passage on longer trips, you'll be less likely to be surrounded by children.
(Parents rarely take children on cruises longer than a week.
)You'll also find more retired folks, so the overall atmosphere tends to be less party-oriented.
Also, if you sign up for a boutique or small-size ship, you'll find fewer families with kids too since the smaller ships don't offer the kind of children's entertainment venues that the large resort ships do.
So, there are lots of ways singles can have fun on cruises.
Don't assume that because the television commercials show families having a blast that there isn't a place for you!
