My first solo cruise was nothing like I expected it to be.
In 2023, I embarked on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami, Florida, to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Perfect Day at CocoCay aboard Symphony of the Seas.
The catch? I was by myself.
Initially, watching families in matching t-shirts taking selfies during sailaway, I was worried that I'd hate solo cruising.
Cruising is inherently social, and I wasn't sure how I'd cope on my own.
At the time, I was living by myself, so I wasn't unfamiliar with the concept of enjoying my own company. However, vacations were always a time to reconnect with friends and family to create shared memories.
Needless to say, I was nervous, excited, and everything in between.
After spending seven nights alone at sea, I learned that solo trips are far from the lonely nights in my cabin I had envisioned.
Still, there are a few things I wish I had known beforehand.
Solo cruising isn't necessarily cheaper
For starters, cruising by yourself can actually be quite expensive. That's because most mainstream cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, implement a hefty single supplement fee, as cruise cabins were specifically designed for double occupancy.
This fee, which is often 100% of the standard fare, is charged to offset the cost of the unused berth in the cabin. In other words, even if you are sailing alone, you are still effectively paying for two passengers.
In my case, I paid $1,393.20 for a standard, windowless inside cabin. Had another traveler been sharing the room with me, it would have brought the cost per person down to around $700, which is way more reasonable (in my opinion).
There are a few ways to lower the overall cost if you decide to travel by yourself, though.
First, be flexible with your sail date. Cruising during the shoulder season is more affordable than peak travel times, and that price difference can make a noticeable difference for travelers cruising alone.
Second, be strategic about your cabin choice. Interior staterooms are typically the cheapest option, and while they lack natural light and a private outdoor verandah, I found my cabin perfectly fine when sailing alone.
Although it wasn't the largest cruise room ever, I found coming back to my own stateroom each evening after being around masses of people to be relaxing.
Plus, I never had to ask anyone if they wanted to shower first or share closet space; there was no bumping into or bickering with family members while trying to rush to get ready for dinner, either.
Finally, consider sailing on a cruise ship with purpose-built solo cabins. These aren't as common on Royal Caribbean as on other lines, but they can be found on Quantum Class ships, as well as Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas.
Dining alone is awkward, but that doesn't mean it is a bad thing — cruise ships have so many different dining options!
When I first moved to New York City to pursue my master's degree, I was more anxious about eating alone than about my graduate-level courses. However, I quickly learned that it's far more common in The Big Apple than in my hometown, and most people don't bat an eye when they see someone at a table for one.
As such, I kind of expected that my experience dining alone on a cruise ship would be similar. In reality, I found it to be much more uncomfortable than I thought, and I felt the loneliest when I ate alone in the Main Dining Room.
On the first night, I was tucked into a dark corner, seated at a table for two on Deck 3. It didn't help that my wait staff was confused at the concept of me sailing alone! I was checked up on at least three or four times and constantly asked if anyone was going to be joining me.
As such, I quickly learned that the Main Dining Room isn't my favorite place to eat on a solo trip. I'd much rather grab a quick bite to eat at the buffet or splurge on a specialty restaurant where the overall experience is more communal, like Izumi Hibachi or The Chef's Table.
The Windjammer, in particular, is a great option because it's so casual and judgment-free. In fact, it's not uncommon to see some crew members, like performers, dining alone! Plus, I love how easy it is to find a table with a view, which is much simpler than trying to request a window table in the dining room.
I felt incredibly safe cruising by myself
Regardless of whether you're going on a cruise, backpacking across Europe, or simply flying alone to visit relatives in another state, traveling by yourself can be daunting. It's important to keep a close eye on your surroundings and never let your guard down.
However, I found it much easier to stay alert while having fun on a cruise ship. For example, during popular events, like sail away or late-night dance parties, it was easy to spot security. This gave me a lot of reassurance as a young female traveling by herself.
Even in port, I never felt too out of place. There was always a steady presence of other tourists, tour guides, and employees nearby. This was even more true on my Royal Caribbean–sponsored excursion in St. Maarten and when I was ashore at CocoCay.
Something I really appreciated as a solo traveler was that I didn't have to worry about wandering dark streets alone at night. Once the sun went down, the ship came alive with energy, and passengers moved about the decks heading to dinner, shows, and other activities.
Plus, it was easy to get back to my cabin at night. No matter where I was onboard, whether a late-night party, bar, or show, I was just a short walk and elevator ride away from my home away from home.
You'll want to come up with a daily plan
When you are traveling alone, you don't have anyone to keep you accountable for your daily routine, which can make it tempting to do absolutely nothing.
Royal Caribbean makes it easy to see what's going on throughout the day on the cruise line's mobile app. The Cruise Compass gives you an easy-to-digest rundown on everything from showtimes to activities and dining hours.
My best advice is to pick a few key activities that you want to attend each day, whether a trivia session, poolside competition, evening show, fitness class, or port shopping lecture. This leaves plenty of open time in your day while still giving it enough structure so that you don't waste your time sleeping or wandering the ship aimlessly.
It's easier than you think to mingle with other passengers
On my first afternoon onboard, I grabbed a Strawberry Blonde cocktail and began wandering the ship to take it all in. In the elevator, I was asked about the drink by another couple, and we had a full-blown conversation about our favorite cruise drinks before I got off.
That same evening, I went to the first Hyperlink event of the cruise (the Hyperlink program is for guests between the ages of 18 and 25 and aims to bridge cruise ship activities following the teen club to more common adult offerings).
While I was there, I found everyone to be more social and welcoming than I anticipated, and I met two guests whose family "adopted" me for the week, allowing me to join them at dinner in the dining room and other activities, including Perfect Day at CocoCay's Thrill Waterpark.
Seeing how willing people were to jump into conversation made conversing with others a breeze, and I didn't feel as lonely as I thought I would the rest of the trip.
Of course, you must be willing to put yourself out there — you can't expect others to always start up a conversation! I found that once I did, the experience became surprisingly rewarding in ways I hadn't anticipated and boosted my confidence in my social skills.
It's just as easy to enjoy your own company on a solo cruise
Finally, be sure to take advantage of being alone. That might sound weird, but realizing you aren't responsible for anyone else's schedule or preferences is so freeing.
You get to pick exactly what you want to do in your free time, whether that's lounging in the Solarium during the day or watching a show at night.
Maybe there are a few shore excursions that you've been wanting to try that no one else in your life was interested in, or perhaps you want to take a bucket list cruise to somewhere like Asia or the South Pacific that you've been putting off.
In the end, one of the best parts about taking a cruise is learning how to be okay with your own company — and I did exactly that on my first solo cruise.
