Solo World Cruises | Cruise Specialists Blog

One of the trends Cruise Specialists has noticed growing over the last few years is single or solo cruisers! We have shared our voyage host tips for solo cruisers and talked about how to find the best deals, but wanted to give you some insight from our guests.

Cruise Specialists guest Anna, set sail for the 2018 Holland America Grand Voyage and shared her story and tips with us.

My first World Cruise was in 2002, aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2, right after 9/11. Many people canceled their World Cruise reservations after 9/11 but I did not. Ours was the first cruise ship to leave New York after 9/11 and it was very powerful. That sailing went to China, the Taj Mahal, and many other places — it was great.

In 2013 I decided to go again and I picked the Holland America Line World Cruise. I had done other cruises with them, including Alaska, Baltic and South America, and I loved the food, the service, the dancing, and other activities like Tai Chi.

I didn’t mean to go on a world cruise again, but I met so many wonderful people I went again in 2015 and 2017 and went again in 2018. I also did the 2016 Voyage of the Vikings and it was the most beautiful scenery, ever! Everyone says, “Why would you travel alone?”
I’m never really alone. Excursions are very good and you get to explore with other people. The people I meet, both on the ship and out on the excursions are magnificent. I don’t attend too many of the chat times because I’m too busy doing other activities.

The whole world is beautiful — I love meeting new people and experiencing different cultures.

Why a World Cruise/Hosted/Longer Voyage?
People say, “I’m not a cruiser.” They have stereotypes of what a cruise is.

I can say, this is NOT a cruise in that stereotyped image, whatever that may be. This is a voyage. Between the shore excursions, the lectures, and the shows, it is such an all-encompassing experience. I’m often exhausted at the end of the day.

Advice for solo/single women?
I’ve seen more and more single women doing these voyages. More are taking that step into it. They don’t want to take that first step, but once they do, they don’t regret it.

I’d say if you have never done a World Cruise before, but you want to try one, do a group tour so you can get the idea of what it’s like traveling with a group, and a shorter cruise to build up your confidence for traveling on your own. Once you do that you’ll find that it’s fine and it will help reduce whatever worries you may have had.