The best cruises for solo travelers are aboard small ships. Why? They consistently bring aboard likeminded travelers who value authentic, immersive travel experiences.
While any cruise can technically be arranged for solo travelers, certain ones and select destinations are more advantageous due to: price, single cabin availability or the complement of passengers aboard.
Our Top Cruise Picks for Solo Travelers to Consider
We can personalize this list further by destination, but some current favorites with solo cabins or reduced supplements include:
- PONANT cruises worldwide – single supplement waivers come (and go) often on select sailings, so let us match you with the best available. These cruises offer a great option for attainable luxury cruising for singles.
- Hermes Galapagos Cruises are aboard a luxury catamaran with dedicated single cabins. Pricing for singles is quite advantageous when you compare options in the islands.
- Croatian Coastal Cruising is a great budget-friendly choice that has a high likelihood of other single passengers being in the complement of each sailing. Lots of free time in port allows you time on your own or with new friends.
- Anything on the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer, which has an impressive 14 single cabins aboard and sails in the polar regions, Patagonia and Northern Europe.
- Our dedicated guide on Booking a Solo Alaska Cruise has all the recommended options in Alaska updated.
Get Aboard these Favorites
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Hermes Galapagos Cruises
Experience a brand-new, ultra-luxury yacht with butler service and spa
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Croatian Coastal Cruising
Croatian seaside gems by budget-friendly, small-scale classic yacht
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Save $250 per person
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Northern Passages with Glacier Bay & Sitka
Value-driven, active Inside Passage with Glacier Bay National Park
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Single Supplements Explained
Imagine booking a hotel room as a solo traveler: the rate is the same whether you have two people in the room or not. That’s the same with cabins aboard a ship. But it can be deceiving since cruise cabin rates are most often listed per person (based on double occupancy).
To help out single travelers, cruise operators will often offer a “single supplement.” This equates into a percentage that a solo-occupancy traveler will pay in addition to the listed per-person double-occupancy rate. For example, some single supplements are 50%. This means the solo traveler would have to pay the normal double-occupancy price, plus 50% of the cabin’s other listed (per-person) double-occupancy rate.
Why Small Ships Are the Best Cruises for Solo Travelers
Thankfully, because smaller ships focus on guest experience over volume, they’re often more flexible and solo-friendly.
You’re a Person, Not a Cabin Number
On large cruise lines, it’s easy to blend into a crowd of 3,000+ passengers. On a small ship, typically carrying 50 to 200 guests, the atmosphere is completely different.
Crew members learn your name. Fellow passengers recognize you at dinner, where tables are often large and are open for shared seating. Onboard guides often join in for meals too, so you won’t sit alone unless you want to. Conversations continue naturally from one day to the next. As a solo traveler, that sense of familiarity makes all the difference.
Likeminded Travelers Become Friends
Small ships create connection organically. No “singles mixers” here. With fewer passengers, you naturally see the same people at breakfast, on excursions and in common areas on the ship. You share Zodiac rides, guided walks, wine tastings and sunsets. These shared experiences spark real conversation.
If you’re a single traveler looking to learn, explore and connect, small ships attract this likeminded crowd that values culture, nature and wildlife. Cruise lines like UnCruise Adventures and Quark Expeditions are especially known for their social, community-style atmosphere, but we match single travelers with operators of all sizes and destinations.
Shore Excursions Are Included & Customizable
On mega-ships, shore excursions can feel like moving in a herd. And each excursion is booked separately, operated by different guides in each port. Small ships operate differently. Instead, expect:
- Included activity options off-ship daily
- Consistent guides leading the way that stay with you each day
- Small groups of approximately 8 to 10 guests on excursions
- Visits to ports too small for major cruise lines or quite anchorages with no other ships in sight
You Get Access to Places Big Ships Can’t Go
Smaller ships can dock in charming, lesser-known ports that large vessels simply can’t reach. Instead of navigating crowds in mega-port cities, you may find yourself exploring hidden harbors and authentic coastal towns. For a solo traveler, that sense of discovery feels personal and adventurous, not overwhelming.
What Our Solo Travelers Say
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