SINGLES CRUISES TODAY

If you are interested in cruising, but don't have a companion we may have the perfect solution, a Singles Cruise! Many cruise lines are recognizing the large market of individuals who want to cruise solo and are catering to them in new and interesting ways only available to cruisers who are traveling as a single.

Singles can take a wine-tasting class, listen to interesting guest lecturers, join bridge tournaments, attend special singles cocktail parties, and participate in planned, shore excursions. There is a host of activities both on and off the ship on a singles cruise. For those that want time to be alone and relax, there are high-tech fitness centers, luxurious spas, and fully-stocked libraries. Cruising also offers singles the ability to dine with other singles or with couples and families
who share a love of cruising.

Single Supplement - Generally, a single cruise traveler must pay a single supplement ranging from 110% to 200% of the double occupancy rate. Crystal Cruises offers select sailings to single travelers with only a 25% single supplement. Ask your Cruise Consultant about which sailings apply.

Single Share Cabins - Certain cruise lines hold a few cabins on a "single share" basis. This means the single cruiser agrees to share a stateroom with another single guest of the same sex and pays the per person, double occupancy rate. In the event that the cruise line does not find a cabin-mate for you, the solo cruiser still only pays the per person, double occupancy rate. Single shares are offered on the following lines:
Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line and Orient Lines.

Single Cabins - Cunard Line and Orient Lines all offer a small number of cabins specifically designated for single travelers at an additional charge. These cabins are only available on select sailings and ships.
Please consult your Cruise Consultant for the costs and benefits of single-traveler cabins.

Gentleman Host Program - Holland America Line, Crystal Cruises, and Orient Lines all offer a "gentleman host" program for unescorted, female, senior travelers. These hosts are carefully screened and available for dining, dancing, and enjoying onboard/off-board activities.

Best Roommate Service for Single Cruisers:

Cruise Line: Holland America

The line's roommate-matching service, which applies to all ships in the fleet, guarantees a double-occupancy rate even if no partner can be found. As well, HAL often will promote special solo fares for selected sailings.

Others of Interest: HAL's newest -- Zuiderdam, Oosterdam and Westerdam -- because they tend to attract a larger percentage of singles, each carrying 600 passengers more than the rest of the fleet. To be honest, though, medium or large, we've always had fun on Holland America.

Best Singles Small Ship Splurge

Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises

Silversea offers "Solo Traveler Savings" on selected voyages: Suites are priced at 110 to 125 percent of regular fares. The line will even waive all supplements on occasion.

Others of Interest: With just 296 passengers on Silver Cloud and Silver Wind, and 382 on the newer Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, solo cruisers enjoy an especially pampering crew-to-guest ratio of almost one to one.

Best for Singles Themed Cruises

Cruise Line: Radisson Seven Seas Cruises

RSSC offers a genuinely innovative series of cruises devoted to themes such as Cordon Bleu cooking workshops, not to mention voyages focusing on chamber music, jazz, antiques, history, and food and wine -- all great opportunities to meet like-minded folks.

As well, RSSC will lower the single supplement charge to 15 percent on some itineraries. And check out the company's web site: Many good deals are posted under "Specials"; a recent listing offered a choice of free air or $1,000 off European cruises departing in October.

Others of Interest: Seven Seas Navigator, Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner.

Best for Exotic Voyages as a Single Cruiser

Cruise Line: Norwegian Coastal Voyages

This line, which operates genuinely unique cruises of Norway's gorgeous fjords (not to mention seasonal Antarctic offerings), is one of the industry's most progressive in reaching out to single travelers with rate reductions. Its "No Frills Vacations" apply to 10- and 15-day air-inclusive tours on selected ships (October 1 through December 31). In addition, year-round AARP member discounts of $100 to $150 per cabin, and savings of $95 to $170 per person for seniors 67 and older (except in June and July), can be combined with these offers.

Others of Interest: These discounts are only available on MS Narvik and MS Vesteralen, but all ships in the fleet occasionally run solo-oriented specials.

Best for Party-Loving Young Single Cruisers

Cruise Line: Windjammer Barefoot Cruises

Windjammer is one of the few lines to offer a handful of singles-only voyages. Beyond that, Windjammer offers very reasonable fares for a small-ship line, and will try to roommate-match; the guaranteed solo price is available even if they can't find you a pal.

Others of Interest: The singles-only cruises are offered on Mandalay and Polynesia, but we've also had good experiences on regular sailings on Legacy and Yankee Clipper.

Best for Singles wanting Social Ambience & Enrichment

Cruise Line: Crystal Cruises

Crystal has long been lauded for its efforts to accommodate single travelers (particularly those in the 50-plus category), offering supplements as low as 25 percent. Just as important, however, the multitude of activities onboard -- particularly via its Creative Learning Institute and its assigned table evening dining -- offers plenty of opportunities to make friends.

Others of Interest: Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity.

Best for Singles Cruisers Seeking Soft Adventure

Cruise Line: Cruise West

This soft adventure line, which sails itineraries in Baja Mexico, Central America and Alaska, is one of the rare cruise companies to offer single cabins on some ships and twin rates on others. Cruise West also offers a roommate matching service.

Others of Interest: The Spirit of '98 and Spirit of Discovery offer single staterooms. Spirit of Columbia and Spirit of Alaska feature twin rates in staterooms in the B and C categories. Roommate matching is available across the fleet.

Best for Seniors Traveling Solo

Cruise Line: Saga Holidays

Saga Holidays is one of few companies offering single cabins on its ships, period -- never mind the extra bonus that they also come in a variety of categories from insides to balconied suites. In order to sail onboard Saga Holidays' Saga Ruby or sister ship Saga Rose, passengers must be over the age of 50.

Others of Interest: Saga Ruby or Saga Rose