Singles cruises are ordinary sailings on mainstream ships where a specialist company or travel agency reserves a block of cabins for unattached travellers and runs its own private programme onboard. You get a host, mixers, group dinners and shore excursions with other singles, while the rest of the ship carries on as normal. Most organisers will also match you with a same-gender roommate so you can avoid the single supplement.
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Below we explain how singles cruises work, who goes on them, what they cost, which cruise lines suit singles best, and how to meet people if you would rather sail independently.
What Is a Singles Cruise?
There are very few true “singles-only” ships. Almost every singles cruise is a hosted group sailing on a regular ship from a line such as Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival or Virgin Voyages. The organiser books a block of cabins (anything from a couple of dozen to a few hundred passengers) and adds its own schedule on top of the cruise line’s normal entertainment.
A typical hosted programme includes:
- A welcome reception on the first evening so the group can put names to faces
- Reserved tables at dinner, often rotated so you sit with different people each night
- Cocktail mixers, dance lessons, quiz or game nights and themed parties
- Group shore excursions that you can join or skip
- An onboard host or escort who knows the group and organises the day-to-day plans
- Pre-cruise online groups or message boards so you can chat before sailing
Everything in the singles programme is optional. You can join every event or simply use the welcome party to meet a few people and then do your own thing.
Who runs singles cruises?
Several long-standing US operators specialise in group travel for singles. Examples include Singles Travel International, which runs cruises as well as land tours and weekends, and Vacations To Go, whose singles department says it has hosted singles sailings for more than 20 years. Large agencies and consortia also sell hosted singles departures, and some groups are organised through Meetup and social clubs for particular regions, faiths or age brackets. Operators come and go, so check reviews, how long a company has been trading, and whether it belongs to a recognised industry body before you pay a deposit.
Singles Cruise vs Cruising Solo: What Is the Difference?
The two get mixed up, but they are not the same thing:
| Singles cruise (hosted group) | Cruising solo (independent) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who books it | Specialist operator or agency | You, directly or via any agent |
| Social programme | Private mixers, dinners, excursions with a host | Cruise line’s own solo meet-ups, if offered |
| Main aim | Meeting other singles, sometimes dating | Travelling on your own terms |
| Cabin | Shared with a matched roommate, or single | Solo cabin or a double at a supplement |
| Itinerary choice | Limited to the group’s departures | Any sailing you like |
If you mainly want to travel alone and are less bothered about a ready-made group, our complete solo cruise guide to solo cabins and single supplements covers that side in detail.
Who Goes on Singles Cruises? Typical Age Ranges
Most hosted singles groups skew towards people in their late thirties to sixties. Singles Travel International, for example, quotes a core age range of roughly mid-forties to mid-sixties on its own pages, while Vacations To Go runs some departures aimed at specific brackets such as 25 to 55 or 50-plus. Younger singles tend to gravitate towards short Caribbean sailings, party-themed departures and adults-only ships, whereas longer European and transatlantic voyages attract an older crowd.
Not everyone is looking for romance. Many people on singles cruises are widowed, divorced or simply have friends who do not cruise, and they want company at dinner and on tours. Ask the organiser for the expected age mix and gender balance before you book; a reputable company will tell you.
How Much Do Singles Cruises Cost?
A singles cruise costs the normal cruise fare plus, usually, a modest premium for the hosted programme, which may also bundle in some excursions, drinks at the mixers or transfers. The biggest variable is the cabin.
- Single supplement: Most cruise fares are priced per person based on two sharing. Booking a standard cabin alone typically means paying a supplement that can range from around 50% up to the full second fare.
- Roommate matching: Most singles operators will pair you with a same-gender roommate so you pay the per-person double rate. Some guarantee a match if you book by a set date, or cover the supplement themselves if they cannot find one. Read the small print on what happens if your roommate cancels.
- Solo cabins: Purpose-built single cabins are usually priced without a full supplement, but they sell out early and some lines now use demand-based pricing, so they are not always the bargain they seem.
Look out for lines running reduced-supplement offers on selected sailings, and compare the total cost of a hosted package against booking the same cruise yourself.
Best Cruise Lines for Singles
The best cruises for singles combine a lively social scene, decent solo cabin options and organised meet-ups. These lines stand out at the time of writing:
| Cruise line | Solo cabins | What helps singles |
|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Studio cabins on many ships (Epic, Breakaway, Getaway, Escape, Bliss, Encore, Prima, Viva and others) | Key-card Studio Lounge for solo guests, daily solo meet-ups |
| Virgin Voyages | Solo Insider and Solo Sea View cabins | Adults-only (18+), solo meet-ups, pub crawls, communal dining |
| Celebrity Cruises | Single veranda cabins on Edge-class ships | Hosted solo gatherings and a solo dining table |
| Royal Caribbean | Studio cabins on some Quantum- and Oasis-class ships | Huge ships with plenty of activities; check for solo meet-ups in the app |
| Holland America Line | Single cabins on Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam; 30 Solo Verandahs planned for Oosterdam from late 2027 | Solo mixers and social activities |
| Cunard | Single cabins on Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth | Solo coffee mornings and receptions; dance hosts on selected voyages |
| Saga (over-50s) | Large numbers of single cabins on Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure | Singles drinks parties and solo lunches |
UK lines such as P&O Cruises and Fred. Olsen also have single cabins and solo get-togethers. Solo cabin numbers change with refits and new ships, so always check the current deck plan before booking. Holland America has said its new solo balcony cabins will use dynamic pricing, so do not assume they will cost half a double.
If Virgin Voyages appeals, our guide to Virgin Voyages cabins to avoid will help you pick the right stateroom.
How to Meet People on a Cruise When You Are Single
Even without a hosted group, it is easy to be sociable on a ship:
- Find the solo meet-up. Many lines list a “solo travellers” or “singles” get-together in the daily schedule or app, usually on the first or second evening. Go to the first one; later ones are smaller once groups have formed.
- Choose shared dining. Ask for a large shared table at dinner rather than a table for one. If you change your mind, the maître d’ can usually move you.
- Join the online roll call. Cruise forums and social media groups for your specific sailing often organise meet-and-greets and private shore tours.
- Book group activities. Trivia, dance classes, wine tastings, fitness classes and small-group excursions all put you next to the same faces repeatedly.
- Pick the right itinerary. Port-intensive and sea-day-heavy cruises suit different people; sea days give more time to socialise onboard.
For more ideas on travelling alone and enjoying it, see our tips for cruising solo.
Safety Tips for Singles Cruises
Cruise ships are generally safe, but the usual common sense applies, especially in a party atmosphere:
- Keep an eye on your drink and pace yourself; drinks packages make it easy to overdo it.
- Do not tell new acquaintances your cabin number until you know them well, and meet in public areas.
- Let a friend at home or someone in your group know your plans in port.
- Stick to ship-sold or well-reviewed excursions and be back onboard well before all-aboard time.
- Save the ship’s security and guest services numbers in your phone and report anything that worries you.
- Agree house rules with a matched roommate early, from bedtimes to guests in the cabin.
Is a Singles Cruise Right for You?
A hosted singles cruise is worth it if you want a ready-made social circle, someone else doing the organising and a way round the single supplement through roommate matching. It suits people who enjoy group activities and do not mind a fixed set of departure dates. If you would rather pick any ship and itinerary, keep your evenings flexible and only socialise when you feel like it, booking a solo cabin on a sociable line and joining the onboard meet-ups may give you the best of both worlds.
FAQs
Are there cruises just for singles?
Very few ships sail exclusively for singles. Most singles cruises are hosted groups on regular ships, with a private programme of mixers, dinners and excursions for the singles in the group.
What age group goes on singles cruises?
Most hosted singles groups attract people from their late thirties to their sixties, but many operators run age-specific departures, such as 25 to 55 or 50-plus.
How do I avoid the single supplement on a cruise?
Book a purpose-built solo cabin, look for reduced-supplement offers, or use a singles operator’s roommate-matching service so you pay the per-person double rate.
What is the best cruise line for singles?
Norwegian Cruise Line (studio cabins and Studio Lounge) and adults-only Virgin Voyages are popular with younger singles, while Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America and, for over-50s, Saga suit those wanting a quieter, more traditional scene.
Is it weird to go on a cruise alone?
Not at all. Solo cruising is increasingly common, and many lines now build solo cabins and run daily meet-ups specifically for people travelling on their own.
