Cruise lines have revamped health and safety protocols to ensure passenger security from check-in to disembarkation. Staggered boarding times reduce crowding, making the process smoother and faster. Many ships now use touchless tech like QR code menus, virtual muster drills, and apps for booking excursions, spa treatments, and dining. Digital screens and apps also provide real-time restaurant availability, helping guests avoid wait times.

SOLO SAILING SIMPLIFIED

Gone are the days when solo travelers had to pay double to cruise. Many cruise lines now waive or significantly reduce the single supplement, making it far more affordable to travel alone. In addition, flexible booking policies make it easier to rebook or cancel for health-related reasons, offering guests greater peace of mind.

For those that desire to be pampered, some luxury lines provide specially designed staterooms and amenities for single passengers. Crystal Cruises has specially designed solo guest rooms, which include 24-hour in-suite dining, luxurious bed linens, Italian bathroom amenities, and a personal butler to ensure travelers have a seamless experience. Solo guest staterooms are available, with no additional charges, on select voyages to a variety of destinations.

Cunard Line also provides spacious single staterooms with no single supplements for Inside or Oceanview categories onboard Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria or Queen Elizabeth. Of course, guests that would prefer more space are able to book a double stateroom for a single supplement.

Mainstream cruise lines are also catering to this growing trend. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Solo Staterooms provide a comfortable space for one person, with single pricing, and are available in a choice of Balcony, Oceanview, Inside, and Studio categories. Royal Caribbean International, Holland America, and Virgin Voyages have solo cabins with special pricing on select ships and in select categories.

ENRICHING ACTIVITIES

A cruise can be the perfect getaway to enjoy time alone. There are countless on board activities men and women can enjoy unaccompanied. Active travelers can spend time in well-equipped fitness centers, participate in yoga classes, or utilize the walking tracks on the promenade decks.

As passengers increasingly want more from their travels, cruise lines have added more onboard workshops and lectures. On some ships, passengers can learn to prepare regional dishes, improve their cooking skills or even learn more about wine pairing. Many cruise lines provide creative classes in painting, pottery and jewelry making, while others feature classes on computer programs like Excel and PowerPoint. Guest speakers and enrichment programs have also become popular, with guests learning more about a variety of topics. Cunard’s “Insights Programme” invites travelers to attend talks by filmmakers, scientists, and even astronauts. Seabourn’s Seabourn Conversations feature world-class lecturers who engage with passengers in various settings.

For quiet time, libraries and solo lounges offer peaceful escapes, while spas deliver true indulgence. Many shipboard spas rival top land-based wellness resorts, featuring saunas, steam rooms, and plunge pools. Virgin Voyages’ Redemption Spa even includes a mud room, salt room, and heated marble hammam benches for a detoxifying and rejuvenating experience.

CONNECTING WITH LIKE MINDED TRAVELERS

Because not every solo voyager wants solitude, cruise lines recognize the importance of scheduled get togethers throughout the journey. Organized events and gatherings help passengers connect and socialize; these are usually listed in the daily programs. Cunard and Regent Seven Seas Cruises offer small group meetups for those who want to make new friends, meet and mingle with other single passengers.

Explora Journeys’ Solivagant Society is a thoughtfully curated program designed to enrich the experience of solo travelers aboard their ships and connect with others who share similar travel interests. The term “solivagant” refers to those who wander alone, and this society embraces and celebrates that spirit by offering a range of activities and events tailored specifically for individuals traveling solo. Travelers on luxury lines like Silversea and Seabourn can use their apps to RSVP for enrichment lectures, wine tastings, as well as making dining reservations, taking part in solo dining or joining hosted tables. Explora Journeys offers food and wellness matching, allowing passengers to align their dietary preferences or join themed communal dinners, via the apps.

Off the ships, excursions are tailored with diverse types of travelers in mind. Many cruise lines offer boutique-style tours with smaller groups and opportunities for customization. Explorers can find a variety of options to accommodate active or more sedate styles. In some ports of call, visitors can easily explore on their own, discovering places of interest at their own pace with the aid of maps of the port. Culture or historical enthusiasts can find immersive experiences, booked with scheduled or private tours.

Additionally, there’s a growing trend towards more active excursions like water sports and culinary tours that allow cruisers to immerse themselves in local flavors and activities. Those explorers who are looking for more than just sightseeing can enjoy curated shore activities such as hiking, motor sports, deep-sea or fly fishing, and so much more.

SMALL SHIP SOPHISTICATION

There’s been a growing demand for smaller boutique vessels and expedition ships that offer immersive cultural experiences and access to remote corners of the world. Traditional itineraries are giving way to more exotic destinations, with longer port stays that allow guests to fully connect with local cultures. Expedition ships are typically smaller, allowing for the navigation of smaller waterways and less-traveled destinations. Areas like the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon rainforest, Patagonia, the Arctic, and Antarctica are becoming increasingly popular. These cruises are often led by experienced naturalists and guides, offering solo travelers the chance to view wildlife up close through kayaking, Zodiac landings, and guided treks.

In Alaska, smaller ships allow access to narrow passages and lesser-known ports. Travelers can explore the region’s natural and cultural wonders on local tours and active adventures like salmon fishing or dogsledding. The abundant wildlife gives visitors the opportunity to spot bears, moose, caribou, eagles, and whales.

River cruises are another ideal option for solo travelers. With fewer than 300 passengers on board, these cruises provide a more intimate experience and direct access to the heart of each destination. River routes span across Europe and reach exotic locations like the Nile and Chobe in Africa; the Mekong, Ganges, and Yangtze in Asia; the Mississippi in the U.S.; and the Amazon and Magdalena in South America.

Traditional Mediterranean cruises offer small town stops and longer stay. Solo travelers looking for more immersive cultural and historical adventures are cruising destinations like the Greek Islands, Italy and the Amalfi coast, the Baltic, and Japan, on smaller ships. Ports like Corfu Town, and Parga, Greece; Ajaccio, Corsica; Cannes, France; and Cartagena, Spain offer a more intimate experience with opportunities for exploration.

Scandinavian itineraries that wind through Norway’s fjords provide a visually stunning experience. These narrow inlets, framed by soaring cliffs and cascading waterfalls, are home to picturesque villages and offer a sense of peaceful seclusion.

Japan is also a top destination for solo cruising. With carefully curated itineraries, travelers can explore a wide range of attractions across one of the safest countries in the world. Known for its excellent public transportation and welcoming locals, Japan caters well to solo adventurers. The culture embraces independent experiences, or hitorisama, with solo-friendly dining options like ramen shops with individual booths and intimate sushi counters. Whether it’s serene temples, historic districts, or the excitement of vibrant cities, Japan offers something for every type of traveler.

KEEPING YOUR WALLET HAPPY

As mentioned earlier, taking advantage of cruises that waive single supplements makes luxury cruising more affordable. Some cruise lines offer “No Single Supplement” deals on select voyages during off-peak seasons, so be sure to check which stateroom categories are included. Staying in an inside cabin on a scenic route might not be worth the savings. End-of season or early booking offers can also secure significant discounts, and many cruise lines run specials during “wave season,” from January through March.

Consider what the cruise includes — luxury cruises are often worth the extra cost since many are all-inclusive. The price of drinks, fine dining, and excursions can add up quickly. If the cruise isn’t all-inclusive, skipping a drinks package and paying for individual drinks often works out cheaper.

Shore excursions booked through the cruise line tend to be expensive. Exploring independently or purchasing local tours can be more affordable. Alternatively, team up with new friends onboard to share the cost of a local guide or Uber to nearby attractions. While trying local cuisine is tempting, eating meals on the ship can help solo travelers stick to a budget, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a snack or pastry to get a taste of the region.

SAIL WITH CONFIDENCE

Choosing the right cruise line and ship is essential when planning your voyage. The cruise company’s website and guest reviews offer valuable insight into their ambiance and inclusions. Mainstream cruise lines often cater to families and younger guests, and multigenerational groups, especially during summer months. For an adult-only experience, Virgin Voyages is an excellent choice, while luxury lines like Cunard, Crystal, Seabourn, and Silversea offer refined options too.

Beyond the enriching experiences and social connections, solo cruising can also be a journey of self-discovery, allowing you to learn more about yourself and build confidence while navigating new environments and experiences independently. Having the luxury of traveling at your own pace is a uniquely rewarding experience. The ability to explore the places and sights that you’ve dreamed about, and checking one more destination off your bucket list is priceless.

Don’t forget — maximizing your solo cruise adventure is easier with the help of a travel advisor. An advisor specializing in cruises, especially solo travel, can offer invaluable expertise in finding the best deals, navigating single supplements, and recommending the most suitable cruises and cabins. They can also provide insights into onboard activities and social events, assist with reservations, and ensure your journey is seamless and enjoyable from start to finish.

AMAWATERWAYS

The Heart of the River

Travelers often speak of leaving a piece of themselves behind in cities that have made their hearts skip a beat. But on an award-winning AmaWaterways river cruise, you won’t ever return home with love lost. Instead, AmaWaterways makes it their personal mission to ensure your heart will grow while cruising legendary rivers throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America, beginning in 2025 with the industry’s first sailings on Colombia’s Magdalena River.

When you’re ready to explore the world ashore, the most knowledgeable local guides take you to the heart of each destination and introduce you to the culture on a variety of included excursions, with your choice from up to six tours each day. Whether you prefer a gentle walking tour through a medieval town center, an active guided hike to a hilltop castle, or an immersive cooking demonstration or tasting, you will experience the best each city or village has to offer in the way that suits you best.

AmaWaterways also ensures that every guest is able to enhance their best self while on board. With a professional Wellness Host aboard their ships in Europe and on the Mekong River, you will find a variety of engaging wellness activities available. Join a group stretching class in the morning on the Sun Deck, or perhaps a dance class in the afternoon. Cardio and core strengthening options are also available, as are active wellness walks.

After your daily excursions earn your affection, your heart will swell as you are warmly welcomed “back home” – because you’ve genuinely become a part of the AmaWaterways family. The Hotel Manager may hand you a refreshing chilled towel after your countryside bike ride or a hot herbal tea following your winter’s trip to a local Christmas Market, because your ultimate comfort is one of the line’s top priorities.

One of the most special parts of river cruising with AmaWaterways is indulging in delicious food from the region you are sailing through. You will be treated on board – at every meal – to exquisite locally sourced cuisine and artfully plated dishes created by passionate chefs. Lunches and dinners are paired with complimentary hand-selected wines, or beer or soft drinks if you prefer.

CUNARD®

In rare moments like this, the journey is just as fascinating as the destination. The sights and sounds of Alaska’s frontier are right at your fingertips when you sail on t he luxurious Queen Elizabeth®.

Alaska Captivates

Early arrivals and evening departures in Alaska’s most enticing ports – including Ketchikan, Juneau, and Sitka – ensure plenty of time for deeper experiences and intimate excursions. This is a land of massive icefields and snow-capped mountains, where lush taiga forests harbor rich wildlife and Gold Rush towns seem to be preserved in time. Kayak through fjords, hike among forested landscapes and fish for halibut inflowing rivers.

Nature is at the forefront on scenic days of cruising. Listen to the crackle and thunder of ice slabs at Hubbard Glacier and in Glacier Bay National Park, while a day gliding through Tracy Arm Fjord sweeps between steep, ice-carved cliffs. Onboard Cunard Insights® experts and other local connections bring guests closer to this treasured destination.

With Cunard®, Every Moment is Special In between grand adventures on land, time at sea is worth celebrating. Relax in pure luxury with carefree days dining, indulging, and unwinding at sea or dance your night away at the Ice White Ball. With their renowned White Star Service™, Cunard Insights® enrichment speakers and exciting events, the beauty of Alaska is matched only by the Cunard experience. The world of Cunard is wide-open on-board Queen Elizabeth with her spacious staterooms and enviable space-to-guest ratio. Grill Suites offer the highest-level luxury – with exclusive access to the Grills Lounge, and the pinnacle of dining in the Queens Grill and Princess Grill restaurants.

The Choices are Endless

In 2025, Queen Elizabeth offers 7-12 nights round-trip voyages departing from Seattle. With Cunard, Alaska is more than a beautiful place to see. It’s an extraordinary destination to experience.

OCEANIA CRUISES

Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary and destination-focused cruise line, introduces a new collection of expertly curated travel experiences aboard designer inspired, small ships.

Oceania Vista, Oceania Cruises’ newest ship, is the first of the line’s Allura Class vessels. The stunning 1,200-guest, all-veranda ship boasts the most spacious standard staterooms at sea, which measure more than 290 square feet, plus new Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms for solo travelers. Oceania Vista’s elevated variety of onboard activities includes eight bars, lounges, and entertainment venues plus the luxurious Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center and Aquamar Spa Terrace. Continuing to elevate The Finest Cuisine at Sea®, Oceania Vista features 11 onboard culinary venues.

Oceania Cruises collection of voyages to Europe, Alaska, Canada, Asia, Australia & New Zealand, Africa, South America, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean encompasses more than 350 itineraries including over 130 Grand Voyages across seven ships and all seven continents. New ports of call include Beppu, Japan; Auckland, New Zealand; Castro, Chile; Boracay Island, Philippines; Djupivogur, Iceland; Panama City, Panama; Heimaey, Iceland; Port Royal, Jamaica; Kyoto, Japan; Dublin, Ireland; São Francisco do Sul, Brazil; and Portofino, Italy.

Oceania Cruises also offers an incredible lineup of immersive experiences across the Mediterranean, allowing guests to experience numerous cultural capitals and lesser-known gems. Sailing from cities including Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens, and London, this exquisite selection of carefully crafted voyages aboard Oceania Marina, Oceania Riviera, Oceania Sirena and Oceania Vista, is ideal for travelers who wish to delve into this region’s rich history and ancient cultures, cuisine, and traditions.

For a taste of the tropics, Oceania Cruises offers a collection of voyages sailing the exotic Caribbean and Tahiti. This captivating array of 100 sailings in the Caribbean and Tahiti charts lesser-known coastlines and takes travelers to boutique ports and off-the-beaten-track islands thanks to the line’s small, luxurious ships. Caribbean season highlights include Castries on the island of St. Lucia; Puerto Limon in Costa Rica; and Colombia’s magnificent colonial city of Cartagena. Meanwhile, the must-sees in French Polynesia include vibrant Papeete, the paradise island of Nuku Hiva, and Bora Bora.

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES®

Regent Seven Seas Cruises invites you to embark on a journey where luxury knows no bounds. With an All-Inclusive Cruise Fare that opens the door to extraordinary experiences, guests are free to explore the world in unrivaled comfort and style aboard the World’s Most Luxurious Fleet™.

On board, guests are treated to the pinnacle of luxury accommodations. All-suite lodgings are a haven of comfort and elegance with thoughtful touches like expansive walk-in closets, marble bathrooms, and private balconies offering breathtaking views. European king-size Elite Slumber™ Beds provide a truly delightful and restful sleep, while Suite Attendants meticulously attend to your needs, ensuring a seamless stay. Suite Attendants take care of every detail, from replenishing beverages in your mini-bar to refreshing your L’Occitane® toiletries.

The culinary adventure aboard is just as exceptional. Guests have the freedom to dine whenever and with whomever they please, offering a truly personalized experience. From the gourmet selections at Prime 7 and the authentic Italian dishes at Sette Mari at La Veranda, to Compass Rose, the largest specialty restaurant at sea, and Chartreuse, where classic French cuisine meets contemporary flair, every meal is an event.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises also distinguishes itself with its wide array of itineraries. Travelers can choose among the cruise line’s immersive itineraries ranging from seven to 168 nights in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, Alaska, Canada & New England, Bermuda and the Caribbean, South America, Asia, and Australia and the South Pacific.

As well, concierge-level and higher suite guests enjoy added privileges such as a pre-cruise luxury hotel package, ensuring a stress-free start to their voyage. For those seeking the epitome of luxury, penthouse suite guests and above enjoy the unparalleled service of a personal butler, catering to their every whim and making each moment onboard unforgettable.

With Regent Seven Seas Cruises, every aspect of your voyage is carefully curated to exceed expectations, from the exquisite fine dining options and personalized suite services to the enriching shore excursions that immerse you deeply in each destination’s unique culture and beauty. The addition of inclusive fares covering fine wines, spirits, gratuities, and more ensures a worry-free experience, allowing you to fully indulge in the luxury of the moment.

SILVERSEA

Discover the edge of your comfort zone at the edge of the Earth on a once-in-a lifetime voyage to Antarctica.

With Silversea’s Antarctica Fly Cruise, you bypass the Drake Passage and fly d irectly to the Last Continent, immersing yourself immediately in its frozen desert, towering glaciers, and unbroken silence. Guided by expert Expedition Leaders — naturalists, biologists, geologists, and historians — you’ll follow in the footsteps of legendary explorers along untrodden paths, navigate ice-choked bays, and witness wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.

Flights over the Drake Passage offer breathtaking aerial views before you land amid timeless landscapes. On shore and at sea, you’ll explore by Zodiac and kayak for close encounters with penguins, leopard seals, albatross, and other remarkable species. Visit historic sites like Whalers’ Bay, trek icy plains, and even plunge into polar waters if you dare. Evening lectures on board deepen your understanding of each day’s discoveries. Itineraries range from six to 15 days, allowing you to tailor your expedition to your travel style. The shortest voyages offer swift access via direct flights, while longer journeys al low for one-way sailing of the legendary Drake Passage or extended exploration of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Whether brief or immersive, each expedition offers a profound connection to one of the planet’s last great frontiers.

Every detail of your voyage is seamlessly arranged — from charter flights and private transfers to a luxury hotel stay and exclusive onboard experiences. After days spent in wild beauty, you’ll return to spacious suites, most with private verandas, and the warm, anticipatory service that defines Silversea.

Beginning January 2026, your Antarctic adventure will start and end at The Cormorant at 55 South, the Southernmost Hotel on Earth. Located in Puerto Williams, Chile, this 150-room property is named for the resilient seabird known for its extraordinary journeys and is designed to bring Silversea’s signature hospitality to the gateway of Antarctica. Guests will enjoy serene forest or water views, flexible bedd ing configurations, and a setting that blends Patagonian wilderness with refined comfort.

Before or after your voyage, you can immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of Puerto Williams with nature walks, invigorating hikes, and kayaking through pristine waterways. Native birdlife, including the yellow-billed pintail, ringed kingfisher, and the namesake cormorant, provides a fitting preview of the wildlife to come.

For Fly Cruise guests, the journey begins with a stay in Santiago, followed by a charter flight to Puerto Williams and an overnight at The Cormorant. The next morning, you’ll fly to King George Island to embark on your expedition ship. Upon returning, you’ll stay one more night at The Cormorant before your flight back to Santiago. Open from October to March, the hotel offers an unmatched combination of location, comfort, and access to one of the most remote destinations on Earth.