Singles cruises are not all the same. Some feel like a nonstop party, while others offer low-key ways to mingle. Some are exclusive over-40 singles cruises, while others attract a younger crowd. While surcharges for singles are still common, unfortunately, many cruise lines offer solo travelers special discounts, chic studio staterooms and roommate-matching services.

We’ll take a closer look at the variety of singles cruises to help you figure out where you’ll feel most at home. Just remember: Once you’ve booked your cabin, you should immediately protect your trip with travel insurance. If you must cancel your trip last-minute and you don’t have insurance, you could lose all the money you spent. The OneTrip Prime plan is our most popular plan for cruises. Or, if you’re a frequent traveler, the AllTrips Executive Plan can protect all your trips in a 365-day span.

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The Best Under-40 Singles Cruises 

Many of the best cruises for young singles aren’t labeled “singles cruises” at all. They’re themed cruises that naturally attract fun-loving people to the things they’re passionate about, like music, TV, sports and fitness.

Sixthman cruises are more like floating festivals, with live performances and artist collaborations. One longtime favorite is The Rock Boat, a floating musical circus that draws some 2,500 cruisers. The best ways to meet people: Jump into a crowded elevator for an impromptu Elevator Party or dress up for one of the theme nights. Other themed voyages have drawn fans of Kesha, the Trailer Park Boys and even “The Walking Dead.”

That being said, the classic singles cruise is popular for a reason: The organizers make it incredibly easy to meet people. A typical day might include dance lessons, trivia, a hosted cocktail party, speed dating and casual mixers. Halloween cruises and spring break cruises tend to be the most popular among the 20s-30s crowd.ⁱ One industry leader is SinglesCruise.com, which offers roommate-matching services, hosted activities and optional pre-cruise meetups.

The Best Over-40 Singles Cruises 

Just as for younger singles, the best way to meet people you like is to cruise with like-minded people. Consider a themed cruise with the music you love. The annual Soul Train Cruise (“The Hippest Trip at Sea”) features performances by famous artists and lessons from original “Soul Train” dancers. The ‘80s Cruise promises a totally tubular time with aerobics (don’t forget your leotard), karaoke, prom night and dozens of celebrities. And the long-running Rock & Roll Cruises organized by Concerts at Sea feature bands from the ‘50s and ’60s, such as The Drifters and Paul Revere’s Raiders.

Read the fine print for these themed cruises, however. Some cater to singles by offering a limited number of supplement-free cabins, while others require solo travelers to have a roommate or pay the full cabin rate.

Vacations To Go offers a full slate of hosted singles cruises each year for different age groups: 20s to 40s, 40+, and all ages. Travelers who prefer to avoid the party vibe of an all-singles sailing may like their smaller-group model, which includes discounts, a professional host and private activities for singles on board. VTG’s singles cruises also include destinations beyond the Caribbean, with sailings to Canada, New England, Alaska and Mediterranean destinations.

The Best Cruise Lines for Singles

There’s no rule saying solo travelers must sign up for an organized singles cruise! It’s entirely possible to have fun, meet other travelers, and enjoy yourself simply by choosing a solo-friendly cruise line.

• Holland America is known for its thoughtful accommodations for social singles. The Single Partners Program, available on most of Holland America's cruises, kicks off with a solo travelers' meet-and-greet party and includes more than 40 activities, such as wine tastings, cooking classes, lectures, trivia competitions and sports challenges. A limited number of solo cabins are available on select Holland America ships. Single travelers may book a double stateroom for 150 to 200 percent of the double occupancy fare, depending on the cruise and stateroom category.ⁱⁱ
• Norwegian Cruise Line offers staterooms for solo travelers on several of its ships. They’re small but comfortable, with keycard access to a shared private lounge for enjoying a drink or watching TV with other single travelers. On some sailings, Norwegian reduces the single supplement for regular staterooms so singles pay less than double the cruise fare.
• Royal Caribbean has supplement-free studio staterooms on many of its ships. Some are have ocean views and/or balconies, while others feature Virtual Balconies: wall-mounted screens that provide a real-time, HD view of the outside.ⁱⁱⁱ
• Cunard is popular among single travelers who enjoy formal dining and intellectual offerings. Featured guests may include bestselling authors, noted professors or even an astronaut. Cunard welcomes solo travelers with a cocktail party and gentlemen dance hosts, and its Britannia single staterooms are outfitted with all the luxurious fittings of larger rooms.
• Silversea’s small luxury ships offer an intimate, elegant cruising experience. While Silversea cruises aren’t priced for the budget traveler, solo cruisers will be pleasantly surprised to find a single supplement only 25% above the Silver Privilege fare for select voyages. Fares are all-inclusive, including an ocean-view suite, butler service, fine dining and beverages and onboard gratuities.^iv
• Tauck is one of the best river cruise lines for singles, with zero single supplement for solo travelers in its smallest (Category 1) cabins. Tauck also welcomes single cruisers with special attention from cruise directors.^v

Compare Allianz Global Assistance insurance to cruise lines’ protection plans.

Whether you’re planning a five-night jaunt through the Caribbean or an epic three-week voyage, you need travel insurance to protect your cruise. Look for a plan with generous emergency medical and emergency transportation benefits; a broad range of covered reasons for trip cancellation/interruption; trip delay benefits; and supplier default coverage, in case your cruise operator suddenly closes its doors. With the reassurance of travel insurance from Allianz Global Assistance, you’ll never travel alone — even when you’re cruising solo.

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