Small ship cruises for single travellers

Hefty single supplements suck. It’s why we wrote a no single supplement travel guide for explorers fed up with feeling like they’re facing a fine every time they choose to travel independently. After all, the number of people travelling solo is rising dramatically – and they’re not all teenage backpackers on their first adventure. Far from it.

There are loads of reasons why you might go on a small ship cruise on your own. Perhaps your friends or family aren’t free…or you want to be a few thousand miles away from your nearest and dearest for a week. Perhaps you’re a savvy traveller who knows well the value of solo travel. In fact, who needs a reason? Imagine standing on deck, breathing in the frost-thick Arctic air, and watching whales dive as you blow the steam off your coffee. Solo cruises are like a meditation – especially if you travel with an expert tour operator.

Travel off peak, when cruise companies are trying to fill cabins. This is when they’re more likely to offer deals that ditch the single supplement. In the Mediterranean that’s around May and June, or September and October. In the Caribbean, that’s either side of the hurricane season: April-May and early December. Find out more about the best time to go on a small ship cruise. Consider sharing a cabin to cut costs. Not confident about travelling solo? Small group tours will give you the balance of group travel and independence. You won’t be lonely. In fact, you’ll be surprised about how many people book a small ship cruise for one – especially on expensive, adventurous, off-the-edge-of-the-map voyages like Antarctic expeditions. It won’t be all doe-eyed couples paired up in the dining room; you’ll be among like-minded travellers who will be watching the polar bear loping over the horizon with exactly the same wide-eyed wonder as you. The camaraderie is real. Think about what you want from your cruise. Larger ships (say, a 150-person icebreaker) will give you the chance to mingle at the bar, spend time alone reading in the library and experience wildlife watching trips with others. Sailing yachts or traditional boats like Turkish gulets will have you sailing and eating elbow-to-elbow with your shipmates. Decide how close you want your company.