Pros and Cons of going on a cruise alone
In:The idea of going on a cruise alone can seem daunting, but I think it's quite rewarding once you try it.
There are plenty of reasons why you'd need to cruise solo: family obligations, a great last-minute rate, or PTO time that's going to expire. Whatever the rationale, you might be concerned that it's a mistake to get on a cruise ship by yourself.
I've taken dozens of cruises alone, and while it's a different approach to how you travel, I find it very liberating doing what you want, when you want to do it. Plus, it means more cruising!
If you're on the fence if a solo cruise is right for you, I've got the reasons to try or skip a solo cruise.
Pros of Cruising Alone
Let's start with the best reasons to try a cruise by yourself because I want to start with why you should give it a try.
In fact, I'd go as far as to say you really ought to give a solo cruise a try, even with the downsides listed later in this article.
Ultimate flexibility
The first thing you'll likely notice when you get on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship solo is you aren't consulting with anyone else what to do next.
Cruising alone means you get to cruise at your speed. You can do what you want, and come and go to whichever activity suits you.
There's no negotiating dinner times, activities, or excursions. No one is waking you up inadvertently, and you have the freedom to set alarms (or not).
Wandering the ship and stopping to do what you like and then leave when you're ready is a very liberating feeling. While I'm sure you enjoy the company of you friends and family, sometimes it's nice to do what you want.
Doing what you want is the common theme of a solo cruise. It allows you to enjoy your cruise without much compromise.
Cruise ships are conducive to solo cruising
Unlike land resorts, cruise ships tend to be a more social experience from start to finish.
I've found that a cruise fosters a lot of social interaction because of how so many events and activities are conducted.
Shore excursions are almost always set up in groups, and you're bound to start up a conversation there. Trivia events at bars are where you're encouraged to form teams. Even the casino tends to generate conversations with strangers because people inevitable like to celebrate or commiserate about how the games are paying out.
Royal Caribbean can seat you with other passengers in the Main Dining Room for dinner.
The more I've cruised alone, the more I've opened up to random conversations with strangers. Most of the time it's just a passing hello, but sometimes you can strike up a good chat and you might have a new friend around the ship.
In fact, the bar scene on cruise ships is a very social one. I've found it can be quite adept to meeting people.
If you have access to the Crown Lounge or Suite Lounge, those are some of the best places to meet other cruisers. There seems to be a sense of comradery in those lounges because of the exclusiveness of them.
It's a faster path to higher loyalty tiers
A common reason to want to cruise solo is to cruise more to reach Royal Caribbean's top tiers within Crown and Anchor Society.
If you're chasing Diamond status or higher, going alone will get you more loyalty points.
Cruising alone in a standard cabin will get you 2 points per night, and you'll get 3 points per night if you're in a suite.
There's no doubt I got to Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club status faster because I cruised solo. And once you get higher loyalty status, you get to take advantage of the perks.
Royal Caribbean's best benefits are arguably at the Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club levels. Having them makes cruising so much better, and you might save money too.
For families, one person cruising solo could elevate the entire family since spouses and kids under 18 living in the same household all get the same loyalty status as the highest family member has.
It's a safer environment
While there are no guarantees in life, I find being alone on a cruise ship feels safer than being alone in a city
There are no unfamiliar places at night or dark alleyways to worry about. Cruise ships offer structured, secure environments that make traveling alone feel safer.
I would never say a cruise is crime-free or there's zero risk, but I would argue it feels safer than a city does.
Every single person onboard is accounted for and has their information registered with the cruise line. It's not a total safety net, but the fact a ship is self contained puts my mind at ease. Heck, it's why I let me kids much more freedom on a ship than I do at home.
Cons of Cruising Alone
Now it's time for the downsides of cruising by yourself.
Not all of these may apply to you, but I think they are important to be aware of before you tell your travel agent to book the cruise.
The cruise fare is more expensive
The first thing I hear about cruising alone is that it's not cheap.
Booking a standard cabin by yourself means you'll pay the single supplement fee, which is the cost to make up for the missing second passenger.
Royal Caribbean (and nearly every cruise line) charges you a fee if you cruise alone because their business model is based on double occupancy.
Essentially, this means you'll pay for a second person in your stateroom, even though there isn't one there.
While Royal Caribbean does have some solo cabins on certain ships that don't charge the fee, they are few and far between.
Look on the bright side, paying the fee gets you the extra Crown and Anchor points.
There will be times where you're lonely
No matter how many times I've cruised solo, there are moments of loneliness.
This is especially true when dining alone because sitting at a table by yourself tends to make it more self aware that you're the only one there.
The same can be true when you're sitting at a table at a bar, attending a show, or enjoying an activity and miss the comradery of being able to share in it with someone else.
I've found the remedy to this is buying an internet package so you can text, call, and Facetime friends and family at home. It's not exactly the same thing as having them with you on the cruise, but it's the next best thing.
You have to plan everything
Being responsible for all the cruise planning is either the best or worst thing ever.
There's no one else to share in the responsibilities of packing, booking activities, researching what to do, or making decisions along the way.
If you forget something or run into a problem, it's all on you.
This doesn't cause too many issues for my personality, but there have been times I've forgotten to pack something my wife usually brings or I've had to navigate a change in plans and determine the best new option all on my own.
Dining alone is weird
I won't sugar coat it: eating at restaurants on your cruise is strange when it's just you.
It's totally fine at the buffet or when grabbing a slice of pizza, but eating in the Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants can make you feel more alone than you really are.
Food is one of the top two reasons people book a Royal Caribbean cruise, so limiting yourself to just casual spots may be too much of a compromise.
My advice here is that no one cares you're eating alone. It may feel like everyone's looking at you, but people are self-centered enough that they're more preoccupied with their own lives than what one person at table 417 is doing by themselves at a table.
Embrace the solo cruise and give a try
I really think cruising alone on Royal Caribbean is a great idea and worth doing at least once.
You should consider certain ships and itineraries that might be better for a solo cruise. A port intensive itinerary that will keep you busy is better than a cruise with a lot of sea days.
Likewise, I'd recommend a big ship that has lots to do onboard for a solo cruiser. The more options you have helps keep you engaged.
Without a doubt, buy an internet package so you can always reach out to friends and be social.
Once you've had a taste for solo cruises, I think you will love the change in pace it brings and might just become a go-to way to squeeze in more cruise vacations!
