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Solo cruising is an excellent way for travelers to experience the world, meet new friends and indulge in a vacation on their own terms. These 10 cruise lines, voted as the best by readers, cater to solo travelers with perks like single-passenger staterooms, waived solo traveler surcharges, exclusive social spaces and singles-friendly activities.
Photo courtesy of Viking Cruises
No. 10: Viking Cruises
Viking Cruises makes special solo traveler fares available on occasion. There's no assigned seating aboard Viking vessels, which makes it easy to dine with like-minded travelers.
Photo courtesy of Costa Cruises
No. 9: Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises offers great deals on single supplements, with occasional promotions that waive it entirely. Some of the largest dance floors at sea, outdoor sports and special events offer opportunities for socializing.
Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International
No. 8: Royal Caribbean International
Solo passengers aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas can book studio cabins and staterooms, some with their own balconies. Passengers can request to be seated at a larger table come mealtime, and there are plenty of activities on board to keep entertained.
Photo courtesy of Seabourn
No. 7: Seabourn Cruise Line
The small-ship intimacy of Seabourn Cruise Line makes it easy for solo travelers to meet other passengers in an inclusive environment. Officers host tables for dinner and single travelers get special consideration so they don't have to dine alone. The single supplement starts at 75% of the standard double occupancy fare.
Photo courtesy of Agurtxane Concellon / Hurtigruten
No. 6: Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten's small ships and varied excursions are an excellent fit for solo travelers who enjoy no single supplements on a promotional basis throughout the year on a number of diverse itineraries.
Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line
No. 5: Carnival Cruise Line
While Carnival doesn't have singles cabins on their fleet of ships, single supplements are waived frequently on a promotional basis. Once onboard, solo travelers enjoy a wealth of entertainment options, from comedy clubs to casinos.
Photo courtesy of Grand Circle Cruise Line
No. 4: Grand Circle Cruise Line
Grand Circle Cruise Line has been an industry leader when it comes to solo travel, thanks to small groups (no more than 47) shore excursions and free or low-cost single supplements. A roommate matching program helps pair same-gender travelers, and an online forum allows solo travelers to start connecting well before the departure date.
Photo courtesy of AmaWaterways
No. 3: AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways' solo traveler program, available on select river cruises in Europe and Egypt, offers specially designed single passenger staterooms or the option of paying a 25% single supplement on balcony or fixed window staterooms. Solo guests also enjoy a variety of small-group excursions to choose from each day.
Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises
No. 2: Princess Cruises
While Princess Cruises has yet to get on board with single passenger cabins, solo passengers appreciate the line's wide variety of ship experiences, like on-deck Festivals of the World celebrations or activities inspired by hit shows like "Shark Week" and "Deadliest Catch."
Photo courtesy of Holland America Line
No. 1: Holland America Line
Solo travelers will find plenty of inclusive programming aboard Holland America Line, including dance classes, wine tastings, cooking demos and lectures. Each sailing hosts a Solo Travelers party where singles can meet each other, and a roommate matching service pairs same-sex travelers in a shared stateroom to save on surcharges.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Danielle Fear
Danielle Fear is one of the UK’s most recognized... Read More
Danielle Fear is one of the UK’s most recognized and trusted cruise bloggers and is better known to her audience as CruiseMiss. As well as maintaining an award-winning cruise blog, she also works as a freelance writer, content manager and social media professional covering all aspects of sea travel. Having embarked on more than 75 sailings, including 2 world cruises, it’s fair to say that Danielle knows a thing or two about cruising.
Danielle Fear
Danielle Fear is one of the UK’s most recognized and trusted cruise bloggers and is better known to her audience as CruiseMiss. As well as maintaining an award-winning cruise blog, she also works as a freelance writer, content manager and social media professional covering all aspects of sea travel. Having embarked on more than 75 sailings, including 2 world cruises, it’s fair to say that Danielle knows a thing or two about cruising.
Jason Leppert
Jason Leppert is a San Diego-based cruising expert... Read More
Jason Leppert is a San Diego-based cruising expert with more than 140 sailings under his belt and a fresh, millennial perspective on the industry. He has been cruising since before he was two years old, thanks to his parents’ shared passion for traveling and their desire to experience all journeys together as a family. Now, he regularly sails and writes “he said, she said” cruise columns with his wife Heidi. He is the founding editor of Popular Cruising, producer of the successful Popular Cruising YouTube channel and Cruise Editor for TravelAge West.
Jason Leppert
Jason Leppert is a San Diego-based cruising expert with more than 140 sailings under his belt and a fresh, millennial perspective on the industry. He has been cruising since before he was two years old, thanks to his parents’ shared passion for traveling and their desire to experience all journeys together as a family. Now, he regularly sails and writes “he said, she said” cruise columns with his wife Heidi. He is the founding editor of Popular Cruising, producer of the successful Popular Cruising YouTube channel and Cruise Editor for TravelAge West.
Ming Tappin
Residing in New Brunswick, Canada, Ming has been... Read More
Residing in New Brunswick, Canada, Ming has been in the cruise industry for 27 years. Ming spent over 20 years in the retail travel sector, working with travel agencies in marketing initiatives, cruise training, and promoting cruise vacations to their clients. In 2015, Ming created Your Cruise Coach and transitioned into travel writing, preaching the merits of cruising via her partnerships with Canadian travel trade publications as well as consumer media outlets. An avid cruiser since 1991, Ming has sailed on nearly 60 cruises and has experienced over 20 ocean and river cruise lines.
Ming Tappin
Residing in New Brunswick, Canada, Ming has been in the cruise industry for 27 years. Ming spent over 20 years in the retail travel sector, working with travel agencies in marketing initiatives, cruise training, and promoting cruise vacations to their clients. In 2015, Ming created Your Cruise Coach and transitioned into travel writing, preaching the merits of cruising via her partnerships with Canadian travel trade publications as well as consumer media outlets. An avid cruiser since 1991, Ming has sailed on nearly 60 cruises and has experienced over 20 ocean and river cruise lines.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production... Read More
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.