Updated: June 21, 2024
In 2023 I took my first solo Carnival Cruise, which was actually my first cruise I had been on. Since then I have been on several cruises. I have made a list of must know tips for planning for a solo cruise.
I had done a lot of research and watched a lot of YouTube videos before my cruise to see what I could expect, but until you’ve experienced it yourself you don’t really know if you would like it or not. I’m kind of a loner by nature anyway, so I figured I would have no problem vacationing alone, but you never know what could happen.
I was excited to experience my first cruise, especially since I was traveling solo. I was planning my own trip, not having to consult anybody else, which I have to admit felt pretty good.
The week of my cruise was filled with new and exciting adventures. I flew to the city 2 days ahead of time because of had never been to Tampa, Florida and wanted to extend my vacation before I left on my cruise.
I had heard it was a good idea to arrive a day or 2 early in case your flight gets delayed. I agree that is good advice because I also wanted to explore the new area before my cruise.
Let’s get to the tips I have for planning for a solo cruise.
How to pick a cruise when planning for a solo cruise
Picking a cruise might be the hardest part of planning for a solo cruise. How many days should the cruise be? What destination should I pick? Choosing a cruise for your first solo adventure can be exciting and daunting. Start by considering what matters most to you: destination, ship amenities, or budget.
Look for cruise lines that offer dedicated solo cabins, such as Norwegian Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean, which provide specialized amenities like private lounges and organized meetups for solo travelers. Research the onboard activities and shore excursions to ensure they align with your interests, whether it’s cultural tours, adventure sports, or relaxation.
Reading reviews can also provide insight into other solo travelers’ experiences. Select a cruise that offers a balance of what matters to you most. It could be social events, dining opportunities or certain excursions you would like to try.
Also, when planning for a solo cruise I would suggest booking a shorter cruise, maybe 3 or 4 days to test it out, to see if you really like it.
How do you check your luggage in on a cruise?
Checking your luggage may look chaotic when you first arrive to the cruise port, but its very simple. There are stewards outside the cruise ship when you first arrive that take your luggage. They will put it on a cart with a bunch of other luggage to be brought to the ship. I suggest giving them a few dollars as a tip.
You don’t have to leave your luggage with them, but I think it’s easier than lugging your suitcases arount until your room is ready. You could have to wait a few hours after you board the ship for your room to be ready.
I advise you to bring a bag with you of things you might need while you watch such as your boarding documents, bathing suit, sunglasses, sunscreen, and anything else to make you comfortable while you wait.
When you first arrive on board the first thing you do is go to your assigned muster station, which will give you the basic safety information in case you need to get off the ship in an emergency.
By the time I boarded the ship it was 12pm. They told us our rooms wouldn’t be ready until 1:30pm. Once the time rolled around that the room would be ready I headed down to my floor and found my room.
On the outside of the door was my luggage and my room card that they tucked inside an envelope with tickets for my excursions I had booked.
Should you book a drink package when planning for a solo cruise?
I’m not really that big of a drinker so before my cruise I was debating whether or not to purchase the drink package. By the end of the first day on the ship I was glad that I did.
I hadn’t really tried a lot of alcoholic drinks, so I figured this would be a good time to try more and see what I like. If I didn’t like the drink I could just get another one.
There are many bars and places you could get a drink, but I spent a lot of time at the Rum bar. The drinks on the ship were so delicious.
I suggest when planning for a solo cruise, you have to weigh the pros and cons of the cost of the drink package and how long the cruise is. How many sea days are there? Does the cost justify how much you will be drinking? It might be a better deal to pay for the drinks individually on the ship.
Can you easily meet people on your solo cruise?
When I went on my first cruise solo I was a little nervous whether I would be lonely. Another tip for planning for a solo cruise is that I enjoyed the time by myself. You’re always surrounded by people so it is easy to strike up a conversation if the mood strikes you.
Most of the cruise lines have a singles meet up scheduled on their activities. Check the app for the list of place and time to meet up if that is what you want to do.
You can easily strike up a conversation at dinner or during drinks. The activities planned on the cruise such as bingo, trivia, etc, is also a good way to meet people.
This is actually the first vacation I have been on solo, it was refreshing to wake up and not have to interact with people if I didn’t want to. I’m an introvert so I need ample time to myself, so I wasn’t bored or lonely at all on this cruise.
Don’t be afraid to try new things. Get out of your comfort zone and enjoy yourself.
How big is an inside cabin on a cruise?
Before cruising I had heard that the cabins on the ship were extremely small. Maybe if I had been on a bigger ship the rooms would have been smaller, but the Carnival Paradise was a great size to start my cruise journey on.
The inside room that I had was perfect for me. I had a big king bed, they pushed two beds together and a nice size bathroom, a lot of storage in the room. It had a large TV. Even if there were 2 people in the room I would say there is ample room and storage.
You’re most likely only going to be in your cabin to sleep, so I think an inside cabin is great to save a little money.
Is the food good on a cruise?
On most nights I ate at the Buffet or the pizza place. There was also a sub shop that was open late. The burger place they had on board closed by late afternoon. The Mexican place opened for breakfast and lunch, then closed.
The food at the burger and Mexican place was very good. The buffet was hit and miss. Most nights it was good, but there were nights the food was better than others. The pizza place was open until midnight and I ate there as a quick snack.
There was also a coffee shop on board that I went to most mornings. I ordered a mochaccino and it was delicious. I continued to order that for the rest of the trip because I couldn’t get enough.
Most of the dessert they had at the buffet was great. I didn’t like the soft serve ice cream they had. It was watery and tasted very watery.
I would day most of the food on the ship was good. There were a few hit and misses, but it was enjoyable. Therecwere specialty dining you could go to also, but I didn’t want to pay e tra for a place to eat or make reservations.
You could make reservations for the main dining room, but I loved the flexibility and casual nature of the buffet. Whatever floats your body is great when you’re planning for a solo cruise.
Is the staff nice on the cruise ship?
You always hear of other people’s reviews of when they were on a cruise and had a bad experience. All the staff that I interacted with was always very happy, had a smile on their face, said hello whenever I saw them and were eager to help me with whatever I needed.
There is a survey that the cruise line emails you a few days after the cruise. Always remember to get their name and give them a shout out in your review.
It’s also nice to give your room attendant an extra tip. All the staff on the ship work so hard to make your experience enjoyable. I appreciated everything they did for me on the ship.
I would say don’t always believe what you hear. W joy your time as much as you can and at the end draw your own conclusions.
How do I use the app to navigate the ship?
The cruise ship is massive with so many levels. There is so much to do at any given time. Using the cruise ships app is a tip I have for a first time cruiser planning your day aboard the ship.
Check out the activities for the day, see when the restaurants are open, see what time you will be arriving at your next destination. There is a map of the different levels of the shop and what is on each so its easy to get around the ship.
You can also order room service for an additional charge on your app. You don’t need a WiFi package to access the app, anyone on the ship has access to the app.
You can like an event and 15 minutes before it starts you will get a notification, so that you don’t miss it. Take advantage of the app so you don’t miss out on the fun.
What kind of clothes should I pack when planning for a solo cruise?
When I was looking up the weather for my cruise I knew it was going to be very hot. It was going to be in the 80s when I was in Florida before I departed on my cruise. Then on the ports we were stopping at were going to be very warm.
I am a cold person in general, so I always bring a sweater with me. I brought a lot of shorts and dresses. In hindsight I wish I would have brought more long sleeve shirts and longer dresses.
Even in the hotel before my cruise and at night in Florida it got cool. I wore longer pants to bed and wish I would have brought a long sleeve shirt to sleep in.
A lot of the times in the theater where they performed the shows at night the room was chilly. If you get cool easily like me it would be beneficial for you to bring warmer clothes even if going to a warmer climate.
Can you feel the ship rocking on a cruise?
Maybe it’s because the Carnival Paradise ship I sailed on is considered a small ship, but I could feel the ship a lot more when I was in the forward locations of the ship. A tip for planning for a solo cruise is that if you don’t want to feel the rocking as much pick a cabin that is toward the middle.
If you were in the middle of the ship you couldn’t feel the ship as much as in the front or the back. On the last day of the cruise the waters were more choppy and a lot of people, including me started to not feel well.Even after I got off the ship and a couple days later I still felt like I was moving with the ship.
I heard from a lot of people on the ship that had that feeling from the Facebook group I had joined. Every sailing has their own Facebook group, I would suggest looking up yours, so yiu can ask questions or get advice from others who have been on that ship before.
That experience has not discouraged me from going on another cruise. I have been on other ships after that and did not havevthat experience. If you get motion sickness I would suggest bringing some of the non drowsy dramamine pills with you, they really helped me on this cruise.
Why you should save your money and get an inside room on a solo cruise
I’m glad that I saved my money and decided to go with an inside room. Since I was cruising solo I figured I didn’t need to spend extra money. I loved to sit out on a beach chair in the sun instead of being inside my room.
I suggest to save your money and spend it on something like an excursion or souvenirs to bring home. Something to remember the places and things you’ve experienced. You most likely won’t be spending much time in your room.
You will probably be up on the pool decks or at an activity or show. Why spend extra money if you don’t need to?
There are so many things to do on the ship everyday, at all hours of the day. I left my room in the morning and most days didn’t come back until it was bed time.
Conclusion
Going on a cruise solo or with your loved ones is a great opportunity to make lasting memories. The ocean views were incredible and the places I visited were gorgeous.
Watching the sunrise and sunset each day was spectacular. I had an amazing time and encourage you to go on one for yourself.
I hope these tips about planning for a solo cruise has helped you decide which cruise to go on. Happy Sailing!
Want to find the best cruise ships for single travelers? Click to read more here.