With an amazing array of amenities, dining options and destinations visited; cruises make a strong holiday choice for the discerning 50-plus singleton. Whether you’re looking to meet and make new friends during your travels, or simply enjoy your own company in a new destination every day of the trip; a cruise can be a rewarding holiday for those over 50 travelling solo.
Cruise holidays provide the freedom to explore all over the world, whilst also offering security and the chance to meet new, like-minded people on your travels. With an almost limitless selection of itineraries, shore visits and experiences to choose from, it’s possible to pick a trip which echoes your personality and your personal tastes. This is why it’s easy to make friends for life during a cruise holiday.
The only downside to the incredible selection of cruises is that it can be hard to pinpoint the perfect holiday for your needs and tastes. So if you’re in your 50s and thinking about cruising solo, we have picked a handful of the very best cruise lines helping you explore the world safely and in absolute luxury.
P&O Cruises
Among P&O’s fleet are the Arcadia and Oriana vessels, perfect for solo cruising. Step aboard either of these ships and a sense of tranquillity will pass over you, and you’ll maybe wonder why. Unlike many modern cruise liners which are geared towards the profitable family market, these two ships are exclusively just for adults – so no kids running through the ships’ hallways or throwing tantrums in the dining areas.
Possessing a sophisticated bent, the child-free atmospheres of the Arcadia and Oriana is conducive to relaxed global exploration, allowing you to savour all experiences. The ships are full of other adults looking for a sophisticated and enriching journey atop the seas – and both the Arcadia and Oriana feature a generous number of single cabins.
Both ships are currently sailing out of Southampton, with the Arcadia completing round-trips to North America, and the Oriana visiting the beautiful, laid-back destinations of the Mediterranean.
Cunard Line
Cunard Line are one of the few remaining major cruise lines who still embody the sophistication of the golden age of cruising. So if your idea of cruise holiday heaven is getting dressed up for a delectable meal before enjoying a spot of ballroom dancing in a beautiful setting; Cunard Line should be your first port of call.
The line’s current flagship, QM2, has recently come back from a dry dock upgrade, in which a number of single staterooms were added. Demonstrating how valued their solo cruisers are, Cunard position many of these single cabins in the most sought-after locations of the ship. Not only does the QM2 boast the largest ballroom at sea (with plenty of potential partners ready to take your hand), but also a number of features perfectly suited to the single traveller seeking a relaxing and enriching trip.
An 8,000-book library with a dedicated librarian is the perfect place to while away a few hours during a day at sea, whilst the on-board planetarium hosts interesting talks, tours and events across the galaxy. Furthermore, dedicated daytime activities and coffee mornings make it easy to find like-minded solo travellers aboard a Cunard Line cruise.
Click here for Cunard Line cruises.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Are you and a few single friends looking for hijinks on the open seas? The Norwegian Epic should be your first port of call. When the ship launched in 2010, it broke all the rules of cruising solo, featuring a series of studio cabins all clustered together – with some even interconnecting. You and your friends can all stay close together but enjoy the privacy of your own cabin at the end of another beautiful day exploring new lands.
The studio cabin section of the ship also features an exclusive lounge for the solo travellers to congregate and unwind – perfect if you don’t fancy spending the evening in the company of loud families. And if someone in the lounge catches your eye, you can always leave a post-it note for him or her on the singles whiteboard.
The Norwegian Epic is undertaking cruises throughout the Mediterranean, visiting cultural centres such as Barcelona, Rome, Naples and Cannes.
Click here for Norwegian Cruise Line cruises.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Each of the four ships in the Fred. Olsen fleet boast a large percentage of single cabins, ensuring that solo travellers can snap up an affordable slice of privacy aboard their cruise. With a strong focus towards a more mature and sophisticated audience, Fred. Olsen have positioned their on-board offerings and itineraries to provide interest and intrigue throughout an enriching journey through the cultural cities of Europe.
With smaller ships than many of their major cruise line competitors, Fred. Olsen boasts a sense of on-board intimacy few can match. A quintessentially British line, Fred. Olsen’s fleet combines home comforts with new experiences throughout their offerings – from their varied dining options to the West End musicals performed aboard every voyage.
All four members of the Fred. Olsen fleet (Balmoral, Black Watch, Boudicca and Braemar) are currently completing cruises out of the UK, sailing around the gems of Europe from Southampton, Liverpool, Dover and Edinburgh.
Click here for Fred. Olsen Cruises.
At Cruise1st, we are dedicated to ensuring that all our customers find the cruise which meets their requirements and tastes. Call our dedicated sales team on 0808 2746 777 and we’ll find the perfect cruise for you.
