17 of the best cruise lines for solo travellers The Times Jeannine Williamson, Cruise expert 17 of the best cruise lines for solo travellers Going alone on your next sailing? With plenty of solo-friendly cruise lines, you certainly won't end up feeling lost at sea. Here's our pick of the best Neko Harbour, Antarctica G Adventures Jeannine Williamson , Cruise expert Wednesday October 21 2026, 5.00am BST , The Times Listen 0:00 / · 18:53 min Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save W hether you're single, have a non-cruising partner or fancy the freedom of going it alone, cruising is a great holiday option for solo travellers. With so much included in the fare, from accommodation and dining to shore excursions and onboard activities, it's no surprise more people are choosing to set sail solo. The days of cabins the size of broom cupboards have long gone, and many lines are now waiving or reducing single supplements. In 2027, Riviera Travel will launch a dedicated solo river cruise ship, the first of its kind. Here are the cruise lines offering some of the best options for solo travellers. All recommendations within this article are informed by independent expert editorial opinion. This article contains affiliate links and links to our in-house travel agency, Times Holidays, all of which will earn us revenue. Editors' choice Best for value CroisiEurope cuts down on costs by serving set meals for lunch and dinner —accommodating dietary requirements — yet provides a generous open bar, a perk more commonly associated with premium cruise lines Best for luxury Uniworld's ships feel like floating boutique hotels, with sumptuous, individually designed interiors and four-poster beds in some suites Best for first-time solos Saga's door-to-door chauffeur service and included travel insurance take the stress out of travelling alone Best for introverts Princess offers optional activities for solo travellers, alongside quiet, tucked-away spaces when you want some time out Best no-fly Ambassador sails from seven UK ports, so wherever you live, there's likely to be a departure within easy reach Expert verdict Fred Olsen is our top choice for meeting people, making friends and trying something new. With everything from arts and crafts and a book club to bridge, singing and ukulele lessons, there's plenty to get involved in 1. Riviera Travel The MS George Eliot will be the first river ship dedicated to solo travellers ￡￡ | Best for solo-only cruises Top stories 1 10 shows to watch after Slow Horses TV & Radio 2 Tripsnacking? Finally a travel trend I can get on board with Advice 3 Belgium's most stylish autumn weekend break — and it's not Bruges Belgium 4 This cosy hotel is perfect for an autumnal trip to the Lake District Lake District 5 How to see the northern lights: 15 top tips Adventure When it comes to river cruising, Riviera Travel is the UK's largest provider and has long embraced the needs of independent travellers. In 2027, Riviera will introduce the first-ever river ship — MS George Eliot — dedicated to solo travellers, sailing on the Rhine, Moselle and Dutch waterways. Elsewhere, there are special sailings in Europe and on the Nile that are exclusively for solos. With no supplements on any cabin, you can splash out and book a plush suite without worry. What's included? Meals, drinks, daily excursions. Tips are extra Best Rhine river cruises Advertisement 2. HX Expeditions Ilulissat in Greenland HX Expeditions/Jason Charles Hill/Visit Greenland ￡￡ | Best for remote destinations Top stories 1 Prepare now for the inheritance tax mess coming for your pension Tax For solo travellers seeking a different kind of cruise experience, HX Expeditions offers a combination of exploration, discovery and sustainable travel across six continents. Destinations include Antarctica, Greenland, Iceland , Alaska and the Galapagos, while the newest ships in the fleet, Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, are equipped with battery technology to reduce emissions. Low single supplements are offered on every sailing, while citizen science projects provide an engaging way to learn more about the destinations — and get to know fellow guests. Most commented 1 Budget 2026 predictions: when is it and what could be announced? Economics 236 comments What's included? All-inclusive meals, drinks, tips and wifi. Best Alaska cruise lines for 2027 3. Ambassador Cruise Line Ambassador Cruise Line's Ambition Cruise Travel Image SA ￡ | Best for convenience Advertisement Ambassador provides good-value cruise holidays with no-fly sailings, predominantly targeting the 50-plus market, from Tilbury, Newcastle, Liverpool , Bristol , Falmouth, Portsmouth and Belfast. The line has two vessels; the 1,400-passenger Ambience and the 1,200-guest Ambition. On each sailing up to 89 cabins across five categories — including balcony rooms — are set aside for solo travellers and carry a special single supplement, and there are also select sailings with no single supplement. What's included? All food, entertainment, fitness and dance classes. Extras include drinks, tips and excursions. You can now search for and book your next cruise with Times Holidays 4. Marella Cruises Tui ￡ | Best for socialising Marella itineraries are perfect for meeting fellow travellers. Each kicks off with a coffee morning for solo cruisers on the first day and includes a hosted dinner during the voyage, plus farewell drinks on the last night. At least five restaurants are included in the standard fare, so you can dine alone or with new friends, while entertainment options abound to keep you busy, from quizzes and West End-style shows to cocktail-making demos and dance classes. Single cabins are available — both inside and with a balcony — and popular, so it's worth reserving when you book the cruise. Advertisement What's included? Food, selected drinks, gratuities, entertainment, flights and transfers. Excursions and speciality dining cost extra. Seven of the best cruise ship cabins for solo travellers 5. Cunard Cunard's luxury ocean liner Queen Mary 2 Christopher Ison for Cunard ￡￡￡ | Best for old-school glamour From afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters to whirling around an elegant ballroom with a dance host and dressing up for formal nights, Cunard encapsulates all of the old-style glamour of cruising in its heyday. Its four ships have inside and sea-view cabins. These will be the ones to stick with as the Queen Anne, launched in 2024, does not have any single occupancy staterooms. Look forward to cocktail parties, social gatherings, daytime activities and reserved tables for solo travellers. What's included? Full-board and entertainment. Extras include drinks, tips and shore tours. Advertisement The best cruise lines for adults 6. Virgin Voyages A cabin on board Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady ￡￡ | Best for fun-lovers In the same way he made his mark on flying, Richard Branson reinvented the cruise experience when he launched his first ship, Scarlet Lady, in 2020. With passengers known as “sailors”, there are now four colourful ships in the inclusive and laid-back adults-only fleet. Each ship's 46 solo cabins, six with a sea view, have rainfall showers and mood lighting. From early morning fitness classes through to cabaret shows and late nights in the huge club, solo travellers will have plenty of opportunities to meet like-minded guests. What's included? All food, selected soft drinks, entertainment, fitness classes and wifi. Pre-purchased bar tabs are available. Biggest cruise ships in the world Advertisement 7. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' Balmoral in Norway ￡ | Best for first-time solo passengers Fred Olsen's trio of smaller ships are renowned for their welcoming atmosphere, making the line a popular choice for a first-timer. Solo guests can sit together at meals and meet up to go ashore. Expect plenty of social gatherings and inclusive activities including bridge and art classes. The line also sometimes offers double cabins for solo occupancy. What's included? All food, selected mealtime drinks and entertainment. Excursions and other drinks are extra, but drinks packages are offered. 8. CroisiEurope MS La Belle de Cadix on the the Guadalquivir ￡ | Best for unusual destinations The largest European-based river cruise line, which also has cosy hotel barges, offers unique itineraries that include a thrilling African safari cruise, sailings on the Loire and Elbe in modern-day paddleboats, and voyages along the Guadalquivir in Spain to reach the Guadiana in Portugal . In 2027, CroisiEurope will set sail for the first time on the Brazilian stretch of the Amazon, with its first new-build ship since 2020. An open bar is included in fares; a great bonus for solo travellers, who don't have to worry about buying expensive rounds for shipmates. The line offers single supplement-free sailings on selected itineraries. What's included? All food, drinks, entertainment and wifi. 9. Princess Cruises Princess Cruises' top-deck, adults-only Sanctuary ￡￡ | Best for solo-only events This is a line synonymous with romance: the old Pacific Princess starred in the opening shots of the 1970s television series The Love Boat and several scenes were filmed on other ships in their fleet. Today, Princess offers solo-friendly sailings around the globe with handy touches such as its Ocean Medallion wristband technology, which means you don't need to leave your seat to order a drink or poolside towel. The Sanctuary is an adults-only top-deck retreat where you can meet fellow passengers or treat yourself to a massage in a private cabana. What's included? Food, dining and entertainment as standard. Drinks, wifi and tips are covered in the all-inclusive Princess Plus upgrade. Best Princess Cruises ships 10. Pandaw The Kindat Pandaw has lots of outdoor deck space for sightseeing ￡￡ | Best for Asian adventures Pandaw's small, sociable ships typically carry just 20 to 60 guests, making it easy to get to know fellow travellers. Its traditional teak-and-brass vessels have shallow drafts, allowing them to reach remote waterways across southeast Asia, while village walks and other informal excursions offer an immersive look at local life. Selected cruises come with no single supplement, while new combined land-and-river itineraries cover India , Vietnam and Cambodia , and Laos and Thailand , alongside combination cruises such as the Kerala backwaters and Hooghly River. What's included? All meals, drinks including local beers and spirits, excursions and tips. pandaw.com The best cruises in Asia 11. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises ￡￡ | Best for exploring ashore At least one shore excursion is included each day on a Uniworld River Cruise itinerary, so you'll never be stuck for something to do. Typical examples include a trip to a carnival mask maker in Venice, a city tour in Lisbon or wine tasting in Libourne, France . Nordic walking sticks and bikes are also available in each port if you do prefer to head out alone. Ships have an average of 120 guests, so it's easy to mingle, while there are reduced and waived single supplements on selected sailings. What's included? Pretty much everything; all food, drinks, gratuities, wifi and a choice of shore excursions. Cruise lines compared: which one is best for you? 12. G Adventures A riverboat in the Peruvian Amazon G Adventures ￡ | Best for proper adventure G Adventures was one of the first to embrace sustainable travel on its small-group tours. Venture deep into the rainforest along the Peruvian stretch of the Amazon on the 30-passenger Amatista, or discover the frozen wonders of Antarctica aboard the updated ship Expedition, which carries 128 passengers. There are also skippered yacht cruises in Greece , Croatia, the Canary Islands , Thailand, the Maldives and the Galapagos Islands. Solo travellers happy to share cabins with same-sex companions pay no single supplement. What's included? All food, entertainment and excursions. The best cruises in Croatia 13. Saga Cruises Saga's new-build Spirit of Discovery ￡￡ | Best for lots of space Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure, the first new-build ships launched by over-50s line Saga, have 109 single cabins each, comprising 20 per cent of the accommodation and all with balconies. Standard singles measure up at a generous 185 sq ft — 85 per cent the size of doubles. Top up your glass at cocktail parties designed for solos and, if you'd like to go ashore with companions, you'll find get-togethers designed for guests to mingle before each port. What's included? All food, most drinks, one excursion in every port, tips, travel insurance and door-to-door chauffeur service. Additional excursions are extra. 14. Norwegian Cruise Line The Haven Sundeck on Norwegian Bliss ￡ | Best for party animals Norwegian pioneered contemporary solo cruising — it was the first company to build cruise ships with cabins just for solo travellers. There are now about 1,000 single cabins across its 21 ships — including balcony cabins. On some ships there's exclusive use of a lounge with a daily happy hour and meet-ups for solo travellers, while studio cabins have cool decor with multicoloured lighting. And, on some sailings, crew members host bar crawls. What's included? Food and many onboard activities. Packages are available for drinks, shore excursions and speciality dining. Best Norwegian fjords cruises, chosen by our experts 15. Tauck The sun deck on Tauck's Andorinha ￡￡￡ | Best for all-inclusive luxury Upmarket river line Tauck waives single supplement charges on all of its category 1 lower-deck cabins on every ship in its European fleet, as well as having reduced surcharges on higher-grade cabins on a large number of sailings. There's a warm and buzzy atmosphere on board the award-winning vessels, which carry fewer passengers than many of their same-size counterparts, making it easy to get to know fellow guests and other solos. What's included? Just about everything — all meals, drinks, shore tours and tips. tauck.co.uk 16. Oceania Cruises ￡￡￡ | Best for informal elegance The 1,200-passenger Oceania Allura is the latest ship in the fleet to be built with six solo staterooms. The balcony cabins come with Concierge-level perks including access to an exclusive lounge area and the spa terrace. Oceania has also retrofitted single cabins to other vessels in its fleet. Four of its intimate ships — Regatta, Nautica, Insignia, and Sirena — each have 14 staterooms for solos. The vessels carry just 684 passengers so they are not overwhelming for anyone travelling alone. They offer an elegant ambience but, as there are no formal nights, they're not stuffy. What's included? All food, soft drinks, still and sparkling water, coffees, teas and wifi. 17. P&O Cruises P&O Cruises ￡￡ | Best for special themes P&O Cruises has a range of solo accommodation across its seven-strong fleet, including adults-only vessels Arcadia and Aurora. There are 27 and 22 single cabins respectively on Britannia and Iona, and there are 28 solo cabins — both inside and balcony — on its flagship Arvia, which is the newest vessel and largest in the fleet. Themed cruises include food and wine with Marco Pierre White, Olly Smith and the like, and music festivals; all ideal for the solo passenger. What's included? Meals, onboard activities and tips. Drinks and shore excursions are extra. Which is the best P&O cruise ship? Here's how to choose FAQs Which cruise lines offer solo cabins? Single cabins, once windowless broom cupboards tucked away in a corner of the ship, are no longer the poor relation of twins and doubles. Check out Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, Saga, Virgin Voyages and, for river cruising, AmaWaterways, American Cruise Line, CroisiEurope, Emerald Cruises, Noble Caledonia, Scenic, Tauck and Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection Is taking a solo cruise affordable? More than ever before. An increasing number of solo guests have discovered the delights of cruises, which means that ocean and river lines are steering away from eye-watering single supplement charges. Keep an eye out for zero or reduced single-supplement deals and dedicated solo sailings with no surcharges on any cabin Which cruise lines don't charge single supplements — and if they do, is there any way around this? River lines Tauck and Riviera Travel stand out by providing a number of full-size lower-deck cabins with no single supplement on every cruise. If you don't mind spending time with a stranger, G Adventures offers passengers the chance to buddy up and share a double cabin. This set-up can work well in destinations such as Alaska and Antarctica where the focus is on the scenery and outdoor activities and limited time is spent in the cabin . Elsewhere, savvy solo travellers can still bag a good deal. In most cases you usually pay more for a solo cabin than the per-person rate for a double stateroom, but cruise pricing fluctuates depending on factors including low and peak seasons and how well an itinerary is selling. If you're not tied to specific dates there are some great last-minute prices on double cabins where it's worth paying the single supplement because the cost has dropped so much. Plus, you end up with far more space than the majority of solo cabins Additional reporting by Siobhan Grogan The best northern lights cruises: 2026-27 expert guide We regularly reassess and refresh this list, adding the latest advice and inspiration Have you been on a great solo cruise? Please share in the comments below Travel Inspiration Cruises Ocean cruises Cruise advice Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save