Solo Cruise Travelers a Sign of Divorce?
People are now traveling on vacations on their own more often than ever, as much as 25% of all Americans, according to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune.
For these solo travelers, some of the most frustrating words they can encounter while planning a vacation is ‘based on double occupancy’.
At least part of the reason for this trend is believed to be the marriage cycle. “People are getting married later… There are more divorces. It’s become more popular to travel as a single,” says Ann Thomas, director of Singles Travel Co.
So, if you’re one of the many individuals who wants to travel after a divorce, but who doesn’t have a partner to accompany you, what are your best options?
One of the pioneers in this is the Norwegian Cruise Line, which offers 128 ‘studio’ suites which are designed mainly for one person.
However, if you see a deal from a cruise company, be careful. Often times the advertisement will have language about traveling for half the price, but the fine print will note that this would mean sharing a room with a stranger—something most of us would like to avoid after our first year in a dorm room.
The poor performance by the economy has, however, been of some help to the solo traveler. With extra room available, singles on cruises, if they catch the right deal, have been able to get a double room for the price of a single traveler.
Something that is easy to forget if you’re planning a solo voyage, price isn’t everything. Spencer Brown of CruiseCritic.com, and an expert in the area, reinforces the point by telling you to “[a]sk yourself if you’re going to be happy as a solo voyager on a cruise ship” if not then perhaps you should “pick a ship that’s social,” stating that Crystal Cruises “really [goes] to a lot of trouble to match you with people you’d enjoy. And Holland America has great enrichment programs, which are good places to meet and make connections. If you’re young and single, Carnival’s great.”
You should also pick a destination that you would want to go. If you like warm and tropical, an Antarctic cruise might not be the best fit for you—even if you enjoy the atmosphere of the boat.
When you’re planning yourself a trip, be certain to ask questions. Try to see if you can get a deal as a single traveler, ask what the atmosphere is like. You should also know what answers you want to hear. If you’re looking for a fun-time party atmosphere, and you’re told the cruise a week-long of relaxation, then perhaps you should reconsider this as your trip.
As long as you do your research, and get as good a deal as you can, then you should have no problem finding a way to enjoy your single vacation.
