Solo experience on Princess cruises?

I've been on 2 other cruises lines before, but I've never gone solo. What's Princess like for singles? I'm wondering what demographic you generally run into. Is it all old people and couples? I'll be 34 in December. I've looked around for hosted singles groups and there are only a couple the rest of the year. One in October and one in December. The October one is from LA though, and there's like no direct flights anywhere but LAX. I'd rather avoid that. It doesn't seem like it'd be worth just picking a random cruise and going as opposed to the ones with singles groups. I just wish there were more options for singles.

I'm also curious about how early I should worry about booking. Do Princess cruises sell out faster than others or do they just offer less? I got on an NCL cruise the the Bahamas with an Oceanview cabin in a good location only 3 weeks before it sailed in January. However, Everything for Alaska the rest of the season is sold out, and there's like nothing listed on the Princess website for the Caribbean until the end of September. Plus, most of those are 10+ days. Assuming I like the one I take this year, I'll probably want to book on the Ruby Princess for Alaska next July. I'm tempted to take one somewhere in March as well. I'm getting a little old for spring break, but I missed out on a lot when I was that age. At least it'd be interesting. lol

Was on Ruby Princess last November. Perhaps summer and holiday sailings are different, but you sound way too young for that one. I'm 65 and felt like one of the younger and more active people on board. The intellectual highlights of the day were karaoke and trivia. More nightlife than Holland America but not nearly Carnival. Whatever activities there were for singles were so forgettable, I can't remember them.

My subjective impression: "A good choice for couch potatoes".

Was on Ruby Princess last November. Perhaps summer and holiday sailings are different, but you sound way too young for that one. I'm 65 and felt like one of the younger and more active people on board. The intellectual highlights of the day were karaoke and trivia. More nightlife than Holland America but not nearly Carnival. Whatever activities there were for singles were so forgettable, I can't remember them.

My subjective impression: "A good choice for couch potatoes".

Well, I'm definitely a couch potato type. If it's movie trivia, I'd be good, unless it's only movies from the 1950s. lol

I would probably be bored though. I'm on a wait list for 2 sailings to Alaska later this month. We'll see what happens.

I was on a cruise with Emerald Princess (Mediterrean). It was nice, met friendly people at dinner (I had anytime dining).

I did not attend the "solo meetings", because I was enjoying the time, reading, doing excursions on my own. I am never bored.

But I did not have the feeling, that there is a lot offered for solo cruisers.

A few thoughts:

- I wouldn't be fearful of flying into LAX for a cruise (or a connection, for that matter). It's still the most logical option for those doing LB/San Pedro cruises (sure LB Airport is closer, but has way less direct flights)

- With the singles group on the Ruby Princess Oct 25th sailing, hopefully (fingers crossed) the demographics will be a bit younger for this cruise.

- If you want a younger crowd on Princess, either do a 3 or 4 day getaway trip, or travel during times when younger folks (including families) cruise. Caribbean is suppose to be a younger crowd (note - as you may now know, Princess doesn't do Caribbean sailings during the summer season). Cruises longer than 7 days tend to be an older crowd.

- Carnival, NCL, and Royal Caribbean have younger passengers demographically. Dance clubs on these ships will be busy at night, which isn't the case on a normal Princess cruise (where the casino is about the only sign of life after 11pm or so).

A few thoughts:

- I wouldn't be fearful of flying into LAX for a cruise (or a connection, for that matter). It's still the most logical option for those doing LB/San Pedro cruises (sure LB Airport is closer, but has way less direct flights)

 

- With the singles group on the Ruby Princess Oct 25th sailing, hopefully (fingers crossed) the demographics will be a bit younger for this cruise.

 

- If you want a younger crowd on Princess, either do a 3 or 4 day getaway trip, or travel during times when younger folks (including families) cruise. Caribbean is suppose to be a younger crowd (note - as you may now know, Princess doesn't do Caribbean sailings during the summer season). Cruises longer than 7 days tend to be an older crowd.

 

- Carnival, NCL, and Royal Caribbean have younger passengers demographically. Dance clubs on these ships will be busy at night, which isn't the case on a normal Princess cruise (where the casino is about the only sign of life after 11pm or so).

I was going to book that singles cruise 10/25, but I was told the average age of those booked is 58. If I don't get called for the Alaskan ones I'm on wait list for, it'll probably be between the Caribbean singles cruise from Texas in December and taking another random cruise. The 10 day ones are on a ship that's practically brand new though and hit way more destinations.

I just got back from an Alaskan cruise on princess and had a wonderful time, met up with people from the roll call and met others around the ship.....the most friendly people i found were in the cigar room.

im 31 and have been on 2 solo cruises, with another in november....florida georgia line charter cruise through norwegian :)

just go have fun and relax, and since you are alone no need to waste space packing PJ's lol

I went Princess in May in Alaska. Solo. Had a great time! Not many people with young kids. (Which is why I went). People of all ages though. I am 54 and met people from 30's to 80's. I'm a quiet person though and don't really do nightlife. Night clubs and such. I liked the shows and spent lots of time just talking with the people I met. I'd go again in a heartbeat by myself. In fact, I'm planning a cruise for October of 2016 by myself.

I've been solo on several cruises including Caribbean Princess and I have to say that in my experience Princess don't really cater for single travellers very well.

I think there was only 1 single event listed all cruise and it was a meet up at the open aft bar near the pool on the first night.Trouble was that it was not hosted so you didn't know who was single/solo travellers and who was not.

NCL on the other hand are the best cruise line for solo's as they dedicate a member of staff to arrange dinners,shows etc for the single solo travellers and if there are studio accommodations on the ship then there is a meet up every night usually between 5 and 7 in the solo lounge were the host suggest activities for the rest of the cruise.

RCI are hit and miss with the solo traveller,on the big ships Oasis etc they often have a singles lunch most days but on the smaller ships they don't do much at all.

I now prefer NCL for my cruises even though I have status on RCI.

No matter which cruise line however I'm sure you will find people to talk to as the cruise folk are a friendly bunch and I was often invited to share people's tables at dinner or in the bars once they realise you are cruising solo.

I found solo cruising on Princess to be no different than solo cruising on Carnival or HAL. I did a 10-day Panama Canal cruise over Thanksgiving to celebrate my 60th birthday, and yes, it was mostly old people (I was one of them :D) and couples. Didn't meet any other solos, but had a great time and the staff was super.

Roz

I found solo cruising on Princess to be no different than solo cruising on Carnival or HAL. I did a 10-day Panama Canal cruise over Thanksgiving to celebrate my 60th birthday, and yes, it was mostly old people (I was one of them :D) and couples. Didn't meet any other solos, but had a great time and the staff was super.

 

 

 

Roz

You're not old[emoji3]

Thank you, CJ, I needed that!

Roz

I would consider Ruby Oct. Singles cruise. Been on Princes 7 times. Its not really a singles ship unless with a group.Especially in your age group. Did one singles cruise. Really a lot of fun with like minded solos.I enjoyed the nightly group dining No fun dining alone.. Whats wrong with flying LAX?Same as any other domestic airport.

I have been on many Princess Cruises.Shorter cruises attract a younger crowd the longer ones 50's to 90 year old.

If you are looking for a young group for dancing the night away.....we roll up the carpet before midnight most on the longer cruises.Short cruises yes with Princess ,long cruises no for any solo your age:)

What Kruisey said is pretty much true of any cruise line.

Roz

I went Princess in May in Alaska. Solo. Had a great time! Not many people with young kids. (Which is why I went). People of all ages though. I am 54 and met people from 30's to 80's. I'm a quiet person though and don't really do nightlife. Night clubs and such. I liked the shows and spent lots of time just talking with the people I met. I'd go again in a heartbeat by myself. In fact, I'm planning a cruise for October of 2016 by myself.

Mya, you sound like me. In July I was a solo traveler on the Jewell of the Seas as part of the "Radio Classics" group cruise to Alaska. It was great fun ( you can Google it) . The ages were 50-80 and I was about in the middle range. There were plenty of people to hang out with when i wanted to, otherwise, i was on my own. I agree that the group dining is a good idea. Great place to meet people and make plans if you want.

My travel agent has booked me on the Ruby Princess in October. I am not part of the single group, but it doesn't sound like it is a "members only" group. If I do well as a solo traveler on the Ruby, I will plan another trip to Alaska in May, before the kids get out. I am also flying into LAX and my TA is arranging for transfers to the pier.

Do most you you make your own arrangements or use a TA?

Diana

I let the TA do it

I tell him what I want in the beginning and lethim go from there.

Mya, you sound like me. In July I was a solo traveler on the Jewell of the Seas as part of the "Radio Classics" group cruise to Alaska. It was great fun ( you can Google it) . The ages were 50-80 and I was about in the middle range. There were plenty of people to hang out with when i wanted to, otherwise, i was on my own. I agree that the group dining is a good idea. Great place to meet people and make plans if you want.

My travel agent has booked me on the Ruby Princess in October. I am not part of the single group, but it doesn't sound like it is a "members only" group. If I do well as a solo traveler on the Ruby, I will plan another trip to Alaska in May, before the kids get out. I am also flying into LAX and my TA is arranging for transfers to the pier.

Do most you you make your own arrangements or use a TA?

Diana

That singles group on the Ruby October 25th is advertised on the Princess website itself, even though it links to some TA who handles the group. If anyone gives you trouble about accessing the same areas of the ship the group is using, remind them that Princess advertised it directly and you paid for full access to all public areas of the ship.

I was planning on taking that cruise myself, but I was a little disappointed when my TA contacted the group TA and found out the average age of those booked was 58. Then the flight times weren't lining up to get me home, so I didn't book. I'm still trying to decide what to do.

I checked the price my TA gave me with all of the different "discounters" and really didn't find any big difference.