peanut63

I had one of the single cabins on Arcadia, same floor as the Crows nest - became my venue of choice! It was on an itinerary to Iceland, so not an issue, but there was a sunbathing space above - so it may be a very different experience on a warm cruise. The cabin was really big.

I often cruise alone, I have always felt able to talk to people. I have never been to any solo traveller coffee meeting and prefer not to be on a table of solo travellers only. I know this might sound out of step with most, but I prefer a mix. The most important thing is, just have a fabulous time have the holiday you want. It will be amazing.

Stay in bed until 12:00, shower then something to eat - go for a drink somewhere depending on the temperature outside, hopefully somewhere in the sunshine. Generally doing the reverse on my normal life.

I wont vote on the options as none reflect my thoughts, but my observations/comments are I do not care what time I get on board, I do not expect my lunch on the ship, I travel solo and I have both the patience and manners to wait patiently and not moan as well as the ability to entertain myself, I usually stop on my way down as I live in the North West so do not like to risk travelling on the same day. I would be happy to be last on board it does not affect my holiday one bit.

Since I was widowed, I decided to travel on my own and cruising is an amazing way to travel alone. I have only had a single cabin once, but the location of these are not always in the best location. On one occasion, I decided to bring my niece as when having the room to myself, it was only £100 cheaper. So it was madness not to have someone with me. I look at all the options when booking and have to accept the price and there seems to be no actual method of how they work out the single occupancy price. I am still fairly young, and work so I am lucky that I have choices, but cruising may not be possible when I finish work. I have found that travelling alone, you get really well looked after, as someone who enjoys staying up late and socialising, some ships are definitely better than others on your own.

I lost my husband when I was 48, not young, but young enough. We enjoyed cruising and I have continued to cruise ever since. I work and choose this type of holiday more often than not as it is a very safe environment for a woman on her own. I have used a few different cruise lines and they tend to be all the same regarding single person prices. One year I took my niece as the difference between 1 or 2 passengers was only £100. I have had a single cabin, only once, but find that the locations are not where I would choose to be on the ship. I carefully look at the options with my travel agent when looking to book and go with a cabin at a price I am happy to pay. On the other side of this, as a single traveller I find I get well looked after in all the bars, restaurants and the staff really make the holiday. I don't get involved in any of the solo traveller things as I find most people are happy to talk to you even if you are travelling alone. I don't mind paying a fair price, but removing the cost of the food/port charges etc. does not seem to be done on each occasion.

I have travelled Solo for the last 5 years since I lost my husband, but as I am still early 50's I have never been to any of the formal activities. I find most people are friendly enough and if I want company at any time it's easy enough to strike up a conversation. But at worst I always get preferential treatment in whichever becomes my favourite bar for the trip, they always look out for you and make sure I have a table. If you are happy to just go with it, great but if not go to the coffee morning and see who else is travelling solo.

I was on the August 2016 Arcadia trip to Iceland, loved it. It is cold, but you are on the edge of the arctic circle, so I didn't expect it to be a hot summer holiday. I found the Blue Lagoon boring, but I am still glad I went. At one of the Scottish Island stops - Stornaway - it was too rough and they stopped people going ashore on the tenders, only bringing people back, loved Belfast but Dublin is a great choice too.

I had a single cabin on this deck to Iceland in the summer, it had some really good points but depending on the itinerary the experience may not be so positive.

The cabin was more spacious than the last cabin for 2 I had the previous trip on Arcadia, I loved the location to be fair. I was however a frequent customer of the Crows nest, it really was my local. The itinerary meant that the pool roof was always closed, as I did wonder what the noise would be like if it was open. To be honest, when I am on a cruise I sleep like I cannot at home and sleeping in until lunchtime is a regular occurrence, as the sunbed area wasn't used much, as it was cold, this wasn't a problem, but if you are off somewhere hot I think this could be very noisy. Also as a person looking for something to do at midnight, the evening noise in the crows nest was never an issue. People do not seem to walk about on the sun deck too much so there isn't much traffic past your cabin. Also, it is often easier to get a lift as they always seem to come up to the top floor.

I was also on this cruise and had a fantastic time:)

Some of the entertainment was not for us, but speaking to others, they loved what we didn't.

The ports were great, but was not as keen on Villefranche, didn't like the tender to port and very little there, so we had a walk around and a couple of drinks, which was enough for us.

I had not been on the ship before and I was very impressed, the majority of the things we tried we loved. The staff very attentive.

Travelling with a 20 year old meant I saw a lot more of the late night venues than the majority of my fellow travellers, not many others prop the club bar up at 3 - 4 am.

Did ship tours in Rome/Florence/Lisbon, no problems with any of these, Rome was just the transfer, so we frog marched ourselves around in the rain, but happy to see the sun by lunch time.

Trying to sneak into our cabin, without being spotted by the 2 people looking after us became a bit of fun, not that we were trying to avoid them, but just because we never knew where they would pop up from this time.

All in all, a very enjoyable cruise.

I did this on Arcadia in 2012 and loved it.

I must admit though, I love sea days.

The ports are brilliant and there is so much to see and do.

I did my first transatlantic on the QE2, which was also fantastic, just a different holiday.

Hope you decide to go, and enjoy yourselves.