cruisininva

Dancer Bob, it's not necessarily fair or accurate to judge the group by the postings on the board -- only about 30% participate on the forums so it's not a good representation of the whole group. :)

Christine

ALA is correct -- some companies will let you join the hosted group (for a fee of course) and some won't. It's best to ask the company that is hosting the singles group.

While I have never been on a cruise solo (meaning by myself and not part of a hosted group), I have been on 6 hosted singles cruises. What I've heard from other solos is that it is very difficult on most cruises to find other singles. Carnival does a pretty good job of trying to put all the single travelers at the same table, but I've heard stories about singles ending up as the only person at a table with an entire family. The ships also usually have a "singles" meeting on the ship but the people in the singles group typically do not attend that, and if you read through some of the other threads on here, you'll find that those are generally NOT well attended.

The cocktail parties generally last a couple of hours and then the singles go off and mingle on the rest of the ship, but they tend to stay together or break up into smaller groups. The singles cruise agencies also have their own shore excursions not open to the others on the ship so that the singles can be with each other and not with the families (although some choose to do the ship's excursions or go off on their own). The hosted singles cruise groups also offer the "single-mingle" dining -- which means the group has a section of tables reserved for the group and you can sit at any table with anyone you like within the reserved area. To me, that's one of the biggest benefits of going with the agencies rather than by myself.

Sorry to be long-winded -- the bottom line is you won't know if it's worth it until you try it! The hundreds of us who go on singles cruises regularly obviously think it's worth it -- we can't all be wrong, right? :p

Christine

The Singles groups charge about $250.00 more than the cruise cost if you booked with the cruise line and had your own cabin mate. They sell tours and I suspect make money on those also. Carol in CA

Carol is correct . . . however . . . the amenities you're paying for include group activities on the ship -- games, cocktail parties, etc., the "single-mingle" dining (where you do not have to sit at your assigned table every night, you are free to sit anywhere within the group's designated tables) and a large group of fellow single people (which you would be hard-pressed to find if you sailed solo). The singles cruise agencies also organize their own shore excursions (at an additional cost) for the singles group only so you don't have to go on excursions with the couples and families from the ship. In my mind, it's worth the extra money.

Christine

This board's getting out of hand. You can interpret "single" in different ways...one of which is "alone". Look it up in the dictionary. I just thought this might be a place I could chat with others who want to avoid the "singles" supplememt. My mistake.

I think most of us define "singles" cruise as a hosted singles cruise, designed for single (ie unmarried) people to cruise together -- what you're talking about is a "solo" cruise where you go by yourself not part of an organized group (some solo cruisers are married and others are single). There is another thread under "Special Interest Cruising" called "Solo Cruises" -- you might find helpful information there as well. :)

Christine

I agree with CC -- I've cruised with both operators and they both do a great job -- pick the ship and itinerary you like and go for it!! It's addicting -- I went on my first singles cruise in April 2006 and just completed my 6th cruise this past April :eek: Now considering another in October or maybe December . . . :rolleyes:

Christine