- Jeff Farschman has been on more than 190 cruises in his lifetime, including 150 solo cruises.
- He mainly travels with Holland America and spends about eight months a year at sea.
- He recommends prebooking activities and connecting with other cruisers beforehand.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jeff Farschman, a 74-year-old retiree who lives in Dover, Delaware. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I went on my first cruise in 1988. A group of my friends invited me on a seven-day sail around the eastern Caribbean, and I figured I'd give a vacation at sea a try. We ate delicious food, went to entertaining shows, spent time in the casinos, and relaxed.
When I got back home, I was hooked. In the years that followed, I went on a dozen more cruises. Once I retired in 2004 from my full-time job at Lockheed Martin, cruising became a big part of my life. I kept my house in Dover, Delaware, but I decided to spend the majority of my time at sea.
Since then, I've been on over 190 cruises, and I still sail seven to eight months out of the year. I've taken about 150 of these cruises alone, including 12 back-to-back world cruises.
As a self-proclaimed professional solo cruiser, here are my top tips for someone who decides to cruise alone.
1. Understand the cost of cruising solo
One added cost of cruising solo is the single supplement. While not every cruise charges this fee, some do. It's an added surcharge for staying alone in a stateroom that was designed for more than one person to occupy.
I understand the business reason cruise lines do this, and the added cost hasn't deterred me from taking a cruise alone.
A solo cruise typically costs anywhere between $150 to $300 a day, including the single supplement.
2. Plan ahead and do your research
It can be overwhelming to pick activities and excursions, especially because you don't have anyone else's opinions influencing you.
Prebook as much as you can to avoid feeling lonely or unproductive on the cruise. Some of the best tours and activities are often booked before the cruise takes off, so spend a few days as far in advance as possible planning what you want to do.
You can also plan the activities you want to do during at-sea days through your cruise ship's website. There are offerings for everyone, like watercolor-painting classes, knitting groups, and more. My favorite onboard activities are hanging out with friends, working on my blog, going to a show, or seeing live music.
When I first began my travels, I sailed with Holland America, and I still book most of my trips with the cruise line. The only cruises I would never take are on huge ships that hold up to 6,000 passengers.
I've been to the Outback of Australia and the Taj Mahal on Holland America's guided tours. It's nice to explore with other people from the ship, and there's also the reassurance that the guide will get us back to the ship on time.
3. Connect with people before the cruise sets sail
If you're cruising solo and you want to meet people, connect with other travelers beforehand. Search the name of your cruise line, the name of the ship, and the dates of your trip, and you might be able to find a Facebook group for the trip or a forum on Cruise Critic.
When I join one, I write an introduction sharing more about who I am and what I'm looking forward to on the cruise. These pre-cruise discussions have helped me make new friends who I often spend time with on the ship.
4. It's not awkward if you're dining solo
When it comes to eating dinner, most cruise ships don't have dining tables for just one person. Unless you want to do room service only, you'll likely be seated with a group of people.
If you're more introverted, request fixed seating with a large group of eight to 10 people. This means that every night, you'll eat at the same table with the same group of people. This gives you the opportunity to get to know each person and find someone you connect with.
If you're more extroverted, request "anytime dining," and you'll be seated with a group of different people every night so that you can meet and interact with a lot of new people.
5. Get friendly with the crew
Whenever I cruise solo, I make it a top goal to bond with the staff. When you're friendly with them, they really do go the extra mile for you.
I always appreciate it when the ship staff get to know me. Within a few hours of boarding a cruise, the waitstaff typically remember my favorite drink and that I enjoy my nightly ice cream very frozen. Little details like this make me feel at home, especially when I'm traveling alone on longer cruises.
Tell the staff your preferences, from how you'd like your room cleaned to how you take your soup. Ask them for suggestions on tours, activities, and excursions. If you're feeling overwhelmed by everything happening on the ship, ask the crew for advice on places to relax or areas of the ship you might not have seen yet.
6. Keep an open mind
It can feel intimidating taking a solo cruise, but remember to stay open to trying new activities and meeting new people. You never know who you'll sit next to.
One of the perks of solo cruising is that you can be more open to meeting new people because you don't have a group of friends with you to rely on for entertainment or conversation.
I now have close friends from places like Australia, Bali, and Germany. I keep in touch with many of them and often see them when I'm on a cruise that docks near where they live.
Cruising has been the most affordable and the easiest way for me to see the world. I miss my family and friends, but I write about my travels for them and call them from countries all over the globe.
It's always nice when my sister or a friend comes on a cruise with me and I get to share with them the magic of living life at sea.