Single Traveler Cruising Makes Connecting Easy

M any single travelers           cruisers are on vacation.          wonder if cruise travel is                                        right for them. Will it be     There are two options for single   like the TV series "The Love          cruisers: going alone or joining   Boat," where romance and              an organized tour group for        naughtiness ruled the waves? Or       singles. Going alone gives you     will you be outnumbered by            some freedom and privacy, but it   elderly couples in ball gowns and     costs more because of the 'single  tuxedos? The reality is that          supplement'. This supplement is    cruising is ideal for people          an adjustment to the published     traveling alone because it's a        cruise fare that compensates the   safe and easy way to meet other       cruise line for the loss of        people. So what's holding you         double occupancy in the            back?                                 stateroom. The supplement can be                                         quite high, as much as double the  Who goes and what it costs            regular per-person rate. The only                                        way to beat the single supplement  Singles cruising has come a long      is to find a roommate for the      way from the days when doddering      cruise. If you can't persuade a    widows sailed off to sea with a       friend to come with you, talk to   good book and a ball of yarn.         the cruise line or to a travel     Today's single cruisers range in      agent who specializes in singles   age from their early 20s to their     travel; either one can introduce   late 70s, and they come from all      you to a compatible traveling      walks of life. Some cruise to get     companion.                         away from it all, others to meet                                         and mingle. In fact, the singles      The chief advantage of traveling   demographic aboard ship is pretty     with an organized group is the     much what you'll find shoreside;      pleasure of having someone else    the only difference is that the       worry about managing the details   of booking, shore excursions,         dancing and even belly-flop        seating, setting up shipboard         exhibitions. You can do as much    activities and the rest. All you      or as little as you choose. If     have to do is show up with your       you prefer solitary pursuits,      suitcase and your passport. Some      there are plenty of nooks and      groups also offer discounted          crannies for reading, writing,     fares.                                daydreaming or just watching the                                         waves. Want to pamper and spoil    What it's like aboard ship            yourself? Enjoy a massage or a                                           facial at the spa, or treat        It's not just bingo and               yourself to a special gift from    shuffleboard anymore. On a cruise     one of the boutiques.              with many singles, you'll find an                                        array of activities designed to       In the evenings, most ships have   help single adults meet and           singles functions like cocktail    mingle. Enjoy golf, yoga, rock        parties where you can meet other   climbing, in-line skating,            guests. Once you meet someone, it  tennis, basketball or aerobics.       is likely you'll meet up again     Looking for something more            (even on a large ship, the         conservative? Then take a cooking     environment is small and           class, do a craft project or sign     friendly). Many cruise ships also  up for the onboard lectures. You      offer the company of 'gentlemen    will also find wine tastings,         hosts' for single women who enjoy  computer classes, card games, and     dancing.                           art auctions aboard most ships.                                          Other places to meet people are       Most single cruisers say the best  on shore excursions and at            way to get to know people is over  shipboard activities, which often     a meal. Sharing a table for        include group-participation           dinner -- or any other meal --     events like trivia contests, line     offers many opportunities for fun  and lively conversation. Tables       make friends and enjoy the cruise  for six are best, as larger           with other singles.                tables lack intimacy -- and you                                          may end up having to raise your       Cruising offers singles fun,       voice to be heard across the          safety, comfort and convenience.   table. If you aren't on a group       There's no guarantee that you'll   cruise, just ask the maitre d' to     meet the perfect person on a       place you at a table with other       cruise vacation, but you can       singles. It's a surefire way to       certainly have fun trying!         About the Author Anita Dunham-Potter is a Pittsburgh-based travel journalist specializing in cruise travel. Anita is a weekly travel columnist for http://MSNBC.com and Tripso, and she is a contributor to Fodor's "Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises 2007". Published At: www.Isnare.com