Cruising - Pros & Cons How to Solo Travel on Board

Don’t hate me. As a solo traveler, I get a lot of flak about including cruising in my travel planning . I realize, cruising is not for everyone and has an impact on the environment. So does flying, staying in a hotel or taking a road trip.

Before you stop reading, let me share my thoughts.

As many of you know, I travel on my social security and a small retirement fund. There is a misconception that cruising can be very expensive. And many wonder how I can afford to take cruises. Read on…

Talk to any solo nomad who cruises and they will tell you it’s cheaper to travel/live on a cruise ship than a permanent home in the United States and maybe Canada…..mostly. Solo travelers who cruise agree any cruise of $100 or less per day is cheaper than renting, paying a mortgage, buying food, gasoline for the car, a gym membership and housekeeping for a permanent home.

For me, cruising has become a mode of transport in addition to providing me places to see and good people to meet. It is often cheaper and more comfortable than long haul flights. 

Some advantages to solo cruising with cons to follow.

It can be a more enjoyable mode of transportation than a 15+ hour flight to your next destination.
Repositioning cruises are sometimes less expensive. Cheaper than a business class, fly flat seat across an ocean or even an economy seat depending on your destination. If you can go with the flow and wait, prices for these repositioning cruises can be less closer to sailing - even for a solo traveler. I

A cabin all to yourself with few to little responsibilities.
Yes, ship cabins are small spaces but how much space does a single traveler need? Less than you think. And there is plenty of storage. My longest cruise was 55 days in December 2023 – never did I feel the space was a problem for me or my everything I own and travel with.

Housekeeping makes up your bed and cleans your room everyday if you want.
I used to get my studio in Chicago cleaned every 4-6 weeks for $75.

You don’t have to cook or look for food.
I am reformed foodie since I travel full time. I enjoy a GREAT meal on occasion but don’t cook for myself much and look for simple, clean food which I can get on board. The salad bars are amazing.

Working out in a state-of-the-art gym overlooking the ocean is a good thing.
Belonging to a gym can be expensive. I paid $75 for one month during a housesit in California. It was worth it to go every day, but I would not do that every month as I move around house sitting. Before becoming a solo nomad, I paid $75-$225 per month for a gym membership.

Cruises offer daily aerobics and dance classes on board. They are a fun way to work out and meet people.
I also have the Peloton digital membership for $12.99/month. Any exercise I want to do using gym equipment or not is on the app. This includes meditation, mobility, stretching, yoga in addition to running, walking, boxing, cardio dance, rowing and more.

You can meet wonderful people who sometimes become friends and fellow travelers.
With 1,000’s of people on board you can choose how you want to engage – a lot or a little. Going for a coffee or a meal is free for all! Or you can find places on board to be quiet, undisturbed away from the crowds.

There is entertainment almost 24/7.
I pay for streaming services and purchase WIFI on board for $20/day. For me this is part of my travel budget - staying connected. The cruise provides live entertainment and first run movies on the big screen – including padded lounge chairs, popcorn and ice cream.

You can swim at pools inside or outside.
See the cost of a gym or pool membership above.

Looking for wildlife, whales and birds, depending on your itinerary is a great use of time.
Normally, you might take a tour to see what’s swimming or flying around an ocean. On a cruise you can bring your own binoculars and look for wildlife. Some cruises include wildlife and nature specialists on board who share when and what you can see while at sea.

You can learn a new skill including origami, trivia, flower arranging, history, painting, evaluating art or learn a language.
Any of these may cost you money on land.

Additional costs while cruising
How much money you spend while on the cruise is up to you. Excursions can get pricey depending on where you are going. Ship excursions are always more expensive and often contracted with the same tour operators you can hire for half the price on Viator. As a solo nomad, I don’t have room in my luggage or interest in souvenirs, so I don’t spend money on those.

Are you including cruising in your travel plans?
Please leave a comment below and add to the discussion.

The Cons of Cruising and Solo Travel

Ships are getting bigger and carry more passengers than ever before.
An expedition ship is smaller by design and has 130 to 400 passengers plus crew. The cruise ships have 2,200 to 7,500 passengers plus crew. I have no interest in the newer, larger ships and try to find cruise ships of 3,500 or less.

Solo supplements for cruising can crush your travel budget.
The cruise lines can and do charge from 0% to 100% MORE for a traveler in any cabin alone. This is the biggest challenge to cruising alone.

Deals can be had. Sometimes waiting until the last minute makes a difference. We are well past Covid and cruise pricing continues to increase.  Some cruise lines are creating solo cabins. They are small, less than 100sf interior cabins. Pricing is only a LITTLE lower than single supplement for a “regular cabin”.

Environmental Impact of Cruising - Everything we do while traveling impacts our environment – negatively or positively.
This is where I am challenged most on cruising as a choice for travel. I am aware of the impact the cruise industry has on the environment. From CO2 emissions to how they build ships and dispose of all the trash they create.

Cruise companies are working to lower their impact. Do they have a long way to go? Everyone and industry does. Like any corporation operating today, cruise companies are making changes. Every cruise line has a strategy they have shared with passengers and included on their websites.

Will it take time? Yes, like any industry making change. Can you and I choose not to cruise absolutely. As travelers, can we decide not to fly, maybe. Can we all buy electric cars, maybe. Is it better to stay in a hotel for seven to 14 days than cruise? I don’t know but like cruise ships, hotels are doing a lot of laundry and working on getting us to reuse those towels and change the linen only every third day. I have no problem with that.

Is cruising a part of your travel planning?
Please leave a comment below. Add to the discussion.