Still reading? Good. Now let’s manage expectations: joining a singles cruise does not mean the entire ship will be akin to a floating bar rife with prospects. Rather, companies like Singlescruise.com,Vacationstogo.com, Singlestravelintl.com, and Singlesatsea.com organize groups of single travelers — often by demographic (like 20s and 30s, and 50s and older) or theme — and then escort them on larger cruises. Tour operators reserve rooms for participants and help match them with roommates if they request one. That’s helpful since cruise lines typically charge solo travelers an added fee (a few cruise lines offer discounts; a topic I’ll address in a future column).
The price of a singles cruise usually includes the cruise, a cabin, meals and exclusive group activities that range from the refined (cooking lessons and wine tastings) to the “never-post-photos-of-this-on-Facebook” variety (Jacuzzi parties and 1970s theme dances). If you want a good turnout, try traveling during Halloween. Singlescruise.com says its Halloween Spectacular cruise is its largest (last year more than 600 people attended; this year it’s a weeklong Caribbean cruise on Carnival Liberty, departing from Miami on Oct. 26 with private cabins starting from $1,402.27 and shared cabins from $783.27). But take heed: masks, capes and fangs can make evaluating potential lovers tricky.
The kinds of singles you’ll meet on board will depend in part on the cruise theme: Singles Cruise’s 20s and 30s Spring Break cruise from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean (starting at $694.74) is likely to have a different atmosphere than Singles Travel International’s Alaska Cruise Adventure (starting at $1,129). So it’s best to call the travel company to ask questions — especially about the projected number of attendees and the male-to-female ratio. After all, while Singlescruise.com tells visitors to “forget online dating,” it’s far harder to jump ship on a ship.