10 Amazing Cruises for Solo Travelers

amawaterways
AmaWaterways 

by Sara Macefield, The Daily Telegraph, October 26, 2016 

1. The best of Bordeaux

Savour the rich flavour of Bordeaux on a river cruise that winds through the heart of this picturesque French wine region, with tours of historic vineyards and tastings in grand chateaux along with guided bike tours through the wine villages of St Emilion and Pomerol.

AmaWaterways (0800 320 2336; amawaterways.co.uk ) offers no single supplements on selected cabins, but this has been extended to all cabins (bar suites) on bookings by October 30. A seven night round-trip sailing from Bordeaux is from £2,399 per person, including drinks with meals and excursions. Flights extra. Departs August 10 2017.

2. Adventures in Asia

Join like-minded travellers on this cultural cruise to Asia where, in addition to on-board lectures, you can explore Kuala Lumpur's mosques and temples; marvel at Brunei's lavish palaces and unspoilt rainforest; and take a longtail boat through Bangkok's floating markets.

Voyages of Discovery (01858 897479; voyagesofdiscovery.co.uk ) caters for solo travellers with get-togethers on-board and shared tables at dinner. There is no single supplement on this 14-night voyage from Port Kelang, Malaysia, to Singapore, which costs from £1,699 per person. Departs January 4, 2017.

3. Medieval France and Modish Spain

The French walled city of La Rochelle contrasts with Bilbao's modernist designs on this voyage to France and Spain. La Coruna blends old and new architectural styles and sits at the gateway to Galicia, one of Spain's most rugged regions.

P&O Cruises (0843 373 0111; pocruises.com ) has single cabins on six of its ships. It organises coffee mornings for solo passengers and seats them together at dinner. This one-week round-trip sailing from Southampton costs from £799 per person. Departs April 16, 2017.

4. Castles on the Rhine

Take a springtime Rhine sailing exclusively for single travellers. This cruise delves into Germany's historic roots with a walking tour of former capital Bonn and the chance to explore Boppard, one of the country's best preserved medieval towns. Another highlight is cruising through the castle-topped hills of the beautiful Rhine Gorge.

Saga Cruises (0800 096 0082; travel.saga.co.uk ) offers a seven-night solo travellers river cruise from Arnhem to Amsterdam, costing from £999 per person based on coach travel from and to Britain and including drinks with meals. Departs March 28, 2017.

5. Cruise the West Indies to New Orleans

Let the Caribbean's captivating beat carry you to the soulful sounds of America's Deep South on this voyage where stops include the castaway beauty of the British Virgin Islands, the upmarket chic of St Barts, and reggae rhythms of Jamaica.

Crystal Cruises (020 7399 7601, crystalcruises.co.uk ) employs hosts and hostesses to dance, dine and socialise with guests. It also arranges solo events and hosted solo dining. This 14-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to New Orleans costs from £5,109 per person, including flights, drinks and gratuities. Departs November 8, 2016.

6. Christmas treats in Belgium

Enjoy a festive treat on this Christmas markets cruise to the pretty Belgian cities of Antwerp and Bruges where their town squares are filled with yuletide market stalls. In the Dutch town of Valkenburg, the market is held in a labyrinth of caves beneath the town.

River Cruise Line (0844 544 6437; rivercruiseline.co.uk ) is not charging single supplements on 2016 Christmas market cruises. A four-night sailing from Rotterdam to Brussels costs from £349 per person, based on return coach and ferry travel. Departs December 7, 10 and 13, 2016.

7. Norway's natural wonders

The dramatic scenery of the Norwegian fjords takes centre stage on this voyage, which delves into the rugged heart of this coastline to Flam, Geirangerfjord and Andalsnes, and a scenic backdrop of remote villages, precipitous granite cliffs and spectacular waterfalls.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages (0844 998 3805; cruiseandmaritime.com ) has single supplements of 25 per cent and on sailings of more than five nights offers a programme of solo passenger events. This eight-night round-trip voyage from Tilbury costs from £1,159 per person. Departs May 20, 2017.

8. Historic passage along the Danube

Wine-tasting at the historic Nikolaihof Estate in Austria's Wachau Valley, a farm visit in Linz, and a private concert in a Viennese palace are some of the highlights of a Danube river cruise which cuts through the historical heart of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

Uniworld (0808 168 9110; uniworld.com ) has axed single supplements from more than 200 sailings in 2017. This seven-night voyage from Budapest to Passau costs from £2,329 per person, including drinks, excursions and gratuities. Flights extra. Departs on various dates between March and November 2017.

9. A taste of Caledonia

This voyage showcases the cultural riches of Edinburgh and the heritage of Dundee, plus Invergordon, the gateway to the Scottish Highlands - a landscape famous for its castles and the enduring mystery of Loch Ness.

Fred Olsen (0800 035 5242; fredolsencruises.com ) has single cabins on all four of its ships, along with dance hosts, solo traveller gatherings and shared tables at dinner. This six-night round-trip voyage from Tilbury costs from £699 per person. Departs December 1, 2017.

10. Caribbean cocktail

This sailing is full of tropical temptations, from the unspoilt appeal of the Honduran island of Roatan to the cultural treasures of Belize and Mexico, along with the Caribbean.

Norwegian Cruise Line (0333 241 2319; ncl.co.uk ) offers a dedicated complex for solo travellers on its newer ships comprising bijou "Studio" cabins and a dedicated lounge and bar. This seven-night fly-cruise is based on a round-trip sailing from Miami, costing from £1,974 per person. Departs May 13, 2017.

All prices are based on single cabins or a single person occupying a double cabin. 

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This article was written by Sara Macefield from The Daily Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.