Best Solo Cruises: Why Virgin Voyages Stands Out

Have you ever thought about taking a cruise by yourself? For many travelers, the idea of a solo cruise sparks equal parts excitement and nerves. Questions like “Is a solo cruise safe?” or “Will I feel lonely onboard?” often come up – and trust me, I had the same concerns before setting sail on Virgin Voyages.

But here’s the truth: solo cruising doesn’t have to mean sitting alone at dinner or feeling out of place in a sea of couples and families. In fact, Virgin Voyages has completely reimagined the solo travel experience with perks that make you feel not just welcome, but celebrated. From adult-only vibes (yes, no kids splashing in the pool!) to lower single supplements, and from world-class restaurants to dedicated solo sailor meetups, I quickly discovered why this cruise line is a game-changer for independent travelers like me.

In this post, I’ll share the highlights (and a few lower lights) of my own Virgin Voyages solo adventure – the moments I felt completely at ease, the activities I loved doing alone and the ones I didn’t, and how this cruise line goes above and beyond to make sailing solo safe, fun, and unforgettable.

In my experience, a cruise vacation perfectly highlights the benefits of solo travel – freedom, flexibility, self-discovery, and self-reliance. You have total control over your schedule! Choose from a massive supply of activities, food options, excursions, and relaxation offerings. Really all you have to worry about is getting on and off the ship at the correct times.

Cruises are THE most relaxing vacations I’ve had, and cruising solo makes that experience even more accessible. Seeing the shows I want to see. Eating when and what I want. Doing absolutely nothing and sitting in a hammock if I want. It’s an incredible feeling of empowerment and relaxation.

Sure, there are plenty of stigmas around solo cruising, as well as hesitations about safety. I fully understand that, as I understand them with any type of solo vacationing. I see solo cruising as a true form of self-care. It allows me to visit beautiful locations in a way I feel comfortable, while also having the amenities of a medium-sized city within walking distance at all times.

But is a solo cruise safe? I encourage solo cruisers to be vigilant the same way I do all solo travelers. Yes, I feel safe on a cruise ship by myself. I know there are cameras everywhere, I know I don’t have to get off the ship at port if I don’t want to, and I listen to my gut if it encourages me to stay in a public spot or go back to my room. I’m also aware that bad things have happened on cruise ships and in cruise ports. So staying aware as a solo traveler is important, no matter what vacation you’re on.

I work with lots of ocean cruise lines, and Virgin works the hardest to make solo cruising an absolute blast. Staff want you to have a good time, whether you keep to yourself or join the solo meetups.

Here’s a few of the highlights:

• No Kids Onboard: Adults-Only Atmosphere. Virgin Voyages is 18+ only, so there’s none of the family crowds. Or the things that come WITH family crowds. The cruises have more of a relaxing, social vibe. Virgin ships feel like small cities; its very easy to get around and enjoy the space. This is made even more enjoyable with no kids. No offense, but it just is.
• Lower Single Supplement Fees. I may never understand why this is a thing, but you do pay an extra fee to sail solo. Virgin Voyages has one of the lowest I’ve found, and often runs specials to lower it even further. Virgin also offers solo cabins, which eliminates those awkward questions from the housekeeping and room service staff.
• Sailor Loot & Bar Tab Instead of Traditional Onboard Credit. One of my favorite things about this cruise line is how it manages your onboard spending. I can purchase a bar tab and spend it however I want on beverages. Most cruise lines offer a specific drink package that only applies to me. So say I meet up with another solo sailor for coffee, I can buy both with my bar tab. If I want to buy the first round at karaoke night so my song sounds a bit better, it’s easy. There’s just so much more flexibility with onboard spending than other cruise lines.
• Dining That Feels Special. Virgin Voyages has THE BEST food I’ve ever had on a cruise. Hands down. No joke. There are over 20 eateries on every one of its ships, and no buffets. You can make reservations for the restaurants onboard, or join the walk up lines if you don’t want to have to plan ahead. There’s also a food court that offers made-to-order food, which has a more quick service feel to it. But even that food is better than what I’ve had on other cruises. And the seating at these restaurants make it much easier to enjoy a high quality meal alone without the awkwardness.

One thing I appreciate about Virgin Voyages is the commitment to safety for all passengers. The company works hard to be inclusive, and that includes offering activities and spaces that are safe for all passengers regardless of age, how many in their party, or sexual preference. The staff are from countries all over the world and from all walks of life, and they make it easy to feel seen and safe.

There are so many activities offered on board, from drag bingo to whiskey tasting to boy band dance class to pajama party club night. I participated in a few that I enjoyed and a few that pushed my comfort zone boundaries.

The shows on Virgin Voyages cruises are easy to attend alone. Some take place auditorium-style, where I just found a seat and watched the show. Others were more interactive in a disco or club setting, and I watched them from the floor as if I was part of the show. The entertainment offerings ranged from circus performers to drag queens, and I enjoyed them all.

One thing Virgin Voyages prides itself in are the themed parties. I attended the launch party, pajama party, and Scarlet Night while on board. Those felt a little more like going to a dance club by myself, which wasn’t as comfortable. However the staff work hard to make sailors feel included during these parties, and several of the solo sailors mentioned how much fun they had. I personally prefer to people watch at parties like this, so I never stayed long. But the parties were impressive, nonetheless.

The classes offered onboard are easy to join as a solo sailor. The boy band dance class that I took had plenty of groups and singles alike, so me joining on my own didn’t feel out of place. Those types of classes are far easier to blend into, and again offered a sense of doing something for myself while still being able to interact with others if I wanted to.

Really the things that made me feel the most awkward were the group-based activities I joined, like pub trivia and music trivia. Sailors were encouraged to form teams, and since I was there on my own, the hosts at both locations made me a bit of a spectacle while trying to help me find an open team. That was certainly uncomfortable and brought plenty of unwanted attention my way.

There were also plenty of unscheduled things to do that are harder to take advantage of when traveling solo. Things like board games, pickleball, and shuffleboard are all things I would love to do, but wasn’t about to ask random strangers to join me. So instead I enjoyed things like grabbing a book from the ship’s library and reading in one of the deck lounge chairs, losing a decent amount at the ship’s casino, and painting on a group mural that all sailors had the chance to add to.

All in all, there’s enough activities during a Virgin Voyages cruise that you can balance doing activities you want to do alone and getting engaged with others on the ship. That balance is what you make it, and you can find plenty both in and out of your comfort zone to enjoy.

The simple answer for me is “absolutely.”

• It offers a more affordable solo supplement, on top of the “all-in” pricing structure Virgin Voyages uses. That means things like wifi and tips are already covered.
• There’s a focus on safety from the company and the staff.
• Each sailing offers plenty of chances to be involved in a community, whether that’s with other solo sailors or other groups on board. There’s also no shortage of activities that are easy and comfortable to do alone.
• The dining is absolutely top notch. The best food I’ve had on a cruise line.
• An adult-only environment is tough to beat when you’re traveling solo. No kids and families onboard makes for a more relaxed and enjoyable vibe.

I’ll be the first to tell you, a Virgin Voyages cruise is a bit more expensive. Granted, there’s a LOT that’s included in the price that you would have to pay for on other cruise lines. Plus with the quality of the food and activities, you absolutely get what you pay for in all the best ways.

Compared to sailing solo on other cruise lines, it’s better in every way. Royal Caribbean cruises are certainly geared to families, and the entertainment options seem geared more to older cruisers. Celebrity Cruises are on smaller ships, which I appreciate, and that cruise line markets more to millennials to be sure. But it doesn’t come close to the quality of food and the number of activities offered on a Virgin Voyages cruise. Really the closest in comparison would be a Disney cruise, which has unbeatable service and also has great food. But if there’s ever a place for an adult to be self-conscious about sailing alone, it’s a Disney cruise… and I say that as a Marvel-loving child trapped in an adult’s body.

Whether it’s your first time sailing solo or your first time sailing solo with Virgin Voyages, I strongly recommend giving the lady ships a try. Just be warned – it will spoil you! Once you’ve sailed with Virgin Voyages, you’ll feel disappointed sailing nearly any other way!

If you want to see how Virgin Voyages compares to other cruise lines when it comes to food, entertainment, inclusiveness and more, get my free Cruise Line Comparison Cheat Sheet here.

I’d love to hear your solo cruising experiences below! Whether it’s with Virgin or any other cruise line, what did you like best? What did you learn about yourself? Put your experiences in the comments!

Don’t forget, I’m a Travel Advisor who LOVES to cruise, and I can help you put together the perfect cruise for your next adventure! You can find more on Virgin Voyages upcoming cruises here, or if you want to check out another cruise line for your next solo sailing, just pop me an email here or fill out the form below.

And if you’ve never sailed solo before, now is the time! I encourage you to take any fear and apprehension you have about it, put that aside, and use a solo adventure to really grow and challenge yourself. You’ll be so proud of what you learn about yourself, and you’ll make amazing memories along the way! Be sure to share and pin this post so others can encourage you along your journey!