Traveling alone, especially for the first time, can be intimidating, but it’s actually a great opportunity for self-discovery. Solo traveling is an empowering act of independence and self-confidence because it allows you to focus on yourself and the world around you. You’ll be able to take control of your itinerary and experience everything at your own pace, and who wouldn’t want that?
A solo cruise travel is a great idea because cruises can be both isolating and very social; you can relax and have alone time in your cabin or at the spa, while having opportunities to mingle with people at one of the many shows and events on board. You’ll also be able to visit multiple destinations without the hassle of repacking and booking flights. So, if you’re looking to try cruising solo, then we’ve got two options you’ll love!
Genting Dream
Prepare for a dream-like vacation aboard the Genting Dream. The state-of-the-art cruise ship is 335 m end-to-end with 18 decks and over 1,600 staterooms. They offer a wide array of amenities, activities, and entertainment options to fit every passenger’s interests. Take your pick from theater shows, parties, performances, shops, classes, and so much more. The Genting Dream sets sail from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre and docks at ports in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Meleka, and phu*ket.
Diamond Princess
All aboard this cruise perfect for solo travelers? You can truly indulge yourself on the Diamond Princess, a world-renowned cruise ship that provides the “Princess treatment” to all of its guests. With exquisite cabins and suites, and world-class entertainment options, you’ll never run out of things to do on board. The Diamond Princess is also known for having the best itineraries for its guests with stops at exotic locations and picturesque sceneries, such as the Seto Inland Sea in Japan, and Keelung, Taiwan.
How to prep for a cruise
Photo credit: Elaine Tu on Unsplash
The number one tip for traveling alone is to prepare in advance. As a solo traveler, you’ll be taking care of everything on your own, so it’s best to have everything ready.
When choosing a cruise line to go on, the most important thing to consider is your budget. This will tell you the kinds of cruise lines to choose and what kind of cabin to book. You should also bear in mind the locations the cruise line will be stopping at—are these destinations interesting to you? Have you visited them before? Next, take a look at the cruise ship’s amenities—will you enjoy the activities and events they have? Of course, you have to check out their restaurants and whether or not they can accommodate any dietary restrictions you might have. Lastly, think about the people you’ll be on a cruise with. Are they generally younger or older? Is this cruise mostly for families? Find a cruise line with passengers whom you see yourself getting along with.
Cruise tickets tend to sell out quickly, which is why it’s important to book yours in advance. Select the dates of your travel, so you can make the necessary arrangements, such as letting your bank know you’ll be traveling and that your credit card will be used overseas, as well as acquiring the local currency of the places you’ll be visiting beforehand. Keep your travel dates in mind, so you can experience all the must-see attractions. Take note of each location’s best attractions, restaurants, shops, and local customs, and make the necessary reservations for any activities or landmarks you want to visit.
You’ll also want to make sure that you have all of your travel documents in order:
Your valid passport, which you’ll need for the cruise and/or the flight
The necessary VISAs for all the destinations you’ll be visiting
Negative COVID test result, if required by the cruise line
Proof of vaccination, just in case the cruise line or the ports ask for it
When you’re cruising solo, there’s no need to pack a lot because of the onboard laundry service. Just have the essentials, like swimsuits, smart casual attire, and formal attire as cruise lines tend to have a dress code for special dinner services. You’ll also want to stock up on your medications.
Klook Tip: Get to know your home on the water! Familiarize yourself with the ship and its features before boarding, so you know how to make the most of each day.
What to expect on a cruise
Excited to try cruising solo yet? There are plenty of opportunities for you to meet new people and get to know them. Most cruise lines will actually have events for solo cruisers! Make sure to check daily programs for activities, like games, shows, and lessons where you can mingle with fellow passengers—which is actually one of the most interesting parts of going on a cruise! You’ll meet a diverse group of people whom you can share travel stories with and eventually become friends with. Who knows, you might want a buddy to lounge around the pool with or hang out with at one of the cruise parties!
Activities
A misconception about cruises is that there are a limited amount of activities. You surely won’t run out of things to do on either of these cruise lines with movie nights, water activities, and even just lounging on the deck, all available to keep you occupied.
Genting Dream
You’re never going to find yourself bored on the Genting Dream with a wide range of exciting activities to keep you entertained throughout the cruise. Soak up the sun at the boat’s Waterslide Park with 6 different waterslides, or if you’re looking for even more thrills, there’s a rope course and a 35m zipline on board. There’s also The Boutiques, where you can find all your favorite luxury brands to shop, the Little Dreamers Club for kids to have fun, and the Crystal Life Spa for an R&R experience with a mix of Asian and Western techniques.
Diamond Princess
You’ll want to make time to try out all of the activities that the Diamond Princess has to offer. During the day, you can sip and swim at the cruise’s pools and hot tubs, and burn calories at the sports courts. When the sun sets, you can attend a gaming lesson, try out the slot machines, and join prize tournaments at their Vegas Style Casino. Passengers can also bop to their favorite songs, perfectly paired with co*cktails and a beautiful ocean view, at Skywalkers Nightclub. There’s also Club Fusion, which holds karaoke contests, live performances, and themed parties. For more chill-tivities, head to the poolside amphitheater for a film, concert, or even live football games. And these are only a few of the things you can look forward to!
Dining
Because you’re out at sea, you might think that there are only a handful of restaurants to choose from, but both the Genting Dream and Diamond Princess actually provide several dining options with different cuisines all throughout the day—and most of these are complimentary! There are also specialty restaurants onboard that you can make reservations for in advance if you want to treat yourself.
Genting Dream
Foodies will delight in the array of dining options that Genting Dream has to offer. They have 35 restaurants and bars, which include luxury Japanese cuisine and outdoor hotpot restaurants. Can’t decide what to eat? Head to The Lido for an international buffet with cuisines that will suit every taste. There’s also Bar City where you can mingle with fellow passengers over drinks of premium bottles and spirits with a live band to keep them company.
Diamond Princess
There are so many restaurants to choose from on the Diamond Princess that we recommend trying out a different place and dish on each day of your trip. If you’re in the mood for authentic Italian cuisine, then go for the best of the best: Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria. It’s been voted one of the “Best Cruise Ship Specialty Restaurants” at sea after all. For one of the “Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses,” Sterling Steakhouse is the place to go. But if you want the best of the best, then book the Chef’s Table Experience for a multi-course dinner created and hosted by the ship’s executive chef themselves.
Events and Shows
Genting Dream
There will be tons of different shows and events each night on the Genting Dream. You can choose to dance the night away at the Zouk & Zouk Beach Club’s pool parties hosted by guest DJs, or head over to the Zodiac Theatre for world-class live production shows that will leave you in awe. The cruise also hosts different classes, demonstrations, and competitions for guests of all ages to take part in, so make sure you stay up-to-date on the daily program schedules.
Diamond Princess
The Diamond Princess provides several engaging and enriching events for its passengers, even if you’re cruising solo. There’s an art gallery on board where you can attend an art history lecture and participate in live auctions for artworks by artists like Thomas Kinkade and Michael Godard. The Festival of the World event celebrates different traditions from around the world each time with dancing, music, performances, specialty shopping, and a film-viewing. You can also catch a show at the Princess Theater, which showcases original Broadway-style productions.
Now that you know what to expect when you’re cruising solo, why not give it a try? Book a ticket for the Genting Dream or the Princess Diamond before they set sail!
