Solo travellers can cruise with confidence, according to award winning luxury travel operator APT, which shares seven top tips on how those travelling alone can gain exceptional savings, meet friends for life and get the very best out of their cruise experience:
- Join the club: Keep updated on the best offers by joining a cruise line’s solo traveller club. To join APT’s Solo Traveller Club simply email SoloClub@aptouring.com.au
- Smaller cruises are more social: Some cruise styles, such as river cruising and small ship cruising, are particularly popular amongst solo travellers due to the intimacy of the group. European river cruise ships hold around 160 guests, on the Mekong, APT’s luxury ships carry just over 120 guests and while small ship ocean going vessels can vary in size, APT’s fleet of three ships, the MS Caledonian Sky, the MS Island Sky and the MS Hebridean Sky hold an average of just 100 guests.
- Book a solo cabin or travel with a friend: In Europe APT has six river cruise ships each offering a special solo occupancy suite, but with limited availability you need to book quickly. Alternatively, you could consider asking a friend or relative to travel with you to help keep costs down.
- Suite savings for early bookers: The early bird catches the savings. This is particularly true for solo travellers, especially if they are prepared to travel early or later in the season. Ask your travel agent about the best travel dates for solo offers for your preferred destination. For example for Europe river cruising they tend to be March or September to December.
- Set sail on an adventure: If you are looking for cruise that gets you up close and personal with a destination, that takes you off the beaten track to experience the culture, flora and fauna and that enables you to travel in a small group with like minded people then expedition cruising should tick all your boxes. For solo travellers it’s a great way of meeting new people as travellers tend to have shared interests and like to socialise to share their adventures.
- Find a Forum: There are several great cruise forums that have dedicated areas for solo travellers to share information, experiences and travel tips. For example www.cruisecritic.com.au has an active forum where you find out more about different cruise styles, life on board and other people’s experiences; and you can also ask specific questions on www.cruiseguide.com.au
- Make friends with themes: Themed cruises are a great way to meet like-minded people. Garden tour and cruise operators such as Botanica World Discoveries (www.botanica.travel) are popular with solo travellers and for good reason – they offer the chance to travel with people who share a passion and interest and so it’s a great way to make new friends while also learning more about your special interest subject.
APT is currently offering a range of solo traveller deals. For example book a 15-day Magnificent Europe or Rhine, Rhône & Moselle European river cruise departing between 1-31 March 2016 or 1 October to 31 December 2016 before 30 April 2015 and APT will not only waive the solo supplement but you’ll also pay 2015 prices.
For further information call APT on 1300 196 420, visit aptouring.com.au or see your local travel agent.
SOURCE APT