Testing the Waters of Solo Travel with Virgin Voyages

Inclusive social opportunities:

Virgin Voyages excels at making every guest feel included, offering numerous opportunities to connect with fellow travelers. Upon embarkation, solo sailors are invited to attend a special meet-up, where you can mingle with other solo cruisers over a glass of champagne. A letter will be placed in your stateroom upon arrival, detailing the time and location of this gathering. Afterward, everyone walks together to the sail-away party, setting the stage for the start of your vacation with new acquaintances. During my cruise, I found this to be an excellent opportunity to exchange contact information and make dinner plans with the people I had just met.

Additionally, Virgin Voyages organizes nightly solo sailor dinners, where you don’t need to make a reservation. If you’re not in the mood to dine alone, simply show up at the designated time and location and you’ll have automatic dinner companions. While I made a point of dining solo on one occasion to enjoy some quiet time, it’s reassuring to know that traveling alone is so common on Virgin Voyages that there’s no judgment or awkwardness from fellow guests or staff. On that solo night, I enjoyed a delicious steak dinner, fully appreciating the opportunity to indulge and treat myself.

Making new connections:

While land-based trips offer opportunities to meet fellow travelers at hotels or on tours, these interactions are often fleeting due to different itineraries. In contrast, a cruise provides a consistent group of people for the entire duration of your trip. Everyone follows the same itinerary, attends the same events and shares similar dining options, making it easier to form lasting connections. For instance, after meeting someone at a trivia session, you may run into them at a yoga class and before you know it, you're enjoying dinner together.

Stay connected with loved ones:

One of the standout features of Virgin Voyages is the inclusion of basic Wi-Fi, which is a rarity among cruise lines. To my surprise, the Wi-Fi connection was strong enough to allow for texting, social media updates and easy sharing of photos with friends and family back home. This connectivity ensures that even when traveling solo, you can stay in touch with your loved ones and share your experiences in real time.

Activities and experiences to enjoy:

Virgin Voyages offers a wide range of activities, games and fitness classes throughout the day. Whether you're looking to stay active or unwind, there's something for everyone. Fitness classes are included and provide a great way to meet other like-minded passengers. Trivia, games and various classes also create opportunities to connect with people who share your interests.

Two standout social experiences are dining at Gunbae and joining the Grog Walk. Gunbae, a Korean BBQ restaurant onboard, is known for being one of the most social dining experiences at sea. Guests are seated at communal tables and enjoy a meal together while engaging in fun games. The Grog Walk, Virgin's version of a pub crawl, is another fantastic way to make connections. Though it comes at an additional cost, the Grog Walk takes you to several bars where you'll complete challenges and interact with fellow guests in order or earn your next drink.

Short cruises for a low-risk solo experience:

Virgin Voyages offers shorter itineraries, starting at just four nights, making it easy to dip your toes into solo travel without committing to an extended trip. This low-risk option is ideal for those who want to test the waters of traveling solo but aren’t ready for a long journey.

A flexible and empowering experience:

The best part about traveling solo with Virgin Voyages is the flexibility to shape your experience. It’s a “choose your own adventure” type of trip. You can enjoy peaceful, solitary moments or actively engage with other travelers, depending on your mood and preferences.

Solo travel can be a deeply empowering experience. It encourages self-reflection and opens the door to unique opportunities and encounters that you might miss when traveling with others. My time as a solo sailor with Virgin Voyages was incredibly rewarding and I’m already looking forward to my next solo adventure.

Day trips:

If you have additional time, consider a visit to the Everglades. You can kayak through the serene mangroves, or enjoy snorkeling in the pristine waters of Biscayne National Park.