Solo Sailing on Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady
This was my first ever solo trip and I highly recommend Virgin Voyages if you’re looking for a cruise that is solo-sailor friendly!
Why Virgin Voyages (VV)?
Adult only
Everything’s included but drinks! (all restaurants, events, and even basic wifi)
The staff coordinates solo sailor meetups and dinners
Solo insider rooms
I booked my solo cruise through a travel agent (reach out on my contact page if you’d like her info!) who is a solo cruise influencer, so I had the added benefit of being part of a large group of solo travelers.
There were 50 of us total and we all had a group chat where people would post what they were up to for the day (or the hour) and there was no pressure to join, anyone was free to do their own thing the whole time if they wanted but for those who wanted someone else to dine with or whatever there was always someone willing.
I didn’t stay in a solo insider room because I need a balcony on a cruise, but they are a great, cost-effective option, especially for those who don’t spend much time in their room.
We sailed for 5 days from Miami to Turks & Caicos and back with a stop in the Bahamas.
The most anxious I felt was getting into Miami and to my hotel the day before we go on the ship. It was my first time in Miami and being alone in an unfamiliar place made me a little uneasy, so I loved that my travel agent had the group chat set up because it was comforting to see texts of where everyone was in their travels even though we were coming from different places and staying in different hotels, 49 other people were doing the same thing I was doing.
My travel agent also set up Zoom calls ahead of the trip so we could all get to know each other a bit which I think made a huge difference, but I lead a weekly Bible study on Zoom and have first hand experience with meeting people in person that I’ve known for months or years on Zoom and it still being a different experience. So I was a little nervous on that first day, but quickly relaxed at the sail away party.
It was definitely partly the company and partly being at sea - I think I was a mermaid in another life because I just belong at sea. It’s my happy place.
For the rest of the cruise it was so freeing to scroll through the app and see what I wanted to do and not have anyone around that had to agree.
Dining by myself was nowhere near as awkward as I expected; I was often next to a couple that was staring at their phones and then the three of us ended up talking. A few times I was sat next to another solo traveler and we’d end up talking and laughing.
All the food on VV is amazing and I got to try all but one of the restaurants!
The thing I was most nervous about was the port days - what if I got lost and didn’t make it back to the boat?! But that was a nonissue. I always found some friends the night before and we would choose a meetup spot on the ship to go to port together, and once there everyone was free to wander as they pleased. When I was ready to go, I would let the group I showed up with know and if they weren’t ready I would find someone in the group chat or someone else I met on the ship to walk back with.
VV has a beach club in the Bahamas so all of the food there was also included which was a nice perk.
All and all, when traveling by yourself there is always someone to meet and do things with if you want. The whole point is that you don’t have to—you can do whatever you want! No one to keep track of or feed or take care of or please or impress but your damn self.
10/10 will cruise alone again.
