I went on my first solo cruise. Here are 6 things you should know if you're planning to try it.

• Recently, I went on my first solo cruise. I enjoyed it and learned a few things.
• Prepare to be asked why you're alone often if you're solo traveling.
• Bring a tripod to take photos of yourself and don't be afraid to make new connections. 

I've been cruising since the mid-'90s, and after two upcoming cruises later this year, I'll have completed 18 sailings.

Although I enjoy cruising with my family, fiancé, and friends, they can't always join me. Rather than miss out on experiences I'd like to have because of their schedules or budgets, I decided to book a cruise for myself.

There was a lot to love about my solo cruise — including the freedom to spend my time on board and on shore exactly how I wanted — but there were also a few lessons I learned along the way. 

Book with cruise lines that have solo cabins or waive the single supplement to save money

Solo cruises can be more expensive because cabins are priced based on double occupancy. Therefore, many cruise lines apply a single-supplement surcharge — a fee that can sometimes be an additional 10% to 100% of the rate.

If you're looking to sail alone, look for cruise lines that offer ships with solo cabins, like Holland America Line (specifically on the Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Rotterdam, which each have 12 dedicated single staterooms with ocean views), Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages, and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Keep an eye out for special promotions reducing or waiving the single supplement for regular rooms across various cruise lines, too. 

Be prepared for everyone — from crew members to other passengers — to ask why you're traveling alone

Even in 2023, most people appear to be baffled by the thought of a woman taking herself on a cruise without any girlfriends or a spouse to accompany her.

Some passengers I encountered seemed genuinely curious about what turn of events must have led to this "unfortunate" moment in my life, asking if I'd just gone through a breakup. A few crew members asked where my husband was and were shocked when I said I've never been married.

But quite a few elderly women said, "Good for you, sweetie," and, "That must feel quite liberating," when they learned I just enjoy traveling and will happily do so solo if I can't find anyone to join me. A few of them even confessed to wishing they could go on a solo vacation and leave their own spouses behind. 

Look for other solo cruisers if you want some company

Despite so many people making me feel like my solo situation was unique, I certainly wasn't the only one on board traveling by without a guest.

Another passenger introduced me to a woman she'd met at lunch who was about my age and also cruising solo, and we hit it off right away — turns out, she cruised solo regularly and really loved it.

We ate quite a few meals together, went shopping in a port town one afternoon, and have kept in touch via Facebook ever since. It was nice to have company sporadically throughout the trip and inspiring to meet another independent woman living her best life. 

Don't be afraid of occasionally being a third wheel

Traveling solo forces you to get out of your comfort zone, and that includes striking up conversations with strangers. After interacting with various couples in line at the buffet or while seated next to them in the theatre for a show, they would often invite me to join them for dinner.

What I loved most about these interactions was that we all shared a common love of travel, so there was rarely a dull moment in our conversations — we traded tales of previous cruises and shared our dreams about the destinations that still remain on our bucket lists. It's also fun to make a cameo appearance in someone else's vacation. 

Have some excuses ready for when you want to be alone

Upon learning of my solo-cruising status, some well-meaning passengers practically tried to force me to join them for a meal or excursion because they thought I was lonely — I honestly found my newfound popularity a bit awkward at times.

I actually quite enjoy some solitude, so if I wasn't in the mood for company, I made sure to have some excuses ready to go ("I'm at a really good part in this book, so I'm going to finish reading it while I eat" or "I have to answer some work emails and don't want to bore you").

Sure, I told some white lies because I didn't want to hurt their feelings, but I also wasn't willing to compromise on how I wanted to spend my time on my vacation.   

Bring a tripod so you can get all the photos you want

I'm used to relying on others to snap photos of me on cruises, so I had to find an alternate solution when traveling solo if I wanted to move beyond selfies.

I purchased an inexpensive and lightweight tripod on Amazon that collapses into a small stick when not in use. The best part? It has a clicker you can hold discreetly (so you don't have to use your smartphone's timer feature, which can be tricky), and it works for taking videos and photos.

I set up mini photo shoots for myself both on the ship and during excursions, so I wouldn't miss out on creating keepsake memories of my fun experiences.