I've been solo cruising for 17 years. Here are my best tips for staying safe and making friends.

• I went on my first solo cruise when I was 26 and fell in love with the adventure. 
• The dining room can be intimidating but it's a great way to meet people. 
• Here are my tips for making the most out of your trips from 17 years of solo cruising. 

I started traveling on cruises alone when I was 26. I was immediately hooked on the mix of adventure and solitude.

I've been solo cruising for the last 17 years and have learned the best tricks for making the most out of my time on board.

I've met lifelong friends while traveling alone

It's easier to make friends when cruising alone. When traveling with a friend or with a partner, I'm less likely to strike up conversations with strangers. Solo, if I get bored or want to eat with people, I'm forced to chat.

I've met lifelong friends on solo cruises, all of whom I never would have met if I were in the comfort bubble of traveling with a buddy.

I befriended a recording engineer from Los Angeles who has since become a real-estate-investment confidant. I met a fellow writer from New Zealand and we went on to take a six-week cruise together. I have also met men that I went on to date while cruising solo.

Get to the port town for a cruise early

Sometimes there are mixers or meetups ahead of time. Try to get to the port town a day ahead of schedule to make sure you can get involved in any early activities.

When I cruised Antarctica, I heard about a happy hour the night before departure.

I always arrive in the port town — in this case, Ushuaia, Argentina — the day before any cruise. At this happy hour, I met Alan, another solo traveler.

Alan was a total extrovert and a pure joy to be around. Once aboard the ship, he and I collected a little party of eight other solo misfit travelers, taking our meals with this little squad for the rest of the cruise. It transformed the trip.

Tackling dinner as a solo traveler

Dinner is when you'll most notice that you're flying solo. Walking into a cruise's main dining area with its sea of tables can feel overwhelming.

Most dining hosts will aim to seat you with at least one other single traveler, but they aren't matchmaking based on age or interests.

I've often been paired with older women, which, though fun on occasion, isn't my preference. Luckily, cruises now change the seating arrangement every evening so you have opportunities to meet new people.

By being as social and as active as possible on day one, you can make friends and avoid being sat at random. Attend lectures, classes, and events to start meeting interesting people. Ask if they're using WhatsApp while on the cruise or get their room numbers as a last-ditch effort. You can ring their room or leave notes under the door, but that's not as ideal as connecting by phone.

Being single on a cruise can be a blessing and a curse

I've met men on several cruises traveling as a single woman. Men have approached me at the breakfast table or when I'm reading in the pool — anytime, really.

The downside of this is that men you're not interested in will also chat you up in these same places. I've felt trapped in the past, so I learned to stop them before they start. I ask them what they want, and if they say they just want to chat, I tell them I'm not available for that.

It can feel rude, but I've suffered too many monologues to feel like I owe any man my company.

I have felt safe on every trip, apart from one trip where we were at the bar surrounded by men who had been on a work contract for several weeks and hadn't seen women in all that time. Luckily, the girls I met on the trip picked up on this vibe quickly, and we made sure when the night was over to walk together back to our cabins, leaving no one alone.

The best part about solo travel is being in control of your schedule

Unlike when traveling with a partner or with a friend, traveling alone means you don't have to compromise.

You can stay on board the ship during port days and enjoy the pool, splurge on expensive outings, or spend hours enjoying leisurely meals.

I love to use the time to get in touch with what I want when I travel. I love sunrise coffees on the bow and afternoon naps.

Solo cruises are fun, but aren't the same as making memories with loved ones

When I was younger, I loved taking these trips all by myself. But as I get older and look back at the photos, I feel a certain sadness about having so many memories with people that I may never see again.

In some cases, the solo cruises led to friendships and future travels, but for the most part, the people I met were acquaintances for a week or two.

As fun as it all has been, I do make more of a point now to bring friends on these trips because it feels so much more important to collect memories with loved ones. I want to be able to reflect with people I know and be able to build something with the people already in my life.