I’ve taken five solo cruises and on all but one I ate alone in the main dining room. At first I was worried the experience would feel strange, but I soon realized it was a great opportunity to get to know other passengers and get out of my comfort zone.
Most recently, I took a solo cruise aboard Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, the Celebrity Ascent. Having already traveled solo on traditional cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival, which cater to a younger crowd, I was worried the experience might feel different.
Fortunately, I found the large dining rooms inviting. The staff were attentive and friendly, and it was easy to strike up a casual conversation with guests at neighboring tables.
The 7-day cruise sailed from Fort Lauderdale to San Juan, St. Kitts and Tortola. Having never been to the latter islands, I was excited to explore these new-to-me destinations. The Virgin Gorda Baths were as picturesque as I had imagined and I was captivated by the lush landscape of St. Kitts.
Naturally, I was just as excited to cruise on Celebrity’s newest ship. From the moment I stepped aboard, I knew it was unlike any ship I’d been on before. From the stunning Grand Plaza to the luxurious staterooms and upscale resort pool deck, Celebrity Ascent was a far cry from the Royal Caribbean ships I was so used to sailing on.
In addition to the ship itself, I was keen to try the food on Celebrity. After having mediocre experiences on my last few Royal Caribbean cruises, I was ready for a change and Celebrity Ascent did not disappoint.
While solo vacations are great because you can play, rest and eat on your own schedule, I have found that eating at the buffet is lonelier than in the main dining room. I end up burying my phone in my face instead of enjoying the atmosphere of the ship (aAt least I get value for money for the WiFi package!).
Plus, part of the appeal of a cruise is enjoying multi-course meals. Even when I’m alone, I want to maximize the value of my cruise fare, so I prefer to eat alone in the main dining room rather than stuffing my plate at the onboard buffet. In my opinion, the quality of the food in the dining room is also better.
I have dined in the main dining room on ships like Symphony of the Seas, Carnival Celebration, MSC Seashore and Celebrity Ascent and have never felt out of place. The crew always makes an effort to serve me quickly and I usually finish faster than if I were eating with others.
Read more: I took my first solo cruise with Carnival Cruise Line. After 7 nights, here are the pros and cons of cruising alone
I was also lucky to have conversations with my fellow travelers, which made my solo cruise experiences unforgettable trips.
Now I have friends all over the country, from Colorado to Texas, Florida, and even my home state of North Carolina. While I’m still social on cruises with friends and family, I’m much more likely to step out of my comfort zone when I’m alone.
During my voyage on Celebrity Ascent, I dined next to two friends who were traveling together the first night, and they invited me to dine with them the next night at Tuscan, one of four included dining rooms on board.
Read more: Why you should book cabins for two people on a cruise ship even if you are travelling alone
Likewise, I became friends with two cousins at Carnival Celebration after a long wait for the Cucina del Capitano. We met throughout the week, ate together in the festival’s dining room, and even attended a show at Celebration Central.
You can dine alone whether you prefer traditional or flexible dining. However, I’ve found that I prefer solo cruises with flexible dining. When I traveled on MSC Seashore, I had the earliest set meal time and was seated next to an international couple who didn’t speak much English, which limited my options for conversation during dinner.
Flexible dining means you can change up your potential guests rather than sitting at the same table every night. Plus, in my experience, you can easily sit with new friends if you want to continue eating together.
On the other hand, cruise ships can sometimes match up single guests with traditional seating. However, I was never successfully assigned to a table with other cruise guests. Both times I traveled alone with Royal Caribbean and asked for a group table, I found in the main dining room that my assigned table was for two or the smallest available.
If you choose traditional dining, pick a table beforehand. If you prefer to sit at the table with other passengers and find that you have been assigned a table for two, you won’t have to awkwardly push your way past the guests and crew just to change your mind.
In addition, you will have time to speak to the maître d to see if you can upgrade to flexible dining or to ask if a group table with additional seating is available.
Read more: The 10 biggest cruise ship dining mistakes you should avoid
Overall, the food in the main dining room isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, it’s one of my favorite aspects of a solo cruise. I find it hard to strike up conversations with other cruisers before shows or during events. I find it easier to chat with future friends in a relaxed atmosphere over dinner.
I’ve never noticed other passengers staring at me for eating alone. With the rise of solo cruising, many like me are choosing to travel alone, making eating alone more common, even when on a mega ship like Symphony of the Seas.
In short, if you’re considering dining alone in the main dining room on your next cruise, have no fear! It’s a rewarding experience. Even if you don’t make friends with the cruise guests next to you, you can take pride in stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something you may find challenging.
Read more: I took my first solo cruise with Celebrity Cruises
There have been times when I haven’t spoken to my neighbors and have used the time to check in with friends and family back home. The opportunity to chat with other passengers or think in peace is why I will never turn down a solo cruise, whether it’s to the Bahamas, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, or beyond.
Of course, there are opportunities for socializing outside of dinner, so you can feel confident eating alone even if you prefer to eat buffet style. From ship-organized gatherings to shore excursions and onboard workshops, taking advantage of these opportunities is part of what makes a solo cruise such a unique experience.
