Going on a cruise alone as a man: hosted sailings with a mixed group

Going on a cruise alone as a man works best when you are not left to find company on a ship of couples, and that is the gap Spice Escapes fills. You book on your own, join a small hosted group of around fifteen people, and some reach twenty, and a host from our team sails with you, so there is a table to sit at, someone to go ashore with and company at the bar after dinner.

Most men who ring us about cruising alone have the same two doubts. One is the picture of eating dinner at a table for one while the rest of the dining room chats in pairs. The other is quieter, and we hear it often enough to answer it straight: will the group turn out to be a ladies' outing with one bloke in the corner? These holidays are sold to men and women alike, they are hosted for the whole group, and the days are built around things to see and do rather than around a theme. If you want to know how a particular departure is shaping up before you commit, ask us and we will tell you honestly.

Why a hosted group suits a man sailing solo

On a big ship, people who travel alone often spend the first few days working out where they fit. A host removes most of that. They make the introductions on the first evening, they know who is going ashore and where, and they make sure nobody drifts off to the edge of things unless that is what they want.

That matters more for men than it is usually given credit for. Plenty of men are perfectly sociable once the ice is broken but do not enjoy breaking it themselves. With us the ice is broken for you, and after that you are free to join in as much or as little as you like. If you have never done anything like this before, our guide for first-time solo travellers walks through how a group holiday actually runs, and your first group holiday covers the practical side.

No airport, a pub on board: Norway's fjords from Tilbury

For a first cruise on your own, the Summertime Fjordland Cruise is hard to beat for simplicity. It sails from London Tilbury and comes back there, so there are no flights and no airport queues. It runs for 8 nights, with departures 21 Aug 2027 – 29 Aug 2027, from £1,129, and Pam Harte hosts the group.

The calls are Eidfjord on the Hardangerfjord, Austefjorden for Bergen, Måløy and Geiranger. At Austefjorden there are the Second World War sites at Telavåg and Fjell Fortress to see, and around Eidfjord the footpaths of Hardangervidda National Park. Full board, the spa, pool and hot tubs are included in the fare. On board the ship, Ambience, there is a pub called The Purple Turtle alongside the other bars, which is a fair place to end a day of fjords with the group. Places: 6 places left.

Snorkelling and whale sharks: the Maldives on a small boat

If a ship with a theatre and a spa sounds too sedate, the Maldives Wildlife Cruise & Beach Chillout is the active end of our cruising. You spend seven nights on MV Felicity, a wooden boat that takes twelve guests at most, snorkelling with turtles, reef sharks and rays. A whole day goes on searching for whale sharks off Dhigurah, the boat has a fully equipped PADI dive centre, and the last three nights are on Fulhadhoo with nothing scheduled at all.

It is 12 nights, departing 27 Nov 2027 – 9 Dec 2027, from £4,199, hosted by Jonathan Banks. Places: 2 places left. More on the islands is on our Maldives page.

History on the river: Kolkata and the Lower Ganges

For the man who reads history and wants to stand where it happened, India: Kolkata & The Lower Ganges River Cruise is a Spice Escapes exclusive charter on the RV Kalaw Pandaw, a river boat with just 18 staterooms. There is a private visit to Raj Bhavan, the old Government House, arranged for our guests only, then the Victoria Memorial, the Danish colony at Serampore and a rickshaw ride at Kalna to a Shiva temple ringed by 108 shrines. If time allows, there is a trip to the battlefield of Plassey, where Robert Clive's victory turned the course of Indian history.

It runs for 10 nights, departing 10 Oct 2026 – 20 Oct 2026, from £3,485, hosted by Claire Dymond. Places: 1 place left.

Rome first, then the Mediterranean on an Italian ship

Mediterranean Cruising Italian Style with WingsItaly starts with a night in Rome, so a late flight cannot cost you the ship. There is an optional first group dinner cooked by the sisters at Palazzo Lante, a few metres from the Pantheon, which is about as good a way to meet a group as we know. Then you board Costa Toscana at Civitavecchia, with drinks and gratuities included on board, and calls including Savona and Marseilles. Andrea Moro of WingsItaly hosts alongside Claire Dymond.

It is 8 nights, departing 6 May 2027 – 14 May 2027, from £1,679. Places: 11 places left. See more of our Italy holidays.

A long weekend to try it: Venice, all inclusive

If you would rather test the idea before giving it a week, All Inclusive Treasures of Venice is 4 nights on the MS Michelangelo, moored close to St Mark's Square, with all meals, drinks at the bar and a gala dinner included. Optional extras include the Murano glassworks and a guided food tour with cicchetti. It departs 19 Nov 2026 – 23 Nov 2026, from £929, hosted by Samantha Pike. Places: Waitlist only.

All of these sit on our cruise holidays page.

The cabin and the cost of having it to yourself

Every one of these holidays carries a single supplement or a cost for having a room to yourself, and we would rather say so up front than have it surprise you at the booking stage. How much depends on the ship and the cabin you choose, and our page on the single supplement explains how it works and what your options are. For a wider look at hosted travel for people on their own, see over 50s solo holidays and group holidays for people travelling on their own.

Questions people ask

Will I be the only man in the group?

Our holidays are sold to men and women alike and none of our cruises is set up as a women's trip. The mix varies from one departure to the next, so if it matters to you, ask us about the departure you are looking at before you book. We will give you a straight answer.

Do I have to do everything with the group?

No, you do not. The host organises the shared meals and the days ashore, and you join in as much as suits you. Plenty of people take an afternoon on their own and catch up with everyone at dinner.

Who do I eat with on board?

You eat with the group, so there is no walking into a dining room and looking for a table on your own. The host makes the introductions on the first evening. After that, people tend to sort themselves into easy company quite naturally.

Is a river boat or a small boat better than a big ship for a man on his own?

It depends on what you want from the week. A small boat such as the ones in India or the Maldives keeps everyone together and leans towards history or the sea, while a big ship gives you more bars, shows and room to wander. Tell us which sounds more like you and we will point you to the right one.

Have a word with us before you book

The quickest way to find out whether a cruise with a group suits you is a conversation. Ring or message the team and ask for Rob Thompson, who owns Spice Escapes and hosts holidays himself, or any of the hosts named above. Tell us which sailing caught your eye and what worried you about going alone, and we will tell you plainly how that departure works. Get in touch through our contact page and we will come back to you.