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Anti-Valentine's Day cruise deals: 5 bargains that will make you fall in love with sailing solo

Jan. 31, 2023
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3 min read
Young woman looking at sea while sitting on sand
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If I had a penny for every time I sailed on a cruise surrounded by lovey-dovey couples, I could book another sailing on one of the world's most expensive luxury vessels. It's no secret that ship cabins are generally designed for double occupancy, meaning that if you're sailing by yourself, you're in the minority — and you often end up paying double the price for a room of your own.

Valentine's Day is coming up, and it's a holiday I find completely overrated. So in the spirit of anti-Valentine's Day, I'm giving a shout-out to all of the solo cruisers looking to get away for a reasonable price.

MARCO BOTTIGELLI/GETTY IMAGES

Read on for a roundup of cruise lines that are waiving or deeply discounting single supplements this wave season — because solo travelers should be able to cruise without breaking the bank.

Aurora Expeditions

To celebrate anti-Valentine's Day, Aurora Expeditions is running a "Go Solo and Save" offer for passengers traveling alone. Anyone who finds themself uncoupled this year can book an expedition cruise with a reduced single supplement. You'll pay half of what you normally would if you cruised by yourself. Book select Antarctica voyages by Feb. 28 to take advantage of this deal.

Avalon Waterways

Avalon Waterways is waiving single supplements for solo cruisers who book select river voyages. Options include cruises that sail by gorgeous castles along the Rhine and Moselle, visit Amsterdam during tulip season and overnight in Prague, Budapest and the Transylvania region during Danube sailings. The line realizes that you should be loving yourself all year long — not just in Februrary — so this offer runs through Dec. 31.

Margaritaville at Sea

JOHN SEATON CALLAHAN/GETTY IMAGES

Until further notice, Margaritaville at Sea -- Jimmy Buffett's partnership with Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line -- is waiving single supplements completely for solo passengers who book inside cabins on two-night cruises sailing Mondays through Thursdays. Some restrictions apply, but fares start from just $169.

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UnCruise Adventures

Through Feb. 5, UnCruise Adventures is waiving single supplements on select cruises, including such destinations as the Sea of Cortez and Alaska. (Call to ask for specifics, as they vary by sailing and location.) The line is also running a discounted $99 deposit deal until further notice, which is combinable with the waived supplement offer.

Windstar Cruises

For a limited time, Windstar Cruises has a promotion for solo travelers that waives single supplements on select voyages to the Caribbean, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, the Holy Lands, the Panama Canal and Costa Rica. The line has also reduced single supplements to 20% on certain cruises to Greece, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Tahiti, among other destinations.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Featured image by WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.