Gentlemen hosts: These men cruise to make sure single ladies have a great time

Call Beyonce to round up all the single ladies because they'll want to hear this: If you're a woman traveling by herself on a handful of luxury cruise lines, there are equally single men — gentlemen hosts — hired to make sure you have a wonderful time on board.

Before your mind wanders fully into the gutter, these debonair dudes can do a lot of things, but they can't do that. This is a cruise, after all — not an escort service.

Is your curiosity as piqued as mine was the first time I heard about them? If so, read on to find out what a gentleman host does (and doesn't do) during a cruise.

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What is a gentleman host on a cruise?

Gentleman hosts are on board to cut a rug with ladies in need of dance partners or to share a meal or two so nobody has to dine alone. You might even spot them escorting a ship-sponsored shore excursion, participating in trivia or bridge games or hosting a cocktail party for single travelers at one of the ship's bars.

These men are carefully selected by the cruise lines for their debonair personalities, ballroom dance skills and ability to mix and mingle in a way that doesn't make anyone feel left out. I hate to disappoint the cougars out there, but the men are usually "of a certain age." Think silver fox — at least the silver part.

Some gentlemen hosts are paid to be there, while others cruise for free during the time they're "working."

Although they might give you their undivided attention in a way that makes you feel special, don't be crestfallen if you see them engaging other women as well. That's their job. They actually get in trouble if they spend too much time with one guest.

And be warned: even if there's chemistry, a gentleman host is never allowed to strike up a physically intimate relationship with a passenger during a sailing on which he's working. The best you can do is exchange numbers and explore the motion of the ocean at a later date when the fellow is off duty.

Cruise lines that have gentlemen hosts

With apologies to the Purple Hat Society gals I met once on a Carnival cruise: gentleman hosts do not wade into mega-ship waters. They frequent only the following high-end cruise lines:

• Cunard Line.
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
• Silversea Cruises.

Are there lady hosts for single men who sail?

Years ago, Silversea introduced female dance and dining hosts for single guys who cruise. However, solo cruisers of a certain age tend to skew more heavily female. For that reason, the demand for lady hosts just wasn't there, so Silversea no longer has them.

If you're an older, single gentleman who just read that paragraph and frowned, I might have a job proposition for you on a Silversea cruise ship. Can you dance?