Taking a cruise to any one of the scenic Greek islands can be an excellent way to spend your vacation as a solo traveler. However, knowing which Greek island cruises to choose can sometimes be a challenge. This article will help you out with that.
The best cruise lines for solo travelers looking to explore the Greek islands are those which have existing solo cabins and other solo-traveler-centric options on board. These include Oceania Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line.
The rest of this article will thoroughly explore why the above options are the best. Read on to learn about the best Greek island cruises to select for your next adventure.
1. Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises has a line of six mid-sized elegant vessels that operate worldwide. There are numerous packages on offer, including a 14-day odyssey from Barcelona to Athens, a 12-day adventure from Athens to Barcelona, and a 14-day voyage from Barcelona to Miami.
This cruise liner features most of the major destinations all over the world, from the USA, Europe, and Australia to Africa. Some of the features you can expect while cruising in the Oceania Cruise lines are exceptional onboard dining, a rejuvenating spa, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
Oceania Cruises unveiled new solo cabins on all its fleets in April 2022
, making them a perfect option for solo travelers. While smaller than the medium-sized rooms, these solo cabins still feature the Cruise’s signature Tranquility bed, plenty of storage space, and a separate seating area.
Oceania Cruises offers a series of trips to Greece that would suit a solo traveler. These include a 14-day cruise from Barcelona to Athens, a 12-day trip from Athens to Barcelona, a 10-day voyage from Athens to Istanbul, and a 10-day trip from Monte Carlo to Athens.
These cruises are perfect for exploring the breathtaking Greek islands. You can visit Santorini and explore its exotic wineries or test your hiking skills by climbing the Acropolis. They also offer several pre- and post-cruise land programs to help you immerse yourself in the culture better and offer assistance in helping you find hotels if you want to extend your holiday before or after your cruise experience.
2. Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises offer a blend of style, fine dining, and a vibrant nighttime scene. This cruise liner is conscious of the needs of the modern traveler who wants to explore the world solo. Thus, it has modernized its fleet to offer more options for solo travelers, including luxurious solo rooms on its vessels.
The Celebrity Apex, for instance, features 24 single staterooms. This is the largest within the fleet. Celebrity Edge, on the other hand, offers 16 single staterooms, while Celebrity Silhouette has four.
Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Beyond have 32 single staterooms cumulatively. These rooms are pretty spacious, measuring 131 square feet (12.17 square meters). They also feature luxurious amenities and a sleek modern design so you can travel in comfort.
There are plenty of packages on offer, including a 12-night to Turkey, Italy, and the Greek islands on Celebrity Edge.
Additionally, their port stops allow you to explore the visual feast that is the Greek islands. Here, you can enjoy the sandy beaches or explore the sea atop kayaks and catamarans. I also recommend taking advantage of the stops to enjoy some delectable cuisine in the Greek Isles. You can enjoy the sights while eating, including the sun-soaked picturesque buildings in Santorini and the white sandy beaches of Mykonos and Zakynthos.
3. Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line is an excellent option for travelers looking to explore the scenic beauty of the Greek Islands. Ranked as the best for solo travelers by the 2019 Cruise Critic’s Editors’ Pick Awards, this cruise liner is a favorite among solo travelers.
Norwegian Cruise Line was one of the pioneers in developing staterooms and common areas exclusively for solo travelers. These studio rooms have sufficient room to make your voyage all the more comfortable. Thanks to the common spaces, you can easily meet and mingle with other solo travelers.
They offer numerous attractive options for cruises to Greece, including an 11-day cruise across the Mediterranean to Athens, Rhodes, Florence, and Istanbul to Rome on the Norwegian Epic and a 12-day cruise to Italy, Greece, and Turkey to Rome on the same vessel, among others.
Their vessels feature a buzzing entertainment scene, including entertaining full-production Broadway shows, live music, and captivating dance performances.
They also provide travelers the opportunity to explore the stunning beaches and rich cultures that characterize the Greek islands in the Mediterranean. Exploring the beautiful sea scene in Corfu and the winding streets of Santorini will definitely be worth the price of admission. They also offer unique “Go Local” excursions, where you can experience authentic daily life like a Greek local.
4. Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises feature vessels with sparkling chandeliers, gleaming marble, and luxurious suites with private balconies. They are quickly embracing solo travelers and have recently introduced single supplements on select voyages in 2022 and 2023.
Despite only being available on select voyages, you can still enjoy solo six-star cruising with over 30 itineraries to choose from. Some of the perks to expect from this luxurious liner include an exclusive champagne welcome reception hosted by the cruise staff for the guests on board traveling alone.
Here, you have a chance to mingle with other solo travelers in a casual environment and perhaps make some new friends.
Silversea Cruises offers different options that would suit a solo traveler looking to explore the Greek islands. These include a 7-day voyage from Athens and back, which goes through Kusadasi, Rhodes, Souda Bay, Nafplion, and Santorini.
Each port comes complete with numerous excursion options, making Silversea the perfect cruise liner for travelers looking to explore the Greek isles thoroughly. Some options include visiting a winery in Santorini and exploring Nafpolion on foot.
5. Celestyal Cruises
Celestyal Cruises is also an excellent choice for solo travelers. Its fleet of mid-sized cruise liners features a wealth of onboard amenities, scheduled entertainment, optional excursions, and other perks to make the most of your vacation.
Here, you can easily mingle with other solo travelers. You will also be treated to a wide range of complementary delights and an unlimited supply of assorted classic drinks.
Celestyal Cruises also boasts highly personalized service by the crew, who will make your voyage as comfortable and entertaining as possible.
Celestyal Cruises offers a seven-day cruise across the Greek islands. There are plenty of fun activities to do at each stop, including exploring the nightlife in Mykonos and trying out the local cuisine. This cruise goes through Milos, Mykonos, Kusadasi, Crete, and Santorini.
6. Star Clippers
Star Clippers is another excellent option to pierce through the Mediterranean and introduce you to the majesty of the breathtaking Greek islands. What’s even better is that the cruise line is encouraging solo travelers to come aboard, with waived single supplements on select sailings.
Star Clippers offers its guests an intimate and relaxing atmosphere in its stunning fleet of tall vessels. Because of the massive height of these vessels, you can easily relax and enjoy the wind on your face without being bogged down by crowds.
The rooms on board are also built for comfort, featuring a plush bed, marble bathroom, and a flat-screen TV in every room. After all, it’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey.
Star Clippers’ Greek island cruise stops at several ports, including Crete, Mykonos, Corfu, Santorini, Rhode, and Olympia. Here, you can go out shopping, explore the architecture or enjoy your time on the beautiful beaches.
7. Royal Caribbean
You will definitely be mesmerized by the majestic vessels in the Royal Caribbean fleet. While a popular option for families, Royal Caribbean does offer studio staterooms on select ships for those looking to travel alone.
There are several options on offer, including:
- Inside studio staterooms
- Virtual balcony staterooms
- Super studio ocean view stateroom with a balcony
These options are available on the following vessels:
- Brilliance of the Seas
- Quantum of the Seas
- Anthem of the Seas
- Harmony of the Seas
- Ovation of the Seas
- Spectrum of the Seas
Royal Caribbean offers a 9-day cruise across the Greek islands that leaves from Rome. From Rome, this cruise goes through Naples before going through Santorini and then to Mykonos. The cruise then goes through Ephesus in Turkey and Chania in Crete before returning to Italy.
I’ve also written a step-by-step guide on booking a solo cabin on Royal Caribbean Cruises. Don’t miss it. [How to Book a Solo Cabin on Royal Caribbean Cruises]