Best Things to Do in The Caribbean When Traveling Solo

I’ve always loved the flexibility that traveling solo provides. While it’s great to explore new destinations with a partner, it’s truly wonderful to getaway alone as there's no one to answer to except yourself - just think of the freedom you’ll have! Traveling solo gives you the chance to be selfish and do things just for you, so be sure to take advantage of the opportunity! And the hip studio staterooms on select Norwegian Cruise Line ships provide solo sailing opportunities without any of those pesky and expensive single supplements. We offer a variety of accommodations, including Balconies, Oceanview, and Inside Staterooms specifically designed for solo cruisers. 

Now, let's explore the best things to do in the Caribbean when traveling alone. Let's take a look at the Best Things do in the Caribbean when traveling solo.

Duty-free Shopping

Nobody likes to make someone wait while they’re shopping, am I right? It’s so much easier to shop solo as you’ll be free to wander in and out of shops to your hearts’ content. Depending on the specific items you’re coveting, you may find your sought after items in shopping havens like Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and Willemstad, Curaçao.

Beaching It

Traveling solo is the perfect time to catch up on your reading. Or your suntanning skills, or the downloaded music you’ve been meaning to listen to. Grab a towel and head over to picturesque beaches like Magen’s Bay on St. Thomas. Enjoy people watching or simply soaking up the warm Caribbean sun underneath the swaying palms.

RELATED CRUISES:
7-Day Caribbean Cruise: Harvest Caye, Cozumel & Roatan
7-Day Caribbean Cruise: Barbados, Antigua & St. Lucia
7-Day Caribbean Cruise: Great Stirrup Cay & Harvest Caye

Try a Shore Excursion

A good way to connect with other solo travelers is to sign yourself up for a shore excursion. You’ll meet like-minded people in a group setting where it’s easy to mix and mingle. You can try off-roading in Aruba, an exhilarating catamaran cruise in Grand Cayman, or even cave tubing in Belize. And with so many Caribbean ports of calls offering calm, crystal-clear waters teeming with tropical fish, you've got to try prime scuba diving and snorkeling destinations like Coki Beach, St. Thomas, or Cozumel, Mexico. Or, if you’re not entirely comfortable in the water, a glass-bottom boat ride or a submarine adventure may be more to your liking.

Practice a Foreign Language

When you’re traveling solo, it always seems like you’ve got more time on your hands, making it the perfect chance to engage with the locals as you shop or enjoy a refreshing drink. If you’d like to practice your Spanish, check out the Dominican Republic. If French is your thing, visit St. Lucia or Martinique. You can even practice your Dutch on St. Maarten.

Walking & Hiking

The Caribbean is abundant with walking and hiking trails, not to mention streets brimming with history and galleries where you can meander the hours away. Take a waterfall hike in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic or follow along a mountain trail on Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Pamper Yourself

Cruising solo offers the chance to pamper yourself above and beyond the onboard pampering you’ll already be receiving by the ships’ gracious and hardworking staff. Get a mani/pedi or a massage at the spa, visit the salon or make a reservation at a specialty restaurant. Enrich yourself by taking a cooking class in Jamaica or sipping afternoon tea at a authentic plantation in Barbados.

Take a Chance

While you may not be a gambler per-say, it’s always fun to take a chance at the casino. Enjoy the onboard gambling or go for a full Vegas-style experience available in Nassau, Bahamas, where casinos and nightclubs are in abundance, or San Juan, Puerto Rico, for a more Monte Carlo vibe.

The most challenging thing about a Norwegian Caribbean cruise is deciding which one to book. 

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EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published on December 2, 2016. It has been updated to show updated information and related itineraries.