Best Cruise Destinations For Singles

Are you single and thinking of taking a cruise on your own or with a friend? You are not alone because countless other single people around the world are thinking of doing the very same thing. A cruise to an exciting destination is one of the most convenient ways to see the world and offers many opportunities to meet like-minded single travelers, regardless of the age group they fall into. Here is an introduction to five of the best cruise destinations in the world for singles.

Luxury Yachts (credit: Randy Yagi)
Accent On Spain
Crystal Cruises
(888) 722-0021
www.crystalcruises.comlisbon-to-barcelona

Accent on Spain is a nine-day cruise on the luxury cruise line Crystal Symphony, bolstered by a multi-million dollar interior redesign. What makes this journey between the gorgeous cities of Lisbon and Barcelona an especially attractive one for singles is not only its sophisticated accommodations and onboard entertainment but also intriguing ports of calls like Ibiza, known as the "undisputed party capital of the world." Ibiza has long been a favorite destination to many of the world's most famous celebrities and boasts a number of the best nightclubs on the planet, including Amnesia, Pacha and Privilege — called the world's largest nightclub — in addition to mega-pool parties. Singles are also bound to enjoy on the other ports of call, including the historic city Casablanca in Morocco and the British territory of Gibraltar, located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula.

Related: Travel Guide To Andalucia

Key West (credit: Randy Yagi)
Bahamas Cruise
Celebrity Cruises
(866) 225-6128
www.celebritycruises.com/bahamas

With trips starting at under $300, a cruise onboard the Celebrity Constellation to the Bahamas is a very attractive option for singles. The lowest advertised trip departing from Fort Lauderdale is for four nights with stops in both Key West, the southernmost tip of the continental U.S. and Nassau, the lively capital of the Bahamas. Onboard, the Celebrity Constellation features a collection of world-class bars and lounges, along with the Quasar dance club and gaming at the Fortunes Casino. The ship also features nearly 1,000 rooms, including penthouse suites with a European-styled butler service. The Celebrity Constellation is a Millennium-class cruise ship of Celebrity Cruises, voted the "best premium cruise line" for seven consecutive years.

Monte Carlo (credit: Randy Yagi)
Mediterranean Cruise
Princess Cruises
(800) 774-6237
www.princess.com

One of the most popular cruise destinations for singles is along the magnificent Mediterranean Sea. Take, for example, a seven-day cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Barcelona on board the Royal Princess with a handful of breathtaking ports of call along the way. By day, travelers can stay onboard to relax at the largest pool of any of the Princess cruise lines or explore off the ship at stops such as the island of Sardinia, the magical city of Monte Carlo and Toulon, along the French Riviera. At night, singles have multiple options to meet others looking for romance on board the enormous Royal Princess, including the Club 6 dance club, Princess Casino or any of the four upscale cocktail lounges. The Royal Princess also features the dazzling Royal Princess Atrium, multiple dining options, live entertainment and 1,780 guest cabins including 314 mini suites, each with a 41-square-foot balcony.

Cabo San Lucas (credit: Randy Yagi)
Mexican Riviera
Carnival Cruise
(800) 764-7419
www.carnival.com/carnival-miracle

Known for great value and outstanding service, Carnival Cruises offers several options for singles to explore the sun drenched Mexican Riviera. With several upcoming departures from Los Angeles, the featured seven-day cruise on the Carnival Miracle features ports of call at the three premier destinations of the Mexican Riviera — Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. Carnival certainly lives up to its name with a festive atmosphere where karaoke, dancing to a DJ or relaxing in the atrium are among the fun things to do onboard along with the bars and clubs, live music and comedy shows. All passengers can also enjoy other activities like playing slot machines or poker, working out in the fitness center and hanging out by any of the ship's three swimming pools. Carnival also hosts the Carnival LIVE Concert series, featuring a  world-class music concert at one of the ports of calls. Among the major music acts who have performed on the Carnival LIVE Stage were Daughtry, Lady Antebellum, Chicago, Gavin DeGraw and Smokey Robinson.

Photo Credit: Thinkstock
Rio De Janeiro
Royal Caribbean
(866) 562-7625
www.royalcaribbean.com/cruises

Many travelers can only imagine spending New Year's Eve in one of the world's top destinations for singles. Royal Caribbean offers an eight-night Brazil New Year's Eve cruise on board the Rhapsody of the Seas from Sao Paulo to Ilha Grande, Brazil, with amazing ports of call like Portobelo, Rio de Janeiro and the world famous Copacabana Beach, where passengers can help ring in the New Year amid a spectacular fireworks show. One hour later, passengers continue their trip to Illha Grande, before returning to Sao Paulo. The Rhapsody of the Seas is a perfect cruise ship for singles, featuring eight pools and whirlpools, eight bars and lounges, a Vegas-style casino and live entertainment. On-board activities include a bird's eye view in the North Star, a zip line across the boardwalk, rock climbing, a fitness gym and fitness classes and signature spa treatments. If the New Year's Eve cruise isn't an option, Royal Caribbean offers several other cruises to other amazing destinations, like Sydney, Australia; Honolulu, Hawaii; or Venice, Italy.

Related: How To Guide For Traveling Alone

Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he received a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com