Written by Tomaz Belina, Founder and Skipper of Kiteboarding Cruise
Yes, you can join a kiteboarding or wing-foiling cruise alone. Many of our guests travel solo, and life on a catamaran makes it easy to meet people naturally. You arrive alone, but you are soon sharing meals, riding sessions, island visits and the experience of the week with the rest of the group.
Will I Fit In?
This is usually the real concern behind the question about travelling solo.
People are not only wondering whether they are allowed to book alone. They are wondering whether everyone else will already know each other, whether they will feel awkward and whether they will be left on their own.
In most cases, the other guests are meeting for the first time as well.
Everyone has chosen a very particular type of holiday. They normally share an interest in kiteboarding, wing foiling, sailing, travel, the sea and spending time outdoors. That already gives the group much more in common than a random collection of hotel guests.
Who Normally Joins Alone?
There is no single type of solo guest.
Some join because their partner does not kite or cannot travel during the same week. Others have friends who are unavailable, want to improve their riding or simply enjoy travelling independently.
Some are experienced riders. Others are beginners taking their first lessons. Some are naturally outgoing, while others are quieter and take a little more time to settle in.
Joining alone is not unusual and does not make you the odd person in the group.
What Happens on the First Evening?
Most guests arrive on Saturday and meet for the first time on board.
Everyone settles into their cabin, receives an introduction to the boat and begins talking over drinks or dinner. Conversations usually start easily because people are naturally curious about where the others come from, how long they have been riding and what brought them on the trip.
After more than a decade of running these cruises, I have watched this happen many times. Guests may arrive a little nervous, but by the end of the first evening the atmosphere is normally already much more relaxed.
Friendships Form Naturally on Board
A catamaran is very different from a hotel.
You do not disappear into separate rooms after every activity. The group eats together, sails together, visits the same anchorages and shares the events of the day.
People often help each other prepare equipment, launch and land kites, take photos and celebrate one another’s progress.
Between sessions, the group may swim, snorkel, explore an island, visit a village or simply relax together on deck.
Nobody has to force conversation. The shared experience creates it naturally.
Will Everyone Already Know Each Other?
Usually not.
Some guests may arrive as a couple or with one friend, but many people on shared cruises are meeting for the first time.
Even guests who arrive together normally become part of the wider group rather than remaining separate throughout the week.
The small number of people on board makes it much easier to get to know one another than it would be in a large resort or organised group tour.
What If I Am Shy?
You do not need to be the most outgoing person in the group.
Life on board creates many small and natural opportunities to talk without requiring you to introduce yourself to a room full of strangers.
You may begin by speaking with someone during breakfast, while preparing equipment, sitting in the dinghy or watching the sunset.
There is no expectation that you must entertain the group or participate in every conversation.
Will I Have Time for Myself?
Yes.
Although a shared cruise is social, you are not expected to spend every moment with the group.
You can read on deck, listen to music, swim, rest in your cabin or simply sit quietly and enjoy the view.
Some guests stay up talking after dinner. Others go to bed early after a long day on the water. Both are completely normal.
What If I Am Older or Younger Than Everyone Else?
Age usually matters much less than people expect.
We have seen guests from different generations connect very easily because they share the same interests and approach to travel.
Someone in their twenties may spend the week riding and talking with someone in their fifties or sixties without age becoming an issue.
The ability to enjoy life on the water, adapt to the group and remain open to new experiences is usually more important than the year on your passport.
Can I Join Alone as a Beginner?
Yes.
You do not need to be an independent rider before joining a cruise.
Many weeks include guests with different experience levels. Some are taking their first lessons, while others have been riding for many years.
Beginners often find that the encouragement of the group becomes part of the experience. More experienced riders normally remember what it was like to learn and enjoy seeing someone make progress during the week.
Do Solo Travellers Need to Book a Whole Cabin?
No. Solo travellers may usually choose between booking an entire cabin for private use or reserving one berth in a shared cabin.
Private Cabin
If you book the full cabin, the cabin is yours for the week.
This gives you complete privacy and means your booking does not depend on another solo traveller choosing the same departure.
For guests who value privacy, sleep lightly or simply prefer having their own space, this is normally the most comfortable option.
Shared Cabin
On selected departures, solo travellers may reserve one berth in a double cabin and share it with another solo traveller.
For everyone’s comfort and privacy, we only match guests of the same gender. If a male guest books one berth, the second berth will only be offered to another male guest. The same applies to female guests.
The two guests usually do not know each other before the trip. Many solo travellers find this to be an enjoyable part of the experience and often leave having made a new friend.
Sharing a cabin can make the cruise more affordable, especially since most of the day is spent on deck, on the water or exploring the islands rather than inside the cabin.
Because a shared cabin depends on another solo traveller of the same gender booking the remaining berth for the same departure, availability cannot always be guaranteed.
For that reason, we always recommend checking availability before booking flights or making other travel arrangements.
Which Option Should I Choose?
If privacy and certainty are most important to you, booking an entire cabin is the best option.
If you are happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender, a shared cabin can be an excellent way to reduce the cost while still enjoying the full cruise experience.
Whichever option you choose, we will explain the available cabin arrangements before confirming your booking, so there are no surprises.
What If the Group Does Not Get Along?
This is a reasonable concern when you are considering spending a week on a boat with people you have not met before.
In practice, serious group problems have been extremely rare.
People who choose this type of holiday tend to share certain qualities. They are usually interested in travel, water sports, nature and new experiences. They also understand that life on a boat requires some flexibility and consideration for others.
Every group has its own personality, but shared meals, time on the water and the experience of moving between islands usually bring people together quickly.
Why Shared Cruises Work So Well for Solo Travellers
A shared cruise gives solo travellers something that is difficult to find in a normal hotel holiday.
You have people to ride with, eat with and share the journey with, but you are still free to enjoy the trip in your own way.
You do not need to organise a full group, persuade friends to choose the same dates or spend the week looking for other riders after you arrive.
The group already exists, and everyone has chosen to be there for similar reasons.
One of My Favourite Parts of Every Week
One of my favourite things about running these cruises is watching a new group form.
On Saturday, guests arrive carrying their luggage and wondering who they will be sharing the boat with.
By the middle of the week, they are often riding together, helping each other, sharing stories over dinner and discussing where they might travel next.
Some guests who originally joined alone have later returned with people they first met on board.
Is a Solo Kiteboarding Cruise Right for You?
A shared cruise may suit you if you enjoy meeting new people, like being on the water and are comfortable with the flexible nature of life on a boat.
You do not need to arrive with a friend, partner or established group.
You only need to be open to sharing the experience with people who came for many of the same reasons.
Many guests arrive alone. Very few finish the week feeling that way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I book a kiteboarding or wing-foiling cruise alone?
Yes. Solo travellers regularly join our shared cruises.
Will there usually be other solo travellers?
Often yes, although the exact group changes from week to week. Some guests arrive alone, while others arrive as couples or with one friend.
Do guests normally know each other before the cruise?
Usually not. Most people meet for the first time when they board the boat.
Can beginners join alone?
Yes. Beginners can join and arrange lessons, subject to instructor and programme availability.
Am I too old to join a shared cruise?
Age is normally less important than attitude, mobility and a genuine interest in the type of holiday. Guests from different age groups often get along very well.
Can I have some private time during the week?
Yes. Shared life on board does not mean constant socialising. Guests can rest in their cabin, read on deck, swim or spend quiet time alone whenever the programme allows.
Will I have my own cabin?
You can book an entire cabin for private use or, on selected departures, reserve one berth and share the cabin with another solo traveller matched by us. We only match guests of the same gender. Shared-cabin availability depends on another suitable guest booking the remaining berth and must be confirmed for the specific cruise.
What if I snore or have special sleeping habits?
If you know that you snore heavily or have other sleeping habits that could disturb another guest, please let us know before booking. In many cases, booking a private cabin is the most comfortable and considerate option for everyone.
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About Tomaz Belina
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