Singles are underrepresented on cruises, but unless meeting someone is the sole purpose of your vacation, a cruise can be your best choice if you keep these things in mind.

The Carnival line is the only cruiseline that offers a "singles" rate. The others offer you, but you have to take a stranger for a roomy, or pay double. (Did I miss something? Is that a singles rate?)

Some of the cruise lines (Radisson, Costa, Cunard) offer gentleman dance hosts. If you're a single male, you travel for pennies and it's your "job" to meet and dance with the single women on the ship, 8 pm to 1 am nightly. If you're female, there are 4-5 men aboard, proficient in waltz, rumba, jitterbug, cha cha, polka, and congenial conversation who are "on call" every night to dance with you.

Choose a large table for dining. It will water down the effect of any uncongenial dining companions. Ask to change tables if you need to. If you like the day activities, take the late seating. If you're hot for the night-life, take the early seating.

Shore excursions booked through the ship are safe and scheduled, but cost more. Most ports have cabbies lined up waiting to take you to the same places for less. (We got a 3-hour tour of St. Maarten for $10 pp instead of $50 pp.) However, think twice before you hop into a cab alone. Try and hook up with fellow passengers, even dance hosts.

If you can avoid the gambling and liquor, a cruise can be very affordable. Cruise lines make their money off the gambling and liquor. That's why they can feed you fabulous food 24 hours a day at those low last-minute rates. Sail from a port that doesn't require airfare, and you can live in luxury for around $80 a day. You couldn't stay in a hotel and eat steak and lobster for that.

Cruises have been proven to be good for our health. For instance, don't you think at least 25% of our daily stress comes from car hassles? On a ship there's no parking problems, traffic jams, or road rage to interfere with your relaxation.

Shopping? Wait till the end of the cruise to shop onboard; they reduce prices. Check with friends or the ship's shopping expert on what to buy where. Each island has its specialities. For instance, braids are $150 in Key West, $75 in Cozumel, and $35 on Grand Cayman.

Prescription drugs are sold cheaply OOT in Cozumel, etc. Bring CASH so you can stock up on Keflex and avoid doctor's fees. Many of the best bargains require CASH or TRAVELER'S CHECQUES. For other items, get off the beaten track. Stores that pay for space in the port generally charge that privilege back to you.

Check with friends who've actually been on these ships to see what your fellow-passengers will be like. Each ship has its own flavor. If you leave from Galveston, expect 90% Texans (scary). If from Port Everglade, more of a mix - North, Northeast, Midwest, Europe. If you travel in late summer, expect lots of kids and teenagers.

Maybe you care less about people, and more about the quality of food. Decide what your priorities are. Then ask someone who's been on that line. The quality of different amenities varies, and each cruise line has its plusses and minuses. Most cruise ships have Internet service but it's expensive and not always available at sea. However, most ports now have Internet cafes which are quite affordable--$5 an hour, for instance, in Cozumel, right on the dock. You can check your email anywhere on www.e-mailanywhere. com. It's FREE.

One last suggestion. If you like to speak, consider being a presenter on a cruise ship. As I say in my ebook, "How to Get to Present on a Cruise," being an enrichment gives you extra visibility and maneuverability for socializing, as well as chances to promote your business to thousands of new people.

Bon voyage!

Copyright©Susan Dunn

Susan Dunn, The EQ Coach, is a frequent speaker for cruise lines on stress management and life enrichment. She offers coaching and Internet courses and is the author of "How to Get to Present of a Cruise (http://www.webstrategies.cc/development.htm ). Visit her on the web at www.susandunn.cc. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE ezine.