I spent 5 nights on a cruise with entire decks designed for solo travelers, and it was one of the best sailing experiences I've ever had

Earlier this year, I had time to take a vacation but didn't want to spend a ton of money or have to fly. So, I searched online for cruises departing from New York City and landed on a six-day voyage aboard the Norwegian Getaway.

I didn't have anyone to travel with since the trip was so last minute, but I didn't let that get in my way. Four days before departure, I booked a 100-square-foot studio cabin that Norwegian Cruise Line designed and built specifically for solo travelers aged 21 and older.

Here's what the experience was like.

I booked the Getaway's last available studio, 11505 on deck 11, directly through NCL for $700, paying an additional $283 in taxes and service charges.

The rate for the studio included free Wi-Fi, an unlimited drink package, one specialty dining meal, and a $50 voucher to put toward a port excursion.

However, if I was traveling with another person, it would've made more sense to book an inside stateroom. The price likely would've been lower per person, and the room itself would've been larger.

But NCL, like so many other cruise lines, bases its stateroom rates on double occupancy and charges solo travelers a single supplement to stay in them alone.

Because I didn't want to pay an extra fee and didn't have anyone with whom I could split the stateroom cost, I went ahead with the smaller studio.

The Getaway's 59 studios are located toward the front of the ship and are divided between decks 10 and 11.

To get to my accommodation, I had to use my key card to access the area where all the studios are located. This extra line of security made me feel safe and secure staying by myself.

From the moment I first entered the studio area, I knew I was in for something special. The hallways feature blue, green, yellow, and red lights.

Because these studios are tucked away and somewhat secluded from busy parts of the ship, both my room and the area outside of it were extremely quiet. The only noise I heard was the cabin steward vacuuming in the adjacent studio and hallway.

Unlike the Getaway's inside staterooms, which have similar decor to its ocean-view and balcony staterooms, the studios are sleek, stylish, and futuristic inside. For example, the panels along two sides of the full-sized bed are covered in white cushions and backlit by LED strip lights.

My studio had a round window with a one-way view of the corridor, but I wish I had an exterior window or a small balcony. Fortunately, I don't suffer from seasickness, but passengers who do may benefit from having a view of the outside scenery.

The tiny cabin featured two wardrobes with handles that doubled as towel racks, a pull-out trash can, and a bedside ottoman that I could use as a desk chair.

It had a sink, an all-glass shower with tesserae tiles, and a toilet.

Open 24/7, the Getaway's two-story studio lounge features an ultramodern design with color-changing LED lights on the ceiling and an oval-shaped mezzanine with cozy banquettes.

The first floor has a speakeasy bar, a vending machine that serves wine, and a self-service refreshment station with coffee, juice, and water. When I was there, the lounge also had a lot of snacks like Danishes, croissants, chicken sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, pound cakes, and cookies.

The bar in the studio lounge was open daily between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., but I wish its hours spanned a bit longer. I rarely saw any other travelers there, even though all the studios were sold out. It would've been great to have at least one event in that space at the beginning of the cruise to meet fellow solo travelers.

On disembarkation day, I would've loved to grab breakfast in the lounge. However, I noticed that there were no refreshments available.

Cruising is a convenient, cost-effective way to ease into solo travel.

NCL took care of all the logistics — like meals, onboard events, and exciting excursions — before I even boarded the ship. All I had to do was show up.

Dining alone is a common concern, but most cruise lines seat solo passengers together or put them at tables with extra space, making it easy to meet people.

I was fine eating by myself. Initially, I thought it would be awkward, but it wasn't.

While waiting for my food to arrive, I wrote in my journal, organized photos and videos on my phone, posted on social media, and struck up conversations with the crew and neighboring diners.

Each evening, I got a copy of the Freestyle Daily, NCL's printed newsletter. It was filled with information about the ship's activities, including a daily gathering for solo travelers in a casual setting.

During the cruise, there were also meetups for veterans, LGBTQ individuals, and people between 18 and 25 years old. I also spent a large amount of time enjoying the adults-only areas, like the Thermal Suite, Vibe Beach Club, and the casino.

Sure, I would've loved more activity at the studio-lounge bar and a window with an ocean view, but all in all, my first stay in an NCL studio was superb.

This trip gave me time to relax and prioritize myself without worrying about anyone else.

I found it liberating to set my own schedule, explore ports at my own pace, and indulge in self-care. I dined whenever I wanted, didn't have to coordinate schedules with anyone, and never worried about saving seats at onboard performances.

I didn't feel sad or lonely traveling by myself. After all, I was surrounded by thousands of people on the ship and had an easy time staying busy.