Best way to strike up a light convo.

I haven't made friends per se, since I've never got contact information to keep in touch after the cruise. However, for on-board acquaintances, I've found that going to trivia and name that tune work to meet people that you'll likely see again. There are also some cruises that have self-led meetups for single/ solo travelers, which might be another opportunity.

Activites and late night dance parties are the best ways to hookup.

the martini tasting events are weirdly good for this. it gets a little loose and chatty after a couple rounds. and i’ve met some of the coolest people just lingering outside the nightclub before it really gets going, much easier to talk than inside when the music is blasting. since we’re looking for likeminded people, we’ll probably hit the adults-only pool or lounge areas during the day. seems like a more relaxed vibe to actually talk, and you can sort of feel out the vibe before diving in.

the gym steam room is always a nice quiet place for a chat