caryn

I'm almost 50 and did my first solo cruise this past June. I loved it and am doing another in a few weeks. I never felt unsafe. I don't get bored easily in just a week and made friends on the cruise who I could join for trivia or a drink. I'm ok with approaching people to see if i can join their team. If you feel comfortable with that, i think you can definitely find enough to do. Some invited me to join them for dinner but I chose to eat by myself for the wind down after touring all day. Also didn't want to be on someone else's schedule. I do Instagram stories so the feedback helps me feel like I'm sharing the views with others. I don't do it for this but realized that my friends commenting on gorgeous views probably helps me feel like I'm still sharing the experience. I would to try it. If you hate it, just don't do it again. If you like time on your own and are considering it, give it a chance.

I took the train from Termini to Civitavecchia and there were taxi shuttles running back and forth between the train station and the boats (once you go through the train station). One ship had a bus shuttling people as well. The taxi van was $5 a person and I jumped in with another family.

I didn't see if there was a place the cab driver could have dropped me off that would have been better. I had to go through the main gate and then the walk was long. I would estimate that I walked 10 minutes. My platform was at the end of the station. I bought the tickets before and used my phone to get through the gate. I bought a ticket a few weeks ago for a different time that was not refundable/changeable so I bought another for the 5E. I jumped in the a group of 5 but the driver at the port said it was 5E each. He dropped us right off at the check in tent. PS Once you get off the train you have to go down stairs, under the tracks and up stairs. There are lifts and I took one down but opted to carry my luggage up to avoid the lift line. I bought my wine in s little shop at the train station. 19E and no twist offs when I was there. I meant to buy some at Carrefour and forgot.

This morning I took a cab from my hotel (15 E) to termini station then the train was 5 euros to the port, taxi was 5pp to the ship (I joined a group I befriended at the taxi stand). There are busses too but not sure if they are only for certain boats. For timing, I requested the cab at 945, train left at 1042, arrived a little after noon and I was on the boat before 1p. This was with no rushing.