Looking for a domestic cruise good for 1st time solo cruiser in June, July or August

[OahuAloha]

I am sure I am posting in the wrong area-this is my first post...I am a solo traveler, looking to meet nice people and relax. I have a 10 year old daughter who will be with her dad much of the summer and at sport camps, but I am traveling alone-my husband has no interest and frankly no extra time either. I don't mind cruises with some kids, but would prefer just to be in the company of mostly adults the majority of the time. My history with cruising has been only with my parents, husband and my brothers and their families- normally we cruise as a family of 12-16 people on Seabourn, Oceania, Regent, Silversea, Crystal...Have taken European Cruises on all of them in the past and am now looking to venture out on my own. I don't want to intrude on others and just want to be comfortable traveling as a single 50 year old woman for some R&R. Any solo travelers out there for a first time cruise? I want a balcony room and am willing to pay more, but I don't want to go absolutely crazy. Will they give a balcony to me as a single if I am willing to pay? I don't want an indoor suite or one with just a window. Any info on a good summer sailing from either Los Angeles, Miami, Ft Lauderdale or anywhere domestic for 7 days would be appreciated! I would probably go through a travel agent vs. trying to book online. I am from Chicago area. Thanks for any info! Ideally, they might arrange people for me to dine with too so I don't feel awkward. Never sailing alone, I don't know what to expect...

Thanks for the time!

[Lois R]

Hi:).....I replied to you about this on the other thread;) I will copy and

paste it here too.......

 

Good afternoon:) I have been sailing solo for many years~I love it

As for recommendations, the lines you have been on are considered

luxury......if that is what you are used to I am not sure how much you

will enjoy the mainstream/mass market lines. Most of the mainstream

lines charge double for solo cruisers (they want 2 people in that cabin).

So when you ask is it crazy? No, not in my opinion. I value my own

space and I pay the price to sail solo.

Where are you from? You said you are looking to sail domestic? Florida

has many, many choices.....I have never sailed any of the cruise lines

you mentioned. I have been on Celebrity over 40 times and so that is

my recommendation.

Others on here sail Royal, Princess, Holland America, Carnival, NCL,

etc........there are alot of choices out there.

 

Hopefully one day I may be able to try Crystal and/or Seabourn.

 

I am taking my first River Cruise this week (solo of course) flying

to Amsterdam on Tuesday and I can't wait.:)

 

Hope you find what you are looking for:)

Edited April 3, 2016 by Lois R

[Honolulu Blue]

Lois gives good advice; I don't want to step on her toes, but just add my two cents:

 

* If you specifically want to (or must) cruise in June, July, or August, there are three disadvantages. First is that there are fewer available cruises from U.S. ports because some of them have taken off for Europe and won't be back until the fall. Second is that the kiddies are out of school and it's family vacation time - cruises are no exception to that. Last, and least IMHO, is the fact that it's hurricane season.

 

* I find that the kids are mostly with their parents or in their club and thus aren't that much of a bother to me. My modest suggestion if you really want to avoid them is to sail TO Alaska or FROM San Juan.

 

* Any cruise company will give you a balcony if you want one and are willing to pay for it. One caveat is that there's a small chance they'll bump you if they need the space (e.g. you booked a cabin that has a capacity of 4 and a quartet wants it).

 

* I would suggest that you find and use a good travel agent. You have many options and a TA will help you sift through them.

 

I wish you well on your travels.

[Lois R]

You are not stepping on my toes;):)...you posted good advice too.

 

Since we are not allowed to name Travel Agents on here, I would say

the original poster might try Google and try to find one in their home

area and speak with them in person or on the phone.

 

Oh, one other thing, from everything I have read, those luxury lines

don't usually have kids where the mainstream lines do and if you are

planning to go in the summertime there will be many more families on

board too.

[OahuAloha]

Thanks. Summer is the best option as my daughter who is 10, won't be at home so I have the freedom to travel. I have heard some good things about Celebrity, so it is nice to have someone recommend that line. I like to spend time at the pool when we are at sea, so Alaska probably is not a good fit. On a cruise where it is mostly couples and families, I am going to end up feeling silly, and alone. I don't want to spend $10,000.00 for an overseas cruise until I am comfortable traveling alone. I did.post this a few places as I am hopeful to get several good responses and some concrete direction on a good cruise where I won't feel silly going alone.

[Lois R]

Thanks. Summer is the best option as my daughter who is 10, won't be at home so I have the freedom to travel. I have heard some good things about Celebrity, so it is nice to have someone recommend that line. I like to spend time at the pool when we are at sea, so Alaska probably is not a good fit. On a cruise where it is mostly couples and families, I am going to end up feeling silly, and alone. I don't want to spend $10,000.00 for an overseas cruise until I am comfortable traveling alone. I did.post this a few places as I am hopeful to get several good responses and some concrete direction on a good cruise where I won't feel silly going alone.

 

Celebrity does not offer a large fleet and in the summertime 99% of their

ships are in Europe. They have Alaska and Bermuda that sail from the US

in the summer months. So, if you want the Caribbean? You will have to

look at other lines.

[Honolulu Blue]

On a cruise where it is mostly couples and families, I am going to end up feeling silly, and alone.

 

Bad news: all cruises are mostly couples and families. I'm not aware of any exceptions.

 

Good news: There's no need to feel silly and alone. It's fairly easy to meet people on a cruise, and you have every right to do what you want when you want - within reason.

[haikou]

I have taken 12 cruises on Crystal and all but one by myself(a friend occasionally works on Crystal as one of the enrichment personnel but he doe snot pay a fare so he doesn't count LOL) and the supplements as you know are much more favorable to solos and there are few lines to wait in. I have tried Carnival(never again) NCL(under the right circumstances I would go on NCL again) and years ago Royal Viking. I agree with another poster I doubt you will be happy on a mainstream line. Ridiculous lines to board the ship when you have shore excursions coming back at the same time(Juneau summer 2011 was a nightmare on Carnival), and you get nickel and dimed to death and have to endure sales pitches multiple times per day-no thanks.I have a cruise in mind that although may include some rough seas and or wind, should be warm enough to enjoy pool time, and that is on the Crystal Serenity, San Francisco to Vancouver, a 6 nighter.

http://www.crystalcruises.com/pacific-cruises/san-francisco-to-vancouver--6311

Edited April 13, 2016 by haikou

[Truluv]

I took my first solo on Freedom of the Seas last year out of Port Lauderdale (convenient for driving), and am going to do it again at the end of August this year. I'll be in a Junior Suite this time, and was in a balcony cabin last year. A TA may be able to find you a pricing promotion (last year I paid 150% instead of 200% as a solo). I am not aware of any bumping policy. Once I paid for my cabin, it was mine unless I chose to be upgraded.

 

I agree that you'll find the mass market cruise ships very different from the lines you listed. I've cruised on Carnival (6X), NCL (2X), Celebrity (1X) and RCL (6X). Celebrity felt very quiet to me compared to the other lines, but I plan to try it again now that I'm older (early 60's). Our NCL cruises felt crowded (one out of NYC and one in Alaska; we had bad weather in Alaska, and I felt that the interior of the ship was not designed for all of the passengers to stay inside. Carnival was always a great time and a good value, but I'm not sure how it will work for a solo. I intend to try Carnival again too. I also want to try Princess. Our Princess cruise plans were canceled due to a work emergency a few days before sailing, so I missed trying that line.

 

Pluses: I like the options for activities offered by the very large midstream market ships. I found it very restful to get caught up on reading and sleep on my solo cruise. Sometimes it's nice to be anonymous. Negatives: there are LOTS of people on the mainstream ships. The ships, particularly if you want a lounger by a pool or in the sun on a sea day, can be wall-to-wall people. At peak times, it can be hard to get seats for anything, and you may spend time in lines. I was required to dine alone at a table in the dining room for My-Time dining, since at the time there was not an option for a shared table. I'll be finding out this summer if that's still the case. Fortunately, I never minded going into the Windjammer and enjoying a quiet dinner with my Kindle but I'd suggest you let your TA recommend a cruise line that can guarantee a dining option you prefer. As a solo, I felt that I did not receive the service I had received when traveling with my family. I wasn't offered bar or photography services, for ex. Someone on CruiseCritic very perceptively pointed out that perhaps the staff was waiting for the rest of my party to join me. If I were timid about asking for service, that could have been a problem.

 

Admittedly, I did find my first solo cruise to be very lonely, especially compared with prior cruises with my family. Lots of bittersweet memories (spouse is now deceased, buried at sea on Allure of the Seas about 3 years ago, and kids are now newly launched in their careers). I did not meet any other solos until the last day at sea, when I met a woman at an art auction. I usually don't have trouble talking with people, but it seemed uphill on my 1st solo cruise. A few people seemed appalled that I was solo, which was odd to me (yes, I had several people come right out and ask me if I didn't have any friends :-0). I never felt silly though, and apparently solo cruising is becoming a very fast growing market. More ships are coming out with solo cabins, and there are even solo cruise specialists.

Edited April 15, 2016 by Truluv

[mef_57]

Thanks. Summer is the best option as my daughter who is 10, won't be at home so I have the freedom to travel. I have heard some good things about Celebrity, so it is nice to have someone recommend that line. I like to spend time at the pool when we are at sea, so Alaska probably is not a good fit. On a cruise where it is mostly couples and families, I am going to end up feeling silly, and alone. I don't want to spend $10,000.00 for an overseas cruise until I am comfortable traveling alone. I did.post this a few places as I am hopeful to get several good responses and some concrete direction on a good cruise where I won't feel silly going alone.

Your 'name' might indicate that you live in Hawaii, but maybe that is just wishful thinking. If you are mainland North America, why not consider a cruise less than 7 days. If east coast, do a short cruise to Bermuda or Bahamas. Even if on one of the big ships, if it is short, you won't have a lot of time to feel lonely or awkward....and you will soon learn if these are not the ships for you.

I have booked on Holland for my first solo cruise as it is meant to be a rest break; but it has a meet and greet for solos first evening and opportunity for dinner together the second night - the first formal evening. I have also seen solo get togethers on Costa and Princess sailings. These happen the first few days then taper off.

I had also considered Celebrity, but timing and itinerary didn't work for me this time.

I agree that a travel agent who is a cruising expert may be worth visiting with.