Cruising solo

[Stranger101]

Hi, I've booked a cruise for January. When I travel I normally do tours, so I'm in a group. I suspect most people go as a couple or are friends. I'm sure most people will be friendly on the ship but I'm wondering if anyone has been on a cruise totally alone, and what their experiences were. Do you think I'll feel alone on a ship full of people? I'm not an outgoing person but easy going and friendly. This is my biggest concern. Having said that I'm really looking forward to the trip and we'll and excited to the max!

[WupperAV]

You can't do that with 2106 other passengers. You are never alone. Don't worry, be yourself and have a blast. We ran into a Russian lady, 85, in China who lived aboard Diamond Princess. She was amazing, graceful, hilarious athletic, and everyones friend!:D

[champagne123]

You will do great and meet tons of people. Sign up for your ROLL CALL..this way you are meeting people 4 months before the cruise.:):):)

[uncleg]

Hi, I've booked a cruise for January. When I travel I normally do tours, so I'm in a group. I suspect most people go as a couple or are friends. I'm sure most people will be friendly on the ship but I'm wondering if anyone has been on a cruise totally alone, and what their experiences were. Do you think I'll feel alone on a ship full of people? I'm not an outgoing person but easy going and friendly. This is my biggest concern. Having said that I'm really looking forward to the trip and we'll and excited to the max!

 

 

Hello, I cruise solo a lot of the time and do not feel lonely. I generally like to do my on thing during the day even when I am traveling with friends or family. I am not the most outgoing person, unless I have had a drink or three, but I always meet people on the cruise and end up doing things with my new friends during the evening.

 

I enjoy the traditional Main dinning room seating with strangers, soon to be friends and also enjoy meeting people from the ships roll call. I have met people from roll call and later made plans to cruise with them again.

 

Excursions, i generally take the one offered by cruise line, cost more, but I have peace of mind I will not be left by ship. It is easy to meet people on these also, on one beach excursion I met a solo woman on same cruise, she became my dance partner for the rest of the cruise.

 

So to sum it up you can have as much solitude as you want or have as much company as you want, it just takes a little effort.

 

 

Most people are really friendly.

 

I have a solo cruise booked for November and can not wait, I hope you have a great time!

Edited September 23, 2016 by uncleg

[rkacruiser]

Hello, I cruise solo a lot of the time and do not feel lonely. I generally like to do my on thing during the day even when I am traveling with friends or family. I am not the most outgoing person, unless I have had a drink or three, but I always meet people on the cruise and end up doing things with my new friends during the evening.

 

I enjoy the traditional Main dinning room seating with strangers, soon to be friends and also enjoy meeting people from the ships roll call. I have met people from roll call and later made plans to cruise with them again.

 

Excursions, i generally take the one offered by cruise line, cost more, but I have peace of mind I will not be left by ship. It is easy to meet people on these also, on one beach excursion I met a solo woman on same cruise, she became my dance partner for the rest of the cruise.

 

So to sum it up you can have as much solitude as you want or have as much company as you want, it just takes a little effort.

 

 

Most people are really friendly.

 

I have a solo cruise booked for November and can not wait, I hope you have a great time!

 

As one who usually cruises solo, unless one does not want to interact with other guests on your ship, it will be difficult not to do so.

 

Sit at the bar when you go into a lounge for a beverage. It's easy to start or join a conversation with others around you and/or the bartenders.

 

While I prefer traditional dining seated at a particular table/time where I get to know others at my table and may, if I/they wish, join them for other activities, some solo cruisers prefer open dining where one is able to have a variety of dining companions.

 

Certainly, join your cruise's Roll Call. Some Roll Calls are more successful than others in helping one find cruise companions.

 

Go with the flow! Relax and have a good time!

Edited September 23, 2016 by rkacruiser

[Bizmark'sMom]

I normally travel solo, and very rarely do I actually feel lonely.

I'm not outgoing at all, but it's hard to not meet people while on a cruise. Go and enjoy!

[Honolulu Blue]

Hi, I've booked a cruise for January. When I travel I normally do tours, so I'm in a group. I suspect most people go as a couple or are friends. I'm sure most people will be friendly on the ship but I'm wondering if anyone has been on a cruise totally alone, and what their experiences were. Do you think I'll feel alone on a ship full of people? I'm not an outgoing person but easy going and friendly. This is my biggest concern. Having said that I'm really looking forward to the trip and we'll and excited to the max!

 

I've done all my cruises solo. They've all been great. Yours will be great. If you want to meet people, they're always around. :D :mad: Others have been mostly friendly when I wanted to interact with them, and the others are irrelevant.

 

I would suggest stopping by the Solo Cruisers sub-board for some more stories and answers to questions: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=373 .

[cruzn buckeye]

Ive only gone solo one time.... still had a good time... make sure you book some ship tours, as this way you may meet people. go to the lido deck. I met lots of nice people there and in the casino. I will say this, as a solo, for me personally, while i had a great time, and will be doing another soon, I had fun, but it is definetly different for me than when i travel with family and friends because even though I can share my experiences with them, there is no one to talk to about it that was there with me.

[Stranger101]

Thanks everyone 😊

[cb at sea]

While I wouldn't want to cruise alone..many do. I like to have dedicated friends to share the experience with. Sure...you will meet and talk to others, but you won't be part of their party...

Vacationing alone is NOT for me.

[Stranger101]

I understand where you're coming from but not everyone has that luxury. I am in a different stage to my friends, I don't have young children or a partner and I don't feel right asking that they make plans to go on a vacation with me. I'm sure they would rather holiday with their family. I normally go on tours and do my own thing but I always have the group to catch up with and discuss adventures we all went on even though you don't know the people that well, there is a bond as you are in a group. On a cruise it's a bit different hence my concern but I definitely feel more at ease now thanks you 😊

[rkacruiser]

While I wouldn't want to cruise alone..many do. I like to have dedicated friends to share the experience with. Sure...you will meet and talk to others, but you won't be part of their party...

Vacationing alone is NOT for me.

 

Surely, I respect your opinion. And, I do enjoy having my traveling companion along with me when she is interested in doing so.

 

But....

 

For a solo cruiser, interested in meeting others, joining a cruise's Roll Call is a great idea.

 

During some Roll Calls, one becomes so well acquainted with others that the meeting on the ship can lead to becoming one "of their party". I have had that pre-cruise Roll Call experience lead to long friendships on and off the ships. And, some of those new friends and I have arranged to cruise together again.

 

Of course, the opposite can happen. After a very pleasant e-mail exchange of a few weeks prior to my recent cruise with a woman and after meeting with her husband and she aboard, no further contact was made by either of us. Sometimes meetings via Roll Calls work; sometimes they don't.

 

The Roll Calls 10 years ago or more were about getting to know one's fellow cruisers prior to boarding. Today, I believe, the reason people post on many Roll Calls has changed.

 

Maybe it is just me, but I have not found it difficult for me to "join others' party" when it is appropriate or for them to join mine.

Edited September 25, 2016 by rkacruiser

[happy trailer]

While I wouldn't want to cruise alone..many do. I like to have dedicated friends to share the experience with. Sure...you will meet and talk to others, but you won't be part of their party...

Vacationing alone is NOT for me.

 

Maybe vacationing alone is not for you because you have total MISconceptions of what it is like?!

 

OP- please do not be deterred by the above response! Cruising solo is terrific! I have made wonderful friends when cruising solo, many of whom I am still in close contact with years later- and several of whom I have subsequently cruised with (some many times :)). But even though I have those cruise buddies, I still often chose to cruise by myself. I have absolute freedom when cruising solo- I can do what I want, when I want..be as busy or lazy as I want..be sociable, or relax by myself quietly.

 

Joining your roll call is a great idea- you often can join in with people who have booked private tours. I rarely book ship's excursions, as I prefer to see the sights with a small group in a van rather than 40 people in a big bus. I also often decide to just explore a port or go to a beach by myself, tho' I sometimes join in with another solo or couple who also want to wander around a port instead of joining an organized tour.

 

Enjoy without hesitation! And, opposed to what the poster above has said- people will happily welcome you to join their party! The best part is that it's your decision whether or not you want to join them :). (Who needs unwelcoming people like the poster above, anyway! :p:D).

Edited September 25, 2016 by happy trailer

[aznluv82482]

Hey everyone, I have a solo who needs a roomie on the RCCL halloween cruise on 10/30/16 out of Ft. Lauderdale. My friend just broke up with his girlfriend and needs someone to take her place so he doesn't have to pay for 2. We are in a group of 29 people and have an agent. Please let me know if you might be interested in sharing the room. He's in his early 30's.

[calliopecruiser]

Maybe vacationing alone is not for you because you have total MISconceptions of what it is like?!

 

Or maybe she just doesn't like it. Different strokes........

Thank God we don't all like the same things in this world.

 

Personally, I do almost all my traveling alone, whether a cruise or a land trip. I won't say I prefer it to sharing the experience with good friends, but I sure prefer it to not going at all!

 

Solo cruisers are as different as any other group of people: Some will want to join roll calls and arrange meetings and excursions before they go, others will not want to socialize at all while on the ship and just enjoy their "alone time", and others will want to do whatever suits their fancy at the time - sharing lunch with someone they met earlier than day, spending the afternoon playing bridge with the prearranged group, and eating dinner alone in their cabin with a book if that's what they feel like at the time. There are no rules other than you must adhere to the safety regulations of the ship - otherwise you can do whatever you feel like.

[Flamencacha]

I understand where you're coming from but not everyone has that luxury. I am in a different stage to my friends, I don't have young children or a partner and I don't feel right asking that they make plans to go on a vacation with me. I'm sure they would rather holiday with their family. I normally go on tours and do my own thing but I always have the group to catch up with and discuss adventures we all went on even though you don't know the people that well, there is a bond as you are in a group. On a cruise it's a bit different hence my concern but I definitely feel more at ease now thanks you [emoji4]

 

 

 

I got tired waiting to cruise with friends family etc. join your roll call. Do not be terrified of private excursions. Smaller groups will be friendlier than larger groups. I prefer the traditional dining. Go to the solo meet and greet. Some lines are more successful than others in success.

 

I rather cruise alone than be in bad company.

 

 

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[navybankerteacher]

Stranger - perhaps a new experience, but a great one. I cruised alone a lot - the best way to vacation as a single. I hope you get assigned/traditional dining at a large table: a great way to have a nucleus to meet with each evening. Go to the singles get togethers - sometimes well attended, sometimes not. Show up at trivia, and ask to join a small group - a great way of interacting.

 

Look at the sky and the sea.

[TrqoisWtrs]

For a solo cruiser, interested in meeting others, joining a cruise's Roll Call is a great idea.

 

Agree. You might also check over on that one site relating to faces and books ;) for a group - those are usually a lot more active than the roll calls here.

 

I am a huge reader, and so I'll take about 10 paperbacks and just enjoy reading on my balcony, or with a glass of wine sitting on the Promenade, or in the Lido for a casual dinner. Once I finish my books, they get left behind in my cabin for the crew library. Plus now I have extra room in my luggage for goodies. :) (And I have a Kindle, but just prefer a good old paperback, plus don't have to worry about leaving an electronic device on my deck chair if I leave it for a few minutes.)

 

Look at the sky and the sea.

love this :)