Solo cruising

[molly361]

1 hour ago, KimA75 said:

I know pre-Covid you were able to be seated at a larger table with various other passengers. I'm not sure if that is still an option.  If it is, we met some really interesting people that when we did this.  I've read that some others made lifelong friends this way.  I am recently divorced and while I am cruising with my kids now, I fully expect to cruise solo later.  I am hoping this will still be, or will become, an option.   

Although I still find it awkward to sit and eat alone I prefer that to being at a large table. I'm pretty much an eat and go person ,not a fan of an 1 1/2 hour dinner.  

[Sunshine3601]

10 hours ago, time4u2go said:

I'm curious...as a solo cruiser, how do you handle eating in the Windjammer during a busy time (like breakfast)?  If you want to go back for more food, how do you prevent the crew from removing your dishes and thereby giving up your seat?

I almost always ate breakfast in WJ on my solo cruises.   I would first get my coffee and bowl of fruit, set it down down at a table with my unused silverware then go get my omelet, etc.   Never had a problem.

If I left the table for more coffee or juice I would let table next to me know I would be right back.

[Raddo]

Another perk of travelling solo with RC is finding the ships that do the single balcony cabins!! I have overnight booked a 7 days Japan cruise sailing from Shanghai for March 2026 and got myself a Solo Balcony cabin. 😊

[Tina99]

On 4/16/2024 at 4:31 AM, time4u2go said:

I'm curious...as a solo cruiser, how do you handle eating in the Windjammer during a busy time (like breakfast)?  If you want to go back for more food, how do you prevent the crew from removing your dishes and thereby giving up your seat?

Having personally experienced this as a solo cruiser in the Windjammer and other ship buffets, I bring a few table place-holders.  Just write whatever you think will work best.

[WELDON]

 I have been on many solo cruises. Going to Bermuda next month on Celebrity. When I go to the WJ, I also leave a sign "Occupied, coming right back" and I take an old paperback and leave it on the table. After getting a beverage and silverware, I go back for food and try to get whatever I want at once. After getting the food, I go back to see what the desserts are and I either get one or fruit. I try to get everything I want so I don't need to get up.

 

Tipping your chair forward also shows the table is occupied.

 

 

[firefly333]

I use a paperback and put my glasses on the table. Never had a issue so far, knock on wood. 

[OCSC Mike]

Clearly I'm not well-versed in the ways of solo cruising. I've never done one but I do eat quick snacks or in-between meals alone at times, especially at El Loco Fresh... where a crew member was doing too good of a job of clearing tables while I went back for more and I "lost" half a margarita once. 😭

[Bailey & Sophie]

9 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I use a paperback and put my glasses on the table. Never had a issue so far, knock on wood. 

 

We do this too. I think most people respect a book or something personal left on a table as a "hold." We've never had a problem. 

[crzndeb]

12 hours ago, Raddo said:

Another perk of travelling solo with RC is finding the ships that do the single balcony cabins!! I have overnight booked a 7 days Japan cruise sailing from Shanghai for March 2026 and got myself a Solo Balcony cabin. 😊

Unless you want double points. You don’t get them in solo cabins.

[time4u2go]

13 hours ago, Raddo said:

Another perk of travelling solo with RC is finding the ships that do the single balcony cabins!! I have overnight booked a 7 days Japan cruise sailing from Shanghai for March 2026 and got myself a Solo Balcony cabin. 😊

Other than the cruise line designating it as such, what makes a cabin a single/solo cabin? Does it only have a twin bed in it?

[firefly333]

20 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

Other than the cruise line designating it as such, what makes a cabin a single/solo cabin? Does it only have a twin bed in it?

The one on radiance they assigned to me with my inside gty was 104 sf, and only had a twin bed. 

 

Some newer ships I think might have a full bed idk. In fact I have the list of which have which beds.

 

 

[jennellen]

When I was booking my upcoming solo cruise the TA I was using kept trying to give me a studio oceanview, which is 96sf.  And even when I would search RC's site the first option that would pop up was the studio OV when I put in one person.

 

I ended up doing an interior balcony.  The price difference was like $70 more for the week to have the balcony and it's double the size.  I could have done an interior, too but the price difference between a regular interior and the balcony wasn't very much so I opted to treat myself.  Ha! 

 

The studio OV that is 96sf has the regular bed in it, which is nice but the room is literally the bed and maybe space to turn around in and the bathroom.  And for many that is plenty of room, but even alone I knew that I wanted more space than that.  And when the price difference is so minimal, it was an easy decision for me to go with the bigger room.

 

[OCSC Mike]

15 minutes ago, jennellen said:

The price difference was like $70 more for the week to have the balcony and it's double the size.

 

I'm frugal and we almost always sail interiors b/c we don't care about our cabin and never use our balcony if we have one... and even I'd pay the $70. You get double points this way too (if that matters).

[jennellen]

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

I'm frugal and we almost always sail interiors b/c we don't care about our cabin and never use our balcony if we have one... and even I'd pay the $70. You get double points this way too (if that matters).

Even without the double points, I'm going to reach Diamond once the cruise is complete and the double just puts me that much closer to Diamond+.  I'm just missing Diamond by a few points too.  I was closer and the last time they redid the levels I got further away.  Oh, well, next time.  

[Sologuy64]

Have to disagree here. I found my cruise to be very difficult for the solo traveler. Almost every activities (at least the ones I liked) were group activities which seemed to be very clickest. Maybe being a female helped in your case. I found trying to be friendly to people didn’t work. And I think these cruises are directed more towards families and groups. The cruise director on Ovation of the Seas didn’t seem very friendly. And also canceled most of the single and solo events.

 

When I told people my story of losing my wife and traveling as a 65 yr old senior they seemed to just not care. So many things a decent cruise director could’ve done to be inclusive of all travelers just weren’t done.

Edited August 22 by Sologuy64

[Sologuy64]

I eat in the windjammer most nights. Had my seat and chair stolen twice when I got up to get a dessert or second dish.

[Sonic2012]

That sounds very discouraging. I’m sorry that you had that experience. I don’t understand people who don’t have empathy. I hope next time is better. I’m not super outgoing, but I’m fine entertaining myself. 

[Sologuy64]

On 4/14/2024 at 7:42 AM, LAKaye said:

I have taken 4 cruises alone over the past few years, not part of any group--so truly alone.  

I wanted to cruise, but could not interest anyone to go with me.

 

I am not a very outgoing person, and I will say that those solo cruises were difficult for me.

What helped a bit was asking for early seating at a large table, so at least I got to eat dinner with the same people every night.

 

On one cruise on the Brilliance out of Tampa two years ago, I found myself seated with a number of other solo travelers:  The Maitre'D had made this arrangement on his own.  On the second and third night, other solos were found and brought to join our 10-top.  It was brilliant.  

One of us then said "I'll be here tomorrow for breakfast at 9AM.  Anyone interested?", and yes....

We were off and running.

 

So ask if there is a "solo" table on your sailing.

I think the cruise lines especially RCI could do so much more to be inclusive of all solo travelers. From having an adopt a solo cruiser type of thing, to doing what you MaitreD did. As a solo senior I’m with you on your first paragraph. I would love to cruise yearly but it’s tough when your left out of fun events.

[Sonic2012]

4 minutes ago, Sologuy64 said:

I eat in the windjammer most nights. Had my seat and chair stolen twice when I got up to get a dessert or second dish.

Someone tried to do that to me at breakfast one morning. They just moved my coffee over and everything. When I came back with my food, they tried to make a big deal about giving my seat back and not ruining my day… I wasn’t even sitting at a table, it was a bar facing the window. Nothing really surprises me anymore. I was told by a good friend to put a glass of water and silverware to save my seat. Anything goes in the windjammer.

[pcur]

I enjoy cruising solo, also. I started in January of 2022 after my husband passed in late March 2021. I've met quite a few wonderful friends on these solo cruises, and now join them when I can, or sail by myself. I also make it quite clear that I will not cruise with others if they are on a family cruise. I now have two groups of women I go on a "girls cruise" with every year or two. 

 

When I do cruise by myself, I have no problem eating by myself, as I am a huge reader, with my Kindle library on my phone. I love to have a nice meal and read my book. Since I wear hearing aids, I can also stream my favorite music from my phone, which eliminates loud background noise. 

 

However, I've found that many passengers are happy to include a solo passenger at their table in My Time Dining for dinner.

 

I also see if I can dovetail visiting family or friends before or after my cruises. For instance, I have a cruise to Hawaii this Fall, and made plans with friends who live in Kauai to visit with them after the cruise.  My Kauai friends took their first cruise with me last April. If I cruise out of Baltimore, I will try to see my sister. She and I now plan at least one cruise together per year: her birthday or mine.

 

My rule is to always get my own cabin.

 

 

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, Sologuy64 said:

I think the cruise lines especially RCI could do so much more to be inclusive of all solo travelers. From having an adopt a solo cruiser type of thing, to doing what you MaitreD did. As a solo senior I’m with you on your first paragraph. I would love to cruise yearly but it’s tough when your left out of fun events.

Most things I dont mind as a solo but all the dance classes were for couples. I'd have liked to learn the dance but it was all couples. No dance classes for singles on royal.

[Biker19]

7 hours ago, Sologuy64 said:

I found trying to be friendly to people didn’t work. And I think these cruises are directed more towards families and groups.

Welcome to CC.

Some sailings are likely better suited to solos than others.

[PhillyFan33579]

8 hours ago, Sologuy64 said:

When I told people my story of losing my wife and traveling as a 65 yr old senior they seemed to just not care. So many things a decent cruise director could’ve done to be inclusive of all travelers just weren’t done.

I don’t intend to sound mean, but people go on a cruise to have fun, not hear about someone’s sad story. I lost my wife unexpectedly 2.5 years after being married for 35 years. Since that time I have usually cruised with family or friends, but I have done a half dozen cruises solo. I have never had a problem meeting people when cruising alone and I have always found people to be very friendly on every cruise I have been on. The more I cruise solo the more I like it since I can literally do what I want when I want the entire cruise. I know how hard it is to lose a spouse, but telling other people your “story” on a cruise is not a good approach in my opinion. 

[mo&fran]

33 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I don’t intend to sound mean, but people go on a cruise to have fun, not hear about someone’s sad story. I lost my wife unexpectedly 2.5 years after being married for 35 years. Since that time I have usually cruised with family or friends, but I have done a half dozen cruises solo. I have never had a problem meeting people when cruising alone and I have always found people to be very friendly on every cruise I have been on. The more I cruise solo the more I like it since I can literally do what I want when I want the entire cruise. I know how hard it is to lose a spouse, but telling other people your “story” on a cruise is not a good approach in my opinion. 

Yours is the post I needed to see. My wife passed in June, and we have 5 cruise booked in October, with friends on some anyway. My first solo, and a lot of wondering what it will be like. 

[ARandomTraveler]

1 hour ago, mo&fran said:

Yours is the post I needed to see. My wife passed in June, and we have 5 cruise booked in October, with friends on some anyway. My first solo, and a lot of wondering what it will be like. 

Sorry to hear that. Sorry for your (very recent) loss!