Cruising alone

[rmmm]

Hello everyone, I haven't been on this site in a while. I have gone on two previous HAL cruises with my mom and we had a great time. My mom passed away in 2005 and I haven't cruised since. I would like to take another cruise but my friends and family either can't afford it or would have no interest in cruising. So I am thinking of going alone. Can someone share their experience of cruising alone on HAL? I am planning on going in June on an Inside Passage Cruise - it was a cruise that I went on with my mom and we both loved it. Thanks for your help. Rose

[kryos]

My friend, I've done numerous cruises as a solo, most of them on HAL because they are most reasonable with single supplements.

 

I had a wonderful time on every single cruise.

 

Once you decide on a cruise, jump on your roll call. Meet and get acquainted with people online ahead of time, and that way you'll know some folks before you even get on the ship. If dining concerns you, ask on your roll call if anyone would mind adding you with their group. Chances are you'll have several offers ... at least I sure did.

 

By joining your roll call, you'll also meet others who may share some of your interests for onboard activities, such as trivia, shore tours, etc. So you'll have someone to do those things with.

 

You'll find that HAL draws a lot of singles ... especially on their longer cruises. A person traveling alone never has to be alone unless they want to.

 

Go, and have fun. Your mom wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[navybankerteacher]

I cruised alone on HAL anumber of times (2002-2007) until I re-married. It was always a good experience. Make sure you check roll-call once you book a cruise -- speak up, so you can start making contacts well before the sailing date - and plan to attend the first day CC get-together. It helps to have fixed dining - call HAL direct and ask to be seated at a large table - a good way of building a base of people you get to know. The one thing I found to not help much was the single/solo get-togethers sponsored by the cruise director -- worth a try, I suppose, but rarely well attended. Once on board,show up at activities - trivis, etc. and join a team. You'll have a great time.

[cruz chic]

IMO going solo is the only way to go. I just love being able to do my own thing, get up when I want etc. and to not have to "report" to anyone. The other posters have made great suggestions. I've made some great friends from signing up on roll calls.

[lettienets]

..........The one thing I found to not help much was the single/solo get-togethers sponsored by the cruise director -- worth a try, I suppose, but rarely well attended.

I enjoy the singles and solos lunches and so far on any cruise I've been on there has been at least one or two tables of 10 with a variety of people to meet.

[CowPrincess]

Solo cruising can be very enjoyable -- it is a safe environment, with a lot of "known" quantities. I enjoyed my solo cruising times after my DH died. A very humble suggestion (and if I'm overstepping, I apologize): Perhaps plan a specific time or place to remember your mom, and the good travel times you shared. Face "head-on" the fact that this cruise is different, and part of a new chapter in your travel life. (For me, it was on the aft deck, in the rain, leaving Juneau :) )

[Himself]

Go with HAL and enjoy. You will meet some wonderful people. Remember what they say in Ireland: "There are no strangers here, juist friends we have yet to meet." So, go sail and see the friends you have yet to meet. And, may I add, enjoy yourself!

[Roz]

I've done 5 solo cruises on HAL; I highly recommend it. Head over to the "Solo Cruising" forum. It's a friendly, helpful bunch, and we discuss solo cruising in general.

 

Many of the posters that responded to you here also post in that forum.

 

Roz

[kryos]

It helps to have fixed dining - call HAL direct and ask to be seated at a large table - a good way of building a base of people you get to know.

As a matter of fact, though ... AYW dining works fine for a single too. Fixed dining is nice if you can set up who you will eat with ahead of time ... like people on your roll call. But if you just take "pot luck" you could end up with people who you wouldn't be likely to be doing things around the ship with anyway. On one of my cruises, this one where I happened to be sailing (and rooming) with a friend ... we were at a table with two other couples. They were certainly a lot of fun to dine with, but pretty much were the type who did their own thing around the ship anyway. Of course, I spent most of my time with my friend, so it didn't matter. But had I been alone, there would probably have been no opportunity with that group to "hook up" for shore excursions and whatnot. They just weren't the type. They were couples who wanted to spend their time onboard as a couple and weren't really interested in making new acquaintances ... which is fine, and certainly understandable.

 

With AYW Dining, however, you eat with different people every night ... so there is more of a likelihood for the single to make the acquaintance of people who may be interested in doing a shore excursion or participating in an onboard activity.

 

That's why I say ... fixed is great if you can arrange to sit with someone you've met beforehand, such as on your roll call. But AYW dining can be the better choice if you are truly going it alone.

 

Just my opinion ... and believe me, I was one of the biggest critics of AYW dining until I tried it. Now I wouldn't go any other way.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

IMO going solo is the only way to go. I just love being able to do my own thing, get up when I want etc. and to not have to "report" to anyone. The other posters have made great suggestions. I've made some great friends from signing up on roll calls.

I agree with you 125%. When I'm on vacation, I don't like to have any schedules. I also don't like to have to worry if another person is having a good time ... or worry that I have to keep them entertained or forego some things that I may want to do because they want to do something different.

 

I've sailed both solo and with others, and definitely prefer the solo route. Yes, I like having friends around the ship, but don't like to actually be sailing with another person. Those friends are nice because we each know that it is our vacation and we're gonna do our own thing. Maybe I want to attend an onboard lecture, but the friend would rather go to the casino. That's fine. We each do our own thing and then get together for only the things that we BOTH like to do.

 

That's what is great about solo cruising. No commitments, all fun. Just what a vacation is meant to be.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Kween Karen]

I am going on my first solo trip in September. I am a LITTLE nervous.....but know I will have a grand time. I wanted to do AYW dining but it isn't offered on the Grand Voyages. I have been very active on our roll call and already am looking forward to meeting the people on there....I think we have a good group.

I would love to meet some single travelors on this trip who I am compatible with and would like to do more Grand Voyages......even though HAL has the more reasonable single supplements......150% drains the budget pretty quickly!!

[DizzyDallasDi]

I am going on my first solo trip in September. I am a LITTLE nervous.....but know I will have a grand time. I wanted to do AYW dining but it isn't offered on the Grand Voyages. I have been very active on our roll call and already am looking forward to meeting the people on there....I think we have a good group.

I would love to meet some single travelors on this trip who I am compatible with and would like to do more Grand Voyages......even though HAL has the more reasonable single supplements......150% drains the budget pretty quickly!!

 

I always cruise solo and a Grand Voyage is on my bucket list. I still have a full time job so it's going to be a few years before I can fulfill this. Until then, I have to appease myself with a couple of shorter cruises a year. Have a great time (I can't imagine how you couldn't :D ) and maybe we'll be on a Grand or World Voyage at the same time in the not-so-far-off future.

 

Diane

[Overtime4me2]

Go for it!! I took my first cruise solo last August to Alaska and was ready to do it again this year when my folks decided to go too with the great prices! (It'll be nice too with family). I had a wonderful time and had no problem finding plenty to do. I met a group of ladies/sisters & friends that befriended me on day 2 and we did a few excursions together throughout the week. They made my trip even more enjoyable. I will not hesitate to go solo again at all!! I didn't exactly "plan" last years and was on short notice, so didn't think about checking the roll call then, but will in the future and have already posted in there for this year.

 

I found fellow HAL cruisers to be VERY friendly around the ship and on excursions. It was funny, as I met a lot of wives and moms who thought it was really neat that I had gone "solo" and they start thinking that it would be a "good thing" to do too!! :D

 

Go, you won't regret it :)