When you travel solo do you...

[JoKen1]

I've gone on a few cruises solo before but never have traveled solo any other way.

 

Next month though I'm going on a cruise that leaves from New York. I'm from CA. So I decided to tack on several days so I can see New York.

 

I was wondering when you cruise solo do you normally stay in the city you are leaving from for a few days before or after the cruise or do you just go for the cruise?

 

I'm thinking about doing a cruise that leaves from somewhere other then USA next year and if I do I know I'll want to see the sights of where I'm leaving from and spend a few days there.

 

Is it scary to find your way around a place you don't know or have never been to?

 

Have you traveled solo to places where you didn't speak the language before? If so, was it hard to get around?

 

Joanne

[snowbird1]

I've gone on a few cruises solo before but never have traveled solo any other way.

 

Next month though I'm going on a cruise that leaves from New York. I'm from CA. So I decided to tack on several days so I can see New York.

 

I was wondering when you cruise solo do you normally stay in the city you are leaving from for a few days before or after the cruise or do you just go for the cruise?

 

I'm thinking about doing a cruise that leaves from somewhere other then USA next year and if I do I know I'll want to see the sights of where I'm leaving from and spend a few days there.

 

Is it scary to find your way around a place you don't know or have never been to?

 

Have you traveled solo to places where you didn't speak the language before? If so, was it hard to get around?

 

Joanne

 

Yes, I did a Solo TA to Rome a year or so ago, had no problems and loved it. Being Solo allowed me to see as much as I wanted at my pace (which is fast) and I didn't have to worry about anyone else. The cruise was great and the post cruise stay in Rome was as well. I did buy some travel books and plan what I wanted to to do before sailing and just modified as need be.

[Lois R]

I've gone on a few cruises solo before but never have traveled solo any other way.

 

Next month though I'm going on a cruise that leaves from New York. I'm from CA. So I decided to tack on several days so I can see New York.

 

I was wondering when you cruise solo do you normally stay in the city you are leaving from for a few days before or after the cruise or do you just go for the cruise?

 

I'm thinking about doing a cruise that leaves from somewhere other then USA next year and if I do I know I'll want to see the sights of where I'm leaving from and spend a few days there.

 

Is it scary to find your way around a place you don't know or have never been to?

 

Have you traveled solo to places where you didn't speak the language before? If so, was it hard to get around?

 

Joanne

 

Hi:) I always arrive a day ahead and if I can get there 2 days

before? That is even better.

I am sailing to Alaska in Sept and I fly to Seattle pre-cruise.

I have been there 3 times already and love the Pacific NW:)

I have gotten lots of information from right here on Cruise Critic:D

about hotels, transportation, restaurants, etc.

I actually sail from Vancouver and will be staying in Seattle for

2 nights and taking the train up to Vancouver. I did this last

year and it was fabulous!

I don't usually stay in the city post cruise but one day I might

do it too.

Do I find it scarey? No, I think of it as part of my new adventure!:)

I really want to do a cruise in Europe and hoping it might be in

the fall of 2010....I would definitely want to give myself a couple

of extra days pre-cruise. Besides seeing the sites, having my body

clock on time will make things easier too.

[KruzPrincess]

I've only been on one solo cruise so far and I went in a day early. But, even before I tried a solo cruise, I've done many, many trips solo. I used to have a hobby where I'd go for an event that would take a day or two and I'd sometimes meet up with people I knew there, but I'd almost always take extra days. I've been to Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Seattle, Chicago, New Orleans, Santa Fe, plus many other places on solo trips. I have a blast. I get tour books, maps, and read up on line. I'm careful. Really, though, I've had so many great experiences. I've never been to Europe alone, but I'm pretty sure I'd be OK. Once, I had a ship sail without me and my friend was on the ship. I had a couple days in New Orleans before I could fly out to catch up to the ship. Then, I had to fly on a plane where no one spoke English and eventually get to Cozumel to catch up. It was a nightmare, but now it's a fun story to tell people. I took a tour of New Orleans and walked all over the French Quarter (during the day). Ate beignets, etc. It was fun even if I wasn't on a ship. Now, though, I always go in a day early. LOL.

[JoKen1]

Oh I've always wanted to go to New Orleans but I have no one to go with. I've heard it can be a scary place for a solo female. So I'm trying to find a fun cruise that leaves from there so I can go a few days early and check it out without having friends and family tell me I shouldn't go there alone. For some reason they don't give me a hard time when I'm going on a cruise solo. LOL

 

Joanne

[bqkali]

I was wondering when you cruise solo do you normally stay in the city you are leaving from for a few days before or after the cruise or do you just go for the cruise?

I'm cruising from Vancouver in September :) but I'm flying into Seattle for cost reasons. Since I've never been to Seattle or Vancouver, I decided on spending one night pre-cruise in Seattle and one night post-cruise in Vancouver. There is tons more to do in each city and I wish I could stay longer, but since the cruise is already 10 days long, I couldn't swing any additional vacation time.

 

Is it scary to find your way around a place you don't know or have never been to? Have you traveled solo to places where you didn't speak the language before? If so, was it hard to get around?

I went to Europe in 2007 to visit friends in London & Strasbourg (France). While I was abroad, I added time in Paris and Brussels solo. It was my first time traveling anywhere solo and I don't speak French or Flemish at all! Was it scary? Absolutely not. Did everything go perfectly? No, but certainly nothing major went wrong! Things don't go perfectly even on my USA vacations lol.

 

Hotel staff will certainly speak English and lots of staff in taxis, restaurants, and other tourist-centered attractions will speak English as well. The subway makes it easy to get around since you just have to match the name at the station with the name of the map - very easy even if you don't speak the language ;)

 

I highly recommend traveling independently in Europe, whether it's a land trip or a cruise. You will find it amazingly simple to navigate with a little research. But if you're a little nervous, you can easily sign up for city tours anywhere you're going - just like cruise excursions. Often times they pick you up right at the hotel and then give a guided tour (in English) of attractions of interest to you. You will pay a little more than if you got from place to place on your own, but it's very easy and convenient if you find a tour that suits your interests.

[LoveThisCruisingThing]

I have traveled solo for many years now. I cruised from Seattle, where I have family so I do go a few days before/after. I live about 2 hours from San Francisco so no need to visit. I have been to several places where I didn't know the language and I was solo. I went to Paris by myself and it was so easy to get around. They are a wonderful "subway" system that is very easy to use. I don't know if "scary" is the right word but I do take precautions. I go out only in daylight, don't go out at night, try to learn a few keys words in the native language (hello, good bye, that sort of thing), read tour books and bring them with me as well as a dictionary. I have also been to NYC by myself and followed the same precautions.

[JerseyJaguar]

I did the Fantasy out of New Orleans last year, went to NOLA a couple days early and stayed an extra night after the ship docked. I stayed at a hotel in the Warehouse district not far from the French Quarter. I went to the zoo, did some tours and just had a great time. Nothing to be scared of, just don't be wandering the streets alone and drunk late at night.

 

I also have done many cities on my own, Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, San Diego, Orlando, Fairbanks, etc. As long as you aren't being foolish, there's no reason you can't be safe.

 

I still haven't done a foreign country other than Canada (aside from Mexico via ship) on my own. I think I'll start with England and Ireland when I finally do, still have a lot of the US to see though.

[Carolyn R]

The best thing to do if you take a solo cruise is to be active in your roll call. I did a transatlantic cruise solo last spring and met and planned tours with many of the people that I met before the cruise on my roll call. I even met a new friend with whom I shared a hotel room before and after the cruise though we each had our own cabin on the ship. Oh my, I do like having my own cabin. It made a real difference knowing a nice group of people beforehand since I was traveling alone. I am doing the reverse transatlantic this fall Venice to Fort Lauderdale on the Ruby Princess with my best friend. We are the "Ruby Stars" and have a fantastic roll call going, great plans for tours, great fun.

[MMDown Under]

I did the Fantasy out of New Orleans last year, went to NOLA a couple days early and stayed an extra night after the ship docked. I stayed at a hotel in the Warehouse district not far from the French Quarter. I went to the zoo, did some tours and just had a great time. Nothing to be scared of, just don't be wandering the streets alone and drunk late at night.

 

I also have done many cities on my own, Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, San Diego, Orlando, Fairbanks, etc. As long as you aren't being foolish, there's no reason you can't be safe.

 

I still haven't done a foreign country other than Canada (aside from Mexico via ship) on my own. I think I'll start with England and Ireland when I finally do, still have a lot of the US to see though.

 

Don't forget to put Australia and NZ on your future wish list, as the people are very friendly and we speak the same language. :)

[Lois R]

Don't forget to put Australia and NZ on your future wish list, as the people are very friendly and we speak the same language. :)

 

Hi Marion and Barry:)...oh yea...going downunder is something I have

wanted to do for years and years....one day for sure.:)it is on my wish list

before I leave this earth!!!

[happy trailer]

I go out only in daylight,don't go out at night, try to learn a few keys words in the native language (hello, good bye, that sort of thing), read tour books and bring them with me as well as a dictionary. I have also been to NYC by myself and followed the same precautions.

 

 

If you don't go out at night, then you're cutting out half your enjoyment and exploring time! I always make sure to book one night tour or walk, book a couple of shows, and plan on at least one fancy dinner - the last thing I want to do is spend every night in my hotel room! In Paris I took a cruise on the Seine at night, and it was marvelous! (When out at night I usually take cabs rather than walking or public transportation- but not always.)

 

Berlitz makes great pocket sized phrase dictionaries that you can 'study' before your trip, and easily slip into a bag or pocket while you travel. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that my high school French came back while I was in Paris- I was sure I had slept thru those classes :p

 

I look for free or inexpensive walking tours, and sometimes wind up making further touring plans with people I've met on those tours. I love traveling solo, but I also enjoy meeting new people, and have found walking tours to be great for both touring and socializing. Most major cities in Europe and elsewhere have English language walking tours- in Paris, you can find them under 'Paris Walks,' and in London, 'London Walks'. I've used them both and recommend them highly. There are links on their web sites to other walking tours in other cities.

 

I take all the usual precautions that I would take in any city when I travel (I walk with confidence, carry a PacSafe bag, etc.) But, as corny as it sounds, just about the best 'asset' I've found is to always have a smile on my face. I'm a 50-something grandmother, but when I square back my shoulders and put on a big smile, people seem happy to meet me, offer suggestions, and help with directions.

 

Don't forget to put Australia and NZ on your future wish list, as the people are very friendly and we speak the same language. :)

 

I'm heading there this fall! Airfares to Sydney dropped so low that my long-standing dream pretty much fell into my lap :D I'll be spending a week in Sydney with a friend, then head over to New Zealand on my own. I can't wait!

[JerseyJaguar]

Don't forget to put Australia and NZ on your future wish list, as the people are very friendly and we speak the same language. :)

If it wasn't for the long flight I would, I've met a bunch of people from your part of the world on my two Alaska trips and enjoyed their company immensely.

[KruzPrincess]

Oh I've always wanted to go to New Orleans but I have no one to go with. I've heard it can be a scary place for a solo female. So I'm trying to find a fun cruise that leaves from there so I can go a few days early and check it out without having friends and family tell me I shouldn't go there alone. For some reason they don't give me a hard time when I'm going on a cruise solo. LOL

 

Joanne

 

I wouldn't go to the French Quarter by myself at night. I did that during the day. I'd go to casinos at night. I stayed out by the airport and would drive into downtown during the day. There's a nice little casino at Lake Ponchetraine (sp?) (I haven't checked on it since Katrina) and I'd go there. They have concerts. There's Hilton down the block or more affordable hotels near the airport. Mostly, I loved driving out to the plantations and touring them. I really felt safe all the time, but I was careful down in the city. I took a drive to Natchez one time and down the highway that circles the gulf. There's lots to do.

[Ladybentley]

If you don't go out at night, then you're cutting out half your enjoyment and exploring time! I always make sure to book one night tour or walk, book a couple of shows, and plan on at least one fancy dinner - the last thing I want to do is spend every night in my hotel room! In Paris I took a cruise on the Seine at night, and it was marvelous! (When out at night I usually take cabs rather than walking or public transportation- but not always.)

 

 

I was in Paris on my own a week before Christmas a few years ago and went out after dark - really had to in order to get the most out of the trip as it gets dark so early at the time of the year. I took a Seine river cruise that finished late at night and thought about getting a taxi but in the end I just took the subway and a quick walk back to my hotel. It was just fine. And I can really recommend London Walks and Paris Walks - I've done walks with both and they were excellent!

 

I agree about using the subway in European cities - easier than buses because you know exactly where to get off. I've been to several European cities on my own. Vienna is a favourite because it has a compact centre within "the ring" . You can walk to all the sights easily and so many people speak English.

 

I'm planning my first solo cruise to Hawaii next year as DH can't come and I'm really looking forward to it. I've been researching shore excursions to decide what I want to do. I think I may take some of the ship excursions especially in the tender ports to avoid the risk of not making it back to the ship on time. But I shall do my own thing in Honolulu.

[mtwingcpa]

Have you traveled solo to places where you didn't speak the language before? If so, was it hard to get around?

 

Yes - Los Angeles and Miami!!!

 

And, yes, it can be difficult if there isn't someone else around who can interpret.

[rav4lady]

I traveled solo to Turkey last year for 3wks, did my own planning and booking. I had a wonderful time and want to go back. I did meet lots of people, took public buses, trams and dolmuses. I highly recommend solo travel, just be sure and prepare beforehand and take normal precautions. :D I feel that cruising solo isn't truly a solo vacation, everyone on the ship is on the same trip, you just have your own room and haven't met allof them yet!

[AmoMondo]

On my next cruise I'm spending 2 extra nights in Durban as it seemed a pity to spen the best part of 3 weeks cruising to South Africa just to get on a plane and come straight home. However if I'm cruising in Europe and it is only a short plane trip i usually go straight there and back.

I frequently stay places where i don't speak the language fluently but usually learn some of the language before I go. I find that if you make an effort to speak some of the local language, people will do their best to help you if you need it

[April7901]

Majority of my travel has been solo. The thing about *every* city is to be aware and cautious and don't be stupid. The French Quarter at night is just fine - just don't get completely trashed, don't carry a bag the size of Australia, and know that the strip clubs are full of extremely drunk groping men.

 

I've gone to a lot of major cities alone, and refuse to sit in my hotel room at night. I certainly would not recommend just wandering around aimlessly without having done some homework, but unless you plan on going to south central LA, there's not much to worry about, really.

 

I went to London with a group from my college, but did the *vast* majority of my wandering and sightseeing on my own. I was glad that I'd done my homework about what I wanted to see, left some time to see things I didn't know I wanted to see, and developed some familiarity with layout of the city and transportation before I got there.

[QueensChick]

I'll be spending a few days pre-cruise in Venice next year when I cruise on Vision and I wouldn't have it any other way.

[crystal blue]

I always arrive a day or two prior to the cruise. Gives me time to relax and then I don't feel rushed on boarding day. I was on the Celebrity Solstice out of Rome in June and I loved being able to see the sites in Rome prior to the cruise.

[SusanC67]

I will be traveling solo this December for my third cruise and I am looking forward to it!

As for arriving early, I would do that whether single or with a traveling companion.

 

I like the idea of arriving early by a day or two.. part of the reason is, if there are any delays or cancellations, they can be dealt with in time to avoid missing the departure of the cruise... also, its nice to explore the area where the port is located.

 

as for exploring on my own, I personally don't mind it at all. I don't allow the lack of a traveling companion to get in the way of me having fun. (now, I wouldn't mind having a companion but since I don't, I am determined to have a good time)

 

Example: I went to niagara falls a few years ago.. on my own and loved it.. had a great time walking around, seeing the falls, shopping, etc.

 

this time, I will go to port canaveral a day or two early.. will stay at a nice hotel, enjoy some good meals, go to the kennedy space center, maybe explore cocoa beach and maybe i might even go to disneyworld!!!

 

Always remember, life is short and its up to all of us to make the most of it while we are here!