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6th cruise... FIRST SOLO!!! A little nervous...


rene194215
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I just booked a 5 night on the Carnival Paradise for Oct. I have been on 5 other cruises and have always had a wonderful time! I have been wanting to do a solo for a while and finally now I am. But I guess there is a nervousness there. I think of certain situations and am like oh alone that might be odd.

 

Does anyone have words of wisdom and advise? I almost did your time dining so I would not be stuck at a table on my own. I am not super outgoing and many times not the first to start a conversation but once its started I am good. I wonder about evenings, I know there is much to do. I know I want to relax, get some sun, sleep. I have spent time on my own on cruises while the other person naps or goes to the gym. I like to hang out towards the back of the ship at the pool and sun. I like the casino at night and the shows.

 

Thanks in advance!

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Hi, my top tip would be just do everything you would if you were with someone else. Being single is a great conversation ice breaker as people tend to ask if you are on your own & with 5 cruises under your belt you've plenty of experience to share with first timers too. I tend to plan my evening around the shows & entertainment and use the casino or a quiet drink to fill gaps in the evening and I go with anytime dining so I can eat when it fits best for me.

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I just booked a 5 night on the Carnival Paradise for Oct. I have been on 5 other cruises and have always had a wonderful time! I have been wanting to do a solo for a while and finally now I am. But I guess there is a nervousness there. I think of certain situations and am like oh alone that might be odd.

 

Does anyone have words of wisdom and advise? I almost did your time dining so I would not be stuck at a table on my own. I am not super outgoing and many times not the first to start a conversation but once its started I am good. I wonder about evenings, I know there is much to do. I know I want to relax, get some sun, sleep. I have spent time on my own on cruises while the other person naps or goes to the gym. I like to hang out towards the back of the ship at the pool and sun. I like the casino at night and the shows.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

If you are concerned about being stuck at a table on your own - make sure you request a large table.....I've always been seated with at least one other solo traveler as well as finding the couples I've met to be very welcoming - we'd often end up planning our after dinner adventures together.

 

Even if you aren't a drinker, I find that a poolside bar (for that matter almost any of the bars) is a good place to strike up conversations with both staff and fellow passengers.

 

I've met lots of folks at the Serenity area just because they had a chair near me and struck up a conversation, which is great because I'm a bit shy and not the one to speak first.

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I think you will enjoy your cruise as a solo. You have the prior cruise experience so you know how things work aboard ship, but I think you will enjoy the freedom of not having to worry about anyone but yourself. No roomie to tell you we have to try this or we have to try that. You can do as much or as little as you chose to. I would join the roll call for your trip as that way you will have a few people that you know aboard ship, and you can than either choose to spend time with them if you hit it off, or avoid them if you don't. Have a great trip.

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You will have a great time!

 

I'm going on my 4th solo cruise in a couple weeks and I'm beyond excited. I also would recommend to join your roll call. My roll call is great and I have booked an excursion with members through there.

 

I love the complete freedom I have when I travel solo and am booking my future cruises as solo trips as well.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using the Cruise Critic App

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Thank you all! I realized too that even when I am with someone, that first lunch at the buffet is a bit nerve wrecking because there are so many people and you are trying to find a place to sit and all. :( I guess I am just ganna have to suck it up. My flight wont be in till 1245 that day and I probubly will not be at the port until almost 2. Thats the latest I think I have ever gotten to a port but my flight options are limited.

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Thank you all! I realized too that even when I am with someone, that first lunch at the buffet is a bit nerve wrecking because there are so many people and you are trying to find a place to sit and all. :( I guess I am just ganna have to suck it up. My flight wont be in till 1245 that day and I probubly will not be at the port until almost 2. Thats the latest I think I have ever gotten to a port but my flight options are limited.

 

 

Haha - I thought it was just me that felt like that on day 1. However I just remind myself I'm on my holidays, which is worth a smile :-) A tip for the buffet though, when you find a space leave a book (or something non valuable) next to your food/drink if you leave your seat. Can't count the number of times the cleaners have cleared away a full plate of food while I've been away topping up my drink!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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  • 2 weeks later...

I was terrified before my first solo. The thought of sitting at the show alone, or having dinner alone. Ug. But I found it not to be the case. First of all, get on your ship's roll call and start getting to know people ahead of time. Go to the solo lunches and other events to meet people. You can also attend the LGBT meetups to meet fun, open-minded people who often don't mind more company. Get to know the entertainers. I found on my last solo cruise of 16 nights, I started hating the my time dining as every night I had to retell the story of who I was, my job, my hobbies, why I'm traveling alone, etc. It got to where I started getting room service or searching for tables of people I'd already met.

 

Have a blast!

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I was terrified before my first solo. The thought of sitting at the show alone, or having dinner alone. Ug. But I found it not to be the case. First of all, get on your ship's roll call and start getting to know people ahead of time. Go to the solo lunches and other events to meet people. You can also attend the LGBT meetups to meet fun, open-minded people who often don't mind more company. Get to know the entertainers. I found on my last solo cruise of 16 nights, I started hating the my time dining as every night I had to retell the story of who I was, my job, my hobbies, why I'm traveling alone, etc. It got to where I started getting room service or searching for tables of people I'd already met.

 

Have a blast!

 

You make a lot of points that I found interesting and I would like to comment on. They may or may not be of relevance to our OP.

 

I've never been nervous about going anywhere solo. I've done it most of my life and I usually find it quite liberating. Others may have been made uncomfortable by my presence, but I don't care about them.

 

I like the suggestions about meeting people, though my varied travels are almost never primarily about meeting people. That happens naturally enough for me.

 

I would imagine explaining the same old things to a slightly different crowd over 16 days would get very tiresome. In thinking about it, however, I would consider the alternative worse. Everyone's mileage will very.

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Thank you all! I realized too that even when I am with someone, that first lunch at the buffet is a bit nerve wrecking because there are so many people and you are trying to find a place to sit and all. :( I guess I am just ganna have to suck it up. My flight wont be in till 1245 that day and I probubly will not be at the port until almost 2. Thats the latest I think I have ever gotten to a port but my flight options are limited.

 

Ugh-- people are animals during the first buffet. If I don't get on the ship early, I look for an alternate venue to eat.

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GaryT-UK- thanks for the suggestion of the book! I would have never thought of that! I am hoping that by the time I get on board a lot of people will have been through already and headed to thier rooms! I anticipate getting to the port around 2 which I think I mentioned in another post is LATE for me. I am usually there at 11. But since this one leaves on a Sat I cannot fly out Fri, so my only option is a 610am flight in at 12 or a 650 flight in at 1250. I debate om the 610 flight. Whats 40 min right? LOL:D

 

penguinscott- I actually do not mind the shows by myself. Might be a little odd in the comedy show but the theater I am good! I started my roll call about a month ago and only 1 couple has joined and no word from them since their first post:( Maybe too early?

 

I know I will make the most of it! I mean a big part of this trip is to get away and have me time but there are those times where you will be interacting with people.

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Regarding the buffet issue, watch out for people who look friendly with a spare space at their table and ask if you can please sit there. This has two good points - they can watch your spot for you whilst you go up for food, and you can end up meeting some new friends.

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Regarding the buffet issue, watch out for people who look friendly with a spare space at their table and ask if you can please sit there. This has two good points - they can watch your spot for you whilst you go up for food, and you can end up meeting some new friends.

 

Thats a good idea. I did not even think about that! Maybe I will find another solo!!! But I really hope that the rollcall for this cruise actually gets some attention. I mean its still over 6 months:rolleyes:

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  • 3 weeks later...
Thats a good idea. I did not even think about that! Maybe I will find another solo!!! But I really hope that the rollcall for this cruise actually gets some attention. I mean its still over 6 months:rolleyes:

 

And an update since, only 1 other group has joined the roll call and it is a honeymoon cruise with about 20 people. I hope more will join:o

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