Who has cruised solo?

And how did you like it? Did you keep to yourself or meet other people to hang out with? I just got back from a cruise and have a nice credit to use for another that will expire soon and for some reason though I had a blast cruising with my girlfriends as a group ages 22-30 (who wouldnt?) but I kind of have a desire to go by myself just for the adventure. I do like alone time, but I also like to hang out with others sometimes, though I doubt Id have trouble making friends, our group made friends with the other group of girlfriends seated at our dining table, and a few times I wanted to do something different at night than my friends so I went with the other girls, and same for the other girls in both of our groups, we kind of mixed and matched with whoever wanted to do the same thing. I made a lot of friends on the ship. So I think I could find some friends to hang out with at times, but Im still a little nervous about going alone. Can anyone tell me they loved it or hated it?

And how did you like it? Did you keep to yourself or meet other people to hang out with? I just got back from a cruise and have a nice credit to use for another that will expire soon and for some reason though I had a blast cruising with my girlfriends as a group ages 22-30 (who wouldnt?) but I kind of have a desire to go by myself just for the adventure. I do like alone time, but I also like to hang out with others sometimes, though I doubt Id have trouble making friends, our group made friends with the other group of girlfriends seated at our dining table, and a few times I wanted to do something different at night than my friends so I went with the other girls, and same for the other girls in both of our groups, we kind of mixed and matched with whoever wanted to do the same thing. I made a lot of friends on the ship. So I think I could find some friends to hang out with at times, but Im still a little nervous about going alone. Can anyone tell me they loved it or hated it?

Ive taken 4 7 day cruises solo.....love it! I lovedoing what i want to do, without having to answer to anyone, especially my reasoning.

I always get invloved with my roll call and get as involved as I chose with things. Alwyas have found a group that ive spent much time with. Wine beofre dinner and you meet the regulars who come and new friendships start.

I suggest you do it snd have fun!

I have only cruised SOLO one time on a 5 day, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and plan on doing more. It was nice to have a room to myself and things stayed where I put them. With 2 kids, a husband & a dog at home nothing stays in place very long!

I also liked the freedom to do what I wanted, when I wanted. I was always able to find a single seat the theater or sit in the atrium and strike up a conversation with someone nearby. I joined other groups for trivia, bingo, etc. The first day, I spoke to the restaurant maitre'd and asked to be put at a big table so I could meet people. I was seated with 8 others (mostly solos too) and had wonderful conversation each night.

You can always meet new people and hang out when YOU want to. But be alone when you want to as well. I say Go For It! :D

~Helen~

Ive cruised solo lately and will next week. I meet people who sometimes become email friends. The good thing about solo is you can do what you want when you want. Even if you just room with someone you still have to respect them and if you come in later tip toe in or visa versa. It does make you more free to do what you want.

Ive cruised solo lately and will next week. I meet people who sometimes become email friends. The good thing about solo is you can do what you want when you want. Even if you just room with someone you still have to respect them and if you come in later tip toe in or visa versa. It does make you more free to do what you want.

lol yes on our cruise, with the exception of one night, i was always the last of the 4 of us in the room at night.

I sailed solo for the first time last October on the liberty and had a blast!!! I got involved with the cruise critic roll call for that sailing and met some wonderful people, some of the group have another cruise planned for this October out of san juan. I will be sailing in my own cabin again and can't wait!

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Another who has cruised solo and loves it :)

I tend to enjoy spending my time alone on the ship, but with that being said, I have met wonderful people when I chose to. Drinks at the bar, the piano bar in the evening, the casino, meals etc. I ask for a table for 2 so I can read and enjoy my meal but invariably have wound up striking up some wonderful conversations with those seated (close) at the neighbouring tables. I don't feel the need to find others to "do" things with but that was certainly there and offered. People would ask if I wanted to join them on an excursion or at the local bar for a drink, Karaoke night etc. I don't think there really is anything I felt I wanted to do but didn't because I was on my own.

I love answering to myself only when cruising :)

I say go for it!! :)

It's a very popular trend - see here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=373

It's a very popular trend - see here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=373

I've never even looked at that forum. Thanks for the link!

I've taken 4 solo cruises so far, as well as quite a few land trips solo too. If you're a friendly, social, outgoing person (which you seem to be, I read your review ;)), you will have no problem at all meeting new people. You can do your own thing during the day and maybe hang with new friends at night. My first solo cruise was at 27. I say go for it! :D

I've taken 4 solo cruises so far, as well as quite a few land trips solo too. If you're a friendly, social, outgoing person (which you seem to be, I read your review ;)), you will have no problem at all meeting new people. You can do your own thing during the day and maybe hang with new friends at night. My first solo cruise was at 27. I say go for it! :D

Yep, thats me, I am a social butterfly! But for some reason even though the girls and I had a blast together, I dont feel like inviting anyone on the next one, I feel like I need to be brave and just go by myself! Im dying to try the Breeze!

Thanks everyone for the encouragement!

i havent but I would love to :D

I went on the NCL Jewel which wasn't geared for solos and became very upset. I went on the NCL Epic which was great and I loved every minute of it.

I am not introverted by any means, but found the Epic a great match for me.

I would try to do as much research and determine what type of ship might be good for you

I have my first solo cruise booked and i'm very excited. I love my family, but i'm really looking forward to some "me" time. I'll finish my books i've started reading on. I'll sleep when I want, wake when I want, eat what i want, drink what i want etc.

No one to answer to but me. No dh, no kids, no dog, no cats, no laundry...ahhhhhh. i cannot wait!!!

and if i want new friends, i don't think i'll have a problem. i too, am a little social butterfly.

book it, go have fun!

I'm a lot older (51) and took my first solo cruise in almost 20 years this spring and loved it. I spent most of my time alone, by choice, though there were lots of shipboard activities I could have done with others.......I was just so relaxed and chilled, I simply read, walked, dozed, and contemplated the days away on a deck chair. I had great table-mates at dinner, and occasionally met them after at the show or casino, but mostly I did my own thing and chatted happily with people I met on the ship where ever I was (lounge, Lido, cafe, casino). I never once felt lonely or bored.

I'm planning my next solo cruise (a transpacific) for next fall :)

I have done all my cruises as a solo and have enjoyed them all, and I have sailed on most of the mass market lines. I am very comfortable with myself doing things alone or interacting with others. I usually sail for the itinerary and not the ship.

I have been cruising solo for 10 years and I am going again 2 weeks

from tomorrow!..yes, after over 35 cruises, I love cruising solo:)

Why? I can do what I want, when I want, or don't want......

I have been solo almost my entire adult life (I am 55) and cruising is

the best vacation my money can buy....for me? The value is simply

outstanding.

Being pampered for a week..? Good food, relaxtion, great service....:D

Seeing ports If I want and if I have been to that place before I can

always just stay on the ship and relax.

I don't care if I meet other solo cruisers.....I am quite outgoing and

meeting folks is easy for me. Family, couples, solo? It just doesn't matter

to me. If there are solos on board? Fine...but it is not any kind of issue

if there are not.

Did I mentione being pampered?;)......One of the wonderful things

about cruising....unpack once and they take care of you for the rest

of cruise:D

I fly to NJ 2 weeks from TODAY.....sailing 2 weeks from tomorrow:D

Last 6 of 7 cruise traveled solo, love it, and do it as much as I can. Great thing is you can have your alone time or spend time with friends, whatever fits your fancy at the moment. Be sure to introduce yourself on your roll call and get to know folks and dinner mates before hand.

I'm going on my 3rd solo cruise in September and have 3 more solo cruises booked after that.

I did it for the first time when I was 29 and I loved it and couldn't wait to do it again. To date, my favourite cruise is my 2nd solo trip on the Explorer.

I love the idea that I get the room to myself and I can do what I want, when I want and how I want. I don't need to think about anyone else's vacation except mines. I say go for it! You may find afterwards, as I did with my last two cruises, that I don't think I could go back to sharing a cabin.

I have been on three cruises as a solo. I enjoyed every minute of it. I did want I wanted to do and did not have to worry about pleasing anyone but myself. I did not eat in the dining room but met several people on the ship at the shows and by the pool.

I say go for it. I have cruised two times solo and have my third one booked solo as well. I made a lot of friends and had a GREAT time. From your post, I know you will enjoy yourself.

I'm quite a bit older than most of you. I've booked my very first Solo for

Dec. It's my next new adventure. I have a list of them. I'm ready to go. You can do it too.

Carol

I have been to Hawaii and back on Princess 3 times as a solo cruiser.

I do get a huge cruise discount because I am a employee of a Princess related company so that helps a lot with costs. So close to Platinum status so one more cruise to go to get that.

Solo is the way to go, no baggage so to speak. There is a chance I will take my son this time because he is 18 years old this year.

To be honest I could not imagine doing a non solo cruise. I hate the thought of having to share the not really spacious cabins with someone else. The time span from seeing an itinerary and date that looks promising to booking is often only 24 hours or less so coordinating with friends and their vacation schedules would be difficult.

Before going the first time I thought it would be super awkward and everyone would notice that I am alone and stare at me. But to be honest I think most don't even notice. I have seen lots of friends and even couples that do different things during the day or evenings or eat alone at breakfast or lunch.

The only time you can probably notice a real solo traveler is for dinner.

It may depend on the cruise line and itinerary but I got the impression it is so normal nowadays that no one acts surprised when you say you want a table for you alone at dinner. I love it now.

Before going the first time I thought it would be super awkward and everyone would notice that I am alone and stare at me. But to be honest I think most don't even notice. I have seen lots of friends and even couples that do different things during the day or evenings or eat alone at breakfast or lunch.

The only time you can probably notice a real solo traveler is for dinner.

And even that can be hard to detect with assigned seating, except through conversation if you're sitting at that person's table. (I think NCL puts solos at a disadvantage by not having assigned tables.) I cruised solo twice, and didn't feel awkward even for a second. Come to think of it, I reached a point where I prefer to cruise solo, unless it's with someone who has no problems splitting off from time to time. One person I almost went with was terrified of being alone on the cruise, and wanted to be joined at the hip at all times. So I went solo. The freedom to whatever I feel like and not have to compromise with anyone was great. It really felt like I had the ship all to myself.