Cruising Solo for 1st time

My wife passed away last year. We did 12 cruises together. I can do an 8 night Pride over Thanksgiving for $950 including tax, fees and gratuities. The ship actually sails on the first anniversary of her passing Nov. 22. Any advice. Will I have a good time alone? Thanks

So sorry for your loss, I would imagine that this cruise will be bittersweet without her, but I think you should do it! I would request a large table at dinner so you have opportunities to meet and chat with people, and be sure to get on the role call of the cruise to hopefully meet others who will be cruising with you. I don't know how outgoing you are, or the types of things you enjoy doing but I think you could have a good time! Enjoy! :)

My wife passed away last year. We did 12 cruises together. I can do an 8 night Pride over Thanksgiving for $950 including tax, fees and gratuities. The ship actually sails on the first anniversary of her passing Nov. 22. Any advice. Will I have a good time alone? Thanks

Condolences on the loss of your dear wife. I am sorry for your pain.

I have done 2 solos and have really enjoyed both of them. Spend a lot of time out on deck, talking with folks. I was amazed at how many folks I met and some I continue to communicate with.

Carnival does a great job in placing other solos together in the dining room and that's nice too. You get to meet other folks traveling solo too.

I hope you do the cruise.

Jeff

jsamuel2@tampabay.rr.com

I'm so sorry for your loss!

I do agree with others that I think Carnival does seem to do a good job placing solos together at the dining room tables, so hopefully you will be able to meet people at dinner and have people to chat with.

Honestly though, only you can decide if you will be ok traveling for the first time without your wife.

My mom and my grandma did a cruise around the same time after my grandpa died. It was good for them to get away and start fresh with new memories and start the healing process. But, again, only you know if you are ready for that. But, I do think if you are at the point of looking at cruises that you may be ready to go! It sounds like you have found a great deal!

I'm so sorry for your loss!

 

I do agree with others that I think Carnival does seem to do a good job placing solos together at the dining room tables, so hopefully you will be able to meet people at dinner and have people to chat with.

 

Honestly though, only you can decide if you will be ok traveling for the first time without your wife.

 

My mom and my grandma did a cruise around the same time after my grandpa died. It was good for them to get away and start fresh with new memories and start the healing process. But, again, only you know if you are ready for that. But, I do think if you are at the point of looking at cruises that you may be ready to go! It sounds like you have found a great deal!

This sums it up very nicely. Sorry to hear about your wife. If you are ready to go, then I say go and have a blast. I've never heard of someone going solo and then saying....wow, that stunk. I'm sure it has happened. I just haven't heard it personally.

Good for you thinking about a cruise...looking forward to something is the biggest uplift for most of us and it seems to really help when life throws us a lemon.

I've cruised solo and LOVED it, though I did do things differently. For the first time I actually did ship sponsored excursions...mostly sight seeing trips and things a bit more sedentary. Greatest way to start a conversation...ask another passenger to use your camera and take pics of you whether on land or on the boat.

Use the dining room as much as possible for breakfast and brunch. And ask to be seated with others every chance you get. Go to trivia and ask to join a group...people are great at accepting perfect strangers.

Strike up conversations in the casino, sit at the bar next to people who seem interesting. But don't forget to relax and have some solo time, read that best seller you've been dying to get to or load your kindle with some books that are "old friends" where you know you can get lost in the story. Do plenty of walking, try out a few pieces of equipment at the fitness center, take a steam bath or just relax in a hot tub.

OK...now I'm officially envious.

Good for you thinking about a cruise...looking forward to something is the biggest uplift for most of us and it seems to really help when life throws us a lemon.

 

I've cruised solo and LOVED it, though I did do things differently. For the first time I actually did ship sponsored excursions...mostly sight seeing trips and things a bit more sedentary. Greatest way to start a conversation...ask another passenger to use your camera and take pics of you whether on land or on the boat.

 

Use the dining room as much as possible for breakfast and brunch. And ask to be seated with others every chance you get. Go to trivia and ask to join a group...people are great at accepting perfect strangers.

 

Strike up conversations in the casino, sit at the bar next to people who seem interesting. But don't forget to relax and have some solo time, read that best seller you've been dying to get to or load your kindle with some books that are "old friends" where you know you can get lost in the story. Do plenty of walking, try out a few pieces of equipment at the fitness center, take a steam bath or just relax in a hot tub.

 

OK...now I'm officially envious.

Excellent advice. You covered it well. Thanks.

I am sorry for your loss.

I'm in the same boat (pun?) as you. My DH passed in May.

We had done 10/11 cruises.

I had 2 booked, when he starting getting really ill (lung cancer) I cancelled both.

After he passed, I rebooked one of the originals. It's a 14 day in March.

I also booked the Pride for 11/22. I had planned on going alone, but now my 16 yr. old grandson is joining me.

This will be his 1st cruise, so I'm excited for him.

I think the others have given excellent advice. I hope we both enjoy our cruises.

They will be different, but hopefully good. :)

My wife passed away last year. We did 12 cruises together. I can do an 8 night Pride over Thanksgiving for $950 including tax, fees and gratuities. The ship actually sails on the first anniversary of her passing Nov. 22. Any advice. Will I have a good time alone? Thanks

I'm sorry for your loss.

The quick answer to whether you can have a good time cruising alone is yes. There are lots of people who cruise solo (including yours truly) and they have fun, so you can too. It's just a matter of what you want out of your trip. Being alone means you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. I think it's great, but you may not.

Also, it might be worthwhile to check out the Solo Cruisers sub-forum: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=373

My DH passed a year before my 1st solo cruise. I was on the Glory for what would have been our 35th wedding anniversary. I met the most amazing people. I had more options than I had ever had before as people were so open to my solo cruising. I took some up for port activities where I wanted to go, went to some entertainment venues with others and had all the space I needed to be lonely or sad when needed. It was an amazing experience. Get out there and be open with people.

My story is not so cheery. My first solo was my hardest, it's just how I mentally responded. I did okay until elegant night when it hit hard. That was "our" time. I wound up going to the buffet, then going to areas non related to the promenade. I have since been on a few solos with no regret. My moments became smaller and smaller to the point I now prefer to go solo! The hard times are not having night conversations about the day.

On my last cruise I met a gentleman who was on his first cruise since he was widowed. We are still in touch via e mail. He struggled going alone, but was glad he went.

I wish you well.

I don't see it as "uncheerie" at all. I too went through a few struggles my first cruise without my husband. Not having photos taken as we usually did, not having that evening conversation about how our day was or what we would do the next were all a bit difficult and on a couple of occasions caused some tears. But that was outweighed by so much of the positive that I would do it again in a heartbeat. I loved not waiting on someone else, not eating at the buffet (not even once), going to bed and sleeping in when I wanted or sitting and listening to music at the piano bar for however long "I" wanted.

I know your wife would want you to have a good time.

Check out the roll call for your cruise. Our roll calls almost always have a few solos.

nivrag,

(hugs) My Mom felt the same way after my Dad passed.

This is a personal decision you must make, but I certainly hope you decide to sail and have a great time. Like all "firsts" after a spouse passes away, you will feel the impact.

If you want, have a good cry and then laugh away the tears when you think of a wonderful memory. You are entitled. Stand along a deck, look into the sunset and lift a glass of champagne (or cup of coffee!) to your beloved. She certainly would have wanted you to enjoy your time. No doubt, you will meet some great people along the way.

I wish you well with your plans, whatever they may be.

First of all, I am so very sorry for your loss. If cruising was an interest that you and your wife shared, then I think a cruise would be an awesome way to keep her memory alive. As mentioned, you could certainly connect with other solo cruisers as well as plan some alone time doing something you enjoy. Roll Calls are great places to find others for shore excursions, etc. The quality of your time will be a matter of your mindset and desire to seek opportunities for fun and interaction. I think your wife would want you to have a great time.

nivrag,

 

 

 

(hugs) My Mom felt the same way after my Dad passed.

 

 

 

This is a personal decision you must make, but I certainly hope you decide to sail and have a great time. Like all "firsts" after a spouse passes away, you will feel the impact.

 

 

 

If you want, have a good cry and then laugh away the tears when you think of a wonderful memory. You are entitled. Stand along a deck, look into the sunset and lift a glass of champagne (or cup of coffee!) to your beloved. She certainly would have wanted you to enjoy your time. No doubt, you will meet some great people along the way.

 

 

 

I wish you well with your plans, whatever they may be.

Beautifully said

Nivrag, others have provided some excellent comments related to your concern about whether or not to go solo. I just wanted to say how sorry I am about your loss. Whatever you do, it is your decision and you won't go it alone, God is there for you. Peace.

Any thoughts OP?

Sorry for your loss.

My wife passed away last year. We did 12 cruises together. I can do an 8 night Pride over Thanksgiving for $950 including tax, fees and gratuities. The ship actually sails on the first anniversary of her passing Nov. 22. Any advice. Will I have a good time alone? Thanks

All I can do is offer you my experience in this matter. First, please accept my condolences on the loss of your wife. My husband passed away July, 2012, and, like you, we traveled and cruised extensively. Come his birthday in September that year, I decided I did not want to sit home and try to be smiley and pretend I was fine around all our grown children. So I told myself I needed to see if I could still travel on my own. In hindsight, what I truly was doing was running away...but that was ok. So I booked an 8-day out of NYC on the Miracle. My thinking was I would try to have a good time, but if I chose to cry and be depressed the whole time, I could do that too. I would never see these people again!

All the advice given by Sweet Dutch Girl is spot on. I wound up meeting many wonderful people, many of whom I am still in contact with thanks to FB; and I believe God brought those people into my life at that moment for a reason. Had a fabulous time, altho I experienced some depression after I returned home.

I continue to do my Annual Husband's Birthday Cruise, 4th one coming up. This year I'm going to try and decide if I am trying to live in the past or truly honoring our memories in a good way.

Recently, Carnival sent me a fabulous offer, and I went ahead and booked a few extra cruises. Next week I leave for my first "no special reason" solo cruise.....just because I feel like I deserve it. I'm hoping for the best and this may be a turning point for me! Here's hoping!!

The only thing I could add to Sweet Dutch Girl's advice is to absolutely join the roll call for your cruise here on CC and go to the Meet & Greet. Its very nice to have a least a few friendly faces while onboard.

Solo cruising is becoming more and more popular. You will be surprised how many you meet!

I wish you a wonderful voyage!

I am sorry to hear about your wife and I can totally identify with your concern. My first cruise after my wife died was difficult but you have been given some wonderful advice. And from my experience, it is all spot-on. I am confident you will have a pleasant cruise. Frank

I appreciate all the kind words and advice. I just can't seem to make up my mind. I just don't know if I can go without her. I still have a month before final payment to make up my mind. I'm going to talk to my brother and get his opinion too.

I loved cruising and it took a while to decide, but the sea called me. I said to myself, I'm still alive and why am I depriving myself because my partner is gone? There is nothing I can do about it. Is it the same, no, but life off a cruise is different too. Now I have new memories to think about.:)

I may be a strange one, but if I was on the same cruise as you I would not mind if you had pictures of your wife and your travels together to show your happy times.

I am not suggesting you push those pictures on people, but some of us would be interested seeing them. Think of it as another way to keep your memories of her alive.