Traveling solo late 30's guy

[JustinAjax]

I've always enjoyed traveling solo and this year for Christmas I was thinking of taking a river cruise (looking at Luftner). The per diem doesn't look like it can be beat, versus checking into a nice hotel, meals, renting a car, etc. I've also thought of taking a transatlantic cruise but seeing different cities in Germany and/or Austria really appeals to me. I've never been on a river cruise and was wondering, as a late 30's single guy am I going to stick out like a sore thumb?

[RichardandMark]

...I say, Go for it...chances are, you will be in a group of people and no one will notice or care...enjoy your ability TO travel...someday you may not be able to...we are doing Luftner for the very first time and our first River Cruise,,,cant wait!

[cruisingmad]

If you don't mind traveling solo, and if enjoying the travel experience itself is your main motivator, I also encourage you to try out a river cruise.

I've always traveled alone, and the travel experience itself is my main motivator, so I always have a great time, both researching the places I'll visit and enjoying the actual experience.

You will always meet very nice people when you travel, and a river cruise is far more intimate than an ocean cruise (around 150 passengers in a river boat), so you will get to know some of these people really well. I've always found people whose company I enjoy during my travels.

Having said that, the demographics of a river cruise weighs toward the older crowd. I'm 67 now, but I've been traveling solo since I turned 30 and I've never regretted it. So, as a late-30s solo traveler, you will probably stand out a bit, but I wouldn't let that bother me (it never bothered me). It all depends on your personality and your priorities.

A transatlantic cruise is wonderful, and you will definitely NOT stand out. You will be one among a couple of thousand passengers, many of them traveling solo. These cruises also tend to attract older passengers, as contrasted with your typical Caribbean cruise.

TAs are a great value ($), and if you're like me, I enjoy the mix of visiting a few ports for sightseeing and a few quiet "sea days" to enjoy the ship and to do whatever I want. River cruises, in contrast, are fairly intensive sightseeing trips, with very few "quiet" moments... Every day you will be in a different town. Christmas markets are great.

Sergio

[altiva]

Do you really think that people pay/will pay that much attention to you? Just curious.

[id est]

Originally Posted by altiva

Do you really think that people pay/will pay that much attention to you? Just curious.

They definitely will: especially single women in late 50's - early 60's group. On our last river cruise we had a single 40 years old guy and he had a great success

[JustinAjax]

I don't think people pay that much attention to me as a rule, no. I am by no means conceited. Not what I meant at all in my post.

[cbb]

JustinAjax,
First, welcome to CCritic! Secondly, don't worry too much about what others think. Go, enjoy, do your own thing.

River cruising is a great way to see small towns and villages. Often the ship pulls right into the historic center and it is a short walk to seeing wonderful things (and eating, drinking, shopping, and taking photos.....well, you get the idea!)

[altiva]

Originally Posted by Aragon

They definitely will: especially single women in late 50's - early 60's group. On our last river cruise we had a single 40 years old guy and he had a great success

Well, then this cruise will come with a perk for the OP.

[altiva]

There was a similar post here, on river cruising. A woman in her 60-ies asked about travelling solo. She asked if she'd manage and if it was safe. Standing out like a soar thumb did not occur to her.

[altiva]

Originally Posted by cbb

JustinAjax,
First, welcome to CCritic! Secondly, don't worry too much about what others think. Go, enjoy, do your own thing.

River cruising is a great way to see small towns and villages. Often the ship pulls right into the historic center and it is a short walk to seeing wonderful things (and eating, drinking, shopping, and taking photos.....well, you get the idea!)

Don't worry, little tyke, mummy's here.