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Recent widow, thinking about solo cruise


Squeaky52
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This is a great thread. I lost my husband in February after an extended illness. I'm taking the kids (in their 20s) on a cruise in August to arrange for the burial of his ashes at sea per my husband's wishes. It's been difficult to get the kids' schedules coordinated, and I doubt they'll want to use their vacation time to travel with me in the future.

 

I've been thinking about starting to go solo in the future (age 60). I wanted to get an idea about whether it's a good experience for widows/widowers, or if the loneliness can be difficult. This thread was helpful, and I appreciated everyone who talked about their experiences!

 

I'm still a little confused as to whether there are certain cruise lines or ships that are better or more welcoming for older solos. NCL's EPIC sounds great for solos, but their solo cabins look so tiny. I anticipate that I'd want to settle into a cabin for a lot of rest (I have a high stress job and was a caregiver for 12 years -- I have a lot of sleep to catch up on!). I was thinking that I'd get a balcony by myself, keeping costs down by cruising off-season.

 

Can anyone give me cruise-line recommendations for solos? All suggestions will be appreciated. Our family went on about 7 RCL cruises, 7 Carnival cruises, 1 Celebrity and 1 NCL cruise in the past. My spouse and I had scheduled a trip on Princess, but my company made me miss that one (at least I was reimbursed for the cost of the cruise).

 

Which line do you prefer when traveling solo? Why?

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Hi, I was married 42 years when I lost my husband in Nov 2010. We had cruised together around 8 times between the Med and the Caribbean. I have since cruised with my sister and mum, and have now booked to go solo around Australia and New Zealand this Nov. I have received many encouraging posts from other solo cruisers which have helped put my mind at rest. I stay in Scotland so it is a big trip but I know my husband will be by my side cheering me on!! When u have been part of a very happy marriage every day on ur own is a challenge, but I just tell myself to get up and do it. Hope these posts help u to book a cruise soon. Good luck x

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I actually wrote a thread on this a couple of months back so hope I am not repeating myself . I am 59 this year,lost my husband to mnd last year but in November 2012 I got a great single price deal on an NCL cruise out of Barcelona so worked up the courage to go. It was really good and I am so glad I did it and like crannicky says I did feel that my husband was by my side cheering me on . The only thing I would say is that I did not think that ncl was ideal for solos because of the freestyle dining . I feel that it would be better to have traditional large table dining where you can get to meet and know some fellow travellers . I have in fact booked another cruise for November this year. Again it was a great offer 18 nights on MSC divina Venice to Miami with lots of stops in the carribbean then 2 nights in an hotel in the art deco district . Single prices for any type of holiday are always way over the top but I have registered with cruisevillage .co.uk to be notified of any good single deals. The MSC one that I have just booked cost just under £1000, that was flying from gatwick so i did have to pay extra for glasgow -gatwick flights but none the less it's an excellent deal. I can't stress enough how ideal cruising is for solo travellers .You feel so much safer than you would roaming around a holiday resort by yourself so please don't hesitate in trying it out. Heather

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Thank you Heather. I feel so much better about doing this cruise since receiving so many positive reports from people such as yourself. My husband and I flew to Miami to pick up a cruise around the Caribbean and stayed overnight there before boarding.mLoved it and I am sure u will as well. Thank u again and have a great cruise.

 

Anne

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Yes, Andrew, it is good to hear about a solo cruise from another perspective. I was recently widowed in Nov. 2012. I surprised myself even thinking about going on a cruise by myself. Do's and don'ts keep popping into my head, so of course I can't make a decision. As much as I feel the need to get away, I can't get myself to go ahead with it. Madmarti:eek:

I can relate to what your going through about solo cruising. I also have the same

problem, trying to decide what to do. I have a cruise I would really like to go on in Oct out of Boston Ma, but can't get myself to do it. Hope you have better luck then I do.

 

cruisequeenone

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Yes, Andrew, it is good to hear about a solo cruise from another perspective. I was recently widowed in Nov. 2012. I surprised myself even thinking about going on a cruise by myself. Do's and don'ts keep popping into my head, so of course I can't make a decision. As much as I feel the need to get away, I can't get myself to go ahead with it. Madmarti:eek:

 

I was in the same boat. I lost my wife only 21 days after our last cruise in Aug. I loved cruising she not so much. She went to keep me Happy. My kids kept telling me to go for it and I took the plunge. I am going next Jan in a studio on Epic. The more I read the more excited I get. I think once you do it, you will want many more.

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  • 1 month later...

I lost my husband 17 years ago.My sister treated me for my first cruise 18 months after that.

I have now done 21 but only one solo for a weekend!!!so not really the real feel!

 

y friends are not that interested in cruises but I would LOVE to be brave and go solo!!!

I am gong on NCL Epic in four weeks time with ten other people but they are my daughter and her husband's family.I am the eleventh and have a solo cabin. So I shall see how those cabins are and will maybe get a taste of being solo!!!:)

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I hope u enjoy and decide to try going solo. I am both excited and nervous about my cruise but with all the info I have had from other solo cruisers I am sure it will be fine. I have booked a balcony cabin so I can enjoy a wee bit "me" time if I feel like being on my own, and have booked myself into a table of 10 every night for dinner. My husband and I always joined a large table and loved meeting people,some of whom I still keep up with via e-mail etc. have already booked some excursions with the ship and people who are also on the cruise. It will also be the 3rd anniversary of my husband' s death when I am on the cruise (which worried my family a bit) but I will be in a port exploring that day and it will help take my mind of it rather than sitting at home dwelling on it. I know he will be saying "you go girl!!" Every step is a milestone so to anyone who is in a similar position, please overcome your fears and lets just go for it. Anne

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I so want to do this. Widowed last year, am 76, though by no means old. I am just nervous about it. Been married for so many years, haven't had the chance to do anything on my own. I thought I was always an independent woman, maybe I'm not. I guess I have to start by booking something. Any encouragement will be much appreciated. Thanks.

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I so want to do this. Widowed last year, am 76, though by no means old. I am just nervous about it. Been married for so many years, haven't had the chance to do anything on my own. I thought I was always an independent woman, maybe I'm not. I guess I have to start by booking something. Any encouragement will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Look at your name... I think that says it all. You are a DAMN GOOD CRUISER!!!!!!!

 

 

I am not widowed, but I have been solo cruising since 2007, when I took my first cruise. That one was with my daughter, but I consider being the only adult, the same thing. I always find nice couples to hang around with, and sometimes other solo women. I know regularly cruise twice a year with a couple I met on a repositioning cruise three years ago....we even make our hotel reservations together and we spend a couple days before or after out cruises inthe same hotel and hanging out together.

 

I used to think I would be treated like an outcast, but it has never ever bee that way.....in fact I feel people treat me more special when they find out I am sailing solo...... I always try to make friends at trivia or in the casino so I have people on board who I have common intrests......and most of my best friendships have come out of the pre-cruise planning onthe roll call.

 

If you can live solo life on land you can do it at sea......

 

Look at it this way, go into it thinking it will be no worse or better than a week at home alone in your house.......

 

Now think of it logically....do you have shows in your house, or trivia, or a martini bar, or a casino, or a lecture, or a buffet, or room stewards? I know I don't....so it is infinitely better than my life on land.......even if the whole ship ignored me and treated me like Patrick Swayze in GHOST.....it is still more fun than a day at work and a lean cuisine for dinner:)

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I so want to do this. Widowed last year, am 76, though by no means old. I am just nervous about it. Been married for so many years, haven't had the chance to do anything on my own. I thought I was always an independent woman, maybe I'm not. I guess I have to start by booking something. Any encouragement will be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

You are never too old!! I was widowed last year and have gone on 2 cruises with friends/family since. Looking at booking something else soon! Just wish the cruise lines were a little bit more understanding, costwise, for solo cruisers. Since I don't live too far from the ports, I'd cruise a lot more if I didn't have to pay almost double as a solo!

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I posted a few months back on this subject . Like yourself I lost my husband after a long illness . 6 months later I made myself book a cruise as we had both loved cruising. I really enjoyed it and have booked again for this year. Cruising is the ideal holiday for solo travellers you feel so much safer wandering around on your own than you would in a holiday resort or city. The only thing I would say is that I sailed with NCL and the anytime dining is not so good as you do not tend to get to know fellow passengers so well. This time I have booked set dining at a large table and am sure this will be much better. I did not feel that I stood out as being alone as many couples split up throughout the day to enjoy the various events that are going on throughout the ship. So you definately do not feel like a wallflower. My theory is that I am doing exactly what my husband would want me to do . He would be angry if he thought I was just hanging around moping. So when I go I feel he is with me all the way cheering me on. So do not hesitate and have a great time

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Many thanks for the encouragement. By the way, Hubby chose our name. He loved it more than anything. I do to. You are so right. It will be great no matter what. It's always entertaining, even just people watching. I am feeling much braver. Thank you. Carol

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I so want to do this. Widowed last year, am 76, though by no means old. I am just nervous about it. Been married for so many years, haven't had the chance to do anything on my own. I thought I was always an independent woman, maybe I'm not. I guess I have to start by booking something. Any encouragement will be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

My husband is disabled (progressive MS for the last 40 years) so I have had time to adjust and re adjust to doing more without him than with him. At present, I travel for both business and pleasure and have found that I like independent travel a lot.

 

I realized that when I am travelling for business I don't feel at all "out of place" even though I take tours for pleasure. it is my own mindset --I am here in [wherever] and I would love to see xxx. So I take tours from the hotel or context tours and love them.

 

I decided to do the same sort of thing for pleasure a few years ago. I found that most women over 40 wanted to talk a lot to me about solo travelling. Many were travelling with friends and the friends were driving them crazy.

 

This will be my first solo cruise though we have taken many together. I booked a studio room on Epic to do a Med cruise. I know from experience (land based ) that you are out all day and exhausted in the evening and just want to eat and shower and sleep. So if I make it to the solo gathering that will be great--if I have room service or the buffet and go to sleep that is great too.

 

The ship's excursions will help you a lot to overcome loneliness.

 

I wish you (and all of us) the best of fortune and happy travels

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My husband is disabled (progressive MS for the last 40 years) so I have had time to adjust and re adjust to doing more without him than with him. At present, I travel for both business and pleasure and have found that I like independent travel a lot.

 

I realized that when I am travelling for business I don't feel at all "out of place" even though I take tours for pleasure. it is my own mindset --I am here in [wherever] and I would love to see xxx. So I take tours from the hotel or context tours and love them.

 

I decided to do the same sort of thing for pleasure a few years ago. I found that most women over 40 wanted to talk a lot to me about solo travelling. Many were travelling with friends and the friends were driving them crazy.

 

This will be my first solo cruise though we have taken many together. I book ed a studio room on Epic to do a Med cruise. I know from experience (land based ) that you are out all day and exhausted in the evening and just want to eat and shower and sleep. So if I make it to the solo gathering that will be great--if I have room service or the buffet and go to sleep that is great too.

 

The ship's excursions will help you a lot to overcome loneliness.

 

I wish you (and all of us) the best of fortune and happy travels

Hi there ,what dates are you n Epic? I am n her 16 June and ina studio as well!!

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Hi there ,what dates are you n Epic? I am n her 16 June and ina studio as well!!

Ah gee I am on the Epic July 7-14th. Too bad!

Have a wonderful cruise though and let me know what you liked/disliked okay?

thanks

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Thats a shame!! We are on her three weeks today!

i will xertainy let you know how things are.

I am technically not going alne but with my daughter ,her family and her in laws but I am the eleventh person and n my own cabin.I ntend going to the solos lounge to see what that is like.I have family on board but am free to be alone if I wish!

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If you can live solo life on land you can do it at sea......

 

Look at it this way, go into it thinking it will be no worse or better than a week at home alone in your house.......

 

Now think of it logically....do you have shows in your house, or trivia, or a martini bar, or a casino, or a lecture, or a buffet, or room stewards? I know I don't....so it is infinitely better than my life on land.......even if the whole ship ignored me and treated me like Patrick Swayze in GHOST.....it is still more fun than a day at work and a lean cuisine for dinner:)

 

That is a really good way of putting it. I think if you have loved cruising before, try it! It can only be so bad, but likely will be much better than you could have imagined.

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  • 1 year later...

I have just found this forum, and I am looking for a cruise partner.

I am planning to travel to Alaska in July 2015,

on Royal Caribbean. I am in Florida, and will be flying in to

Seattle, Wa. and then leaving on the cruise ship starting July 24,2015.

I am looking for a nice, sincere, person to travel with.

I am 52yrs. old, very mature, and I take care of senior citizens

for a living. My husband does not want to go on this trip.

So, if anyone out there, would like to share this wonderful experience

with me, then please respond.

NO MEN !!

Widows welcome!

And no wild single people.

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