Cruising without your spouse

[CharlesCutiePie]

My DH and I every year go on our friends only cruise. We enjoy it. I get to do the things I enjoy that he really doesn't and I don't have to hear him whine; and vice versa.

 

Each year he goes on his annual boys only trip and 2 years ago convinced them to do a cruise and ever since then that's all they want to do. So he gets to enjoy relaxation and do what he loves on his trip.

 

It works for us. The more I can cruise the better!

[kirby123]

well, since my boss pays to take us girls and his wife on a yearly cruise, without DH, I just have to "suck it up". I am friends with my co-workers so it's like girls night out for 7 nights. I do miss hubby, but I have taken him on a cruise-just the 2 of us-for the last several years. He enjoys it and it is a totally different experience, I love both so I will keep doing both!!!

[balcony bound]

I took my daugher on a cruise with me Mother's day, it was her first. We had an awesome time, and I loved having her to myself - it was one of those really special times.

 

DH had really encouraged us to go, and I really missed him since cruising is really "our' thing, and when we got home, I found he had a really hard time staying behind (and he hadn't expected to feel like that).

 

I did find myself thinking about the things he enjoys when we cruise and it was a totally different experience. My daughter and I did several things that DH is just not interested in doing.

 

I think I would cruise with my daughter again and have a great time, but cruising without my DH is hard to do.

[ZoeyVictoria]

"I took my then 13-year-old granddaughter on a girls' cruise last year and my DH was so disappointed that he wasn't invited that I took another cruise with him two weeks before the one with DGD. I am taking her on another girls-only cruise in June, hopefully on the Oasis, and he is not really happy to be left at home, but...

 

I am slightly more irritated about it than guilty."

 

 

How would you feel if he went on a cruise without you?

 

He just returned last week from a week spent up north with his family, while I stayed home and worked. He was also up there for a week in October, and a week in July. He enjoyed those weeks spent with his DGS just as I enjoy the cruises with my DGD, who I see very rarely because I live in Florida and she lives in Colorado. In 2010, DH and I were out of town overnight or longer sixteen times, and just about the same this year, so we have plenty of vacations together. We might feel differently about it if we had been married thirty years or more, but we met in our fifties after I was widowed and have no past history with each other's families. It would be fine with me if his time spent with his family would be on a cruise.

[travelingtriumphess]

I am seeing from this that quite a few people cruise without their spouse. I am looking forward to spending time with my girls and enjoying the warm weather and general pampering.

Thanks! T. Umph

[travelingtriumphess]

I appreciate the comments. I have always cruised, until now, with my DH. If you have not cruised without DH or SO, would you?

thanks

[genegri]

Of course I would!. :D I am the one who introduced my DH to cruising. I started cruising with my family when I was little. My grandfather used to spend months at a time on world cruises. And my dad is now retired and does the same. Right now he is vacationing in the far east and will start a 100 plus day cruise in Jan. He won't be back to the US till April 2012. I am green with envy I am telling you!

 

Since we got married 6 years ago, about half of my cruises have been with DH and the other half with other family and friends. He never cruises without me. I like to cruise more than he does so I go every opportunity I have. And I never miss him. :p

 

Even cruising together we end up doing different things. I like to get out of the cabin and walk around the ship and join ship board activities. I go to MDR for breakfast and lunch by myself while he relaxes in the cabin. He also likes live music.

 

Funny thing is, while DH stays in the cabin much more than I do, I am the one that wants a balcony; he is very content with an OV. Go figure. :p

Edited December 15, 2011 by genegri

[travelingtriumphess]

This will be my first time to cruise without my DH. I'm wondering if you would cruise without your darling spouse.

:)

t. umph

[Colorado Kat]

My DH doesn't want to cruise. I do, so I go with my daughters. The only vacations he likes are long hiking trips, where he doesn't even see another person for 10 days. And he doesn't want me with him. So I go to Europe every few years on my own, and take my daughters on a cruise once a year. Married 30 years now, so it works......

[Aplmac]

DW and I have always vacationed together and do not think we would do it any other way.

 

Just works for us.

Same here!

 

How the heck else would I ever find all my stuff? :eek:

 

.

[frito58]

This will be my first time to cruise without my DH. I'm wondering if you would cruise without your darling spouse.

:)

t. umph

 

No I would never vacation without my wife , but thats just me. :)

[Laurab23]

Much as I love my spouse and family-I would love to cruise by myself just once.Do what I want,eat when and where I want sleep when I want.Sounds like heaven to me.

Laura

[travelinggrands]

I ran away from home over Thanksgiving for a cruise! Years ago I was care giver to 2 sons & father in law(& husband, of course). My TA goes to the same church we attend & handed me a flyer for a group she had organized...Husband worked long, crazy hours, weekends & holidays & would use golf trips to unwind. He deserved it. The more I thought about that cruise, the more I liked the idea. Things just fell into place-Husband had the holiday off, babysitting for youngest son opened up, etc. I needed that week of being cared for/waited on! Yea they did have some problems (vacuum cleaner & computer blew up, cat got sick) but they managed on their own & I had the patience to deal with it when I got back. They even started a new tradition for Thanksgiving - Prime Rib! Turkey is not a special dish in my house, as I am allergic to beef & cook a lot of "bird" & fish.

Still, I prefer to travel with DH,now that he is "almost" retired.:)

[Room Service!]

I wouldn't have a problem cruising without him but, ..... would hate for him to cruise without me. ;) jk

[Colorado Kat]

I ran away from home over Thanksgiving for a cruise! Years ago I was care giver to 2 sons & father in law(& husband, of course). I needed that week of being cared for/waited on! Yea they did have some problems (vacuum cleaner & computer blew up, cat got sick) but they managed on their own & I had the patience to deal with it when I got back. )

 

We call those "Mommy-appreciation weeks". Don't want you to get taken for granted.

[1tuckersmom]

I cruise as much (maybe more)

without my DH as I do with him.

 

He doesn`t care for cruising much and decided that maybe the cruise we took last month will be his last.

 

Will I stop cruising because he has?......NO WAY!!:rolleyes:

 

I have both the Magic and Breeze booked. I will do those cruises with my friends.

 

He will be happy staying home with the furkids,

the furkids will be happy because they don`t have to go to doggy care, and I will be happy cruising.:)

 

He will not be left out, as when Spring comes he will enjoy fisihing trips with his friends.

 

Then I take my turn keeping the furkids...It`s all good.;)

[path145]

Just re-reading this thread because I have a small conflict for next year. My boyfriend (we're not married yet but might as well be) wants to cruise with me next year but so do my friends. Unfortunately I can't afford two cruises!! Would LOVE to!! And I'm not going with everyone on the same cruise... That just wouldn't work!!

 

It got me to thinking about how cruises are so different with him versus with the girls. I have tons of fun with him but the cruises seem more relaxed with the girls... not sure why. I know we do different things depending on whom I'm with. Brian likes the casino and specialty restaurants. The girls like the shows and hot tubs.

 

Decisions, decisions...

[Mysticks1]

Reading this old thread was interesting. I have been on 6 cruises, all with my husband. My upcoming cruise in May is just me, DD (20) and her best friend. It will be a whole different vacation. My husband doesn't do well with just relaxing so I am hoping to do a lot more of that on this cruise. My daughter and her friend will be spending a lot of time around the pool and I am planning to spend a lot of time on the balcony and in the spa. :)

[OZZI69]

We just went on our first cruise and it wasn't my husband's thing so he said I could do a girls cruise. Of course I jumped on that because I loved it. I will miss him terribly especially with no phone service. But we will have fun!:D

[sayaguru]

I think it's important to travel with people that have the same interests. Or have an understanding that you'll be doing your own thing.

I went on a crfuise with my mum and brother. My brother wasn't seen much after NYE but mum and I had a great time. We love reading by the pool and trivia.

I've cruised with my hubby and that's great to. I'm looking forward to a solo cruise this year though (not booked yet) as hubby isn't really interested in a port intensive cruise. When he's home he never sits still (always something to do). On a cruise he doesn't have a choice and he likes that.

 

My hubby's not interested in land based tours, churches etc so I'll be doing those by myself.

[janetlm]

This is a very interesting thread. I have really enjoyed reading through all of the posts with all of the differing opinions. It seemed that most were enjoying "girl's weekends"

 

I have cruised several times without my DH. He does not have the same amount of vacation as I do and does not like to cruise the same amount as I do. We have been married over 30 years and do not have any trust issues.

 

I cruised once with my sisters and had a great time. But, I also cruised 3 times totally solo. I made connections on the CC roll call but knew no one on the cruise. I had a great cruise all three times. Each cruise was totally different (1 Canada, 2 Caribbean) but I cam back totally relaxed. I did exactly what I wanted to do.

 

My last 2 have been with roommates. There were some compromises, but it did allow me to go on cruises that I may not have been able to afford otherwise.

 

My next cruise will be with a girlfriend. My DH again did not want to go, so I arranged to share a cabin with her. I can hardly wait.

 

Bottom line, I am not sitting at home any more because my DH does not want to go.

 

I can have a great time , with or without him.

 

Janet

[scoutwonderdog]

I am 50-something and about to take my third solo cruise. I have been married for almost 40 years. I absolutely love it! It is a bit lonely at times, but also very liberating.

[yellowbird23]

I am 50-something and about to take my third solo cruise. I have been married for almost 40 years. I absolutely love it! It is a bit lonely at times, but also very liberating.

 

If you're 50-something and married for almost 40 years, that means you were married at age 10??? I'd say you deserve a cruise to anywhere!!

[Lady Hudson]

Old thread but still very valid. I love to cruise -- with DH, DSister, friends, whatever. But traveling solo is special. I am a teacher so the only time for me to do long trips is the summer. For the last 6 summers I have been traveling without DH. The longest trip was 2 years ago -- 52 days. Four transatlantics that summer and I loved it. DH is "ok" with sea days but they are not his favorite. He is self-employed so he cannot be away from the business for more than a week or so. The best part of that long trip was that when the ship was back in NY on about day 26, DH drove to the port (3 hour drive each way) so that we could have lunch together.

 

Of course I missed DH, the kids, and the real baby of the family (Boston terrior, Max), but I love the solo traveling. And you only live once! PS - DH tells me that Max now knows the port. When he drives into the "pick-up" line Max starts to go crazy in the car. :)

Edited February 22, 2014 by Lady Hudson

[Mykal]

I am going on my 7th cruise. This will be the 3rd without my wife. The 3rd that she could not get away or would not get away. November will be the 4th but that cruise is different, it will be a week of sailing & diving in the out islands of the Bahamas. She doesn't dive but could still relax, swim , beachcomb etc. Wish you were there but I'm going.