So..how hard is the first SOLO cruise?

[LibrarianLizy]

Not gonna lie, I was TERRIFIED and lonely on several occasions on my first solo cruise. I booked the trip as a breakup celebration to congratulate myself on getting out a bad relationship, and because I'm slightly nuts, my first solo cruise was a western Mediterranean cruise. 3 countries, 10 days...all by myself. :eek:

 

I'm so glad I sailed in a studio cabin on NCL otherwise I'm not sure I would have had as good of a time as I did without some scheduled interaction with other people. I don't mind dinning alone most of the time, but for some reason dinning alone in the MDR always freaks me out! I would have stuck to the buffet or a specialty restaurant most nights because freestyle dinning makes me so nervous. lol I think assigned dinning would be better for me just so I had the assurance that I would be sitting at a table with SOMEONE. I know you can always ask to join another table but that makes me nervous too. #introvertproblems

 

As far as safety...I think the standard travel disclaimer applies whether you are in a group or are alone. Watch your belongings, have an exit plan, and don't go anywhere or with anyone that seems unsafe. Scared people tend to look scared which makes them a target, so look confident and be aware of your surroundings and you'll be fine!

[Glammy Grammy]

Hi everyone, better late than never but here's my experience of my first solo cruise on the QM2.

 

My daughter dropped me off at the coach pick up point, she was in tears but i kept a stiff upper lip even though I was angst ridden!! As i got on the coach I could see people looking to see if I was alone, I got off at the service stop and got chatting to a couple of people who were very nice, then two ladies back on the coach who had travelled solo. I congratulated myself on doing so far so good.

 

Embarkation was a doddle, again got chatting to people and a guy who was also solo. With head held high, I ventured to my cabin - first time in an inside - which was in a great position on the ship and very comfortable. After unpacking I went out on deck and to look around, Yes I'd done it and took a very cheesy selfie to celebrate the fact.

 

I was late sitting in the MDR, had a sherry to steady the old nerves then went to my table. I was joined by a lady who had been widowed at the same age as me (51), a lady in a difficult marriage travelling solo and a lady journalist who was covering the cruise. We all hit it off from the first night, went for a drink and to the show together, and continued to enjoy our dinners and meeting up occasionally at night time.

 

At lunch time in the MDR I always asked to join a large table. Through this I met other solo travellers and some lovely couples. There was a solo travellers meet and greet on the first day which was great, and from there a few of us went to a line dancing class.

 

After about three days, I'd got to know and recognise a lot of people on the ship. I was never short of company if I wanted it, shared taxis with folk off the ship, met a solo guy on a hoho bus then we did a further two bus trips together at different ports.

 

I went with a very open mind on what to expect, what can I say except it was a fantastic and liberating experience and a huge confidence boost which i so needed. Would I do it again?, I'd been home a week and got an offer through from Cunard, I'm now booked on QE in December in one of their new single cabins.

 

Any solos reading this and debating, don't think about it - do it. If I did it you can too.:)

[Mollyolly]

Hi everyone, better late than never but here's my experience of my first solo cruise on the QM2.

 

My daughter dropped me off at the coach pick up point, she was in tears but i kept a stiff upper lip even though I was angst ridden!! As i got on the coach I could see people looking to see if I was alone, I got off at the service stop and got chatting to a couple of people who were very nice, then two ladies back on the coach who had travelled solo. I congratulated myself on doing so far so good.

 

Embarkation was a doddle, again got chatting to people and a guy who was also solo. With head held high, I ventured to my cabin - first time in an inside - which was in a great position on the ship and very comfortable. After unpacking I went out on deck and to look around, Yes I'd done it and took a very cheesy selfie to celebrate the fact.

 

I was late sitting in the MDR, had a sherry to steady the old nerves then went to my table. I was joined by a lady who had been widowed at the same age as me (51), a lady in a difficult marriage travelling solo and a lady journalist who was covering the cruise. We all hit it off from the first night, went for a drink and to the show together, and continued to enjoy our dinners and meeting up occasionally at night time.

 

At lunch time in the MDR I always asked to join a large table. Through this I met other solo travellers and some lovely couples. There was a solo travellers meet and greet on the first day which was great, and from there a few of us went to a line dancing class.

 

After about three days, I'd got to know and recognise a lot of people on the ship. I was never short of company if I wanted it, shared taxis with folk off the ship, met a solo guy on a hoho bus then we did a further two bus trips together at different ports.

 

I went with a very open mind on what to expect, what can I say except it was a fantastic and liberating experience and a huge confidence boost which i so needed. Would I do it again?, I'd been home a week and got an offer through from Cunard, I'm now booked on QE in December in one of their new single cabins.

 

Any solos reading this and debating, don't think about it - do it. If I did it you can too.:)

Glammy Grammy,

Thank you for your great note!!! I am traveling solo on Liberty of the Seas in a few weeks. I was going to pass on the solo meet up but I may now go ahead and check it out.

[ChiGal1962]

Any solos reading this and debating, don't think about it - do it. If I did it you can too.:)

 

Amen to that! And remember, any vacation, any experience, can only be as good as you allow it to be. There are opportunities everywhere, just have to be open to embracing them.

[LibrarianLizy]

Glammy Grammy,

Thank you for your great note!!! I am traveling solo on Liberty of the Seas in a few weeks. I was going to pass on the solo meet up but I may now go ahead and check it out.

 

I would say you should check out the solo meetup just to see. There is no harm in going, looking around, and leaving if it doesn't look like fun. You may also want to post on your Roll Call board to see if there are any other solos. You can go to the solo event together and not feel so out of place!

[Scarlet debonaire]

I'm also booked on my first solo. Indeed, it's my first time on a ship, I'm doing the qm2 TA on 15th December.

 

Thank you all for taking the time to post your good experiences, though not generally a nervous person, I can be a bit shy around strangers, so it's good to read all your comments

 

I'm actually VERY excited

 

Scarlet

[Going Coastal]

ECP,

Your post was wonderful and I would encourage you to consider the things you still might do. I have mobility issues myself and find cruising a wonderful way to go amazing places safely and in comfort.

Best wishes to you.

Edited July 27, 2015 by Going Coastal

[Mollyolly]

I'm also booked on my first solo. Indeed, it's my first time on a ship, I'm doing the qm2 TA on 15th December.

 

Thank you all for taking the time to post your good experiences, though not generally a nervous person, I can be a bit shy around strangers, so it's good to read all your comments

 

I'm actually VERY excited

 

Scarlet

Hi Scarlet,

I am going on my first sea-solo venture too on the Liberty of the Seas in a few weeks. Can't wait. I know what you mean about being somewhat shy too but yet so excited about the trip and adventures. I have a feeling that I am going to love cruising a lot.

[offshorefriend]

Thank you all for being so frank and for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I am booked on my first solo cruise on Anthem's Maiden TA in October. It will certainly be a new experience, one way or the other. Will try to make the best of it.

 

Yes, I'm very excited too.

 

Ute

 

 

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[Mollyolly]

Thank you all for being so frank and for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I am booked on my first solo cruise on Anthem's Maiden TA in October. It will certainly be a new experience, one way or the other. Will try to make the best of it.

 

Yes, I'm very excited too.

 

Ute

 

 

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Hi there,

I am a new solo-er too, soon to head out to sea in a few weeks. I am no longer nervous, just excited and looking forwards to relaxing and seeing new things. Less than two weeks away...

[Earl Colby Pottinger]

ECP,

Your post was wonderful and I would encourage you to consider the things you still might do. I have mobility issues myself and find cruising a wonderful way to go amazing places safely and in comfort.

Best wishes to you.

 

Both of my solo cruises were after my stroke in September 2014, and in October 2015 I plan to do a 21 day solo cruise.

 

I am waiting for my test results, but there maybe a chance that I have cancer and that to me is all the more reason to do things now than to put things off for later when it may turn out i can not even move about to do them.

 

Next week I go to Quebec City, and in November I am booked to go to Cuba.

 

Life is to be lived, not to just sit around and talk about all the things you will do in the far future. So good news or bad news I plan to go out and do stuff and I try to encourage as many other people I meet to do the same.