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Solo over 55


roughshot60
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Went on my first cruise last October as a solo. Had a blast.

Booked my next 3 cruises also solo. Don't be afraid to step out and try something new. I'm so glad I did. I met wonderful people on my first cruise. Some are even coming to Alaska with me Sept 2019. Some of the friends we make cruising are some of the best.

 

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I also went on my first solo cruise last October and loved it. I'm looking forward to doing it again! I cruised NCL and liked the solo gatherings each night which made it easy to find someone to dine with if you wanted.
Which ship were you on?

I was on Breakaway Oct 29

 

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My experience was different....I had one solo cruise and was very lonely. I had a horrible experience in the dining room and won't do it again. I'm glad some people enjoy solo cruising but it's not for everyone.

 

I get it. I was on a two week cruise last year (around the UK) and was very sick with bronchitis and cabin bound for the first week. All my plans fell apart and I knew no one else aboard, so it was very lonely indeed. However, it was the first time in seven cruises that I'd been unlucky and am hoping my next one in late May won't be a repeat...fingers crossed!! :D

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I am 60 and have been cruising solo since 45 (wish I had even started earlier LOL).........so for the past 15 years all my cruises (except for maybe 2) have been solo:D........I LOVE IT and it is the only way I sail. I am leaving again in July for a 10 nighter:).......sailing from VENICE TO NICE......cannot wait!

 

To the person who hated it, I am so sorry:(............hope you are able to find a vacation that you love! As for being lonely,

sorry you were not able to meet any other passengers. I have always found most cruisers are quite friendly!

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I've had both experiences. My first solo cruise was not meant to be, but my friend fell ill and couldn't join me. I felt like the odd woman out at the dinner table, and never did connect with anyone. It was a long week.

 

But since then I've traveled solo several times. The studio lounge for solo cruisers on NCL are a terrific way to meet other solos on the ship. A few of us (about 5) got together for a repeat cruise this year. I also join the Cruise Critic roll call, and join the FB page (there is usually one). There were about 15 of us who met prior to the cruise through CC and FB for a Princess cruise last fall. We met for sail-away and never looked back.

 

What I like best about traveling solo is that I can spend time with others if I choose or just have some quiet time to myself.

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I've had both experiences. My first solo cruise was not meant to be, but my friend fell ill and couldn't join me. I felt like the odd woman out at the dinner table, and never did connect with anyone. It was a long week.

That's exactly what happened to me! I had contact with many nice people, but didn't connect with any of them....and, they were all couples....never met a solo. Just very lonely with no one to share my trip with. I'm used to traveling with family or a close friend.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"To the person who hated it, I am so sorry:(............hope you are able to find a vacation that you love! As for being lonely, sorry you were not able to meet any other passengers. I have always found most cruisers are quite friendly!"

I met many friendly people, but they were all strangers! Sharing a vacation with strangers isn't my idea of fun....I want to travel with people who are close to me. That's why most people travel with friends or family. Glad you enjoy solo travel, but it's not everyone's cup of tea. ;)

 

I'm not having any trouble "finding a vacation that I love".....I've gone on 6 cruises since the lonely solo one! Not a problem. :D

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That's exactly what happened to me! I had contact with many nice people, but didn't connect with any of them....and, they were all couples....never met a solo. Just very lonely with no one to share my trip with. I'm used to traveling with family or a close friend.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"To the person who hated it, I am so sorry:(............hope you are able to find a vacation that you love! As for being lonely, sorry you were not able to meet any other passengers. I have always found most cruisers are quite friendly!"

I met many friendly people, but they were all strangers! Sharing a vacation with strangers isn't my idea of fun....I want to travel with people who are close to me. That's why most people travel with friends or family. Glad you enjoy solo travel, but it's not everyone's cup of tea. ;)

 

I'm not having any trouble "finding a vacation that I love".....I've gone on 6 cruises since the lonely solo one! Not a problem. :D

 

Hi, I never said solo travel is for everyone but it is a solo thread so I was just giving my thoughts.:)......I am opposite....I don't

care about traveling with friends or family.....so I guess I am not "most people".

Edited by Lois R
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I am 60 and have been cruising solo since 45 (wish I had even started earlier LOL).........so for the past 15 years all my cruises (except for maybe 2) have been solo:D........I LOVE IT and it is the only way I sail. I am leaving again in July for a 10 nighter:).......sailing from VENICE TO NICE......cannot wait!

 

To the person who hated it, I am so sorry:(............hope you are able to find a vacation that you love! As for being lonely,

sorry you were not able to meet any other passengers. I have always found most cruisers are quite friendly!

 

👍👍 Totally agree with you Lois. Have been traveling solo much of the time for the past 45+ years and never had a problem. You are in charge of who you spend time with, where you decide to go and what you decide to do without having to depend on anyone else. I have many friends who are sometimes onboard cruises with me but can choose when to join them, or not, as I want.

 

I love going over and over again to cities I love, like Paris, and spending a week or more by myself just wandering around and doing whatever I want. But I think you have to be a pretty independent person to travel this way, and many people are not like that. (I also find you meet many more people from all over the world when you travel solo.)

 

To each their own!

 

PS…Plus I MUST have my own cabin and/or hotel room.😁 cannot share under any circumstances.😱

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  • 2 weeks later...
Went on my first cruise last October as a solo. Had a blast.

Booked my next 3 cruises also solo. Don't be afraid to step out and try something new. I'm so glad I did. I met wonderful people on my first cruise. Some are even coming to Alaska with me Sept 2019. Some of the friends we make cruising are some of the best.

 

Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app

 

My first solo cruise was last May to Cuba. FREAKED my brother out. He was certain I was going to be jailed for some infraction or other. It was AMAZING. I met a TON of people, I went on all private tours ... solo. I ate solo in the dining room some nights. I ate with others in the MDR other nights. It was a blast.

 

I'm going on my 2nd solo cruise in Oct. 2018. Am really looking forward to it.

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Hello, there is one slight difference between you and me... your drop dead gorgeous and i'm not as a TON of admirers will testify to. Cuba...Wow! Yes I guess you have to watch for minor infractions when on foreign soil but... stealing a car, robbing a bank and redistributing your new found wealth round the city center can draw attention from authorities (giggle). I am not totally au fait with rules on these boards so please just ignore anything I shouldn't ask. What I wondered was about your 2nd cruise in Oct. Is it a singles boat, is it a singles cruise line? Loads of blokes have said to me that they haven't met a soul. One guy said that singles night consisted of 2 fellas sat on their own.

 

That said I think it might be down to the type of person you are. I have an outgoing personality and I try to make the best of situations. Do you know of any UK cruises that specialize in singles for the over 50's?

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi All, love some of these post. I will be going on my first solo cruise on 9/2/18 for 7 days on the Westerdam Alaska cruise. My birthday is 9/16 so this is a birthday cruise for me (59) wahoooo. I'm looking forward to a great time. I plan to start making more trips and ticking off my bucket list. A co-worker friend says she want to travel some but seem to wiggle out of plans so I figure if I want to do it just go solo. ha ha

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  • 2 weeks later...

Join meet and mingle

First full day at sea.

There is a solo get together every day at 5pm in the studio lounge. Great way to meet new friends. I join every group that was available on here, shipmates, Facebook. Before we even set sail I had made a lot of friends. Good luck.

Enjoy your cruise. I'm going on my 2nd solo cruise January 6 on Escape.

 

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  • 1 month later...

:ship:Absolutely love cruising solo. NCL has a great solo program. Every evening the solo travelers meet with a host/hostess who makes dinner reservations for the group. Some don't go to the dinner but will stay for the meet and chat. I love this!:ship:

Met some wonderful people.

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  • 1 month later...

I'm a "senior" woman; widowed 9.5 years ago. In that time, I've taken 9 cruises -- 5 w/friend or family (I had my own cabin) & 4 solo. Only 3 cruises were less than 14 days; 8 trips were on Princess; 1 on HAL.

 

Was I lonely on my solo trips? Often - for a bit, but mostly I'm just alone doing what I want to do.

 

One suggestion: ask yourself WHY you're taking the cruise. I don't cruise to meet people or make new friends. I cruise to see specific things/places; the itinerary is IT for me. I have mobility issues so land travel is mostly out for me, but a cruise & excursions lets me see so many new places.

 

And I have comfortable "down time" -- wonderful sea days -- when I can just read, watch the sea and/or do nothing! I may strike-up the occasional conversation w/someone else sitting alone, but if not -- fine.

 

However, I do expect to meet pleasant people. I rarely eat dinner alone, preferring to share a table. [if I'm especially tired, I'll eat in the buffet.]

 

Your solo cruise is what you make of it. Have realistic expectations, but plan to enjoy it.

 

Off to Greenland & Canada next year -- solo!

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You all sound like you are having a blast! I LOVE cruising! It is my time, but I typically try to find someone to go with me. For my 50th birthday, I wanted to go on a cruise and couldn't find anyone that would/could go in April. But I go on a cruise at least 1 time a year. 2 years ago, I received my 1st free Casino At Sea Cruise (CAS), and found out that I could cruise by myself without penalty! I didn't, I asked about 3 or 4 friends, and my sister who finally went with me. She in turn asked her sister-in-law and we had 3 old ladies in 1 cabin!

 

This year I received my free CAS and asked a friend and again my sister is going with me. Another friend is going but they will have a cabin as well, so 4 old ladies in 2 cabins! That cruise is in October. While working on that cruise, I received another CAS for Princess that 'had' to be used by maybe June, I asked 1 of my friends...her response was "Sorry just not my thing with all the weird stuff going on everywhere." My response was "No problemo....I may go by myself."

 

So, I said to my Dad, I am going to take this next cruise by myself for my birthday! So for my 59th birthday, I will be on my 1st Solo cruise doing my favorite thing on my birthday, it is a Sea DAY!!! I am of course nervous, but I am also so excited to be going on this trip! Took my 9 years to say, awe poo, if you want a birthday cruise, just go out and take it!

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  • 4 months later...

I adore my solo cruises 🙂  It's my preferred mode of cruising these days.  Someone upthread mentioned mobility issues, and it's true, it works out really well.  At 55, I have mostly good mobility with the occasional bad day, and I hate having to plan around that on land trips... but the spa & the pool lounge is always there on board!

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I am enjoying reading all the positive comments about cruising solo!  They reinforce my decision to solo cruise in June.  I keep telling myself, as I research and plan, that I can do this!  I can also take on a mini adventure in NYC before sailing away to Bermuda.  I am developing the confidence to "dive right in!" As I age, preconceived ideas of dining  or traveling alone begin to diminish...   It's tiring waiting for family and friends to share or be willing to participate in my vacation ideas.  This trip is for me!  I am getting so excited about my adventure on this cold January day.  

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 5/21/2018 at 5:45 PM, CruiseGal999 said:

 

My first solo cruise was last May to Cuba. FREAKED my brother out. He was certain I was going to be jailed for some infraction or other. It was AMAZING. I met a TON of people, I went on all private tours ... solo. I ate solo in the dining room some nights. I ate with others in the MDR other nights. It was a blast.

 

I'm going on my 2nd solo cruise in Oct. 2018. Am really looking forward to it.

I just told my brother I am cruising solo in June. I waited 3 months to tell him, and should have waited  another  two months to make the announcement.  LOL. I just wanted to share my excitement with someone.  He says I will be kidnapped or something!  LOL 

Edited by Sauna4me
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