After going on almost a dozen Royal Caribbean cruises alone, I've learned a thing or two about solo travel.
It can feel daunting to go on a cruise without friends or family because you're worried you'll feel lonely, bored, or simply regret the trip.
By preparing for the trip ahead of time and coming in with the right mindset, I think my trips have been successful and allowed me to fully enjoy them.
Here's what I wish I knew about traveling alone before my first solo cruise.
Cruising alone for the first time can feel intimidating, but that shouldn't stop you.
I took my first cruise alone after many sailings with family, and the truth is it's more liberating than scary.
I think it makes it worse when you tell friends that you're going alone, and they fuel any doubts you may have because it's definitely not the usual approach to a cruise.
Ultimately, I thought to myself how bad could it be going on a cruise ship for a few days? If all I did was eat, sleep, and watch a few shows, that still sounds better than being at home.
Of course there's the potential for an awkward moment or strange feeling when you miss having someone to chat with, but I think part of enjoying life is pushing boundaries a bit.
I chatted with crew members, met people around the ship, and got to see bucket-list destinations.
Plan out more of your days to ensure smooth logistics
I always advocate planning your cruise out, but it's even more important when cruising solo.
One of the methods I found for combatting the sense of loneliness is keeping yourself busy. Cruise ships are great for this, because there are activities and things to do pretty much all day long.
I start out with picking shore excursions, because these tours take up a majority of your day. Plus, you're surrounded by others in your group and that contributes to making you feel more connected, rather than alone.
Not only do I pick out ship tours to try, but I will lean towards activities that my kids likely wouldn't be interested in. It's all part of the solo travel mantra of embracing what you want.
I'll also look at what the ship offers and pick out things to try onboard.
You probably won't feel alone as you think
There's something about a cruise that feels more communal than other travel.
When I'm on an airplane or staying in a hotel, I never want to talk to other travelers. Not only does it never occur to me to strike up a conversation, but it's practically an annoyance when it occurs.
On a cruise, it's a totally different situation.
Many cruisers are happy to start chatting, and the crew members will chat you up too. I think it's a combination of the fact everyone is "living" there for a few days that contributes to making it feel more open for it, plus the cocktails and beer too.
If you sit down at a bar, attend trivia, or go on a shore excursion, I think it's really easy to meet other cruisers. Not everyone is going to be the life of the party, but I've found most people openly engage in talk while onboard.
Dining is the most daunting part, but embrace it
I bet if you're going alone on a cruise ship, eating by yourself seems like the worst part.
Dining solo conjures up fears of feeling ostracized. You imagine being at a table by yourself and others gawking at you. Or potentially worse, being seated with strangers.
The truth is I've eaten alone at every single restaurant, from the Main Dining Room to the buffet. It's not nearly as bad you might think, and I actually enjoy it.
When I tried the Main Dining Room alone, I quickly realized a truth: no one cares what you do.
After sitting down to a table alone, it became clear others around me were oblivious to it. Or at the very least, no one asked or bothered me.
Plus, eating alone means you get in and out quicker. In seated restaurants, it feels like I get faster service. I think that may be because they sense I am ready sooner.
In casual restaurants, I can get in and out of the buffet as fast as I can chew.
I avoided specialty restaurants for a while, until I just decided to go with it. Table for one meant I could get almost any reservation I wanted. Plus, Izumi is fantastic for solo cruisers because I'm either sitting at the sushi bar or hibachi table in a communal setting.
Just like jumping into a cold pool, getting it over is the way to go, as you'll realize it's not so bad.
The freedom to do whatever you want whenever you want is a luxury
Want to know why I love traveling on a cruise ship solo? The liberating feeling it provides.
When I cruise solo, I get to do what I want, when I want. That's an incredible feeling and it changes the dynamic of how I cruise.
While I'll always prefer to cruise with my family, a part of me also really likes to embrace the selfish side of travel. I go to the activities I want, book the tours I like, and eat when I want.
This might sound very self-centered, but if you're going to go on a ship alone, I think you really ought to double down on it.
While I love to cruise with my family, if I'm solo, I'll take full advantage of doing what I want, when I want to do it.
Book more group shore excursions instead of on your own touring
My wife knows that I dislike group excursions because of their slow pace, but if I'm solo, I've started to embrace them.
One trick for not feeling as alone is to go on tours while in port. Because you're with a large group, conversations inevitably occur and it's nice to meet people and converse.
When I sailed in Europe alone, I booked group excursions in each port. I even tried a "free" shore excursion, where it was a small group. In both cases, I got an opportunity to be more social.
Just like going to events around the ship, going on group tours opens up the opportunity to talk with others.
You need to learn to adapt to moments of discomfort on solo trips
You need to be flexible while traveling, regardless of how many people you're with.
It may seem like solo cruising is fantastic, but there are times when it's not so great too. You may find the plans you laid out didn't work out as well as you liked, and it can feel more problematic without someone with you to confide in.
I think there needs to be a certain level of self-reliance to bounce back from these moments. I've learned to let more of what happens slide off your back and move onto the next (and probably better) thing.
Buying an internet package is must
If there's one thing you pay extra for on a solo cruise, it should be a Royal Caribbean internet package.
Having access to the internet is a godsend when I cruise by myself because it's a portal for communication.
I can call, text, and video chat with friends and family when I have the internet, and I truly cannot imagine not having that option when I'm cruising alone.
Plus, an internet package allows me to pass the time more easily when I'm at a restaurant, bar, or relaxing somewhere on the ship. I could watch a movie, check social media, or do some work.
I'm all for immersing yourself in the places you visit, but a solo cruise needs internet access far more than group travel.
Traveling solo can be addicting, and you may even prefer it in certain situations
I never thought I'd cruise solo as much as I do now.
In fact, there are certain cruises where I tell my wife it would probably be better if I went alone, because of the nature of the trip. Specifically, when a new ship comes out and I'm running around trying to capture everything.
I would welcome my family to sail with me, but the truth is on a cruise where I need to do more work for this blog than usual, it's an advantage to be able to quickly dip in and out of places so I can get more done.
Assuming you don't run a blog, cruising solo can be addicting as a methodology to get what your family wants out of cruising.
For example, you could go alone in order to earn more Crown and Anchor points so that your entire family gets to benefit from a higher tier status. Not exactly "falling on your sword" in terms of great sacrifices, but it's definitely a good strategy when other family obligations prevent your spouse or kids from traveling with you.
