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Cruising solo!


Donnax4

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There are a lot of people here that cruise solo!  I've taken a couple solo cruises this year and likely will be booking more soon.

@Traveling Mike is currently on one now and is doing a live blog on the boards 

 

@Ampurp85 is also currently cruising solo and doing a live blog:

 

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Lots of us solo sail! Look through the blog section for present and past blogs. 

 

I like to travel and sometimes it means not waiting for the people around me to go. Manage your expectations pre cruise. Know what makes you comfortable and where you may need to push yourself. For me I'm content being solo and bring my Kindle or a book everywhere but that's also my regular life - I read a ton and it's what makes me happiest on a trip or commuting or before sleep or a a beach. I'm not a huge fan of the MDR (I view it more as an experience) so on solo trips I get the dining package. I don't get the drink package because while I'll have a few drinks per day it's not worth it. I'll book excursions I really want to do.

Whether cruising or traveling solo you will meet people if you are open to it. I border the extrovert/Introvert line and can either be super friendly or very shy depending on how comfortable I am, I know traveling solo means I may have to adjust my behavior and push through to get out of my own head. The first excursion I did I was a little nervous but people are generally friendly and it wound up being great. 

 

The only thing I hate and I've mentioned this before is when a well meaning person tells me how "brave" I am for traveling solo and then lists reasons why they would never be able to. I get the point but I find it slightly condescending. The staff may make a few comments as well. Again, everyone had good intentions. 

 

 

 

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I'm sailing solo next week! I am new to cruising; this is only my second cruise, but it has become my absolute favorite way to travel solo! I am an extrovert so I find it enjoyable to meet new people, but also do whatever I want whenever I want. In the MDR my server was top-notch and I just told him to bring out the best and each night he served me a 5-course meal with wine pairings! I had done the Chef's Table (which is absolutely worth it) early on and it honestly was like I had that experience every night the rest of the trip! I have noticed the staff going above and beyond with solo travelers, so that's another perk to traveling solo. 

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I have a love/hate relationship with traveling solo. I love going to what I want, when I want. However I hate that people call me brave or try to force me to hang with them. I too travel with my kindle as I love to read and don't get to do it as much as I can on a cruise. It can be overwhelming for your first time but you will find it freeing. 

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I have five solo cruises booked for the near future. The first is in a week. I love cruising solo; I've done both and enjoy both but prefer solo. I honestly don't understand when people say it takes courage to cruise solo, or go to the movies solo, or a restaurant solo. All of that is just fine by myself; I've never had a single problem. Peaceful and enjoyable. 

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36 minutes ago, SuzanneM said:

I have five solo cruises booked for the near future. The first is in a week. I love cruising solo; I've done both and enjoy both but prefer solo. I honestly don't understand when people say it takes courage to cruise solo, or go to the movies solo, or a restaurant solo. All of that is just fine by myself; I've never had a single problem. Peaceful and enjoyable. 

exactly! 

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On 9/7/2022 at 9:29 PM, AshleyDillo said:

There are a lot of people here that cruise solo!  I've taken a couple solo cruises this year and likely will be booking more soon.

@Traveling Mike is currently on one now and is doing a live blog on the boards 

 

@Ampurp85 is also currently cruising solo and doing a live blog:

 

So great to know I’m not alone doing the solo thing. Thanks for sharing!

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On 9/8/2022 at 7:52 AM, ellcee said:

Lots of us solo sail! Look through the blog section for present and past blogs. 

 

I like to travel and sometimes it means not waiting for the people around me to go. Manage your expectations pre cruise. Know what makes you comfortable and where you may need to push yourself. For me I'm content being solo and bring my Kindle or a book everywhere but that's also my regular life - I read a ton and it's what makes me happiest on a trip or commuting or before sleep or a a beach. I'm not a huge fan of the MDR (I view it more as an experience) so on solo trips I get the dining package. I don't get the drink package because while I'll have a few drinks per day it's not worth it. I'll book excursions I really want to do.

Whether cruising or traveling solo you will meet people if you are open to it. I border the extrovert/Introvert line and can either be super friendly or very shy depending on how comfortable I am, I know traveling solo means I may have to adjust my behavior and push through to get out of my own head. The first excursion I did I was a little nervous but people are generally friendly and it wound up being great. 

 

The only thing I hate and I've mentioned this before is when a well meaning person tells me how "brave" I am for traveling solo and then lists reasons why they would never be able to. I get the point but I find it slightly condescending. The staff may make a few comments as well. Again, everyone had good intentions. 

 

 

 

Thanks! You actually sound a lot like me or at least how I assume it will be for me when I take my cruise. I’m marriage now for four months, but before that I was divorced for 4 and did everything alone. Occasionally with a friend, but I love my alone time. I’m thinking it will be the same on a cruise. 

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17 hours ago, Adriana said:

I typically sail solo and love it! It is nice to experience it with others, but I love the freedom and flexibility of being on my own. I have been doing it for years. 

Awesome! I Love my alone time. I do a lot at home alone, so I’m thinking this may be a good experience for me. Thanks!

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7 hours ago, Traveling Mike said:

Solo is the way to cruise.  You are in full control of your vacation.  On a cruise ship you are only alone when you want to be.

Makes sense! If I want to talk with others I can (as long as they are willing). If I want to be alone, I can. I like that. I tend to do a lot by myself. Eating out, shopping, movies. I find it so peaceful. I’ll plop down in a restaurant at home order my food and watch a movie on my phone. I don’t see it any different with my up coming cruise. Thanks for sharing!

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6 hours ago, sailaway_jason said:

I'm sailing solo next week! I am new to cruising; this is only my second cruise, but it has become my absolute favorite way to travel solo! I am an extrovert so I find it enjoyable to meet new people, but also do whatever I want whenever I want. In the MDR my server was top-notch and I just told him to bring out the best and each night he served me a 5-course meal with wine pairings! I had done the Chef's Table (which is absolutely worth it) early on and it honestly was like I had that experience every night the rest of the trip! I have noticed the staff going above and beyond with solo travelers, so that's another perk to traveling solo. 

I appreciate the feedback. Do you know if I can dine alone in the MDR or specialty dining places?  I rather eat by myself. Sounds odd, I know. 

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2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I have a love/hate relationship with traveling solo. I love going to what I want, when I want. However I hate that people call me brave or try to force me to hang with them. I too travel with my kindle as I love to read and don't get to do it as much as I can on a cruise. It can be overwhelming for your first time but you will find it freeing. 

I am a tad nervous. I love doing things alone, but never had 7000 plus people circulating all around me at the same time. I hope I like it. My new hubby can’t cruise due to a severe fear of the open ocean, so I’m on my own if I ever want to cruise. Unless I find a person to go. My cruise was booked years before I go married. 

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1 hour ago, SuzanneM said:

I have five solo cruises booked for the near future. The first is in a week. I love cruising solo; I've done both and enjoy both but prefer solo. I honestly don't understand when people say it takes courage to cruise solo, or go to the movies solo, or a restaurant solo. All of that is just fine by myself; I've never had a single problem. Peaceful and enjoyable. 

I’m with you on the solo thing at home. I go out to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner all the time alone. Movies are my favorite. Was divorced for four years, and I got used to that lifestyle and learned to really enjoy my alone time. IM newly married and I still do the same routine, unless my hubby wants to go, when he’s not busy working 

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18 minutes ago, Donnax4 said:

I appreciate the feedback. Do you know if I can dine alone in the MDR or specialty dining places?  I rather eat by myself. Sounds odd, I know. 

In the MDR I did My Time Dining but the same time each night and was sat at the same two-person table. Most likely similar seating in the specialty dining places. The Chef's Table is meant to be experienced together as a group and so all eight of you are seated at one table in a private area of the MDR (I have only experienced it post-pandemic where the group size was cut in half). Hibachi would be the same sitting alongside others as that too is part of the experience.

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3 hours ago, Donnax4 said:

That’s wonderful! I guess you are a pro. Any specific important advice for me, being it’s my first time cruising and going solo, would be very much appreciated. 

if you want to mingle, it's very easy to meet people.  You can meet them at dinner, at a show, at the pool or bar.  Cruisers are very friendly. Or chat it up with the crew. In my experience, you make at least one new friend on every cruise. 

if you don't want to mingle, you can easily be an introvert and find quiet corners to people watch or just chill. You can do whatever you want!!

Cruising is very safe, so don't even worry about walking around at night alone. 

If there's something specific you want to know, message me. 

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19 hours ago, sailaway_jason said:

I'm sailing solo next week! I am new to cruising; this is only my second cruise, but it has become my absolute favorite way to travel solo! I am an extrovert so I find it enjoyable to meet new people, but also do whatever I want whenever I want. In the MDR my server was top-notch and I just told him to bring out the best and each night he served me a 5-course meal with wine pairings! I had done the Chef's Table (which is absolutely worth it) early on and it honestly was like I had that experience every night the rest of the trip! I have noticed the staff going above and beyond with solo travelers, so that's another perk to traveling solo. 

I did my first sailing solo a few weeks ago and had a great time, so much so I booked another solo cruise in a couple months - but a longer one. I'm not much of an extrovert myself (kind of want to change that for the right circumstances) but can see myself opening up and enjoying meeting new people so much more on a cruise than anywhere else since even on a big ship it's still small enough to see the same people all the time, and I know I start opening up when I'm around the same people more often. All of my servers were awesome as well and super attentive for being solo. Might have to give this a try in the MDR, especially since I opted for a traditional seating time instead of My Time for the next sailing. Haven't made any seating requests though, I'm leaving it up to chance (or the maitre d') to decide if I'm enjoying my meals solo or meeting new people, but knowing there's delicious food I'm going to be happy with the meals either way I think!

13 hours ago, Donnax4 said:

I appreciate the feedback. Do you know if I can dine alone in the MDR or specialty dining places?  I rather eat by myself. Sounds odd, I know. 

You can definitely dine alone; I did each time last time for both MDR and specialty. It felt like I got a lot of attention but can't tell if that was just the fact of being on a cruise (where they are more attentive anyway) or extra since I was solo, but I had some great conversations with my servers during the dining experiences. 

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12 hours ago, D Alt said:

if you want to mingle, it's very easy to meet people.  You can meet them at dinner, at a show, at the pool or bar.  Cruisers are very friendly. Or chat it up with the crew. In my experience, you make at least one new friend on every cruise. 

if you don't want to mingle, you can easily be an introvert and find quiet corners to people watch or just chill. You can do whatever you want!!

Cruising is very safe, so don't even worry about walking around at night alone. 

If there's something specific you want to know, message me. 

Thank you! You are very kind! Good advice. 

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4 hours ago, Jack805 said:

I did my first sailing solo a few weeks ago and had a great time, so much so I booked another solo cruise in a couple months - but a longer one. I'm not much of an extrovert myself (kind of want to change that for the right circumstances) but can see myself opening up and enjoying meeting new people so much more on a cruise than anywhere else since even on a big ship it's still small enough to see the same people all the time, and I know I start opening up when I'm around the same people more often. All of my servers were awesome as well and super attentive for being solo. Might have to give this a try in the MDR, especially since I opted for a traditional seating time instead of My Time for the next sailing. Haven't made any seating requests though, I'm leaving it up to chance (or the maitre d') to decide if I'm enjoying my meals solo or meeting new people, but knowing there's delicious food I'm going to be happy with the meals either way I think!

You can definitely dine alone; I did each time last time for both MDR and specialty. It felt like I got a lot of attention but can't tell if that was just the fact of being on a cruise (where they are more attentive anyway) or extra since I was solo, but I had some great conversations with my servers during the dining experiences. 

That makes me feel much more at ease with the solo dining thing. 

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3 hours ago, Donnax4 said:

That makes me feel much more at ease with the solo dining thing. 

Glad my experience could help put you at ease. Like most have said, the whole experience is what you make of it - solo or not - and there are lots of options to make the cruise what you want it to be. I looked at the dining the same as if I decided to go to a restaurant by myself anywhere else, and that has never bothered me so I shouldn't let it on a cruise. 

Some of my family who are avid cruisers even joked that I should order extra food if I wanted since I was paying for two people's meals anyway booking solo LOL.

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6 hours ago, Jack805 said:

Glad my experience could help put you at ease. Like most have said, the whole experience is what you make of it - solo or not - and there are lots of options to make the cruise what you want it to be. I looked at the dining the same as if I decided to go to a restaurant by myself anywhere else, and that has never bothered me so I shouldn't let it on a cruise. 

Some of my family who are avid cruisers even joked that I should order extra food if I wanted since I was paying for two people's meals anyway booking solo LOL.

That’s is funny about doing double on the food. It is a bummer paying for two for cruise fare. Something tells me it will be worth it. Thanks!

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3 hours ago, Donnax4 said:

That’s is funny about doing double on the food. It is a bummer paying for two for cruise fare. Something tells me it will be worth it. Thanks!

The bummer I feel mostly comes from the pricing always being marketed as per person. I learned to start just mentally doubling what I saw quoted on the initial pricing shown before even looking into the fares more. But if looked at on a per room basis the pricing is still a pretty good deal considering it's covering not just your room but transportation to the various ports of call and a lot of included food as well. For what I paid (including the "single supplement") it still came out cheaper than a hotel for less nights than the total cruise - and that's just for a room and nothing else! And even if you decide to "splurge" on a specialty dining option or two, you're still usually getting a much greater value of food/experience than the price paid (which could easily be double or more local to home).

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I’m going on my first solo cruise in October and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m a total introvert, so I’m excited to just sit in the sun with my kindle and a slushy drink and just totally relax. 
 

Another question about dining: I have traditional dining - how will that likely work? I’ll get assigned to a table with other people right? How big of a table? 8? Just preparing for having to make small talk with strangers each night (not my strength!)

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3 hours ago, Pinky said:

I’m going on my first solo cruise in October and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m a total introvert, so I’m excited to just sit in the sun with my kindle and a slushy drink and just totally relax. 
 

Another question about dining: I have traditional dining - how will that likely work? I’ll get assigned to a table with other people right? How big of a table? 8? Just preparing for having to make small talk with strangers each night (not my strength!)

It would depend on the ship.  I was at a shared table with 6 recently on Oasis and on Anthem we were a table of 8, anohter time on Anthem they let 9 because of an error they made-it was a little tight but defintely doable.  I've not done shared tables on the smaller ships, yet.....I can let you now soon though!

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6 hours ago, Pinky said:

I’m going on my first solo cruise in October and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m a total introvert, so I’m excited to just sit in the sun with my kindle and a slushy drink and just totally relax. 
 

Another question about dining: I have traditional dining - how will that likely work? I’ll get assigned to a table with other people right? How big of a table? 8? Just preparing for having to make small talk with strangers each night (not my strength!)

I booked 4 solo trip.  The first one will be on this Oct too, on Adventure of the sea to Bermuda.  As for dinner, I prefer to sit alone, that's why I picked my time dinning.  Hopefully I get sit by the window side.  I don't mind sitting with other people if is at the bar.

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Ditto.
 

I have never actually traveled alone, at least not for the main part of the journey. I am a healthcare provider in private practice and therefore have more flexibility with my schedule than my husband does at this point.  And, every cruise I’ve been on this year I have earned a Casino comps cruise via a casino promotion and with all we already have booked there are more cruises on our docket than my husband has time for. Thus, I am also considering some solo cruising. 

Luckily I am not a bit shy 🤣 But it will certainly be a new experience. I guess we just have to hope that they are some friendly people on our cruises with us, right? My husband and I have made many cruise friends over the years, and it would be great if some are on board if I am solo, but there will be new people to meet!

For those who cruise solo a lot, do you all usually request a table by yourself or a group table? I had a nightmare scenario on Premier (the original Disney line) where in graduate school in my 30’s my husband and I took a cruise and they stuck us with five honeymooning couple 😵🥴 - not looking for a repeat of that! 😬

 

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13 hours ago, Pinky said:

I’m going on my first solo cruise in October and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m a total introvert, so I’m excited to just sit in the sun with my kindle and a slushy drink and just totally relax. 
 

Another question about dining: I have traditional dining - how will that likely work? I’ll get assigned to a table with other people right? How big of a table? 8? Just preparing for having to make small talk with strangers each night (not my strength!)

I'm an introvert too, but open to breaking out of my introvert shell a bit too and meeting some people on my weeklong trip in November (60 days out, but who's counting!?!)

For my cruise last month, I wanted My Time Dining but wasn't an option at booking. Talking to RC reps they put a request in for table for two (seated solo). Ended up getting put into My Time Dining so wasn't an issue, was seated solo each time. For the upcoming one I'm doing traditional at 8 but didn't put in any requests for table size. I've decided to leave it up to fate, and if at a table with others maybe it will help me meet some others and enjoy the experience with regular people to dine and chat with.

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I have had multiple experiences as a solo cruiser. They have often asked me if I want to sit alone or with a medium or large group. I usually just tell them to do whatever is easiest for them. When at tables with others, I have always been included in conversation. It has usually been with couples or groups of friends. When at a table by myself, neighboring tables often chat with me; sometimes throughout the meal, sometimes just a quick convo. I have enjoyed all settings. I think my favorite was being at a table with a few set of people that do not know each other. We all get to know each other and more fun and less awkward. 

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21 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

@AlohaLivin if you do MTD you will be sat by yourself. If you have traditional they will sit you with other solo travelers.  Depending on the demand of the sailing, they might not allow you a solo table by yourself.  It doesn't hurt to ask. 

They actually sat me at a table at traditional dining when I was solo. It was a table for 6, but I only had company on the last night and it was only a couple.  When I booked for two and no-showed my +1, we had a table for 2.

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59 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

They actually sat me at a table at traditional dining when I was solo. It was a table for 6, but I only had company on the last night and it was only a couple.  When I booked for two and no-showed my +1, we had a table for 2.

In February my daughter and I were at a shared table with a lovely older couple.  A person in our FB group sent out a "call for help" to sit with someone, "anyone" as she had a table all to herself.  I reached out and invited her to our table  that could hold 6.  When I told the older couple they pointed out a young lady who had been at a table behind us, so I had not noticed her, who had sat alone for a few nights, we had the waitstaff invite her to our table.  Both young ladies were super nice and grateful to be seated with other people.  Having sat solo at a table for 2, sandwhiched in between other tables for 2-with people who had not intention to even give the time of day, I'd rather take my chances at a shared table.  Had I been on your sailing and saw you, and had room at my table I would have asked you to join us.  

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11 minutes ago, Pattycruise said:

I been on your sailing and saw you, and had room at my table I would have asked you to join us.  

Aww..that's always a sweet gesture. I don't mind dining solo. Being sat with others forces me to socialize and I tend to be an introvert when I'm not already part of a group. It's good practice for me 😁

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