Hflors

I have read thru this thread and agree with the points about being solo. I lost the love of my life 18 months ago. I have been on two cruises and was scheduled to do a world cruise this past Jan. 23 but my bil became gravely ill and I cancelled to be with my sister. He has passed I am sad to say, but the two of are booked on a cruise the end of this month and we need it!! So now I am booked on a 51 day cruise go hawaii and tahiti in October, a b2b panama canal in January 24 and am looking at the 2025 world cruise all solo!! Everyone keeps asking me how I do "being solo" and "keep going". I just smile and tell them I don't have a choice. My husband would be very upset with me if I didn't keep going!! Ps: I asked the moderators to make this thread a sticky.

I love the 2025 wc itinerary!!! Got a look at it yesterday! I am seriously thinking about this cruise!!!

I love the 2025 wc itinerary!!! Got a look at it yesterday! I am seriously thinking about this cruise!!!

I just did 11 days on the Eurodam and the food was AMAZING!!!! The service was awesome and the shim and our suite were SUPER CLEAN!!! I can't say enough good things about the staff, room stewards and room service! We felt totally spoiled after being onboard!

Any updates on how she is doing? Hoping she is better...

Why zuiderdam for 25 WC? I see bora bora on A and C. Isn't Zuiderdam too large for Bora Bora?

Here is my guess. HAL is testing the waters to get a feed back on the pole to pole cruise for 2025, but not as a World cruise, but as a grand voyage. I think one of the other choices will be the world cruise. I think Zuiderdam will do the pole to pole and the Zaandam will do the world. (I would prefer the K-dam but only because of the single cabins) My choice for the world cruise in 25 is A. I am keeping my fingers crossed!

I am thinking about doing multiple cruises several on the same ship but a few I would change ships (get off one ship and board the next one the same day) also I will be on the same cruise line. Can I get a covid 19 test onboard / would I need a test for each cruise? I would be taking 9 cruises and changing ships 4 times. Has anyone done this since covid 19 started?

Sitting here thinking about my upcoming cruise and looking around realizing that there is no one to share all the planning and selecting of tours, dinners, packages etc. Before my husband passed, we always did this together. I always printed the list of tours and then he would read it over and together we would decide on what tours we wanted to do and what places we would just do a diy day. What nights we would do specialty dinners and what night we would go to the dining room or buffet after a long day. Now it's just me and there is no more discussions and decisions shared. It's just me trying to make all the decisions alone. For me this is the hardest. Since I have actually never been on a cruise yet by myself, I really don't know how being alone on the ship will be. I am bringing my crocheting and a couple of good books just in case I get lonely. So what do you find the hardest about cruising solo??

Good for you... Have fun!!!

My brother 'gifted" my sister and I his cruise credits. We had to use them to book a cruise and they must be used by Dec. 31, 2022 so we booked a cruise mid November. This is on Holland America. He had a cruise booked for Hawaii, but Covid got worse and his health also wasn't good so he needed to cancel. All his money was returned but his original deposit and that is what he gifted to my sister and I.. I hope you can find a way to not lose those credits.

Thank you all for your replies. I wish you all were on HAL's world cruise as that is where I will be and we all could become pals immediately! You all have given me such inside info and I am feeling a bit confident. OK so not totally but there is an inkling. Anyway I hope to meet all of you in my travels.. Helen

I am a widow and alone for the first time in my life. I am terribly shy around people I don't know. I have booked on a world cruise and am now struggling at thought of making friends. I don't want to spend 4 months by myself. Anyone have some strategies for 'breaking the ice" and talking to strangers? In the past I always had my husband who was liked by everyone he ever met, and I would gradually join the conversation. Without him I am lost and finding it hard to meet people. Any tips for what other solo's do?

December 31, 2022 the day I have to be tested for my cruise on January 3, 2023. I hope October 31, 2022 so I don't need to be tested for my November cruise...

OMG! I can't think of anything nastier than a paper straw! I have used a straw for about 30 years. I started when I had to commute 2 hrs each way to work five days a week. Several times I spilled my coffee on my outfit and had to turn around and change my clothes and then go back to work. My boss said. "Use a straw in your coffee you will spill it a lot less." She was right. That was the last time I had to go back home and put on a new outfit. Now I only use one Yeti for both hot and cold drinks. Always use a straw. I tried a paper straw once the whole drink tasted like a carboard box. If the ship only has paper straws, I think I will bring my own along with my Yeti.

Is there still a bus that goes from the cruise ship to Matira beach, with a stop at the restaurant Bloody Mary's???? In 2011 we took it to bloody Mary's and had a great lunch. I am waitlisted on Patrick's tour, but if that doesn't work out, I may just head to Matira beach and spend the day there...

Thanks for everyone's replies. This is the info I needed.

How do you apply for the credit and how much is the credit?

Checking out the 2023 world cruise on Zuiderdam. I have some questions. Does hal have activities for solo guest? Is there any info on the new European Visa for Americans? What are some of the activities they have for sea days. Any comments on traveling solo? Thanks in advance for any answers.

I am thinking of booking Costa's 2024 world cruise. I have sailed on Holland America for many years, but their solo rates have me looking elsewhere. Anyone who has cruised both lines please give me a comparison. Thanks in advance.

I wish hal would use one of their new ships with their solo cabins so I could take a world cruise! I can't afford to pay double for a world cruise, but I could afford it if there was just a small upcharge like a solo cabin. I have tried to find someone to go with me, but no luck. I will keep looking!!