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Best things to do as a solo cruiser


superduper123
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I love to cruise, but it's been several years since I have cruised solo. What are your favorite things to do onboard as a solo cruiser that doesn't feel /look awkward? I am bringing a couple of books to read poolside. I am not comfortable dining alone, so probably will not eat in the dining room. What else?:)

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I love to cruise, but it's been several years since I have cruised solo. What are your favorite things to do onboard as a solo cruiser that doesn't feel /look awkward? I am bringing a couple of books to read poolside. I am not comfortable dining alone, so probably will not eat in the dining room. What else?:)

I spend a lot of time reading, listening to audiobooks, and thinking about nothing; I play trivia, take a sauna, and take walks on the promenade deck. What I usually don't do are things that that run on a schedule, because I don't like to keep track of time (except meal times, of course).

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I spend a lot of time reading, listening to audiobooks, and thinking about nothing; I play trivia, take a sauna, and take walks on the promenade deck. What I usually don't do are things that that run on a schedule, because I don't like to keep track of time (except meal times, of course).

 

I do all of those things and I try to get my own table in the MDR. I don't care if someone else doesn't like to eat alone, it's much more relaxing than the menagerie in the buffet. Walking on the promenade is also relaxing.

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I love to cruise, but it's been several years since I have cruised solo. What are your favorite things to do onboard as a solo cruiser that doesn't feel /look awkward? I am bringing a couple of books to read poolside. I am not comfortable dining alone, so probably will not eat in the dining room. What else?:)

 

 

 

I like to roam the ship check out all different bars and shops. I’ll hang out in the adults only areas of the pool decks and read and enjoy the sun. If doing NCL I’ll go to the solo meet ups in the evening and will do dinner with the solo group. But if there isn’t a specified solo dinner group I’ll dine I. The MDR alone too many problems with shared tables otherwise

 

 

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I like going to piano bars and sit around the piano. Everyone tends to be very friendly and welcoming.

I also eat dinner in MDR asking for a table for 6-8 people. There’s no reason not to enjoy dinner conversation with others. If you’re afraid to be stuck with the same people choose open sitting.

 

 

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I like to relax when I am cruising so I enjoy some good books, some time playing trivia, just walking around the deck, taking a nap or two, and just enjoying the trip. If the port is one I have not been to I will usually just do a ship's excursion to see the local scenery. If I have been to the port before I will just wander around if I feel comfortable doing that. As far as dining I enjoy a trip or two to the specialty restaurants, but I am flexible with the regular dining, as I am comfortable dining by myself or with a group.

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I like my alone time, but I also enjoy meeting people. For the latter, I join the Cruise Critic roll call, and on that other social media site that shall not be named, I usually find a similar group. It's worked well - I can do things on my own but I have options to join others for meals, excursions, trivia, etc.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

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I know you said you wouldn't want to eat alone, but I did just that on the Amsterdam (Holland America) in one of the specialty restaurants (Canaletto -- upscale Italian), and it didn't feel awkward at all. Granted, I've only been on one cruise, and I sort of "invented" what I wanted to do, but it all worked great. I had "open" dining, so I was seated with other "open dining" folks at tables usually seating 6 or 8 people -- that also worked out great as I got to meet a lot of people, many of them solo travelers, too. I played trivia a few times, hung out in some of the several bars/lounges (especially the Explorer's Lounge with classical music and a glass of wine), and spent a lot of time on my balcony (verandah) in the morning with a cup of tea and in the evening with a glass of wine. So relaxing! I'm not a big "show" person, so didn't take advantage of that, but I had a marvelous relaxing time.

 

And of course, there was the scenery -- Alaska! Magical! Can't wait to do it again.

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I like my own space for breakfast so I go to the main dining room and ask for a table for 1.

 

Lunch depends on the day and my feelings. Sometimes a specialty restaurant, sometimes the food hall and sometimes the MDR and ask to be seated with some solos.

Dinner I like the MDR - usually solos table of 4 - dont like the huge round tables with loads of people.

 

Activities - what every I fancy. Sometimes I wander through the Quiz/Trivia area to see if anyone is trying to create a group, other times I just find a quiet place to sit and gaze at the sea or read.

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.

Dinner I like the MDR - usually solos table of 4 - dont like the huge round tables with loads of people..

 

I agree with this....sitting at a large round table makes it somewhat difficult to converse with everyone, and what often happens, are several different conversations occurring. At a table for four, usually everyone will be involved in just one....

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I agree with this....sitting at a large round table makes it somewhat difficult to converse with everyone, and what often happens, are several different conversations occurring. At a table for four, usually everyone will be involved in just one....

Different strokes.....I like larger tables, so that if I'm not particularly interested in chatting with a couple of people, there are more at the table with which to try again.

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I love to cruise, but it's been several years since I have cruised solo. What are your favorite things to do onboard as a solo cruiser that doesn't feel /look awkward? I am bringing a couple of books to read poolside. I am not comfortable dining alone, so probably will not eat in the dining room. What else?:)

 

I bet probably everyone else is into whatever/whoever they are with that they do not even notice if you're solo or not. Whenever I go solo I do whatever, whenever! Read, piano bar, spa, waterslides, on deck getting some sun (or shade), going to shows.

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Different strokes.....I like larger tables, so that if I'm not particularly interested in chatting with a couple of people, there are more at the table with which to try again.

You do have a good point there...it can work out good or bad...

I think that if you do find people you enjoy dining with, perhaps in that case being at a smaller table makes conversing easier, if you plan to dine together again.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Lots of good replies here.........what to do? Lots of things, or NOTHING.......there are normally different activities offered on board.......check out what they have and see if something appeals to you. Most cruisers are quite friendly. Do you enjoy trivia? Participate in it if you do.....do you enjoy cooking? Sometimes they offer culinary demos......they also have folks who

give talks....see what the topic is about and if you enjoy said topic, go listen...........if you are a relaxer, find a lounger and

take a nap or read a book. Or do a bit of both:)

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One of the things I love about solo travel is being able to be 100% selfish, all the time. And not feel bad about it.

 

You want to go to the buffet? Go to the buffet!

 

You want to go to the bar and get a drink? Go get a drink!

 

You want to go do trivia? Go do trivia!

 

You want to spend the entire day with a good book on your balcony, and get on a first name basis with the room service stewards? Do that!

 

You want go get a three buckets of beer and down them all over an afternoon in a deck chair? Questionable idea, but you can!

 

You can do whatever the heck you want. You don't have to worry about another soul. You don't have to plan meeting points or when to go to dinner or argue over what excursion to go on. You just do whatever feels right, all the time.

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I love to cruise, but it's been several years since I have cruised solo. What are your favorite things to do onboard as a solo cruiser that doesn't feel /look awkward? I am bringing a couple of books to read poolside. I am not comfortable dining alone, so probably will not eat in the dining room. What else?:)

 

Choose traditional dining at large table. I've had some great success with that option. If you don't feel that the table "gell" ask to be moved after the first night.

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There really is something wonderfully decadent about settling on plans for the day, having a nap after lunch, waking up at the time you "need" to wake up from the nap to go do your activities, deciding "nope," and throwing all the plans out the window and doing something completely different (or absolutely nothing at all) because you don't have to answer to anybody but yourself.

 

If you like to read, a book or kindle is your friend. Makes no difference to me whether it's a specialty restaurant or the buffet -- I'll be reading. I do tend to put the book down more in the specialties, as there are interactions with the wait staff (and meat to carve, requiring both hands on silverware!), but no reason to sit awkwardly looking about the room if sitting alone makes you feel awkward. Some restaurants come with better views than others (and I've noticed I tend to get pretty good (window) tables as a solo at a specialty).

 

On sailaway day, head for the open dining room and try dining alone -- it probably won't be busy and your phone might still be working and you can text friends and family. It might alleviate any concern you have about the dynamic to try it when it's as uncrowded as it ever will be, as opposed to trying it during busy lunch/dinner service later on the trip. I suspect you'll find you can handle it just fine!

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There was a time when I'd rather be dead or starve to death than dine alone..LOL but I went to a land based casino restaurant and went to dinner alone. I was a nervous wreck but it was something I wanted to overcome.

 

It was truly funny as an observer that a couple next to me never spoke during the entire meal. That cured me of my phobia!

 

Sometimes being alone is better...:D

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When it comes to dining alone, a lot of different opinions are based on our current lifestyles.......I virtually always eat alone (live alone, have for decades), so it's nice to have the opportunity to chat with others. Those who almost never eat alone sometimes love the experience of not having to chat with others.

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I made it up as I went. Sometimes I just laid in the sun in the adults-only area of the ship, or sat in the whirlpool with my drink. That actually ended up becoming social time as 3 other solo cruisers and someone's husband hopped in with me, but they were very fun people and we had some great conversation!

 

I especially like to wander around and explore once we hit a port, so I do a lot of that alone and take pics like crazy, maybe shop/get souvenirs, etc. I like to do things some people consider boring like walk thru a museum, so solo traveling is perfect for that because I don't have to hear any complaining ;)

 

I mix it up with dining. Breakfast alone is nice and peaceful. Dinner with a group is more fun to me, but I certainly will not enjoy the food any less if I am alone! I don't really feel awkward about being solo anywhere, in my regular day-to-day life so it just carries over when I am on vacation too.

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First day, I do not rush to the buffet - too many people, kids, noise - really people - they act like they have never had a meal before. I just walk around and get familiar with where things are . I go to room when it is open drop my "day bag" and get back on deck for sail away.

I get the daily newspaper from my room go down and find a coffee and I go over what is happening for the day - mark what interests me.. if I get to those things great if not... oh well.

Then eat something for breakfast - usually the buffet - love to take my food from there pool side before the crowds arrive and sit and relax - sometimes others ask if they can join you, sometimes just sit alone. good either way. Love to eat outside - that is a treat coming from snow snow and more snow.

Always try to make the shows about port days - get a map of the port. Sometimes I take a ship out tour, usually not - love to wander, not nervous on my own. Only thing I do not do very often is swim in the ocean unless I am with someone - who would know if a wave took me out? Some cruises I go on a ship tour to a beach - make sure someone is aware if I go into water.

I do not get to all the things I have earmarked on the daily planner - oh well - did not miss that.

Love the shows - get a drink, usually enjoy them. Some really good, some not so much (some people should not try to be comedian's)

I take a few magazines with me in my carryon bag - and a book - love to sit in a shady corner and read. Talk to anyone I want sometimes eat main din, sometimes special, sometimes buffet - as the mood strikes me.

If I have back to back cruise, I like to spend a week in a local hotel, then do the second cruise - I have the time, and that way get to see something of the port city as well as my cruise. Sometimes I get back on the same ship - but rare - usually take 2nd cruise on a different ship or even different cruise line

Doing that this yr - doing Costa Feb 22 10 days, 1 wk in 2 different hotels in Ft Lauderdale - then Harmony 1 wk - then home and hope some of the piles of snow in my hard have melted.

Each trip a new adventure!

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