First Solo Cruise Logic

First I want to give a shout out to each and every other solo cruiser out there! Finding CruiseCritic and this forum has given me the ultimate peace of mind that not only is there nothing "weird" about traveling/cruising solo but in fact there are many who prefer it!

I took my first cruise with my now ex-girlfriend earlier in April and we flew to Orlando from Raleigh, NC and did a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral on the Carnival Liberty.

I had an absolute blast on my first cruise! It does seem Carnival has the reputation of a "budget cruise line" and although I have never been on another cruise line, Carnival exceeded all of my expectations! Unless I have a horrible experience, I have no desire in paying much more just to try out another cruise line because I don't know what they could possibly offer to justify the pricing difference when in my opinion Carnival was great!

I have been slammed at work recently and luckily I will be going to Bermuda for a 4 night vacation in September (all expense employer paid company group trip) which fate would have it this trip would fall on my 30th birthday but since my last cruise I have wanted to go on another one and been itching to get something in the works.

I initially asked a few people if they would be interested in going on a cruise and got responses from unsure due to financial reasons, that much time away from work or family, to far out in advance so I said to myself forget all this hassle, I will just book it and go SOLO!

When I was telling my family I booked a 5 night solo cruise out of Charleston, SC on the Carnival Ecstacy, April 5th-April 10th, 2019, the typical response was "you are going by yourself, that's just weird?"

I personally don't think there is anything weird about it whatsoever! I don't understand why so many people in the world feel that in order to enjoy life, experience things, see the world or follow a passion (which mine is traveling) it's something that can't be done alone, I just don't get it? Is it a comfort or security thing to need someone else there? Is it really jealousy because a solo person is able to have that luxury and can do that? I will never know but whether it was a group trip or solo trip, I will have just as much fun either way!

What I am curious about however is the pricing for my trip and wanted feedback from previous solo cruisers if this sounds like a bad, good or great deal!

The cruise will be over spring break April 5th-10th, 2018 out of Charleston, SC on the Carnival Ecstacy for a 5 night Bahamas cruise with Nassau and Half Moon Cary port stops. My last cruise we stopped in Freeport (wasn't a fan at all) and Nassau which I did enjoy and excited to go back! Also excited to explore Half Moon Cay for the first time.

My first cruise we flew down to Florida because the cruises were much less inexpensive than going out of Charleston at the time we were looking. It was actually less expensive (by a few hundred dollars) to fly 2 people to Florida, get a hotel room the night before, pay a transportation company to pick us up from the hotel to take us to Port Canaveral than it would of been to take a cruise for 2 out of Charleston, SC.

However crunching the numbers as I wanted to try and travel around the same time as my first cruise because the weather was great and it was spring break, I think I got a pretty good deal but would like to hear from others who have previously cruised solo and pricing!

I booked an interior stateroom, mid ship, high deck and paid $776.00 for the cruise fare and $96.40 for the taxes, fees and port expenses.

My total came out to be $872.40.

Doing the math $872.40 (including taxes, fees and port expenses) divided by 5 nights equates to a daily rate of about $175.00 per day.

In my opinion not having to fly now as Charleston, SC is only a 4 hour drive away from Raleigh, NC, not have to get a hotel room the night before (this is still up in the air as I have never been to Charleston and heard it's a great town to explore), not have to worry about transportation to and from the port etc, I think during spring break and traveling solo $175.00 per day isn't horrible but wanted the opinion of those who have cruised solo previously.

Opinions are greatly appreciated!

I've taken two solo cruises on Carnival and enjoyed both (4 days). I took a longer one on another line and it was just too long to be away from "my" people.

I never was lacking for entertainment on Carnival, there were lots of activities ranging from the mindless to informative. I suggest loading some e-books onto your e-device and spend time in hot tubs. I didn't enjoy dinners in the MDRs when they put me at tables with other solo travelers. Frankly, some were a bit creepy.

Sit up front for the late night comedy shows and enjoy the abuse!

And another thing you can do is set a goal to come back with a Ship on a Stick.

Hi-You will have a great time! Maybe you will want to cruise solo again! Kendra

The per day price of your cruise for a solo is excellent.

I have sailed solo on 3 Carnival ships: Freedom, Liberty, and Pride, I enjoy the Carnival product; it's different from HAL and Princess in some ways. And, I don't mind that. Carnival's entertainment/music stands out in my mind as to why I do enjoy those cruises.

Since your first cruise was on Carnival Liberty and this next one will be on Carnival Ecstacy, be aware that the ships belong in two different ship classes of Carnival. Ecstacy is a Fantasy-Class vessel, the oldest Class of the Carnival fleet. The layout of the ship will be different from Carnival Liberty, but the cruise product will be just as good, I would think.

Go and enjoy your cruise!

Hi, I have been sailing solo for over 15 years and no, there is absolutely nothing weird about going on your own.

If it is weird to some people, then that is their problem, not yours. I go solo for many reasons and I love it:D I just returned home from another cruise (solo of course) and had a fantastic time:D….sailed from Venice to Nice for 10 nights:)

872.00 for 5 days? Sounds very cheap to me. I would be looking to see how much more it would be for a balcony though;)

Smooth sailing to you!:)

$175 isn't a bad daily price to pay if it includes port charges, gratuities, taxes, etc.

It all depends on what you are happy with.

First I want to give a shout out to each and every other solo cruiser out there! Finding CruiseCritic and this forum has given me the ultimate peace of mind that not only is there nothing "weird" about traveling/cruising solo but in fact there are many who prefer it!

 

I took my first cruise with my now ex-girlfriend earlier in April and we flew to Orlando from Raleigh, NC and did a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral on the Carnival Liberty.

 

I had an absolute blast on my first cruise! It does seem Carnival has the reputation of a "budget cruise line" and although I have never been on another cruise line, Carnival exceeded all of my expectations! Unless I have a horrible experience, I have no desire in paying much more just to try out another cruise line because I don't know what they could possibly offer to justify the pricing difference when in my opinion Carnival was great!

 

I have been slammed at work recently and luckily I will be going to Bermuda for a 4 night vacation in September (all expense employer paid company group trip) which fate would have it this trip would fall on my 30th birthday but since my last cruise I have wanted to go on another one and been itching to get something in the works.

 

I initially asked a few people if they would be interested in going on a cruise and got responses from unsure due to financial reasons, that much time away from work or family, to far out in advance so I said to myself forget all this hassle, I will just book it and go SOLO!

 

When I was telling my family I booked a 5 night solo cruise out of Charleston, SC on the Carnival Ecstacy, April 5th-April 10th, 2019, the typical response was "you are going by yourself, that's just weird?"

 

I personally don't think there is anything weird about it whatsoever! I don't understand why so many people in the world feel that in order to enjoy life, experience things, see the world or follow a passion (which mine is traveling) it's something that can't be done alone, I just don't get it? Is it a comfort or security thing to need someone else there? Is it really jealousy because a solo person is able to have that luxury and can do that? I will never know but whether it was a group trip or solo trip, I will have just as much fun either way!

 

What I am curious about however is the pricing for my trip and wanted feedback from previous solo cruisers if this sounds like a bad, good or great deal!

 

The cruise will be over spring break April 5th-10th, 2018 out of Charleston, SC on the Carnival Ecstacy for a 5 night Bahamas cruise with Nassau and Half Moon Cary port stops. My last cruise we stopped in Freeport (wasn't a fan at all) and Nassau which I did enjoy and excited to go back! Also excited to explore Half Moon Cay for the first time.

 

My first cruise we flew down to Florida because the cruises were much less inexpensive than going out of Charleston at the time we were looking. It was actually less expensive (by a few hundred dollars) to fly 2 people to Florida, get a hotel room the night before, pay a transportation company to pick us up from the hotel to take us to Port Canaveral than it would of been to take a cruise for 2 out of Charleston, SC.

 

However crunching the numbers as I wanted to try and travel around the same time as my first cruise because the weather was great and it was spring break, I think I got a pretty good deal but would like to hear from others who have previously cruised solo and pricing!

 

I booked an interior stateroom, mid ship, high deck and paid $776.00 for the cruise fare and $96.40 for the taxes, fees and port expenses.

 

My total came out to be $872.40.

 

Doing the math $872.40 (including taxes, fees and port expenses) divided by 5 nights equates to a daily rate of about $175.00 per day.

 

In my opinion not having to fly now as Charleston, SC is only a 4 hour drive away from Raleigh, NC, not have to get a hotel room the night before (this is still up in the air as I have never been to Charleston and heard it's a great town to explore), not have to worry about transportation to and from the port etc, I think during spring break and traveling solo $175.00 per day isn't horrible but wanted the opinion of those who have cruised solo previously.

 

Opinions are greatly appreciated!

How much is parking for the duration of the cruise? That is part & parcel of the equation.

But $175/day is a GREAT price. Look at it this way, $175/night is a typical hotel. Not even a GREAT hotel these days. And that would be before taxes/resort fees, etc. at the hotel. But hotel, you only get the room.

Cruise, you get EVERYTHING ... food, cabin, entertainment, ports, waited on/served, etc.

But if it's company paid, why the worry about the expense? It's a dang nice bonus for sure.

I went to Cuba in 2017 as a solo cruise passenger. And this fall, I'm going to Mexico as a solo cruise passenger. I LOVE it. Nothing weird about it to me, but CBP always ask a lot of questions. Just FYI, I am a middle-aged single female. Somehow that triggers their questions. Oh, I traveled to and from London solo in 2015, but a couple days later met up with my tour group. I flew early and flew round trip from London. It was VERY difficult saying goodbye to the whole group in Paris where they flew out of, and I had to make my way ALONE back to London and to Heathrow for my flight home.

How much is parking for the duration of the cruise? That is part & parcel of the equation.

 

But $175/day is a GREAT price. Look at it this way, $175/night is a typical hotel. Not even a GREAT hotel these days. And that would be before taxes/resort fees, etc. at the hotel. But hotel, you only get the room.

 

Cruise, you get EVERYTHING ... food, cabin, entertainment, ports, waited on/served, etc.

 

But if it's company paid, why the worry about the expense? It's a dang nice bonus for sure.

 

I went to Cuba in 2017 as a solo cruise passenger. And this fall, I'm going to Mexico as a solo cruise passenger. I LOVE it. Nothing weird about it to me, but CBP always ask a lot of questions. Just FYI, I am a middle-aged single female. Somehow that triggers their questions. Oh, I traveled to and from London solo in 2015, but a couple days later met up with my tour group. I flew early and flew round trip from London. It was VERY difficult saying goodbye to the whole group in Paris where they flew out of, and I had to make my way ALONE back to London and to Heathrow for my flight home.

My company paid trip is to Bermuda in September and has no correlation with the cruise I am taking in April as I booked and paid for the cruise myself!

Great question about parking as I do have a few options. Parking at the port is $20.00 a day so that would be an additional $100.00 and I will be going that route if I do not decide to go down the night before and explore Charleston, SC as I heard it was a great city.

However being only 4 hours away I might just leave early in the morning the day of the cruise but this part is still up in the air and will decide when it's closer to time for the cruise.

If I do go down the night before there are hotel packages that offer a room, free parking at their hotel while you are on the cruise and transportation to and from the port. These hotel packages start at about $150.00 but it's definitely the route to go if going down the night before as I heard parking at the Port of Charleston can be a mess and if you taxi, Uber or take a shuttle in there is a separate drop off area and it's much quicker boarding. Also going this route you wouldn't have to pay $100.00 for parking at the port :-D!

Hi, I have been sailing solo for over 15 years and no, there is absolutely nothing weird about going on your own.

If it is weird to some people, then that is their problem, not yours. I go solo for many reasons and I love it:D I just returned home from another cruise (solo of course) and had a fantastic time:D….sailed from Venice to Nice for 10 nights:)

 

872.00 for 5 days? Sounds very cheap to me. I would be looking to see how much more it would be for a balcony though;)

 

Smooth sailing to you!:)

I booked an interior stateroom because to be quite honest on my last cruise I was hardly ever in the room except to catch a few hours of sleep a night, shower and change but other than that I was out by the pool deck, at the bar, comedy club, casino etc. I spent very little time in the room.

However you struck my curiosity so I ran the numbers just to see what they would be!

Ocean view-$1,270.80 additional $398.40 than current fare paid.

Balcony-$1,810.80 additional $938.40 than current fare paid.

Not spending much time in the room I just don't see the value in paying more pricing in addition as if I want a good look at the ocean I can just go to the pool deck :-D!

However I am not going to lie, I am going to do the best I can to see if Carnival will give me an ocean-view upgrade when I board the ship since I paid for double occupancy but it's just me if there is availability. It wouldn't hurt to ask but with it being spring break I am sure that ship will be at capacity.

Since you're young and active-I say skip the Balcony and save your money. Even when I take someone with me I don't spend much time out there. Hit the pool and party during afternoon , take a nap and then hit the clubs and chase girls at nite. When you find someone you don't want to share with everyone else-THEN get the Balcony

Since you're young and active-I say skip the Balcony and save your money. Even when I take someone with me I don't spend much time out there. Hit the pool and party during afternoon , take a nap and then hit the clubs and chase girls at nite. When you find someone you don't want to share with everyone else-THEN get the Balcony

Completely agree with this logic! My days on the first cruise were spent doing just that minus the chasing girls at night part since I was with my girlfriend at the time.

For me the stateroom not only on this cruise but any solo cruises I take going forward I think I am going to book the cheapest stateroom available every time.

Very little time is actually spent in the room, for a good view just need to head up to the pool deck and the money saved can be gambled in the casino and used towards the purchase of a drink package!

When I go solo I do try to squeeze in a Lido Interior Room if it's available for a reasonable price. That way even without a Balcony you are steps away from the outside. Those forward interiors close to Carnival Secret Decks also are an option

Welcome to the world of solo cruising! I’ve been solo cruising for about 18 years now. To be honest, I’ve enjoyed myself more when I’m solo. I can do what I want, when I want, as much or as little as I want. As long as you are friendly, you’ll meet people. One of the things I like best about Carnival is that if you do traditional dining, they usually try to seat you with other solo cruisers. I’ve met the BEST people that way! I even keep in touch with some and occasionally sail on the same cruise with them again. Oh, and I ALWAYS book the cheapest cabin I can - I’m partial to the 1A upper/lower insides on Carnival. Often the other bed folds up into the wall so I have extra space, and I love it being dark so I can nap late afternoon.

I think the price you got is pretty good. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. If YOU are comfortable with the price, that’s all that matters.

I not only go solo cruising, I have gone on camping trip solo, I have gone on cabin vacations solo, I watch the Solar Eclipse by myself and because no-one would go with ms, so I had to watch the amazing Leonids showers of 2008 and 2009 by myself.In most cases I really wished someone would come with me to share the experience, but no-one would spend the time.money with me.So I had two choices, sit at home and vegetate and see nothing new in my life, or go out there and sample this world in all it's glory.Also a word of warning, when I was very young I thought it was not worth going to places without other people, so I did not go. The results.I did not go to the Emerald Garden in Montserrat when I could, today the volcano has wiped it out.I did not go to the Hole in the Wall in Canada, today it no longer exists as it collapsed.I did not go to Devil's Bridge in Aruba, it collapse before I got there.Basicilly, if you wait saying you can always see it later, it may not be there anymore.

I am doing my first solo next fall on Queen Mary 2 ten days from Hamburg Germany with stops in Southampton, UK and Le Havre, France. Having spent a lot of my life traveling around the world alone on business, I am looking forward to being on my own. I can go to the events I want to go to, eat when I want to, or do nothing at all. Over the years, I have met many solo cruisers and not a single one of them was ever unhappy. I am very much looking forward to this crossing.

Will4Reals your posts are a breath of fresh air. I too am traveling solo (I'm taking my 2nd every cruise this coming February 2019). I go by myself often when it gets in my head to do something, go somewhere, etc. I detests the, "tsk, tsk, tsk" sounds of those who look at me and feel sorry because "You're going by yourself." I realize they are projecting their insecurities onto me and they really don't lie themselves which is why they can't stand to be by themselves.

I posted this today on the Solo Roll Call discussion:

"

Solo cruises are truly the best and those that travel solo don't have to answer to anyone. But to put it in perspective, here are a few things to consider.

You can be truly sailing solo or sailing solo but with a group of friends and there are folks with own rooms. But these are "cruise" friends, sailed with them a few times and they all know the cruise life.

Then there is the sailing solo and when you first board the ship you don't know anyone.

Here's the things to remember, unless you are sailing with like minded folks that really know the cruise world, you could be setting yourself up for a miserable trip if just trying to find a "family" member or "land" based friend to go with to help save a couple bucks and appear to not be cruising alone. That family or friend could be complaining the entire trip, you may always be worrying are they having a good time, they could hate ship life. This then could translate to you having a horrible few days.

So in the end we all need to just go. If we always wait for others that can go and do something or feel that its weird or that we shouldn't we would never get to do, see, experience or do anything.

Have a super solo cruise!

So in the end we all need to just go. If we always wait for others that can go and do something or feel that its weird or that we shouldn't we would never get to do, see, experience or do anything.

Have a super solo cruise!

I tell others this all of the time!

There are so many things I have experienced or done (not just cruising) that I would never have, unless I went by myself.:cool:

First I want to give a shout out to each and every other solo cruiser out there! Finding CruiseCritic and this forum has given me the ultimate peace of mind that not only is there nothing "weird" about traveling/cruising solo but in fact there are many who prefer it!

 

I took my first cruise with my now ex-girlfriend earlier in April and we flew to Orlando from Raleigh, NC and did a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral on the Carnival Liberty.

 

I had an absolute blast on my first cruise! It does seem Carnival has the reputation of a "budget cruise line" and although I have never been on another cruise line, Carnival exceeded all of my expectations! Unless I have a horrible experience, I have no desire in paying much more just to try out another cruise line because I don't know what they could possibly offer to justify the pricing difference when in my opinion Carnival was great!

 

I have been slammed at work recently and luckily I will be going to Bermuda for a 4 night vacation in September (all expense employer paid company group trip) which fate would have it this trip would fall on my 30th birthday but since my last cruise I have wanted to go on another one and been itching to get something in the works.

 

I initially asked a few people if they would be interested in going on a cruise and got responses from unsure due to financial reasons, that much time away from work or family, to far out in advance so I said to myself forget all this hassle, I will just book it and go SOLO!

 

When I was telling my family I booked a 5 night solo cruise out of Charleston, SC on the Carnival Ecstacy, April 5th-April 10th, 2019, the typical response was "you are going by yourself, that's just weird?"

 

I personally don't think there is anything weird about it whatsoever! I don't understand why so many people in the world feel that in order to enjoy life, experience things, see the world or follow a passion (which mine is traveling) it's something that can't be done alone, I just don't get it? Is it a comfort or security thing to need someone else there? Is it really jealousy because a solo person is able to have that luxury and can do that? I will never know but whether it was a group trip or solo trip, I will have just as much fun either way!

 

What I am curious about however is the pricing for my trip and wanted feedback from previous solo cruisers if this sounds like a bad, good or great deal!

 

The cruise will be over spring break April 5th-10th, 2018 out of Charleston, SC on the Carnival Ecstacy for a 5 night Bahamas cruise with Nassau and Half Moon Cary port stops. My last cruise we stopped in Freeport (wasn't a fan at all) and Nassau which I did enjoy and excited to go back! Also excited to explore Half Moon Cay for the first time.

 

My first cruise we flew down to Florida because the cruises were much less inexpensive than going out of Charleston at the time we were looking. It was actually less expensive (by a few hundred dollars) to fly 2 people to Florida, get a hotel room the night before, pay a transportation company to pick us up from the hotel to take us to Port Canaveral than it would of been to take a cruise for 2 out of Charleston, SC.

 

However crunching the numbers as I wanted to try and travel around the same time as my first cruise because the weather was great and it was spring break, I think I got a pretty good deal but would like to hear from others who have previously cruised solo and pricing!

 

I booked an interior stateroom, mid ship, high deck and paid $776.00 for the cruise fare and $96.40 for the taxes, fees and port expenses.

 

My total came out to be $872.40.

 

Doing the math $872.40 (including taxes, fees and port expenses) divided by 5 nights equates to a daily rate of about $175.00 per day.

 

In my opinion not having to fly now as Charleston, SC is only a 4 hour drive away from Raleigh, NC, not have to get a hotel room the night before (this is still up in the air as I have never been to Charleston and heard it's a great town to explore), not have to worry about transportation to and from the port etc, I think during spring break and traveling solo $175.00 per day isn't horrible but wanted the opinion of those who have cruised solo previously.

 

Opinions are greatly appreciated!

I'm a Carnival solo lido inside cruiser. I used to do 5-day cruises out of New Orleans with my total being in the $650-750 range. My last few and next couple are 7-day cruises. I booked a 5/4 b2b on Dream out of Galveston in 2020 and the 5-day is like $810 and the 4-day is like $830. I'm paying extra on that because I really like the Dream class. I could've gotten Valor (conquest class) out of New Orleans for like $775/785. I don't cruise during spring break though. Those are late Feb prices.

 

When I was telling my family I booked a 5 night solo cruise out of Charleston, SC on the Carnival Ecstacy, April 5th-April 10th, 2019, the typical response was "you are going by yourself, that's just weird?"

 

I personally don't think there is anything weird about it whatsoever! I don't understand why so many people in the world feel that in order to enjoy life, experience things, see the world or follow a passion (which mine is traveling) it's something that can't be done alone, I just don't get it? Is it a comfort or security thing to need someone else there? Is it really jealousy because a solo person is able to have that luxury and can do that? I will never know but whether it was a group trip or solo trip, I will have just as much fun either way!

 

My family is the type that think it's weird if I go to a movie alone. In their minds it's not okay to do anything alone. If they know I'm going to do something alone they feel pressure to find someone to go with me. Then I have to question whether or not the person going actually wants to go or not. I don't like that. For that reason, I don't tell them about my cruises. I just go. We communicate through iMessage most of the time so as long as I have internet, I'm good.

So glad to see so many solo cruisers! Doing my first on RCL in November and got same reaction from most lol

So glad to see so many solo cruisers! Doing my first on RCL in November and got same reaction from most lol

Nice! Welcome to solo cruising. Which Royal Caribbean ship?

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Solo is not for everyone. I'm a huge fan. Most cruises are with my wife, my daughter, or other family, but every once in a while there is a price that is so low, that I cannot turn down the cruise. Sometimes it is nice to get away from home, sleep a lot more, not worry about shopping, cooking and chores. Read a book. Soak in a hot tub.

Try it once or twice, see if you like it. Eat when you want to, without having to consult anyone else. See all the shows. Don't see any of the shows. That's up to you.

If you want to mingle, there are always people around, and they are not always stuck in their groups. Many times you'll encounter someone who is out on their own because their spouse had a bit to drink and is sleeping it off, or was up gambling until 3 a.m. Just because others got on the ship with a partner does not mean that they won't be looking to hang out and chat or share a drink.

It's a cruise. For most people that are on these message boards, that means a good time. have fun!

I travel solo most of the time and I love it. Many times I do not ask anyone else to go with.

It is true, many people do not understand wanting to travel solo. IMHO is about their own self-esteem and self-confidence issues. We all know people who stay in a 'relationship' just to have someone no matter how bad it is.

Cruising solo is the best! I have met many other solo cruisers who are fabulous people. Sometimes I cruise with them sometimes not but they understand solo cruising. :D

Have fun all!!