What's your bio, solo cruisers?

[GTVCRUISER]

Gone with the wind - glad to hear you guys are still cruising the dam ships, I will be on the Zaandam to Mexico , December 1 , 2012 :)

[GTVCRUISER]

Cruising to Hawaii today

[azrayne]

Born in the late, late 60's (doesn't sound as old), with 2 grown boys. I've sailed twice with them, once with the girl cousins for a bachelorette cruise and 3 times solo, with another booked for Jan 6th. I love traveling solo, doing what I want, when I want. Not having to worry about someone else. I would do it more if it weren't so pricey, as I come from the west coast to the east. I have no real interest in Mexico or Alaska. I love the warm waters and scenery back east.

[vivavegas]

Cruising to Hawaii in 2 days and a wake up , I am packed and ready to go :)

 

Have a great cruise!

[buggystuff]

A lot of interesting posts here! I am going 'sort of' solo on NCL Star in a couple months from NOLA. My sister and a friend will be next door, but I have my own cabin for the first time....I am looking forward to all that space...LOL

 

I have cruised solo, but in a quad room back on Festivale in the 80's...did not know the gals, but ended up having a great pal to go on excurisons with.

 

I have cruised with a friend met on a travel site, and we ended up going our separate ways nearly all the time...not as compatible as we thought we would be..but shared the cost of a balcony, so that was okay.

 

I have cruised with friends and family and loved the fun and laughter! But it is harder than you might think to get friends and family to go on cruises with you....there are always reasons why they can't afford it, can't get time off, can't leave their other family members, don't know what to do with their pets....yada..yada.....etc.

 

But this time I decided to just enjoy the room myself. We can do things together if we want, or not, she will be right next door...haha!

 

I am 63, divorced many years...don't mind spending time exploring by myself, or with someone else...can be happy sitting reading enjoying the ocean breezes.

 

I do enjoy having meals with someone though, or hanging around with someone in the evenings, to the lounges, or wherever some activity is.

 

I have never met a single over 50 male on a ship, I am beginning to doubt that many exist. There seem to be many more single women of all ages.

 

I am retired from teaching, loving my life, and try to cruise a couple times a year.

 

My next cruise after the Star, is NCL Epic next April 13, 2013. Booked a balcony. This will be the Eastern Caribbean...which I love!

 

I'm single and cruise some, usually 4-6 a year

My next roomie is 61, my last was younger than me, before that, 66, and then 2 that were in their 60's, all female

 

One of my previous roomies put it well about male roommates:

Handy for luggage

Less time and real estate in the bathroom

the make more noise(s)

 

Have a great time on the Epic, I simply must sail that sometime

[42CruiseCrazy]

I am 59 married man and my wife does not want to cruise so I go alone. I haven't done so yet but I can see mutual benefit to sharing a cabin besides the obvious cost savings. For the woman. Help with luggage & carry-on bags. More safety walking about at ports. No dirty looks from women when you talk to their husbands (since you are with a man yourself) A dinner companion & dance partner (no being asked by men you don't care to dance with or none at all) and a platonic friend to spend a little or a lot of time with and no tension or expectations. For the man it is many of the same advantages plus if you are walking around the port of call and get lost, the woman can ask directions since men never want to. LOL

[HowardK]

I am 40 in a few weeks and like doing my own thing sometimes. I cruise solo because the talent on dating sites has been poor lately and I am often too lazy to go out and do things as cruise critic is like a full time job.

 

I did meet someone but she wanted to go on my solo cruise which wasnt cool

[zgwortz]

Lets see, I'm 50, single, and have done several solo cruises -- just booked my fourth fully solo cruise on the Carnival Breeze Dec 2. That said, I often also cruise with a group, although when I do I almost always get a solo cabin. I've done the cabin share thing in the past and don't really want to share a cabin any more. (Well, at least, not with anyone I'm not also sharing a bed with... :D )

 

Why do I cruise solo? I posted a top ten list two years ago here explaining it...:

 

Top Ten reasons to cruise solo:

 

10. You can sleep as late as you like

9. There's more room for luggage in the closet

8. You never have any confusion over which toothbrush belongs to who.

7. You never have to share your bingo winnings

6. The TV remote is mine, all mine! Bwah hah hah!

5. You can sing at full volume during Karaoke. None of your friends will complain. (Unless you've made new friends on board already...)

4. There will be no embarrassing pictures of you, dancing, drunk, on the tables with your underwear on your head, showing up in your friend's Facebook.

3. There will be nobody to complain you're late.

2. You never need special signals to let your roommate know the room is… um… "currently occupied".

1. Because it's more fun to cruise solo!

 

All kidding aside, I really do like cruising solo -- there's something about being on a cruise and knowing that at any given time you don't have to do *anything* or coordinate with anyone else's schedule that makes it quite possibly the ideal vacation. Like others who've posted here, it really doesn't matter to me if I make new friends or hook up with anyone. (That said, I'm always open to both -- although honestly with my... um... special interests, hook ups are highly unlikely for me on a solo cruise... ;) ) What matters is living in the moment and enjoying the cruise for what it is.

[GTVCRUISER]

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v237/12cgtv/Hawaii%20Cruise%20on%20the%20Century/

[azrayne]

I am 40 in a few weeks and like doing my own thing sometimes. I cruise solo because the talent on dating sites has been poor lately and I am often too lazy to go out and do things as cruise critic is like a full time job.

 

I did meet someone but she wanted to go on my solo cruise which wasnt cool

 

I gotta agree with you about the lack of talent on dating sites......havent ever met other interesting solos on any of my cruises either.....

[adrianypr]

Just got back from my first solo cruise on the carnival liberty and had a fabulous time!!! Also booked my second solo aboard the carnival valor next October.

[MrFunInTheSun]

Just got back from my first solo cruise on the carnival liberty and had a fabulous time!!! Also booked my second solo aboard the carnival valor next October.

 

Wahoo! Welcome back Adrianypr!! Glad your first solo cruise was all you expected it to be and you booked your second one already! Can't get much better than that.

[blueangel74]

Just got back from my first solo cruise on the carnival liberty and had a fabulous time!!! Also booked my second solo aboard the carnival valor next October.

 

 

Congrats on completing your first solo cruise. :)

[GTVCRUISER]

My next solo cruise is Mexico 7 days on the Zaandam 12-1-2012

[Lois R]

My next solo cruise is Nov 10th on Summit to the Southern Caribbean:D

[MrFunInTheSun]

My next solo cruise is Nov 10th on Summit to the Southern Caribbean:D

 

Wahoo!!! Right around the corner!! You just got back from a short solo cruise a few weeks ago Monarch of the seas too, didn't you?

 

My third solo cruise is in 9 days starting on November 8th, I can't wait.

[jjfromsd]

Next solo cruise: 7-day Mexican Riviera aboard Carnival Splendor on Dec 16, 2012.

[Lois R]

Wahoo!!! Right around the corner!! You just got back from a short solo cruise a few weeks ago Monarch of the seas too, didn't you?

 

My third solo cruise is in 9 days starting on November 8th, I can't wait.

 

Hi,:) nope, you must have me mixed up with someone else. I have

never sailed on Monarch of the Seas and my last cruise was in May

on Equinox for 10 nights to the Med:)

[GTVCRUISER]

U all have a great Cruise :)

[islandqween]

Have you thought about the Carnival Sunshine 4/12/13 sailing? :)

[Mahya]

Thanks Tikigal!

 

I did jump up and down on the bed after reading your note... The epic was a great ship to cruise solo on, due to their solo cabins and living room to meet with other people traveling on their own. I met a lot of great people, and I realized yesterday when I left the ship that I didn't dine alone on any nights, since there seemed to be always group meals for those interested in hanging out with other people.

 

I will say that the only thing I did notice is that in the mediterranean itinerary the ship takes on passengers in 3 different ports, the main port being Barcelona. Since I boarded in Rome, the Solo group from the prior barcelona port had already clicked and it was a bit tougher to integrate with them. Then I also was sad, because I really hit it off with the new Barcelona crowd and I had to leave them shortly.

 

Guess I'll have to try the ship again from Miami (or even do it next year from Barcelona!)

 

 

Hi,

 

I've been eyeing the Epic and that new solo cabin they have for awhile.

And see a couple of you have been on it.

 

Any more info on it? average age and so on ?

 

Is the solo cabin more expensive than an inside cabin ?

Never have cruised NCL but that solo cabin is enticing :)

 

All my transatlantics have been solo, not that I particularly wanted them that way, but like everyone else, either friends couldnt go for that long or financial matters - my short cruises have been with Best Cruising GF, every year in Dec, but she can't make it this year. Great roommate - she does her thing, I do mine and we meet for meals - we once had a cabin so small we had to turn the beds toe to head and head to toe...If you can laugh and survive that, even if only 4 nights, you know it's the right cruise-mate :). I've always met people on my solo TA cruises to chat or dine with - but since I try to spend 10 days to a month in Europe at the cruise's destination, what I do miss is a companion to share the sights with. Then again, unless it's a compatible travel companion, you're better off traveling alone I think.

Edited November 15, 2012 by Mahya
adding to

[Mahya]

what a great forum. Glad to have found it .:D

[YaddaBest]

I am male 51 never married and with a 20 day Transatlantic cruise from Venice on the Crown Princess. This will make my 50th cruise with Princess. You do get double credit traveling alone on Princess the past few years. I wish I was going with someone but 20 days is a long time and know I can have fun by myself. I have taken my parents on four cruises; the fiurst for their 40th anniversary back in 2001. My father who passed on suddenly 4 days after his 72nd birthday recently; took him on our first Med cruise in 2003 and baltic in 2004. My Mom I have taken on 7 cruises. I have taken friends along who were going through tough times. i have found all of a sudden instead of coming along with me; it has become their cruise and follow along with their wants and needs. I would rather go by myself..and possibly meet someone who loves cruising as much with me. That is because they would not be there if they didn't. It will be a season traveler on this 20 day cruise but I just love the transatlantic's with great sea days instead of all port days like a Mediterranean cruise consists of.

[GTVCRUISER]

Cruising in 10 days

[Fydlstyx]

Hi All!

 

I am planning my first "semi solo" (as another cruiser put it!) cruise, for myeslf and my son (who is 8).

I have ALWAYS wanted to cruise (have done so twice with my DH and family), but my DH definitely doesn't have the infatuation with cruising that I have!

 

So, I am asking all of you- who are you? Are you single adults? Married adults that like to travel solo some times (or all the time)? Do you have kids? Do any of you have spouses/partners and or kids who just don't WANT to go?

 

I have to admit, I am feeling slightly guilty about booking this cruise for us in April- not taking DH and my two other (teenage) sons (who really don't want to go anyway! Afraid there will be "nothing to do"! LOL!).

 

But here's the thing: my DH travels for his work, more than 50% of the time... so he gets away from our crazy, chaotic, loud house (with three boys, and two dogs!) often (and is always staying in a 5 star hotel, I might add!). I work full time as a pediatric nurse practitioner, in heart transplant. I have the BEST job, but it's been pretty stressfull the past 6 months or so, so I REALLY need a break! I am 43 years old, not that that matters!

 

So, I would love to hear YOUR stories! Who are all of you?!?

 

Karen

 

 

Hi Karen,

 

I vacation "semi-solo" every year during the first week of July. My mom and I take a vacation that week, but each like our own rooms, so I am solo in my cabin. We spend a lot of time together, but also like to do things on our own now and then. I am married and my husband also does not have the cruise bug in the way that I do. I thought it was the greatest vacation ever when he and I went. So my mom and I opted to cruise for our vaca last year. She also enjoyed it and now we will cruise again. My problem this year is the fares. They seem to have doubled since last July for solo cruisers. :(

 

I have three kids (one in college, one nearing HS grad, and one that is 13) and they have never cruised. The oldest is interested, but the other two are not, for some reason. I feel like if I insisted and they went, they would really like it.

 

Don't feel too guilty! It sounds like your husband (like mine) is going to be relieved to not be going on the cruise you are planning! When your son gets home and tells his brothers how much fun he had, you might end up with more companions on the next cruise!

 

Have a great time.

 

Sherry