sailing solo for the first time on the dream oct4th 2015

[honestguy]

Ok, so a little about me. I cruised for the first time on princess in 2004. I was hooked.I worked in restaurants, and little did I know 9 months later I would be working on board a ship.

 

So first sailing was May 2004, I sailed that fall, and that winter. 8 months three cruises later, I started working for NCLA in Feb 2005.

 

Faast forward to 2015. between working and as a guest I've spent 178 days at sea. I love it. I'm going through a divorce, and just booked my first solo cruise. Ar first I was a little worried, but now I'm super excited.

 

I would love to hear from other solo cruisers. I have no idea what to expect. I'm 37, good looking male. I don't expect to meet women, on board, bu I'm not oppose to it. I would love to hear some stories of sailing solo. FYI it's an 11 day cruise. My longest cruise ever. Except from the 140 days I worked on board.

[uncleg]

Hey I went solo on this ship several years ago, I was 47/48. I'm a single male, was not looking for love or romance, but I found plenty of single women to dance with in clubs and it was easy to meet new people. I would advise against anytime dining, I find defined dinning times work better for me as a single. Also I would suggest joining your roll call. I have met people on there that are still friends of mine and absolutely made my cruise memorable. Just be up to meeting people and you will be fine. Have good trip and enjoy.

[evandbob]

I cruise solo about 75% of the time, it's fun! I like late dining in the MDR and going out on excursions. I appreciate the adult only areas on the ships, especially the hot tub/pool in the aft. Usually do an inside 1A cabin on the Upper, Empress or Verandah level on the Conquest class ships.

 

Do join your roll call and also read specialty sailing boards on single and solo cruising. There is a difference, it's good to know. Enjoy!

[mediccruzin]

I'd like a solo cruise, don't think the wife would happy about though :D

[mrak]

In 2013, I had an 8-day cruise booked for my honeymoon. I had been on one of the roll calls on this site and chatted with some people in there to get ideas about what to do in the ports. Two weeks before the wedding, it got called off and I ended up going on the cruise by myself. My friends and family were a little worried because I wasn't in a very good place at that time lol. It just so happened that the people in the roll call were having a meet and greet at sail away and I decided this was a good (maybe my only?) opportunity to meet some people and not spend the week alone in my cabin. Best decision I ever made. One of the women at the meet and greet knew me from the Roll call and immediately took me in. Her and her three girlfriends (all older than me, married with children) were on a girls cruise. As it turned out, they also knew another 40-50 people on the ship from all walks of life that they had met through previous cruises. So I went from being on my honeymoon alone to having 40+ unlikely friends in a a snap. I had an absolutely awesome time with them.

 

Fast forward to 2015, I just went on another 8 day cruise with them, solo again and in a much better place in my life, and had an even better time. There were about 40-50 of us on this cruise as well and we had a ball. I see myself cruising with this group as many times as they will have me, solo or not.

 

This was honestly a life changing experience for me, because had things gone the way I originally planned, none of us would have probably ever spoken a word to each other on that cruise in 2013 and I would never have met so many great people. I say go for it and definitely don't hesitate to talk to people, because you never know when a potentially great group of friends is sitting across the pool deck from you.

[pacer1]

I think there a quite a few solos on your sailing. I'm on the next leg and there are quite a few as well. This will be my 5th solo and I love it (and I'm old enough to be your mid-life mother) :D

 

I agree with others: Join your roll call and I also recommend assigned late dining, request to be at a large table. I know there is a great group of people on this sailing.

 

susann :)

[gapearl]

I have a few solo cruise reviews in my signature, most recently the Splendor cruise in November. As others have said, I absolutely would not do any time dining. It seems most people who do ATD are looking for private tables and don't want to sit with others. When I cruise solo, I do late dining. Many times they put all the solo cruisers together, or at least you'll be seated at a table with other people in your age range. You should have no problem meeting women if you're out at night and a little social (comedy show, piano bar, casino, disco, etc).

[Scrapnana]

I totally agree with the suggestions about joining your roll call and fixed seating. Sailing solo is fantastic - spending your time however you want is the best.

 

Hope you have an amazing cruise!

[Kreader]

Hi HonestGuy, I am on your Oct.4th Dream cruise.,also onOct.15th Dream cruise. I am in my mid 60's and have a late dinner sitting. Carnival usually for the fixed dinner times has younger(probably you) and older singles tables. You will have a lot of fun on Carnival! There are some other solos on the Oct. 4th roll call,but I don't know their ages. Bye for now,Kendra P.S. What is your name?

[perditax]

In 2013, I had an 8-day cruise booked for my honeymoon. I had been on one of the roll calls on this site and chatted with some people in there to get ideas about what to do in the ports. Two weeks before the wedding, it got called off and I ended up going on the cruise by myself. My friends and family were a little worried because I wasn't in a very good place at that time lol. It just so happened that the people in the roll call were having a meet and greet at sail away and I decided this was a good (maybe my only?) opportunity to meet some people and not spend the week alone in my cabin. Best decision I ever made. One of the women at the meet and greet knew me from the Roll call and immediately took me in. Her and her three girlfriends (all older than me, married with children) were on a girls cruise. As it turned out, they also knew another 40-50 people on the ship from all walks of life that they had met through previous cruises. So I went from being on my honeymoon alone to having 40+ unlikely friends in a a snap. I had an absolutely awesome time with them.

 

Fast forward to 2015, I just went on another 8 day cruise with them, solo again and in a much better place in my life, and had an even better time. There were about 40-50 of us on this cruise as well and we had a ball. I see myself cruising with this group as many times as they will have me, solo or not.

 

This was honestly a life changing experience for me, because had things gone the way I originally planned, none of us would have probably ever spoken a word to each other on that cruise in 2013 and I would never have met so many great people. I say go for it and definitely don't hesitate to talk to people, because you never know when a potentially great group of friends is sitting across the pool deck from you.

 

I absolutely LOVE this story.

[Earl Colby Pottinger]

I am on both legs of this cruise. You sound like a interesting person to talk to, so if you are interested in having a conversation (boy can I talk a lot, but I do listen too) look for the bald black guy with the very loud shirts.

 

See you in October.

[Tobypace]

I'm sailing solo on that cruise, then with my sweetie on the return from San Juan to New Orleans. There are a lot of solo travelers on this cruise - check 'that other' social site.