Why travel solo?

[Quilcruisers]

Why do some of you travel solo? If you are married, does your spouse support it? Why do they not go? My spouse does not seem to enjoy cruising like I do, so I am looking at going solo. What do you all do?

 

 

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[Micahs Grandad]

Why do some of you travel solo? If you are married, does your spouse support it? Why do they not go? My spouse does not seem to enjoy cruising like I do, so I am looking at going solo. What do you all do?

 

 

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Some people on here have significant others that do not care for cruising and encourage their spouses to go as singles.

 

Luckily for me DW does like to travel but expects me to do all the work.

[cruzincat50]

I could see that happening to me. It seems a good percentage of the time we go on a cruise, the wife gets ill. I think it is the nerves of travel in general, but who knows. I've only gotten sick once, from the flu on a Hawaiian cruise and we both ended up restricted to our cabin while in the Islands. Some idiot woman sat behind us on the plane, first class no less, coughing all over us on the trip across the country to the west coast. We have a 14 day Journeys next month. If she gets sick, it may be her last cruise.

[Quilcruisers]

Some people on here have significant others that do not care for cruising and encourage their spouses to go as singles.

 

 

 

Luckily for me DW does like to travel but expects me to do all the work.

 

 

 

I definitely do all the work' date=' including making the plans, dates, locations, etc. we are relatively young me 48, he is 57, but he seemed to be miserable this last cruise, I am already planning the next one and we haven’t even made it home. We do have one at thanksgiving but he is not going. He complained the whole time about everything!

 

 

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[Quilcruisers]

I could see that happening to me. It seems a good percentage of the time we go on a cruise, the wife gets ill. I think it is the nerves of travel in general, but who knows. I've only gotten sick once, from the flu on a Hawaiian cruise and we both ended up restricted to our cabin while in the Islands. Some idiot woman sat behind us on the plane, first class no less, coughing all over us on the trip across the country to the west coast. We have a 14 day Journeys next month. If she gets sick, it may be her last cruise.

 

 

 

Funny you say that, mine was sick the last cruise with his sciatic nerve. He was down the whole cruise. But he went back to work (he has tons of sick time) two weeks after the cruise. I thought this cruise he would be well since it was relaxing and just the two of us. Like I said, we are young (to me) and have done lots of things together but he doesn’t seem to enjoy anything, even our cruises.

 

 

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[Daphne'sMom]

My husband and I had a great cruise routine - I would do all the planning and he would pretty much go along with whatever I had planned. He would also get coffee for us every morning as he was an early riser (mine would be cold and need refreshed :) ) Sometimes we had our daughter and later son-in-law along. I have been on 2 cruises in the 5 years since he passed away with another one planned for next month, all with family. After reading other members solo reviews, I think it sounds more and more appealing. Nothing against my family. It would be nice to only schedule around my job, do as much or as little as I like. For me the hardest part would be going to meals or comedy shows alone as I am not always the most outgoing person.

[Joebucks]

I get a lot more time off than my girlfriend does. It may sound selfish, but why would I let it go to waste? I really want to go solo, but don't want to pay double. Most of vacation is relaxing for me. I can do that solo.

[Quilcruisers]

My husband and I had a great cruise routine - I would do all the planning and he would pretty much go along with whatever I had planned. He would also get coffee for us every morning as he was an early riser (mine would be cold and need refreshed :) ) Sometimes we had our daughter and later son-in-law along. I have been on 2 cruises in the 5 years since he passed away with another one planned for next month' date=' all with family. After reading other members solo reviews, I think it sounds more and more appealing. Nothing against my family. It would be nice to only schedule around my job, do as much or as little as I like. For me the hardest part would be going to meals or comedy shows alone as I am not always the most outgoing person.[/quote']

 

 

 

Sorry about your husband. Mine has pretty much gone wherever I plan but now I look back at all of our travels, he is not ever in the best mood one way or another. I just think he no longer had the desire to do these things. I would be fine traveling alone, not my first choice, because I love doing things with him but not if he is pouty. I don’t really have anyone else to travel with that enjoys like I do and that I would be around . My family members do not want to go for one reason or another. Just my 14 year old son. I would be fine going to shows and dinners alone, I used to go to movies and dinner alone a lot. My husband has worked odd shifts most of our marriage but now he has great hours, holidays and weekends off and it should be ideal. It’s just not for him. I have slowly come to realize he may be trying to tell me he doesn’t want to do these things and they manifested in him being moody or pouty. I did ask if he minded if I cruised with my son and he said no problem, remains to be seen. I guess I was looking forward to us doing these things as we are young and still can get around and have the money to do these things. I always saw others that went without their spouse and wondered why, well it seems I am there now. Also I don’t know if he will be pouty when I come back, I don’t want that either. If he agrees he doesn’t want to go, I don’t want him to hold me back from doing either. We shall see.

 

 

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[sgttami]

I like to travel solo because I got tired of doing things according to everyone else's plans...LOL

 

I'll pick a date that works for me and book it. Sometimes I don't tell anyone I'm going until last minute:D:D:D

 

Meeting new people is great. Rarely would I meet anyone if I traveled with someone else..

 

On the Pride last month I met other solo's, couples and families and enjoyed it all.

 

You can check out these boards Single/Solo threads and read a lot more!

 

My husband liked to cruise but when he passed away, I refused to sit home! I just GO....:):)

[SMSACE6]

I have travelled extensively solo ever since I was 17 years old. I have travelled with friends and family often as well. I did not start to cruise until I was 40 years old, and by that time, none of my friends were interested in cruising, and the few who were semi interested were "high maintenance", very sensitive to change of environment etc, so I decided to cruise solo, have 6 solo cruises since then and I love it.

 

I also am not very outgoing, not anti social, but just comfortable with my own company, so ever since "your time dining" was introduced, that is what I choose to do. I don't mind sitting at a small table by myself for dinner, and often I do find that I have very nice conversations with folks at the next tables. The tables are mostly very close. At the times when neighboring tables don't wish to talk, that is also fine with me. I don't really do excursions anymore since I have been to most ports of call in the Caribbean by now, and unless it is a place I have not been before, I tend not to venture far from the ship, and sometimes just stay on board. When I do an excursion, I often find that there is someone to talk to, or a family, so I don't really ever feel alone or lonely.

 

I love to cruise solo, and would love to go again soon, just cant get away these days due to family situation. Some day though. And if I have my choice; unless I go with my mother, I will choose to cruise solo.

[Elaine5715]

Why do some of you travel solo? If you are married, does your spouse support it? Why do they not go? My spouse does not seem to enjoy cruising like I do, so I am looking at going solo. What do you all do?

 

 

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Whatever I want.

[Garth2]

Why do some of you travel solo? If you are married, does your spouse support it? Why do they not go? My spouse does not seem to enjoy cruising like I do, so I am looking at going solo. What do you all do?

 

 

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My first cruise was solo because I wanted to try it, I wasn't dating anyone and somehow I didn't have to pay double. I got hooked and went solo again for the same reason. The third time was the charm. She had never cruised before and I got her hooked.

[CruiseGal999]

I like to travel solo because I got tired of doing things according to everyone else's plans...LOL

 

I'll pick a date that works for me and book it. Sometimes I don't tell anyone I'm going until last minute:D:D:D

 

Meeting new people is great. Rarely would I meet anyone if I traveled with someone else..

 

On the Pride last month I met other solo's, couples and families and enjoyed it all.

 

You can check out these boards Single/Solo threads and read a lot more!

 

My husband liked to cruise but when he passed away, I refused to sit home! I just GO....:):)

 

I couldn't have said it better. My most recent cruise I would not have met all the fantastic ;) people I did if I was traveling with someone.

 

Traveling solo is somewhat new for me. But I am enjoying it more with each trip. NCL's solo meetup meetings are great. We get together and catch up with what everyone is doing, we share the ins & outs of cruising wheeling & dealing. Then we go to dinner in the dining room. NCL really does it up for us solo travelers.

 

I LOVE doing what I want, when I want. Stay on the ship ... go exploring ... it is so freeing.

[dcwalker]

When I cruise little things make me deliriously happy. The attention of the room steward. The gracious service in the dining room. Getting dressed up so the photographers can make me look pretty. Having a few drinks with no worries about transportation home. Going to a production show, then a comedy show, then the casino, then a midnight snack - maybe not going back to the cabin until 1 or 2 a.m. Not having a care in the world. For me cruising is like having a fairy tale life for a week or so. But family members just don't share that feeling. They like cruising, but in a different way. And it puts a damper on my enjoyment. Our children are grown. We can cruise now in the off-season without them. I retired. My husband did not. We went on two cruises. I told him I wanted to go on a solo cruise. He thinks it's a waste of money - yeah, he's sort of right. We got beyond that. I went on a solo last month.

I liked having the cabin to myself, having a shower without scheduling it, not feeling bad about turning lights on when I came in late or got up early.

 

I went on an excursion that my husband wouldn't have liked. Might have done the same excursion with him, but then knowing it's not his thing would have dampened my enjoyment.

 

I got dressed up for dinner every night, make-up, jewelry, the whole thing - and enjoyed that so much more than when my husband is there and just can't be bothered.

 

I got lost in a book on the serenity deck and didn't worry that maybe my husband wasn't finding something fun to do.

 

Spent time exercising before breakfast and didn't hurry to finish up, worried that my husband was getting hungry waiting for me.

 

Cruising solo was wonderful. There was no awkwardness, no loneliness. Like SMSACE6 I am not out-going; am completely comfortable doing things by myself and will interact with others when the mood strikes or circumstances require it. Also I recharge on me-time. If this is you and your significant other understands this, then solo cruising is for you.

[1MKS1128]

I have almost 50 cruises between Carnival and Princess. I have traveled with family , friends and relatives. It always comes with difficulties. It all starts out good but as the cruise progresses it can get more difficult. There always are disagreements on eating times, excursions, what shows to see, sharing of space in the cabin etc. . I love doing my own thing in my own time in my own space. After so many cruises , probably 10 solos, I have found it a good way to go. People are friendly , happy to be away, and always willing to talk. Try it once and see what you think.

[firefly333]

The obvious answer is not everyone is married.

 

I tried taking people but found I enjoyed the freedom to do what I want when I want.

[Daphne'sMom]

When I cruise little things make me deliriously happy. The attention of the room steward. The gracious service in the dining room. Getting dressed up so the photographers can make me look pretty. Having a few drinks with no worries about transportation home. Going to a production show, then a comedy show, then the casino, then a midnight snack - maybe not going back to the cabin until 1 or 2 a.m. Not having a care in the world. For me cruising is like having a fairy tale life for a week or so. But family members just don't share that feeling. They like cruising, but in a different way. And it puts a damper on my enjoyment. Our children are grown. We can cruise now in the off-season without them. I retired. My husband did not. We went on two cruises. I told him I wanted to go on a solo cruise. He thinks it's a waste of money - yeah, he's sort of right. We got beyond that. I went on a solo last month.

I liked having the cabin to myself, having a shower without scheduling it, not feeling bad about turning lights on when I came in late or got up early.

 

I went on an excursion that my husband wouldn't have liked. Might have done the same excursion with him, but then knowing it's not his thing would have dampened my enjoyment.

 

I got dressed up for dinner every night, make-up, jewelry, the whole thing - and enjoyed that so much more than when my husband is there and just can't be bothered.

 

I got lost in a book on the serenity deck and didn't worry that maybe my husband wasn't finding something fun to do.

 

Spent time exercising before breakfast and didn't hurry to finish up, worried that my husband was getting hungry waiting for me.

 

Cruising solo was wonderful. There was no awkwardness, no loneliness. Like SMSACE6 I am not out-going; am completely comfortable doing things by myself and will interact with others when the mood strikes or circumstances require it. Also I recharge on me-time. If this is you and your significant other understands this, then solo cruising is for you.

 

 

This is how I imagine a "perfect" solo cruise would go - for me (I know everyone has different tastes). I have been been so hesitant but think this thread is my "push".

[MrFunInTheSun]

Solo cruises are the best. You get to meet many new nice people and at times you get to be on the same sailing with them again. Some folks are not able to get the same times off to travel all as one so they would wait. Problem with folks waiting for others is then they would never go. Why wait? And then others may try to get a family member or a "land" friend to go on a cruise with. Both those could be cruise disasters. Cruising solo allows one to do whatever they want, whenever they want. You can do as little or as much in any given day. You're more able to meet new people if you want, or just sit there and people watch and watch the day go by, whilst you travel and see new destinations. I've been on many cruises, many solo, with family and cruise friends. By far more of my cruises have been solo though, because I will not wait for others to then cruise or I'd never get to go. It's also allowed me to meet "cruise friends" that are now land friends too, but we all are about cruising and all enjoy all aspects of it. Cruising with cruise friends is the best, no worries if they are having a good time, having to entertain them, etc as you would with a land friend or family.

 

Below are some of my "solo" cruise adventures trip reports I've done over the years. Click on the hyper link to get to them. Some I did but didn't document with trip reports.

 

Carnival Freedom & Carnival Sensation

 

Monarch of the Seas

 

Jewel of the Seas

 

Enchantment of the Seas

 

Allure of the Seas

 

Oasis of the Seas

 

Harmony of the Seas

 

Those on the edge on if they should or shouldn't do it, go for it! You'll have a blast!

[Shmoo here]

I could see that happening to me. It seems a good percentage of the time we go on a cruise, the wife gets ill. I think it is the nerves of travel in general, but who knows. I've only gotten sick once, from the flu on a Hawaiian cruise and we both ended up restricted to our cabin while in the Islands. Some idiot woman sat behind us on the plane, first class no less, coughing all over us on the trip across the country to the west coast. We have a 14 day Journeys next month. If she gets sick, it may be her last cruise.

I almost always catch "something" by the end of our trips. Now, our trips tend to be upwards of 14 days, so I think I wear myself out by the end, making myself more susceptible to whatever may be lingering around.

 

It certainly won't stop me from cruising......

[MrFunInTheSun]

I have almost 50 cruises between Carnival and Princess. I have traveled with family , friends and relatives. It always comes with difficulties. It all starts out good but as the cruise progresses it can get more difficult. There always are disagreements on eating times, excursions, what shows to see, sharing of space in the cabin etc. . I love doing my own thing in my own time in my own space. After so many cruises , probably 10 solos, I have found it a good way to go. People are friendly , happy to be away, and always willing to talk. Try it once and see what you think.

 

So very true!!

 

Best people to cruse with are "cruise friends" or purely solo where you meet new "cruise friends".

[sgttami]

This is how I imagine a "perfect" solo cruise would go - for me (I know everyone has different tastes). I have been been so hesitant but think this thread is my "push".

 

If someone had told me 10 years ago that I'd be cruising solo I would have said they are crazy.

 

I had sailed on Splendor (2014) with friends and family a few times from NY so I was familiar with the ship. On a whim I wanted to do another but no one else did so I booked it..solo

 

It was a little scary but I knew the port and the ship and within minutes, I felt at home. It was wonderful!

 

Since then, I don't think twice..I've done Sunshine and Pride too and am looking into other lines as well.

 

It is truly freeing to do whatever you want without worrying about someone else!:)

[GUT2407]

And sometimes wrk schedules can force me to either go it solo, or not go at all.

[Saint Greg]

Not married. No kids. And I can do everything I want all the time.

[Doggielover68]

Personally I wouldn't cruise solo because of the cost and I prefer the company of someone I already know, but there are tons of great reasons cited here. Another reason off of the top of my head is that lonely people have a chance to mingle...or people who are forced to interact with others at work or in every day life have a chance to take a break!

 

 

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[sgttami]

Personally I wouldn't cruise solo because of the cost and I prefer the company of someone I already know, but there are tons of great reasons cited here. Another reason off of the top of my head is that lonely people have a chance to mingle...or people who are forced to interact with others at work or in every day life have a chance to take a break!

 

 

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I get good casino repeat offers so even going as a solo, a lot of mine are "almost free." (that's why I'm addicted):D

 

Sometimes it's just refreshing to get on the ship by yourself and meet a bunch of new and different people...