Why travel solo?

[nateis4real22]

3 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Oh...I was asking the guy from Michigan.....he said he would have to work till he dies.....that just

doesn't sound appealing  to me.

Okay, I'm sorry ..

[MSUjohn]

1 minute ago, Lois R said:

so 25 years would be 65..….that would be normal (if you can do it earlier, go for it.). I will be 62

in March.   But to work until you die? That does not sound very appealing (to me anyway).

 

because my state job ended its pension when i was 17, social security will NOT be solvent when i am in my 60s & my 401k is miniscule because of the "lost decade" (2000-2010 the two HARD recession that for [then] young people was actually a decade long recession), and i am thinking of cashing it in to get my massive student loans that are eating me alive.

 

you know just like millions of others ~40 and under.

[hallux]

24 minutes ago, MSUjohn said:

5 weeks until 40.

I'm not too far behind you, and also in the "work until I'm in a pine box" group...

[MSUjohn]

4 minutes ago, hallux said:

I'm not too far behind you, and also in the "work until I'm in a pine box" group...

 i went to school late (29)because i could not afford it when younger and in 2009 i was desperate after 9 years of the "lost decade". worst. mistake. ever. now i am being crushed by student loans too.

 

 

Edited January 3, 2020 by MSUjohn

[GUT2407]

Whereas I hope to work till I drop. Only started studying in my 30s, mainly enjoy my job, can make good money without working the 100 hour+ weeks that I put in while building my career,  so why not keep going as long as I can?

 

[MSUjohn]

it is the hopeless sensation of being trapped in the job and that all the avenues of escape / security in ones declining years,  that have been enjoyed by previous generations such as social security and pensions are gone or will be gone. also actually aware that one might be incapable at 65 of even doing said job. this sense of foreboding is awful.

 

the continued crushing student debt that has to be paid into ones 50s and the fact of unaffordable home ownership also adds to the end of life anxieties.

 

this toxic cocktail is being felt by a lot of the under 40ish crowd.

[Lois R]

12 hours ago, nateis4real22 said:

Okay, I'm sorry ..

no need to be sorry......it does get confusing sometimes.

[Lois R]

So, I am glad the age I am---my 401 is in very good shape, along with multiple other investments I have......and so

being in my 60s (for me) is a good thing.

[nateis4real22]

I just traveled solo on a cruise, I'm 51. I dont think I got the enjoyment I could have got if, I had someone else to talk to or eat with, or go on excursions and rides with. I felt somewhat lonely. I think it was a mistake and I have learned from this experience.

[Lois R]

1 hour ago, nateis4real22 said:

I just traveled solo on a cruise, I'm 51. I dont think I got the enjoyment I could have got if, I had someone else to talk to or eat with, or go on excursions and rides with. I felt somewhat lonely. I think it was a mistake and I have learned from this experience.

Sorry you did not have a good time----so you didn't have any fun at all? Never met anyone to chat with? Sorry you

did not enjoy yourself. 

 

I always seem to meet folks and maybe because I have been on my own for my whole life I am just used to doing

things by myself.   Cruises (for me anyway) are such a fun, easy way to travel!

[pootsien2]

On 1/10/2020 at 3:31 PM, nateis4real22 said:

I just traveled solo on a cruise, I'm 51. I dont think I got the enjoyment I could have got if, I had someone else to talk to or eat with, or go on excursions and rides with. I felt somewhat lonely. I think it was a mistake and I have learned from this experience.

I suggest you look at the large online agency that offers quite a few escorted single cruises. I can't name it here(begins with V). I went on two of their cruises and found it was a good way to meet other singles and solos. The TA told me the majority of the groups are over 50 yo.

[nateis4real22]

1 hour ago, pootsien2 said:

I suggest you look at the large online agency that offers quite a few escorted single cruises. I can't name it here(begins with V). I went on two of their cruises and found it was a good way to meet other singles and solos. The TA told me the majority of the groups are over 50 yo.

I never knew such a thing existed, on this cruise I just returned from. I joined meet & mingle only to find 98% of them were couples. I did meet some of them, yet it's not the same as having someone to go to dinner with or on excursions, etc. This was my first cruise and I was impressed. The cruiseline I chose, really know how to treat their guests...

[nateis4real22]

On 1/10/2020 at 7:50 PM, Lois R said:

Sorry you did not have a good time----so you didn't have any fun at all? Never met anyone to chat with? Sorry you

did not enjoy yourself. 

 

I always seem to meet folks and maybe because I have been on my own for my whole life I am just used to doing

things by myself.   Cruises (for me anyway) are such a fun, easy way to travel!

I would be untruthful if I told you I didn't have fun. Because the experience was life changing type of fun, the kind that has you already thinking about my next cruise. It was so much activity, entertainment, shows, excursions,etc. I had the most fun I've seen in years, yet everywhere you go you see couples. At some point you start asking yourself am I having as much fun as I could, if I was not alone ....

[calliopecruiser]

36 minutes ago, nateis4real22 said:

At some point you start asking yourself am I having as much fun as I could, if I was not alone ....

Yeah, but that's life......at least life for me.  I had to stop asking that question, or go mad.

 

[Lois R]

1 hour ago, nateis4real22 said:

I would be untruthful if I told you I didn't have fun. Because the experience was life changing type of fun, the kind that has you already thinking about my next cruise. It was so much activity, entertainment, shows, excursions,etc. I had the most fun I've seen in years, yet everywhere you go you see couples. At some point you start asking yourself am I having as much fun as I could, if I was not alone ....

No, I don't...I have been on my own for at least 95% of my entire life....so asking if I would have more fun

if I was not alone? I haven't asked myself that question in....well, years and years...….and that is my life.

 

Oh, I am glad you had fun though...…..your first post sounded as if it was not good at all.

[nateis4real22]

2 minutes ago, Lois R said:

No, I don't...I have been on my own for at least 95% of my entire life....so asking if I would have more fun

if I was not alone? I haven't asked myself that question in....well, years and years...….and that is my life.

 

Oh, I am glad you had fun though...…..your first post sounded as if it was not good at all.

I'm sorry, if I seemed as if it wasn't no fun. I'm divorced for 9 months after a 30 year marraige. I guess I'm not comfortable yet being alone, I'm trying to get used to it but,it has not been easy. I'm very outgoing, I spoke to numerous people and even had dinner with some. Nobody who has ever been on a cruise can claim it was no fun, for I found it to be exhilarating.

[Lois R]

11 hours ago, nateis4real22 said:

I'm sorry, if I seemed as if it wasn't no fun. I'm divorced for 9 months after a 30 year marraige. I guess I'm not comfortable yet being alone, I'm trying to get used to it but,it has not been easy. I'm very outgoing, I spoke to numerous people and even had dinner with some. Nobody who has ever been on a cruise can claim it was no fun, for I found it to be exhilarating.

Good morning, oh.....now there is a bit of a back story so I can see another point since you are in a new situation!

Glad you found it exhilarating!

 

I leave on Wednesday for my next cruise (always solo) and am so ready to go

[nateis4real22]

1 hour ago, Lois R said:

Good morning, oh.....now there is a bit of a back story so I can see another point since you are in a new situation!

Glad you found it exhilarating!

 

I leave on Wednesday for my next cruise (always solo) and am so ready to go

Enjoy your cruise and Thank you for all your support..👋

[Lois R]

Thanks!!!! And support? Sounds like you will be just fine but I glad I could help!

[neutrino78x]

For me, if I went on a cruise, I would go alone, because girls/women never like me back. I'm going to be 42 this month and never had a GF...always wanted one....the temporary (but consistent for several years) reason is logistical/money issues, and the long term reason is just (apparently) a combination of being unattractive and having a personality that is good for friendship but doesn't inspire romantic feelings in anyone...

 

regardless, a cruise  seems like it could be nice if I got on the right one. Having been in the Navy, it might be nice to go on a ship as a "rider", as we called them. 🙂

[neutrino78x]

On 1/11/2020 at 6:34 PM, calliopecruiser said:

Yeah, but that's life......at least life for me.  I had to stop asking that question, or go mad.

 

I know what you're talking about. I know exactly what you're talking about. 😞

[MelbTone]

I've just come off a 7-night Cunard Queen Elizabeth cruise. For the first time I joined the Solo travellers group and it made the cruise a much better experience. Across four sea days (we had to skip Kangaroo Island for obvious reasons): 3 x coffee mornings, 2 x lunches and 1 x afternoon tea all enthusiastically hosted by Cordelia. Great company on my MDR table too. The one time when I felt very solo was having one dinner in the Verandah restaurant. Very leisurely pace would be great if you're a couple or are in company but not so if looking at an empty chair.

[calliopecruiser]

7 hours ago, neutrino78x said:

go on a ship as a "rider"

All the enjoyment, none of the responsibility!

[Lucid Butterfly]

On 1/1/2020 at 4:34 PM, oxfordgirl20 said:

 

I did my first solo cruise in August 2019 - 7

nights in the Greek Isles, Montenegro and Croatia with NCL. I have cruised with my daughter before but never on my own - and I absolutely loved it. I didn’t have an NCL solo studio because the NCL Star is comparatively small and doesn’t have them but they gave me 20% off for being solo, as well as all the other offers which were applicable at the time of booking eg WiFi, free drinks, gratuities included etc. I had an outside stateroom which was lovely, and enjoyed lots of great conversations with other travellers - people seemed keen to talk when they discovered I was on my own. So many people offered to take photos of me for my holiday album! I had a lovely time exploring new places on shore on my own and in the evenings I went to the entertainment or found a couple of people I’d met earlier, for drinks in the bar.

 

I think a cruise is probably one of the easier holidays to have on your own because there’s so much entertainment on board and you can be busy all the time if you want. I would definitely do it again - if in doubt, do! 

"I think a cruise is probably one of the easier holidays to have on your own because there’s so much entertainment on board and you can be busy all the time if you want. I would definitely do it again - if in doubt, do! " 

 

To your quote: Yes I think being on a cruise ship there is much to do and I will definitely keep busy. Thank you for your input.

 

[LandlockedCruiser01]

On 12/30/2019 at 7:57 AM, Nemanoxer said:

I used to do Celebrity, but they are losing me these days due to their pricing. I very much love the solo cruiser studios on NCL because they are not just alibi cabins like on other cruise lines which put their solo cabins near stairways or elevators or in some other downgraded area. On NCL, a solo cruiser is a welcome guest, and I love that.

All my solo cruise experiences were on Carnival.  I'd say that on paper, Carnival is neutral about solos.  It doesn't go out of its way to welcome them, but doesn't treat them like second-class citizens.  It's treats solos no differently than it treats the more "normal" couples, families, and groups, although assigned dining was a huge lifesaver for me. (Charging supplements is done on every cruise line, so I didn't find it off-putting.)  But the onboard atmosphere on Carnival is very solo-friendly.  I found it really easy to start conversations, meet new people, and make friends.  Nobody ass-u-med [sic] anything or passed judgment on me just because I was cruising solo.

 

19 hours ago, Lucid Butterfly said:

I think being on a cruise ship there is much to do and I will definitely keep busy. Thank you for your input.

Indeed.  It's very easy to keep busy on a cruise ship.  At the same time, you do have to make an effort and put yourself out there if you want to meet new people.  Also, expect to have occasional lonely moments during the first day or two, until you manage to meet like-minded people and start hanging out with them.

 

Edited January 15, 2020 by LandlockedCruiser01