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Why travel solo?


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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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Hi Doggielover, ( I am a doggielover ) too LOL.

 

I am not sure I understood your post quite right, but I must say; respectfully, that just because some of us like to cruise solo ( for whatever our various reasons are), it does not necessarily mean we are lonely. some people do not need to be in company of others to feel good, and that would include myself. I have spent lots of time among people, being family, friends, coworkers and such, and enjoy those times to a point, but I also enjoy my quiet time to myself, and don t need company on a regular basis. This just me of course. But I am most definitely not lonely.

 

Again, sorry if I misunderstood your post, but solo cruisers are by and large not lonely people.

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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...

 

 

 

So very true. My last cruise just over a month ago was last minute and a complementary casino cruise, so it made the decision to go solo only for cost of taxes a no brainer.

 

And as you said got to meet a bunch of new people to boot. [emoji3] Win, Win!

 

 

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Hi Doggielover, ( I am a doggielover ) too LOL.

 

I am not sure I understood your post quite right, but I must say; respectfully, that just because some of us like to cruise solo ( for whatever our various reasons are), it does not necessarily mean we are lonely. some people do not need to be in company of others to feel good, and that would include myself. I have spent lots of time among people, being family, friends, coworkers and such, and enjoy those times to a point, but I also enjoy my quiet time to myself, and don t need company on a regular basis. This just me of course. But I am most definitely not lonely.

 

Again, sorry if I misunderstood your post, but solo cruisers are by and large not lonely people.

 

 

 

I didn't mean it that way. Just meant that people who do happen to be lonely can meet new friends...and people who just want time alone can be alone :)

 

 

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So very true. My last cruise just over a month ago was last minute and a complementary casino cruise, so it made the decision to go solo only for cost of taxes a no brainer.

 

And as you said got to meet a bunch of new people to boot. [emoji3] Win, Win!

 

 

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I have met quite a few people who have done the casino repeats also...I was on Pride in Feb and Mar and met 2 couples who were on both...and we remembered each other...turned out that one couple lives right near me!

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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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It's sometimes better to go solo.

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I'm going on my first solo cruise because my husband can't leave work. We own our own business, and do vacation in August for a couple weeks. :D

 

Sorry about repeating myself, but our son works onboard Carnival ships on the Fun Squad. This time assigned to the Dream. So, rather than miss out, I'm going by myself. HE works all day from early morning till about Midnight. Very short meal breaks.

 

I'm really getting excited, to do what I want without having to think of others first. Yippie!!

:p:D Bobbi

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I can’t imagine going on a cruise without my wife, but I think it is great that people cruise solo. We have met and hung out with solo cruisers on several occasions. I have more vacation time and job flexibility than my wife, but I would never go on a cruise without her. We try to limit our time apart as much as possible, so cruising solo definitely isn’t for me.

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I will be taking my first solo in Dec and the excitement is almost too much ! Knowing I will have 8 wonderful days of doing exactly what I want to do, when I want to do it. I have never had any "alone" time. I think I may just spoil myself [emoji8]

 

 

 

Oh my goodness you’re in for a treat. Solo cruises are the best!

 

 

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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.

Thank you for this. I didnt want to come off as unhappy in my marriage. I am happy and want to enjoy things with my husband but it has gotten to where he doesn't enjoy some things. I dont know when I will cruise solo but I know I will go with just my son and I the next few times. He just has so few things that he really seems to like to do and so I like to include him in, sometimes he enjoys it even if he thought he wouldn't. Sometimes he doesn't. I am not retired, nowhere near, he is thinking of retiring next year, I doubt he will because he just doesn't go out and do what makes him happy. I feel bad that he misses out on a whole lot because of his own personality but thats a topic for another day. Thanks again for this encouragement.

 

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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!

Thank you. I agree people say they want to do but never get around to it. I dont like wasting time thinking about what to do. I just dont like the fact that I would be leaving my husband behind. But if he is not worried, I guess I shouldn't. He might enjoy the quiet.

 

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I can’t imagine going on a cruise without my wife, but I think it is great that people cruise solo. We have met and hung out with solo cruisers on several occasions. I have more vacation time and job flexibility than my wife, but I would never go on a cruise without her. We try to limit our time apart as much as possible, so cruising solo definitely isn’t for me.
This is where I am right now. I dont want to start that separation between us in case it's not good for our marriage. We have never done solo vacations so this would be new. My son and I cruised last Thanksgiving because he couldn't get off work and then spring break, went to Florida for a week without my husband. I don't want to start a tit for tat with him, he has made comments before after our Florida trip about me going by myself. I don't let it bother me, he was invited to go but didnt or couldn't get off work. I love having my husbands companionship but know that sometimes he would rather be doing something else. This last cruise, he prob would have stayed in the cabin a lot more than he did if I didn't encourage him to come out. I guess I need to talk to him more to find out what he really wants to do and take action according to his response. Even when we cruise together, I get a lot of alone time, that is not the issue. I dance, drink, swim or whatever I want, he doesn't necessarily do all those things. He didnt want to get off the ship in ports but I wanted to get off once. When he got off in cozumel he complained about the bartering. He would have enjoyed grand Cayman because it is so expensive there , they dont beg you to buy their stuff. Again its pricey there.

 

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I'm in my 30s and have taken two cruises as a solo traveler. I have a few reasons why I like to travel solo. For starters, I am really independent. I like to do the things I want to do, and cruising or traveling solo allow me to choose where I want to go and what I want to do without having to consider someone else. On the same token, I can be pretty stubborn, so if I travel with someone and they want to do something that I don't want to do, I won't do it. For instance, a few years ago, my partner at the time, and I took a cruise. He wanted to snorkel, which is something I really hate to do. When we were in port, he'd go snorkeling, and I'd visit the places I wanted to.

 

Also, a lot of my friends have families, or they couldn't afford to take a vacation. There have been times in my past where friends and I have decided to go on a trip together only for them to cancel at the last minute. I'm usually the one to plan and book everything, so I've had situations where people cancel and don't pay, or they go and promise to pay, but never do. Traveling alone, I don't have to worry about that happening.

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I'm in my 30s and have taken two cruises as a solo traveler. I have a few reasons why I like to travel solo. For starters, I am really independent. I like to do the things I want to do, and cruising or traveling solo allow me to choose where I want to go and what I want to do without having to consider someone else. On the same token, I can be pretty stubborn, so if I travel with someone and they want to do something that I don't want to do, I won't do it. For instance, a few years ago, my partner at the time, and I took a cruise. He wanted to snorkel, which is something I really hate to do. When we were in port, he'd go snorkeling, and I'd visit the places I wanted to.

 

Also, a lot of my friends have families, or they couldn't afford to take a vacation. There have been times in my past where friends and I have decided to go on a trip together only for them to cancel at the last minute. I'm usually the one to plan and book everything, so I've had situations where people cancel and don't pay, or they go and promise to pay, but never do. Traveling alone, I don't have to worry about that happening.

 

 

I understand !

 

On one cruise I went with my sister and she knows I hate organized excursions...She booked and paid for us for one in Boston, I reluctantly went and was bored to death...:D

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I'm in my 30s and have taken two cruises as a solo traveler. I have a few reasons why I like to travel solo. For starters, I am really independent. I like to do the things I want to do, and cruising or traveling solo allow me to choose where I want to go and what I want to do without having to consider someone else. On the same token, I can be pretty stubborn, so if I travel with someone and they want to do something that I don't want to do, I won't do it. For instance, a few years ago, my partner at the time, and I took a cruise. He wanted to snorkel, which is something I really hate to do. When we were in port, he'd go snorkeling, and I'd visit the places I wanted to.

 

 

 

Also, a lot of my friends have families, or they couldn't afford to take a vacation. There have been times in my past where friends and I have decided to go on a trip together only for them to cancel at the last minute. I'm usually the one to plan and book everything, so I've had situations where people cancel and don't pay, or they go and promise to pay, but never do. Traveling alone, I don't have to worry about that happening.

 

 

 

I’ve found now even when I travel with others, and not solo I won’t share a room with anyone anymore.

 

Sometimes I’ll tell people I have a trip planned, sometimes I won’t. But if I do I tell them the dates and tell them to book it on their own. [emoji3]

 

I remember reading I think it was your first solo cruise on Epic.

 

No question about it, solo cruises are the best!

 

 

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I'm in my 30s and have taken two cruises as a solo traveler. I have a few reasons why I like to travel solo. For starters, I am really independent. I like to do the things I want to do, and cruising or traveling solo allow me to choose where I want to go and what I want to do without having to consider someone else. On the same token, I can be pretty stubborn, so if I travel with someone and they want to do something that I don't want to do, I won't do it. For instance, a few years ago, my partner at the time, and I took a cruise. He wanted to snorkel, which is something I really hate to do. When we were in port, he'd go snorkeling, and I'd visit the places I wanted to.

 

 

 

Also, a lot of my friends have families, or they couldn't afford to take a vacation. There have been times in my past where friends and I have decided to go on a trip together only for them to cancel at the last minute. I'm usually the one to plan and book everything, so I've had situations where people cancel and don't pay, or they go and promise to pay, but never do. Traveling alone, I don't have to worry about that happening.

 

 

 

I am pretty flexible, so I am will usually go along and do things just because someone else is doing it. I will find enjoyment in trying something new. I hate the fact that so many people say they want to go but then cancel or come up with excuses. I agree with you that traveling alone, you have no one to contend with but yourself.

 

 

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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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Personally, I travel solo because I've found I do better with my own cabin on my own schedule. But then, I've been traveling solo since the late 80s and I'm not married. I do have a coworker who enjoys cruising but her significant other doesn't like being "confined" by a cruise. They've worked out a great deal: she cruises alone together with me (separate cabins with the understanding we do our own thing at times but generally do excursions and dinner together), and he goes hunting. Works well for them, and for me!

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I’ve found now even when I travel with others, and not solo I won’t share a room with anyone anymore.

 

Sometimes I’ll tell people I have a trip planned, sometimes I won’t. But if I do I tell them the dates and tell them to book it on their own. [emoji3]

 

I remember reading I think it was your first solo cruise on Epic.

 

No question about it, solo cruises are the best!

 

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Totally agree!! I have a travel companion now and that's how it started. Mentioned I was taking a trip and she said she would like to go but definitely wanted her own cabin. We've taking two cruises 'alone together' this year, with two more planned for next year. We book separately, we travel to the port separately (coming from different areas of the country), we do some things on the ship separately, and it works out wonderfully. I love solo cruises!

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When my wife was alive, I love to be with her on vacation or at home.  Now that she is gone, I have taken family with me on cruises but I wanted to go on an 11 day cruise and no one could get the time off.  I worried for a few minutes and then realized that I have been on motorcycle camping trips alone for up to 5 days at a time.  Sometimes the only people I interact with are the campground hosts when I check in.  I haven't even set myself up to listen to music when I ride.  I usually just read when camped.  I get along fine there so a ship full of food, activities, shows and views should be more than enough.  If I meet someone to talk to for awhile, even better.  If not meh.

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28 minutes ago, NSnJW said:

When my wife was alive, I love to be with her on vacation or at home.  Now that she is gone, I have taken family with me on cruises but I wanted to go on an 11 day cruise and no one could get the time off.  I worried for a few minutes and then realized that I have been on motorcycle camping trips alone for up to 5 days at a time.  Sometimes the only people I interact with are the campground hosts when I check in.  I haven't even set myself up to listen to music when I ride.  I usually just read when camped.  I get along fine there so a ship full of food, activities, shows and views should be more than enough.  If I meet someone to talk to for awhile, even better.  If not meh.

THERE's the right attitude!  :)  Enjoy!

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I have been sailing solo since 2003. Being lonely has nothing to do with it:)…….I have lived on my own for almost my entire adult life and traveling on my own is part of my life.  I have done almost everything in my life on my own.  Sailing solo (for me anyway) is a piece of cake and I LOVE IT.:classic_biggrin:....I go where I want, when I want and nobody interferes with my time. I work hard and cruising is my choice for vacations.  If I want to sleep in and not do anything but lay out, read/drink/do it again I can. If I want to see places I have always wanted, I can do that too.  I do enjoy meeting other people as well.  I took a cruise to Italy this summer (it was fabulous)...went to Sicily, Rome, Sorrento, Malta, Dubrovnik......it was wonderful.  I am getting ready to plan my next cruise......looking at the Spring but haven't booked anything yet...…..

And I really don't have anyone to sail with (which is ok with me) staying home is not option for me either.:classic_biggrin:..…..

Sailing solo is the only way I sail:)

 

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