First lone cruise

[diamondj]

As this will be my first time cruising alone, I wonder if anyone can give me advice on whether there are events in which to get together with other lone cruisers. Also, are people welcoming for you to join them at dinner tables or do you have to brave it out on your own.

Any advice from previous cruisers would be most welcome.    Silver Spirit April 2021 ( hopefully).

 

[Oulton Jim]

I hope my post and that of others  may put your mind at rest. On various cruises we have 'adopted' sometimes 1- maybe 2 ladies on their own. They have proved to be delightful company. Also for the solo male my wife thinks it would not be a problem to intermingle. I am referring to the times ahead when vaccines will bring cruising back to a normality of some kind regarding mixing. It just may take time....

[Camillus112]

One important asset of Silversea is the "Solos and International Hostess", one of which (Monia) I remember very fondly.  I understand she hosts a Solo's Mingling cocktail hour early on in the cruise.  Also, she usually has dinner with the solos and international passengers.  I know she would be happy to arrange for solos to be included with other passengers at dinner time, if they so choose.  Another option is to ask to be considered as guest to a "hosted table", which will be chaired by an officer or one of the entertainers.  Others will contribute experiences I have forgotten.

[jollyjones]

2 hours ago, Oulton Jim said:

I hope my post and that of others  may put your mind at rest. On various cruises we have 'adopted' sometimes 1- maybe 2 ladies on their own. They have proved to be delightful company. Also for the solo male my wife thinks it would not be a problem to intermingle. I am referring to the times ahead when vaccines will bring cruising back to a normality of some kind regarding mixing. It just may take time....

Out of interest - why do you assume the OP is a man?

[Oulton Jim]

I was trying to cover for either sex.

[Observer]

My memory is that someone hosts a gathering of solos nearly every evening — not only on embarkation night.  A number of the solos gathered there adjourn as a group to the restaurant.  

Edited November 9, 2020 by Observer

[Lois R]

Hi, I always sail solo and love SS😀 they always have an offering of sort of a meet & greet/cocktails for solo guests.

 You don't have to attend but it is there. And yes, it is every night.

 

And yes, the staff & crew are very welcoming!  They do have the international hostesses who

(in my experiences) have been wonderful. I actually had dinner with them multiple times. 

 

I cannot wait to be able to sail again (along with everyone else). I highly recommend Silversea

as a solo cruiser😀

[Cruising the waves]

Hi

I have sailed solo on two occasions, both with SS (the Med and Asia).  I had a brilliant time and I agree with everything that Lois and others have said.  I cannot wait for my next cruise and I highly recommend SS, not only for doing an excellent job with solo passengers but for the entire cruise experience.  

[jollyjones]

To the OP:

When cruising gets going again, I'll be back on Silversea, solo, as often as I can.

I cruise solo, and over the years I have cruised on nearly all the mainstream lines, but once I moved up to Silversea I never looked back - it's not just the quality of the cruise experience in general, it's also that Silversea treats solos better by far than any other line I've experienced.

Apart from all the experiences aimed at solos, the atmosphere on an SS ship is such that it is very easy to socialise with anyone and everyone else on board - in fact, I seldom attend solo's events any more as I have met and mingled with so many non-solo SS cruisers!

 

P.S. Of course, post Covid the cruise experience will undoubtedly be different, but I expect the onboard amiable atmosphere will survive - can't wait to find out.

Edited November 11, 2020 by jollyjones

[sctphil]

I must agree with jollyjones. My first cruise was as a solo traveler on the Silver Muse a year ago and I had a marvelous time. Everyone was very friendly and it was very easy to talk to people. I highly recommend taking part in the daily trivia contest. It's a great way to meet people.  Silversea definitely goes that extra mile in making solo cruisers feel welcome.

[diamondj]

http://

Thank you everyone for your lovely replies, which have been very reassuring. My husband and I loved our cruises and sharing daily experiences over dinner with table companions. He sadly and suddenly passed away just before lockdown and I need something to look forward to once this pandemic is done. I thought that perhaps a small ship cruise would be safest option.

[Lois R]

25 minutes ago, diamondj said:

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Thank you everyone for your lovely replies, which have been very reassuring. My husband and I loved our cruises and sharing daily experiences over dinner with table companions. He sadly and suddenly passed away just before lockdown and I need something to look forward to once this pandemic is done. I thought that perhaps a small ship cruise would be safest option.

So sorry for your loss.....sending you heartfelt condolences and I think sailing SS is a 

wonderful experience and hope you will too!

[Tothesunset]

2 hours ago, diamondj said:

http://

Thank you everyone for your lovely replies, which have been very reassuring. My husband and I loved our cruises and sharing daily experiences over dinner with table companions. He sadly and suddenly passed away just before lockdown and I need something to look forward to once this pandemic is done. I thought that perhaps a small ship cruise would be safest option.

Our condolences on your loss. 

 

OH and I have never cruised as solos but have met several solo cruisers over our 200+ days on SS. Judging by what we have seen, solo passengers are very well looked after and most definitely an integral part of the varied and interesting mix of passengers. 

 

We have both, a little morbidly perhaps, said that should one of us pass away the other would continue to cruise on SS because it seems such a good way to make new friends in an unforced but friendly environment. 

 

I'm sure you'll not regret cruising with SS. 

[Daveywavey70]

Diamondj, I send heartfelt sympathy for your loss. I've not sailed solo on Silversea but I have been on many solo holidays and cruises. The one thing that I can say is how lovely and sociable the SS passengers are. My other half often rolls his eyes at the number of people I stop and talk to on the ship, they are almost entirely friendly and sociable. I Suppose what I am trying to say is that whilst I have no direct experience (though I've heard nothing but positives) of how Silversea looks after solo travellers, I do have direct experience of how wonderful fellow Silversea passengers are. There are many new friends to be made on every voyage.

I Hope things are ok where you are in the North West. I'm from the Wirral myself but living in North Wales now for the last 18 years and I am following the NW situation closely. I'm sure you'll love your cruise. 

[brimary]

Deepest sympathy diamondj for your loss.In all our annual Silversea cruising since 1999 one of the consistent plus points has been observing the excellent manner sole cruisers are looked after in such a special way.From the opening Meet and Mingle meeting for sole cruisers to the interaction with cruising couples at dinner etc the sole traveller is treated like gold dust and so they should be and long may it continue.

[diamondj]

Sorry for my earlier reply being underlined throughout, I’m just learning the reply system and think I got it a bit wrong. 

Well, any worries I had about my new adventure have been dispelled. From all your lovely replies I think I will feel quite safe,  and will be able to socialise with fellow passengers quite easily. Thank you all for putting my mind at rest.  Also, thank you for your kind words of condolence.

Here’s to getting back on the high seas! 🛳️