Going solo on Alaska cruise?

[natefish95]

Hey everyone, after having had some recent cancellations from a certain Nordic sounding cruise line, I'm eyeing the Miracle sailings to Alaska this summer. I pretty much always cruise solo though, and I've never done a non-Caribbean cruise solo. Has anyone gone solo to Alaska? Carnival isn't exactly known for catering to solo travelers, which I'm fine with, but I'm just curious what your experiences were like. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

I always cruise with my daughter, but if there are two cruises I would thoroughly enjoy solo it would be Alaska and Antarctica.  The chatty cruise director is mainly replaced by a scientist/naturalist who will amaze you with information as you cruise, and point out upcoming wildlife, directing you to port or starboard to see bears, rams, whales and much more.  Caribbean cruises are fun.  Alaska cruises are AMAZING.  Truly BREATHTAKING many times over.

[DenaInWyo]

I don't have any advice, because this will be my first time too, but..

 

No one can get the time off and I've booked a solo cruise on the Miracle for 8/31.  I've done plenty of solo trips (London, Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver, moved to WA and then to ND as a travel nurse) but never a solo cruise.

 

I'm honestly thinking it sounds like bliss.  I got a casino deal on an aft balcony.  All.  To.  My.  Self.  

 

I'm getting relaxed just thinking about it 🙂  

 

Maybe I do have advice.  You have to get past what other people might be thinking of you.  Want to eat at a fancy restaurant?  Eat there!  It's no one's business.  My sister and I honestly both love traveling solo.  Once you get over the hump of worrying if others are looking at you funny, it's actually really awesome.  Had plans to see something one morning, but you'd rather sleep in?  Hit the snooze button.  I did that on one trip and I was a little sorry for missing out, but man did I need the rest.  Had I been with a group, I'd have had to soldier on.  I love what I call "bumping around without a plan" too.  Hard to do with a group.  I can cut through a crowd in record time.  I eat when I'm hungry.  I don't have to share, or compromise.  Yeah, I run into some lonely times when I wish I could share the "OMG look at THAT!" but sometimes if you wait for someone to go with you, you won't go.  And that's no fun at all.

 

Annnnd, it's late and my reading comprehension is apparently off.  You HAVE cruised solo.  So my advice goes to someone reading this who hasn't 🙂 Maybe you have some advice for me?

Edited May 28, 2021 by DenaInWyo

[firefly333]

I did alaska solo to alaska. It was a cruise almost better solo. The morning to get up at 7 am to view possible whales, check, managed to get up, though I didnt have a chair saved in the buffet where all the older couples were lined up along the windows one side or the other. But I did run from side to side when the whales were playing. 

 

Bring binoculars.

 

I did the day we stopped at some port where there is a national park solo. Instead of booking thru carnival, I walked out of the port area where they sold bus tickets to the same park except instead of one hour I could stay as long as I wanted. Good thing. It was pouring rain. Luckily I had gone to the dollar store and bought ponchos before I left. Did a few trails then found the one to a waterfall where you can view the glacier closer up. I'm glad I saw the waterfall. It was a mile hike each way through forest with mushrooms and other plants. I for sure needed more time there than carnival allowed and was very happy to take my time.

 

It's a great cruise solo.

[mondello]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I did alaska solo to alaska. It was a cruise almost better solo. The morning to get up at 7 am to view possible whales, check, managed to get up, though I didnt have a chair saved in the buffet where all the older couples were lined up along the windows one side or the other. But I did run from side to side when the whales were playing. 

 

Bring binoculars.

 

I did the day we stopped at some port where there is a national park solo. Instead of booking thru carnival, I walked out of the port area where they sold bus tickets to the same park except instead of one hour I could stay as long as I wanted. Good thing. It was pouring rain. Luckily I had gone to the dollar store and bought ponchos before I left. Did a few trails then found the one to a waterfall where you can view the glacier closer up. I'm glad I saw the waterfall. It was a mile hike each way through forest with mushrooms and other plants. I for sure needed more time there than carnival allowed and was very happy to take my time.

 

It's a great cruise solo.

Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. Great low cost day. Saw a ton of eagles resting on the mud flats while we rode the bus in.

[boatseller]

I would approach it from the perspective of 'why would it matter?'  Solo is solo.

 

I've done Caribbean, Bermuda, Trans Atlantic & South America solo.  The other people lottery has about the same odds.