Cruisin Single

[trixiee]

Hello,

Can you comment on cruising single?  

Costs, pros, cons?

Worries, best parts, etc...

[GTVCRUISER]

I have cruised solo many times , you have your own cabin , you can meet other people , always something to do , the only problem is you have to pay double for the Cabin 

[SargassoPirate]

I cruise solo when She Who Must Be Obeyed chooses not to go.  SWMBO requires a balcony, but when I cruise solo I book an inside because that's all I need.  I only use the cabin to change clothes and to sleep.

 

I also find that a smile and a raised coffee cup or a cocktail is a good way to spark a conversation.

 

In short, I love cruising solo because I have the freedom to do what I want when I want without a committee decision.

[VennDiagram]

I've cruised solo a few times.  I used to book one of the HHs on Promenade Deck, smaller but certainly all I needed.  Alas, most of the ships now sailing don't have that configuration.

 

I find I meet people easily, especially if I have a fixed dining time/table.  Or spend time at a particular bar.  And when DH and I cruise together, we are happy to meet solos who can join us or not on shore visits or ship activities.

[RuthC]

I've done over 700 days solo just on HAL since my husband died. It is the best way to travel if you are alone, but want to meet others. 
Assume you will pay double fare, and budget for that, and be thrilled if you can find a lower supplement. Other than that, it's great. You get the entire cabin to yourself, so even the larger ships, with less storage in them, have room for everything. You can keep it picked up, yet still know where everything is. 
You can come and go as you wish, and not have to compromise, or consult with another. Excellent. 
It can get lonely if you want to explore with others and can't find someone to share an experience with you, but if you can be happy by yourself, it can work out well. 
You can usually find a single seat at an entertainment venue, even when it's close to showtime. 

If the choices are stay home alone, or cruise alone, better to cruise alone. 

[oakridger]

@trixiee  You can find lots of info on cruising solo on the Solo Cruises Forum here:

 

Solo Cruises: Ask a Question - Cruise Critic Message Board Forums

 

Have fun!

[cruisemom42]

I've traveled solo -- both land travel and cruises -- quite frequently in the last 15 years. I consider cruising one of the easiest ways to travel solo. As others have said, you generally don't have much trouble finding someone to chat with on a tour, at meals, at shows, at the bar -- unless you don't want to be sociable, and that's fine too. The best part is probably the service on board, and I've found solos get treated just as well, if not better. The worst part is the premium you pay to cruise as a solo. I generally book inside cabins and I do look for deals (although I'm picky about itineraries so sometimes deals don't exist).

 

Recently I notice fewer people want to share a table at dinner UNLESS you book fixed dining (which I do not prefer). I'm not sure, but I suspect COVID will accelerate that trend even more. It's a shame because I really don't enjoy dining alone at night, although it's fine once in a while. Wouldn't want to sit at a table by myself for two weeks though. 

 

[SargassoPirate]

10 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

 

Recently I notice fewer people want to share a table at dinner UNLESS you book fixed dining (which I do not prefer). I'm not sure, but I suspect COVID will accelerate that trend even more. It's a shame because I really don't enjoy dining alone at night, although it's fine once in a while. Wouldn't want to sit at a table by myself for two weeks though. 

 

 

I am hard of hearing and wear hearing aids.  I find the MDR evening too loud and too long for my liking.  I enjoy it for breakfast and lunch, but for the evening meal I head to the buffet.  I don't need a big meal in the evening and the buffet frees up my time to enjoy a wee dram or three and the evening music venues around the ship - but not BB Kings (too loud).

 

One of the things I love about cruising solo is I can do what I want, when I want, and I can skip the evening MDR and over-amplified production shows that She Who Must Be Obeyed thinks are mandatory.

 

 

[trixiee]

Thanks for all the responses, and the link to the solo cruiser board.  You have given me to the confidence to book something! 

Another question, re: single supplement - If I book a casino offer of a free inside, do I still pay a single supplement?  The fine print is not clear on that.  I do plan on calling HAL directly later today, but just wondered what other's experience has been.

Thank you!

[si4444]

22 hours ago, trixiee said:

Thanks for all the responses, and the link to the solo cruiser board.  You have given me to the confidence to book something! 

Another question, re: single supplement - If I book a casino offer of a free inside, do I still pay a single supplement?  The fine print is not clear on that.  I do plan on calling HAL directly later today, but just wondered what other's experience has been.

Thank you!

All my bookings are casino comps and I just pay port fees and taxes for myself and I cruise solo. So works out awesome. 

 

Scott

[AV8rix]

I'm always solo and I echo the comments of @RuthCand @cruisemom42.  Be sure to check the When and Where for the solo meetup.  That is generally in the Crow's Nest on the first sea sea day, but venue and date could vary.  There is usually also a lunch for the solos in the MDR on a sea day.   

 

And the majority of my bookings are also casino comps.  The only times that I pay full freight are for special itineraries that I really want to do. 

 

I just disembarked Koningsdam on Sunday, where I met two delightful solos that I shared evening meals with. I found that, like me, they are also booked on the 150th Anniversary cruise in Oct 2023 so we made plans to share meals on that voyage. Bottom line is that the only time you have to be alone on a dam ship is when you wish to be. 

 

 

Edited November 18, 2021 by AV8rix

[trixiee]

I did it! My first solo cruise is booked! 

[RuthC]

21 minutes ago, trixiee said:

I did it! My first solo cruise is booked! 

Yippee! 

[Evilmuffin]

I’m on my first solo cruise in December.   I’m hoping it is as good as before when I wasn’t solo.

[sambamama]

The first cruise I went solo was my best cruise ever! I was dreading going alone and and I met a Canadian couple that I spent lots of time with. We became fast friends and did 3 land trips (1 including a cruise to Alaska) together! 

[si4444]

On 11/19/2021 at 4:40 AM, Evilmuffin said:

I’m on my first solo cruise in December.   I’m hoping it is as good as before when I wasn’t solo.

i'm on nov 24 Eurodam, Which are you ? Should be lovely

Edited November 20, 2021 by si4444
wrong dates

[GTVCRUISER]

My next solo cruise in 15 days 🙂

[Evilmuffin]

3 hours ago, si4444 said:

i'm on nov 24 Eurodam, Which are you ? Should be lovely

Eurodam 05 - 22 Dec (B2B).   I’ll see you coming off . 😀

[GTVCRUISER]

Koningsdam cruise to Mexico December 5th 2021 

[Sue from Canada]

I did my 7th cruise solo and now have number 30 booked and still looooove going solo.  Once you've had the cabin to yourself it's hard to even think of sharing it.  As a previous poster noted, I also get casino deals so the fare isn't as bad as it could be with HAL.  For those considering going solo, there are so many wonderful people you'll meet (if you want to).  Just do it.

[teresitaboy]

It is the only way to cruise, you will love it. Pending on your starts you don't always pay double.

Enjoy

[zgscl]

I just got back from my first solo cruise and it was amazing. I could do exactly what I wanted to do at the precise instant that inspiration struck. No need to check or coordinate with anyone else. I had the entire cabin to myself. Plenty of closet space and all of my things exactly where I wanted them. The only thing I did not love was the single supplement. 

 

I was a bit nervous going into it but I had absolutely no issue making new friends and meeting people on the ship. At Pinnacle Grill there were three tables of singles that ended up merging into one table the next day and the hostess found us a 4th solo to join in also. The crew always keeps an extra good eye out for you once they find out that you are traveling alone. 

 

I am going back on another sailing in 3 months and then will travel with my mom next summer. To be honest it will be a much harder adjustment going back to traveling with someone else than it was adjusting to the solo life (though the family time is totally worth it!). I am definitely a solo convert and look forward to doing many more solo cruises in the years to come.