Cruise for an older senior??

[sobriquet47]

My mother-in-law is 86 and looks and acts twenty years younger. She plays golf, loves ballroom dancing, is sharp and interested. She's a recent widow who would love to have a good time (who would have guessed this?) and we'd like to send her on a cruise. Any suggestions at all about anything, particularly the possibility of traveling solo? I would imagine the number of older, solo seniors dwindles dramatically but if there is something out there, you folks would know. Thanks so much!

[LHT28]

We have a friend who is 88 and cruises 3-4 times a year, a couple of World cruises thrown in the mix.

He has been on Marco polo 10+ times, HAL ...2 world cruises & Princess but I would think your MIL might like HAL .

They use to have male escorts for dancing with the single ladies ...not sure if the still do that.

 

glad she is still enjoying life.

[sobriquet47]

Thanks LHT--that was helpful. I'll check into your recommendations and see what I can come up with for my mother-in-law. So glad that your friend is as lively and adventurous as he is--I hope she meets up with him on one of the cruises!

[Hlitner]

I believe that HA has eliminated their male host program. When we were on a recent Noordam cruise there was a very angry travel agent who had brought a large group of women on the cruise. She had been assured that there would be male hosts (they used to be great for dancing partners) but the hosts did not exist on our cruise. As to a young 80some cruiser, I still would agree that HA might be the best fit. However, she might benefit if she had a traveling companion (male or female).

 

Hank

[Nana911ofEight]

I am 65 and love to cruise. My husband died 2 years ago, unexpectantly. We both loved to cruise and I continue to do so solo. I am in good physical shape, but am not really interested in dating. So, I usually pay the single supplement when I can afford it.

 

We have a new senior center in our area. Unfortunately, it does not have a Senior Travel Group yet. So, a young man in my area (he's 40 something, but I consider that young!) started a senior travel group called "Forever Young." It was very small at first, but now has quite a following.

 

We just had a Cruise Party at his house at which over 200 seniors showed up along with many executive directors and program planners for senior organizations. It's lots of fun and there is a wide age range of seniors. My friend and I counted about 40 walkers lined up in the carport next to the door when we arrived. The oldest senior traveller with our group is 93, but we have two centenarians who attend our travel meetings. They don't cruise, but tend to go on the shorter day and weekend trips with us.

 

I'm sure that you must have something similar in your area. If not, contact your local senior center. Most have travel groups for local trips and larger groups for cruises and other travel ops like Elderhostel and Untours.

 

As for the Gentleman Hosts, we had the same problem when our travel group started, but we have many extremely proactive seniors in our group now. The first time we travelled as a group, the cruise line customer service representative assured us that there would be Gentleman volunteers to dance with, but we soon learned that they are just that--vounteers and can change their minds last minute and decide not to go. It's a lot of work for a free cruise and some itineraries are less popular. We learned the major "senior friendly" cruise lines do have Gentleman hosts, but they are only on the longer cruise itineraries.

 

So, after that, we planned accordingly. Cunard is great and we have had great luck with Holland America, but we always check by calling at least twice to check before paying the final balance on the cruise. We gals and pretty saavy seniors. We will ALL cancel the group and use our non-refundable deposit to make a new cruise reservation if we find out later that they will not have enough hosts to dance with. We have flexible schedules and will only travel when we can get what we want.

 

Good luck finding something. I hope my children are as proactive when I am 80!

 

Nana911ofEight

[DocF]

My mother, who is 88, will go cruising with her friends at the drop of a hat. She doesn't want to go alone, though. She likes most of the lines, but she feels Holland America is for old fogies. :eek:

 

Doc:D

[eh2zed]

HAL is probably a good fit but if $$$ isn't an issue Crystal might be a good fit as well.

[JYGresham]

We have a friend who is 88 and cruises 3-4 times a year, a couple of World cruises thrown in the mix.

He has been on Marco polo 10+ times, HAL ...2 world cruises & Princess but I would think your MIL might like HAL .

They use to have male escorts for dancing with the single ladies ...not sure if the still do that.

 

glad she is still enjoying life.

We just came off a 35 day cruise on the HAL Maasdam and they definitely had some gentlemen who were there to dance and act as companions to the single women.

[kitty9]

Crystal is a very good fit for young at heart mature adults. I've been on cruises on Crystal where the "oldsters" put us younger folk to shame by bungee jumping and going on safari in Africa. Crystal is elegant, refined and lots of fun, no matter the age.

[forensic]

If money is not an issue try Regent, you could also try Celebrity cost less than Regent but it is a Premium line. I do not know if Celebrity has male escorts for dancing etc. But I have talked to a number of groups that said single ladies make friends with them on the ship and then their husbands will take turns dancing with them. I do not know how often this happens. If your Mom wants to dance a lot this may not be the answer. But as far as having 'friends' on board to talk with it would help with that problem.

 

We took my Mom and her sister on a Celebrity cruise last January. My Mom had her 87th birthday and her sister had her Th birthday while we were on the cruise. They had a GREAT time. NO one thought that my Aunt would go! She does not usually like to fly and her daughter told me she hates the water. But when I called to ask her if she would like to go she 'jumped' right on it!

 

They both had a great time, they loved the personal service, and the dining room service. They even went to the spa, something they had never done in their lives.

 

Some single supplements are not as high as others. Get a good TA that gives lots of personal service, without a service fee. They will help you find the perfect cruise!

 

Your mother-in-law is lucky to have you!!

[DiveCruiser]

AARP has many cruises and events. Local rotary clubs ect...

 

Bob

[mauiedin87]

My husband (80) and I (67) found out last year that the Island Princess's longer cruises seem to be fairly senior-friendly. So, we're going to be going on another one in a few weeks. I don't believe I saw any "dance hosts" on the Hawaii cruise last year, but my husband took it upon himself to ask some of the "single" ladies to dance. He's a fabulous Latin dancer (Samba, Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia etc.etc), and can easily put anyone 20 years younger to shame! I gladly "share" him, that way I get to catch my breath!

 

One way to get some dancing in as a single on a cruise is to attend the ship-sponsored dance classes. They're usually largely attended by women, but they do attract some guys.

[katiel53]

Gee, I would love for her to go on NCL in May, or Mariner in October. My dad is 94 and he has cruised by himself since my mom passed away 7 years ago. He would kill me if he thought I was trying to fix him up, but I wish he would meet some single women on his cruises.

 

Anyway, I think it is hard for a single, older person to travel alone on a cruise. He travels with us (me, DH, sister and her DH. ) Traveling with us gives him the opportunity to enjoy a cruise and it's great for him. Perhaps you could have her sail with you.