Lone cruiseing holiday

[spotit3]

Has anyone ever gone on a cruise on their own and if so how did it go? I have heard so much about them this year that I would dearly love to go on one but not sure what it would be like on my own. I am a 65 year old widow.

[redman41]

Go by all means and enjoy yourself. You will meet others who are probably travelling alone as well
You never know, you may come back with a Sailor on your arm !! :-))

[craft1948]

A lot of people don't cruise on their own as the costs tend to be prohibitive. I go with a cruise buddy who I get on with very well but apart from the holidays we rarely see each other.
P&O do run a singles cruise system where they pair people up to share cabins, this may or may not appeal.
If the price does not put you off I can assure you that in the cruise environment you will soon make friends so will not spend the time by yourself. Why not pick a themed cruise where you will meet like-minded people.

[sitges]

The problem with going by yourself is that the cost is usually several hundreds of dollars more if you are in a room by yourself. If you see a cruise advertized for $1500.00 dollars you can pay up to 6 or7 hundred dollars more for a single room. At least that is the way most of the cruise line operate. Most people try and get someone to go with them to share a room to keep the costs down.

[atalanta]

You'll eat too much. There will be dozens of other widows there, too. If you are very lucky, and pick a very expensive cruise, there may be "gentlemen hosts" who are given free cruises in order to reduce the female- to-male ratio, to dance with the widows and to help with the shore excursions. If you are unlucky, some other woman will pinch your best dress when you pop out of your cabin for two seconds without locking it.
Here's a tip - if you buy new clothes for the trip, take ALL your receipts with you.

[askyourgran]

Go, it might be daunting at first, but you can choose to be alone or make friends with other people on board. I have a friend who is single in her late fifties, she has no choice but to go on holiday on her own. I think she actually prefers cruising to flying/driving abroad. She has been on several cruises all over the world, and enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life and all nationalities. Give it a go. I've never heard her complain of her things being stolen. Keep your cabin locked.

[JK2]

I am 67 and have been travelling alone for years. I have been on smaller cruises - only 120 passengers - and also on tours by plane/land and have travelled all over the world. The Travel Collection have reasonable single supplements on their tours and I've always met really nice people. Also Voyage Jules Verne often do hols with no single supplement. I went on the Indian Maharajah train with VJV last December. Some cruise lines have single cabins - google singles cruising. I think Fred Olsen do & Norwegian Lines. If you mix easily and are friendly you will be ok.

[spotit3]

Thanks for all the help everyone. Will need to pluck up some courage. Unfortunately JK2 I don't mix easily though I am friendly. Just wish I could find a like minded person to holiday with.

[welshlibranr]

Go for it!........I would definately!.........you'll meet folk there as long as you're friendly and outgoing!........You'll have a great time!........live your life!.....

[craft1948]

lol @atalanta.............I don't know whose cruises you've been on!!

[welshlibranr]

spotit3, problem with finding a like minded person is, you may not get along after a few days together!..better to go alone and make friends Along the way if you find like minded folk!......better alone than with someone that you don't get along with!..........that's the way I'd go!..........

[JK2]

I find that if I choose my tour or small cruise carefully I will find lots of like minded people are on the same holiday - we've all chosen that tour because it interests us. VJV & Travel Collection are part of Kuoni and both companies have a great choice of tours. You are guaranteed to meet other people on a tour as you all go sightseeing together & often have dinner together. I've been to Costa Rica, Cuba,Nepal,India,Borneo, Madagascar,China,Egypt, Sri Lanka etc with the afore mentioned. I think tours are better than cruises at guaranteeing you won't feel alone and you see some marvellous things.

[237SJ]

I`ve always thought a website that puts lone travellers in touch with each other would be a really good idea.
According to an article in the daily mail, a couple of new ships are starting to cater for lone cruisers. P&O`s Azura and Norwegian`s Epic. They have several single cabins (which obviously means they have several other single travellers as well)

[JK2]

In case you are wondering, the number of people on the tours I've been on have varied between 3 & 25 - usually at least 16 - so you don't have to get stuck with anyone you don't like. You usually mix with everyone and sometimes find a specific person or couple or other singles you get on the best with. Sometimes there is no one specific but very nice people in general and wonderful sights to see each day.

[mosesg]

You should maybe try the likes of Solo holidays or Just You holidays as I think they both do cruise holidays for single people.

[spotit3]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to answer me. Think I wil try some of JK2's suggestions. It is just trying to pluck up the courage which I am sadly lacking in, I must admit!