Unexpectedly single - should I go on a cruise on my own?

[Leavingbyebye]

As above, have had a special trip planned for a couple of years but H and I have split up and I will either lose quite a bit of money or have to rebook for something of greater value

I’m generally happy enough in my own company but with the formality of dinners etc I’m really unsure about going solo and whether I would feel awkward.

I am mid 40s and the trip is for 7 nights, couple of stops but mainly at sea. The weather should be good. I’ve never been on a cruise before but it’s one of the prestige operators who appeal to an older demographic (rather than families etc)

I’m really at a loss as to what to do. Any honest advice or experience?

Thank you
lonesome cruiser

Hell yes! Go! Live it up! Enjoy those dinners. I regularly dine out alone and really enjoy the me time. I’d imagine on a cruise you might make some friends you can join the occasional night. I wonder if you contact the ship’s concierge if there might be a few solo travellers who might want to band together for the odd excursion? But I’d enjoy being able to do 100% my own thing.

I’d go on your own, if you have chosen a table of four or more for dinner that’s far better (especially if you let them know it’s just you) as you tend to be sat with the same people for dinner. This would allow you to get to know people, they may even sit you with other solo travellers

Yes, go for it. What have you got to lose?

Let's see, choosing when I want to eat what i want to see, when I get up, when I go to bed, all on a luxury ship in glorious sunshine mmmm decisions decisions... but in all seriousness op, go, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time with the liberating feeling of having to think about nobody but yourself for once.

I’ve been going on cruises on my own for 7 years post divorce ( now 65) and I would definitely encourage you to go, you can always find people to talk to if you want or ignore everyone else! I have always felt completely safe and you can do as much or as little as you want. Don’t hesitate and enjoy a new experience of only having to please yourself!

Cruises are the best to go alone. You'll have a great time. They also offer solo meets si if you want to join people for dinner etc you can

Sounds like a great plan!

I'd love to go on a cruise again 🛳

I'd go if I were you

Please go, you’ll feel so proud of yourself.

I think you can do causal dining too if the dinner is the only thing putting you off.

Come back and update us afterwards!

Just go. It will be a lovely restful experience and a great reset after the break up. There will be lots for you to do on your own but chances are there will also be special “lone travellers” events where you can meet other people travelling alone. You don’t have to eat alone either as you can be put on a table with other people. It will be an adventure.

I think it’s one of the easier vacations to do as a solo traveler. You will meet new people and for dinners, if there are seat assignments, you should be able to request a table with other soloists. But if not I wouldn’t worry about it. Especially with an older demographic they are usually very friendly and you won’t be out of place at all.

Also see if your cruise line has a FB page or dedicated forums, I think it’s still pretty common to do shout outs for other pax on the same trip ahead of time to see if maybe you can make a few online connections with other soloists.

Last bit of advice is look up your cruise line + solo to see if there are some other things you can learn ahead of time. Or try this https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/279-solo-cruisers/

Oh my, I'd far rather go on a cruise alone than with another. A balcony that I can sit and read on all day, interspersed by interesting talks, gym sessions, eating my bodyweight in delicious nosh and pretty seascapes to watch passing by. I'd leap at it with open arms.

@Leavingbyebye cruising is one of the best options for solo travellers.

My advice is at least the first few days have breakfast and dinner in the main dining room. A lot of cruise lines have freedom dining where you can either sit on your own table or share. Sharing tables let you meet and chat with other people but there is no pressure to ever see them again.

If you are doing a morning excursion, order breakfast to eat in your cabin and slightly over order so you have a piece of fruit or muffin to take with you.

The lectures, shows etc. are all fine to do on your own.

You will have a fantastic time.

You can ask for bed to be made into 2 singles if you want to.invite someone else instead or go alone. There's loads to do and you can either join in or not as you choose. On my last cruise I went on with DH I met an American lady who was travelling alone and I met up with her a few times to go to Suduko competition, a cookery demonstration and another day having the hot stones at the spar. DH wanted to go to the sports bar for a couple of hours. She joined us for breakfast twice too. A very intesting lady. They have a singles host or organises for people travelling as lone to meet up. Then if they hit it off they can organise to meet up for things or not. Don't let breaking up with DH make you miss your holiday.

I have been on a few cruises with my family and it's definitely something I would do alone. 100%!

Do it!!! You’ll kick yourself if you don’t. Worst case scenario, you’re reading books on a balcony somewhere nice and relaxing with several bars. I see no downside!

Yes to this exactly !
Sounds like heaven to me, go for it !

Yes, go! I split up with my husband a couple of years ago at the age of 40 and went on a pre booked holiday to Dubai, by myself. Much better to be down in the dumps in the sunshine, with a cocktail in your hand ❤️

You’ll have a lovely time.

Lots of people go solo cruising. Look up Facebook groups for the cruise line you want to go with and you’ll see lots of posts of people asking the same things. They even make specific groups for specific cruises so you could start chatting to people before you go if that’s what you wanted to do. Travelblogjaime on you tube does a lot of solo cruise travelling too and talks about it a lot - solo cabins, eating solo etc.

I'm back this morning off a cruise. They had a table in the bars for solo travellers, people where placed on the same table each night to get to know each other. (Unless you don't want to of course) I was chatting to a lady who was saying how great it was, she'd made some really nice friends

I would go,definitely. If it’s with a prestige line and you want to do the formal dining, you should be able to get a table for one if you would prefer not to share. Take a book or your phone.

My OH passed away 17 months ago and I'm looking at going on a solo cruise, so I would totally go for it.

Go , I’ve been on a cruise ( or 2 ) and it’s so lovely
Ever speaks , shares tables etc …. However if you want a quiet space that’s fine too
go for it , don’t miss out

I'd most definitely do it