“Let’s go on a cruise!” This sentence is one of the most powerful utterances in the travel world, evoking intense emotion for many. When these words hit the air, travelers are sliced into two wildly opposing groups. One will brighten up and chatter with excitement. Another will frown, shake their heads and snort in disgust. “Cruises aren’t traveling,” they will say.
Cruises are not the stuff of which backpackers’ dreams are made. They are, for the most part, all inclusive holidays. But if you’re toying with the idea of backpacking alone or traveling solo throughout the world yet are hesitant to make the leap, a cruise can be an excellent way to dip your toes in the waters.
I like Carribean holidays as much as anyone else and spent a week a couple of years ago cruising around the Western Carribean aboard the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas, docking in Haiti, Jamica, the Grand Caymans and Cozumel, Mexico. It proved to be one of the most fun weeks of my life. This was also one of the rare instances in which I traveled in a group. The experience helped me to see how a cruise can be the ideal launching pad for a solo traveler wanna-be. So I’ve come up with eight reasons why you should take a cruise if you’re thinking about starting to travel solo.
1. Easing into Planning a Trip Alone – Some people hesitate to travel solo because of the work involved in travel planning. You might think preparing for a trip is fun when you’re sharing the experience – and the workload. Alone, it may seem like grunt work that’s just not worth it. Cruises take a lot of the labor out of travel.
2. Learning How to Bunk with Strangers – If you suspect you’re really going to want to get on the solo travel bandwagon, you may need to become comfortable sleeping with strangers, as sharing hostel dorm rooms is one of the cheapest means of making your way around the world. You can take a cruise by yourself and shell out major bucks to sleep alone, or you can go on a singles cruise, where you’ll save some money by letting the cruise line match you up with one or more roommates. Sharing a room on a cruise can be a good sneak peak into solo travel and will either help you become accustomed to it or let you know sleeping doubled or octupled up is not for you.
3. Tasting Other Cultures – If you’re not ready to jump off the high dive and swim around in another culture, wading ashore at the ports along your cruise route can give you a great glimpse of life in other lands. You can remain safely around your fellow cruisers to give you a sense of the familiar. Or, if you’re feeling comfortable enough, go off on your own and explore a bit. Just be sure to return to the ship in time, because if you don’t, it absolutely will sail off without you.
4. The Inevitability of Meeting People – I found that the people on my cruise seemed generally quite happy and excited, as people tend to be on Carribean holidays. Such a group mood is fertile ground for making friends. Surrounded by the same cast of upbeat characters for days on end breeds friendliness and possibly even long-term friendships.
5. The Simplicity of Everything – You won’t have to wonder whether what you put in your mouth is clean and safe, what kind of room you’ll end up in each night, and you won’t get lost. Well, if you’re on a city-sized ship you might get a little lost, but that’s pure fun with no worries that you won’t find your way back. With everything on the cruise ship laid out for your comfort, you can relax and revel in the fact that you’re traveling all alone.
6. The Partying – The cruise ship I sailed on was a giant floating party. If you want partying to be a major component of your solo travels, you will most certainly get what you want on a cruise. My ship had 14 floors and at least as many bars and nightclubs. You will party.
7. The Luxury – Cruise ships can be extremely swanky. The Royal Caribbean ship on which I sailed, in fact, possessed severe swank. You may not need or want all the glitz, but you can rest assured that your first solo travel experience most likely will be filled with high-caliber food, drink and atmosphere. Wallowing in such luxury, it is likely that you’ll end your trip with very warm memories of your first time traveling alone, which can set you on the path to striking out once again.
8. The Traveling – Love it or hate it, sailing through the high seas and docking occasionally to explore foreign lands definitely is traveling. Most every day on your cruise you’ll add another notch to your travel belt. When you disembark, you can use what you’ve learned to launch you into your first full-fledged solo travel experience.
[...] Read some-more here: Cruises for Solo Travelers – Be a Solo Traveler – Take a Cruise … [...]
Never really considered a cruise for a young solo traveller, but I love it! Had NO IDEA the deck of a cruise ship looked like that. Geeeez.
.-= Candice´s last blog ..The Front Step Poop Story =-.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
May 29th, 2010 at 11:55
Oh, that is but a fraction of the deck. You’d probably love a cruise.
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Any day, I’d prefer to travel with just I, me and myself for company
!
Do what you like; when you want to and wherever. Nothing gives me more freedom than being entirely by myself … to do all the things I want to do, without any second thoughts.
Being the more quiet kind, I also do not like to be pulled into conversations by strangers who might seek some companionship.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
May 29th, 2010 at 11:54
Hi Sumitran. Oh, it’s not so bad.
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Perfect timing, Sabina, as I’m going on my first cruise this summer! Only a 2-nighter, but still….What do you mean, planning a trip might seem like grunt work???? That’s my favorite part!
It’s great that you had such a great solo experience on your cruise, though I have certainly read reports by other solos that they did not. I think whether or not you have a good time is partly determined by the demographic make-up of the other passengers on the ship, and partly your own personality.
.-= Gray´s last blog ..You Should Know: Journeywoman =-.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
May 29th, 2010 at 11:53
I hope you have great fun on your cruise! I’ll read about it…
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[...] Cruises for Solo Travelers – Be a Solo Traveler – Take a Cruise … [...]
Yes! I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise, but have kept it a secret after hearing countless backpackers scoff at it. I think it looks like tons of fun, especially if it’s a warm-up for future travels.
.-= Anne´s last blog ..The Job Hunt (I pull my hair out, just a little) =-.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
May 30th, 2010 at 11:33
Oh, yes. It is seriously total fun and deep relaxation. Go for it.
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Ryan and I love to jump to cruises too when it’s cheap (yeah, sometime they have good deals). I wonder how it feel to share a room with a stranger for many days in a cruise, it’s more intimate than seeing strangers in hostel’s rooms.
Dina recently posted..World’s Biggest Carrot and Gumboot are in New Zealand
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
September 17th, 2010 at 06:06
Hmm, I wonder if strangers do share rooms on cruises if they’re traveling solo. Probably. I hope you’re having a great time in New Zealand!
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I was a bit sceptical at first because I thought it was something for old people only but when I went on my first cruise round the Caribbean I absolutely loved it! I would definitely do it again.
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Sabina Reply:
February 13th, 2011 at 10:18
Hi Spencer – me too, definitely. I can’t wait to go again.
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I have always had the feeling that some may travel solo for the economic reasons, but you proved this impression wrong! It’s interesting sometimes to experience the stuff that excites you with luxury.
One positive aspect of such travels is that people are all in very good mood. I must say they are in great mood. Have fun!
Rahman Mehraby
Destination Iran Travel & Tours
Iran Travel Blog recently posted..What to Expect to Eat in Iranian Restaurants during Your Visit of Iran
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Sabina Reply:
February 13th, 2011 at 10:19
This ship was like a bubble of happiness. I am serious
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Cruises do seem to be something people either love or hate; nothing in between. Silly really, right up there with the tourist vs traveller debate. No reason why one can’t try everything
We were just on a cruise through the Panama Canal. It was interesting and you do get a first-impression of the various ports – enough to know whether you want to return for a more in-depth exploration or not. I adored Antigua Guatemala and Cartagena in Colombia and will definitely go back.
And while I though the sea-days were a bit long and would have preferred more days ashore, my kids really enjoyed being onboard. They’re already planning a cruise on their own
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Sabina Reply:
February 13th, 2011 at 10:22
Sophie – I loved both being on the ship and being on shore. It was such a fabulous cruise, though, I doubt whether another will ever measure up.
I hope you get to return to the ports you adored
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This is the first time i m seeing the interior of cruise ..looks great !! hope u had a great experience
Sheril Benedict recently posted..Munnar
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Sabina Reply:
April 19th, 2011 at 12:18
Hi Sheril – the interior was just magnificent – way better than the photos, of course. I hope you’ll get to go on a cruise some day – if you want.
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Just did our first cruise and even though we didn’t do it solo, we had a great time and did recommend one to my single sister. I’ll pass this along for some tips for her. Thanks,
-David
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Sabina Reply:
April 27th, 2011 at 23:29
Hi David, I agree. A cruise is a great time, to say the least. I’m hoping to go on one again some day.
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This is a great post on Cruise travel. While going through the comments I see that most people consider cruise is for old people and not for the young and the energetic.
I think personally It is a safe place for a solo traveler.
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Sabina Reply:
April 27th, 2011 at 23:32
Hey, Sailor – thanks! You’re right – cruises are totally safe places for solo travelers, and not at all just for older people. The cruise ship I was on was an absolute party boat. More young people should go on cruises.
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Going on a cruise is, I just realized, a great way to start your solo travelling. If you’re not as adventurous yet, this is the sensible thing to do!
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Sabina Reply:
May 2nd, 2011 at 01:10
Dorthe, I think it could be the best way to start your solo travels. You’re on your own, but with the same group of people for the duration of the cruise. You’re traveling, yet you’re insulated. For a lot of people, I think it’s the perfect environment.
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Sounds glorious. I hope your blog inspires many women travellers who think they need a manly man along for the trip. I inspired my sister to go solo.
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A cruise seems like a really great idea, don’t really know if I can afford it but sounds good.
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Sabina Reply:
January 27th, 2012 at 11:50
It IS good!
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traveling on Cruise is one of my life time dreams and hope I ll travel over it very soon..
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