Cruising solo over Christmas... Has anybody ever done it...

[Iris1974]

Here's the story. I offered to my sister to host our family's X-mas party this year to give my sister a break because she's going through a difficult divorce right now. I never heard from her about it. I got an email today with an invite to my niece's home for the party. I'm not bitter about not getting to host. I'm actually happy for my niece. The thing is my niece has a cat and a dog. I'm deathly allergic to cats and in some ways dogs. I've been hospitalized after being near cat hair on the couch in someones house who vacuumed and put the cat in another room. I have asthma and usually get asthmatic Bronchitis that can make me dehydrated. So I can't go to my family's X-mas party. I have nowhere else to go. So I'll be alone on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I don't know if any of my family will come see me since I don't drive and can't go to them. My thought is they will be too busy. I know that next year will be a repeat of this year and don't want to spend the holidays in my apartment again. This is only the second Christmas with out my mom. I told her this would happen when we talked about when she was gone. She had congestive heart failure and we knew it was coming and with the way my family treats me(Black sheep of the family) I had this idea in my head and am now actively looking into it. My idea was to go on a cruise over Christmas and have some fun on my own. Has anyone done this before. Were you terribly sad without your family (Mainly my nieces and nephews) or did you have a really good time on the cruise? I'm really leaning on going on a cruise next year. I don't have the money for this year but I will have it for next year. I'm doing some budgets to see which one I can go on. There's a 5 night I want to go on and there's also a 4 night that is less expensive. That one goes to Lighthouse Point and I really want to see it. I'm not an introvert by any means. I'm very out going and will chat with people I meet when I'm out and about. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I've wanted to do a VMT cruise for a long time. So should I pull the trigger and book it. I'm booking it through undercover tourist to get some money off. It's about $225.00 off the regular price and I can use that toward other things. It's all legit with Disney and undercover tourist. They just started, I think it was the end of the summer, with cruises at reduced prices. So what you you do. I'm really leaning to the cruise instead of being alone at the holidays. My family will try to talk me out of it and say it's going to be awful to be alone but I'll be alone anyway so why not go on a Disney cruise. Thanks for reading this I know it's long.

Shauna

 

[Girl of the South]

I actually enjoy being some on Christmas with my memories and my Charlie Briwn Christmas DVD and whatever I feel like eating. Although I have not yet cruised on Christmas I think it’s a great idea! Go for it! And Merry Christmas!

 

[AprilsZoo]

I think you should do it. But when your family tries to tell you how lonely it will be… just ask them how lonely they suppose you’ll be all by yourself anyway. Don’t tiptoe around it. Tell it like it is. Ask them if they’re planning to board the animals and have the house professionally cleaned to keep you out of the hospital? No? Then you aren’t gonna be with them anyway.

For this year, try to find something you can do to help others who are also feeling lonely or having a hard time. Go to a soup kitchen or shelter to help serve meals. Ronald McDonald house is always happy to get volunteers. You may not drive, but perhaps they can find another volunteer to give you a ride, or you can take an Uber or Lyft.

Even volunteering at a local hospital can help both you and others feel better. I can speak to this last part personally. I found myself stuck in the hospital over Christmas one year, and even though my husband and kids came for a few hours (and brought me a plate of dinner) it was still a lonely day.

Lastly, my family has been happy to have guests over on a holiday (Christmas and Thanksgiving mostly, but Easter once too.) We were able to extend the invitation because the people mentioned that they had no other plans for the holiday. So don’t keep your lack of plans to yourself. You may find that there are coworkers or people from your church who would love to spend time with you.

 

[soniam]

I would go for it. I like solo trips though. Sometimes not having to hassle with family is nice. If you can’t find anywhere to go this year and don’t feel like volunteering, I would go to a movie, especially if there is a theater near you that serves meals. My husband, son, and I have done that Christmas Day a couple of times, because none of us are huge into traditional holiday food and we don’t like having to stay with others on Christmas. We are doing a Xmas cruise this year; I am very excited. You can meet people on your future cruise through social media cruise groups. They often plan some things. Good luck

 

[AgentMama]

I agree with a previous poster who said not to tiptoe around the issue. It doesn't matter if they think you're going to lonely on a cruise if they created a family situation that creates the same outcome. I'm so sorry you're dealing with that.

Go for the cruise! I hope you have a fantastic time. Is there a less expensive, non-DCL cruise that might interest you this year? Do you have close friends who would include you in their holiday celebrations?

 

[Flossbolna]

So sorry that you are being alone for Christmas this year. Others have given you good ideas for this year already.

I think the cruise for next year is a wonderful idea. It sounds like Christmas with your family would be not stress free anyway, even if it were at a better location. I think breaking traditions is a great way to deal with Christmas if what one has been doing is no longer working.

If you are afraid that your family will pressure you to not go on the cruise, then don’t tell them after the pay in full date. That’s still far away from Christmas so that you are not upsetting plans. And if someone (you mention nieces and nephews) is really upset about you not being there, offer them a Christmas time visit before the cruise or afterwards just with them.

 

[hrhdhd]

I've cruised solo over Christmas (although not on DCL). I had a great time and would do it again.

Not sure I'd explain myself too much. Book the cruise, RSVP no to the family get together, and have a great cruise.

 

[Dug720]

I love cruising solo! In 2016 I took a fathom cruise to Cuba which embarked on Christmas day. Fabulous experience.

I live away from my parents - and my sister's usually at sea depending on her contract - and I teach in NYC which means we get the minimum off before Christmas (like Christmas Eve only before) so unless I want to deal with Christmastime airfare, I'm usually solo up here. No big deal - I do church on Christmas Eve and a movie or two on Christmas Day. I've never found it "awful" - but then I don't go into it thinking "I'm all alone. This will be awful." If the timing worked for a cruise and they weren't so expensive over Christmas, I'd totally do one again.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think you should do it. But when your family tries to tell you how lonely it will be… just ask them how lonely they suppose you’ll be all by yourself anyway. Don’t tiptoe around it. Tell it like it is. Ask them if they’re planning to board the animals and have the house professionally cleaned to keep you out of the hospital? No? Then you aren’t gonna be with them anyway.

I'm in agreement with this.

Take the cruise and enjoy yourself.

 

[Marthasor]

Have you considered asking someone to go with you? The cost of a solo cruise is basically the cost of having two people in the room minus the port fees.

 

[Flcruising]

Shauna, There is so much to unpack in your message and it can't be done here adequately. I'm sorry for your circumstances. Your sister is in the middle of a divorce so she may have never read your email or it just didn't sink in. It sounds like you really want to be with them. You might tell them so and gently ask if the animals could be put away and then take meds, mask, inhaler and go to dinner or just dessert. Share your feelings that you don't want to be alone on Christmas and ask them to help make it so you aren't so lonely. Everyone can relate to those feelings during the holidays.

Some alternatives
1. Have everyone to your place on Christmas eve or another day.
2. Have them come for a dessert and game night sometime during the season. Christmas isn't just one day. It's 12 with the first day on the 25th.
3. Take someone else on the cruise. If another person doesn't want to be gone on Christmas day do the cruise afterwards.
4. Consider a cruise other than. Disney. Maybe find a singles cruise. I'm just afraid those on a Christmas Disney cruise will be especially focused on those they travel with rather than making new friends.
5. Call around to the Salvation Army, churches, community centers. Most communities have some organization offering a special event for those alone over the holidays.
I hope you will find a way to see your family if that's what you want. They did invite you so they must want you with them. With all the upheaval they could have not mentioned dinner or a family gathering but they did.

 

[Iris1974]

Hi,

My niece has offered to bring my great niece who is 3 over on new years weekend. I'm very happy about that. I will see if my cousin can make it over because she sees her in-laws and they live about 10 minutes away. I'm close with my cousin and her daughter. So she might be able to come over for a while on Christmas Eve. Other than that I have no idea about anyone else in my family coming over. I am going to have a video call with my sister this Christmas we just need to firm up what time and day.

I did think it over and am going to take a 5-night cruise the week before Christmas next year. I thinking that maybe some of them will make the effort to see me especially if the one sister I have in my corner gives her opinion on this. She lives in Colorado and is sick with a blood disorder and has a cat so I can't go visit her. I know my niece will come over on new years next year with my great niece. That little girl really is my joy. Just seeing a picture of her on Instagram makes my day better. Seeing her makes my month when she comes here. I guess I just have to focus on the family members that will come over and not the ones who won't. So maybe I won't be totally alone on the holidays and the cruise is an added bonus the week before. It's less expensive too and I can do more with the money that I save.

Thank you all for the support and advice. I really appreciate it. The people on this board are some of the nicest people on the internet. I hope everybody has a good Tuesday.

Shauna