Solo Cruise!

[Bridgets2011]

I just returned from my second Disney cruise and I am hooked! I did a 4-night cruise on the Dream with my two daughters, two grandkids and my niece. While we had an amazing time, I came home exhausted! Seems all we did was run - run to dinner, run to the shows, run to an excursion...so I thought, what if I did this alone? Ate when and where I wanted, stayed on the boat in port (except maybe in Castaway Cay, where I can hang out on the adult beach!), skipped the shows. So I booked a solo cruise on my birthday in September! Cannot wait! Any tips/advice from other solo cruisers? Not a big drinker or much of a foodie. Plan on doing some movies. I am used to doing things alone but my only dilemma - when boarding the ship, how should I be announced?!? I'm thinking maybe "The Queen"?

 

[saxmangeoff]

Not quite solo, but my wife and I did Alaska with our son and DIL. (i.e. no kids) We did no running whatsoever, and it was BY FAR the most relaxing vacation we've ever done. So much so that we're going back in 2017.

All that just to say that your hunch is probably right regarding what it will be like.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I just returned from my second Disney cruise and I am hooked! I did a 4-night cruise on the Dream with my two daughters, two grandkids and my niece. While we had an amazing time, I came home exhausted! Seems all we did was run - run to dinner, run to the shows, run to an excursion...so I thought, what if I did this alone? Ate when and where I wanted, stayed on the boat in port (except maybe in Castaway Cay, where I can hang out on the adult beach!), skipped the shows. So I booked a solo cruise on my birthday in September! Cannot wait! Any tips/advice from other solo cruisers? Not a big drinker or much of a foodie. Plan on doing some movies. I am used to doing things alone but my only dilemma - when boarding the ship, how should I be announced?!? I'm thinking maybe "The Queen"?

My very first cruise was a solo cruise on the Dream and I was hooked immediately. Get either day passes or a length of cruise pass to the Rainforest Room. I could hang out in there all day.

 

[CarolynU]

I'm solo on the WBPC next year. I can't wait. I wondered about the announcement too, but think ill just go by Carolyn my first name, although The Queen sounds good too ha ha. For previous cruises I've always had my family with me, but they can't come this time, however we always just do our own thing anyway so daytime won't be much different. Solo dining will be different, and it might seem kind of strange getting dressed up for formal night when you are completely on your own, but i'm very outgoing so i might already recognise a few faces by formal night, and if i really don't feel like getting all done up I'll just stay casual and maybe eat poolside. The other consideration is do i go solo to Palo? Not sure how i feel about that to be honest.









n

 

[JanMW]

I'm solo on the WBPC next year. I can't wait. I wondered about the announcement too, but think ill just go by Carolyn my first name, although The Queen sounds good too ha ha. For previous cruises I've always had my family with me, but they can't come this time, however we always just do our own thing anyway so daytime won't be much different. Solo dining will be different, and it might seem kind of strange getting dressed up for formal night when you are completely on your own, but i'm very outgoing so i might already recognise a few faces by formal night, and if i really don't feel like getting all done up I'll just stay casual and maybe eat poolside. The other consideration is do i go solo to Palo? Not sure how i feel about that to be honest.









n

Just returned from the panama crossing. I cruised with my 80 yr old mother. We were sat at a table with 3 other solo lady cruisers. One was 93 years old. We all enjoyed getting to know each other. They all did their own stuff during the day but enjoyed the company and conversation in the evening.

 

[CarolynU]

Just returned from the panama crossing. I cruised with my 80 yr old mother. We were sat at a table with 3 other solo lady cruisers. One was 93 years old. We all enjoyed getting to know each other. They all did their own stuff during the day but enjoyed the company and conversation in the evening.

Wow. That's fab that they all enjoyed themselves so much. Hopefully DCL will place me on a table with other solos or folks of a similar age, and then I'm sure that dinner times will be great.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I'm solo on the WBPC next year. I can't wait. I wondered about the announcement too, but think ill just go by Carolyn my first name, although The Queen sounds good too ha ha. For previous cruises I've always had my family with me, but they can't come this time, however we always just do our own thing anyway so daytime won't be much different. Solo dining will be different, and it might seem kind of strange getting dressed up for formal night when you are completely on your own, but i'm very outgoing so i might already recognise a few faces by formal night, and if i really don't feel like getting all done up I'll just stay casual and maybe eat poolside. The other consideration is do i go solo to Palo? Not sure how i feel about that to be honest.

The WBPC is on my bucket list for a future solo trip. I'm so jealous!

Dining in the MDR you'll be matched up with other solos or couples without kids. On my solo cruise, I was seated at a table for 6 but only me and one other person showed up for dinner. Lucky for me, it was a guy who works for Disney Imagineering and I had a great time chatting with him. This was an early October cruise and it was not selling well so they offered huge discounts to cast members. I was so nervous going into dinner that first night, but I shouldn't have worried.

On my cruises with my DD, I've eaten solo at Palo 3 times, two brunches and one dinner. For the two brunches, I brought a book with me, but didn't bother to crack it. I am comfortable dining out alone at home and dining alone cruising was no different. I've got another solo brunch at Palo booked for our cruise in August.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I also plan on doing some solo cruising.

 

[CarolynU]

The WBPC is on my bucket list for a future solo trip. I'm so jealous!

Dining in the MDR you'll be matched up with other solos or couples without kids. On my solo cruise, I was seated at a table for 6 but only me and one other person showed up for dinner. Lucky for me, it was a guy who works for Disney Imagineering and I had a great time chatting with him. This was an early October cruise and it was not selling well so they offered huge discounts to cast members. I was so nervous going into dinner that first night, but I shouldn't have worried.

On my cruises with my DD, I've eaten solo at Palo 3 times, two brunches and one dinner. For the two brunches, I brought a book with me, but didn't bother to crack it. I am comfortable dining out alone at home and dining alone cruising was no different. I've got another solo brunch at Palo booked for our cruise in August.

How was your solo Palo dinner? I'd rather do that than brunch which is fab but I just can't eat much in the morning. I dine alone at WDW and don't think anything of it, so I suppose the cruise is no different. It just feels a bit different as it's intimate. I do know one of the Palo servers on The Wonder and providing he is still on that ship it would be no problem, but I don't know why I'm just a bit more wary of dinner alone there.

 

[Bridgets2011]

I'm solo on the WBPC next year. I can't wait. I wondered about the announcement too, but think ill just go by Carolyn my first name, although The Queen sounds good too ha ha. For previous cruises I've always had my family with me, but they can't come this time, however we always just do our own thing anyway so daytime won't be much different. Solo dining will be different, and it might seem kind of strange getting dressed up for formal night when you are completely on your own, but i'm very outgoing so i might already recognise a few faces by formal night, and if i really don't feel like getting all done up I'll just stay casual and maybe eat poolside. The other consideration is do i go solo to Palo? Not sure how i feel about that to be honest.









n

I'm a little iffy on the dinners. I may do it one night and do fast food or room service other nights. I understand they try to stick a lot of the single riders together. Might make for a fun table!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

How was your solo Palo dinner? I'd rather do that than brunch which is fab but I just can't eat much in the morning. I dine alone at WDW and don't think anything of it, so I suppose the cruise is no different. It just feels a bit different as it's intimate. I do know one of the Palo servers on The Wonder and providing he is still on that ship it would be no problem, but I don't know why I'm just a bit more wary of dinner alone there.

Dinner was great solo! I scheduled an early dinner there as I wanted to accompany my DD to dinner in the MDR and we had second seating that cruise. Since it was in June and at 6:00pm, it was still light out and the view was amazing. I was at a table right at the windows and that gave me something to enjoy looking at. My server that night was attentive but not overly so. One of my brunches I had an experience where the server apparently felt bad I was solo and hung around to chat. I know she meant well, but I felt a little uncomfortable having her stay table-side while I was trying to eat.

While I really enjoyed my dinner, I do prefer the brunch. I love being able to sample so many different things at the brunch. I schedule that for 11:00am and then don't eat breakfast so I'm good and hungry for brunch.

 

[Captainkate]

This sounds great! Lots of solitude and a huge break! I might try this too.

 

[jane01jp]

I've done one of my 11 DCL cruises solo. It was a 3 night Dream cruise last Labor Day.

As I was getting on, I was thinking "this should feel different, but it doesn't."

I was announced by my family name.

I spent time working out, playing bingo, ran the CC 5 k, went on a snorkeling trip in Nasau, attended all 3 stage shows, and went to all of the dinners in the MDR.

I felt a little bit like the old man in "Up," since my wife wasn't with me. But, I still loved the cruise.

 

[CarolynU]

I'm a little iffy on the dinners. I may do it one night and do fast food or room service other nights. I understand they try to stick a lot of the single riders together. Might make for a fun table!

I think it would make for a fun time to sit with a lot of other solos and if there was a group of you surely it must really be possible to find someone you get on with.......hopefully! If not I'm fine with poolside or room service.
Still not sure if I could do Palo though. It is such a family tradition that it might just feel a little lonely doing it alone. Not sure on that one!

 

[CarolynU]

Dinner was great solo! I scheduled an early dinner there as I wanted to accompany my DD to dinner in the MDR and we had second seating that cruise. Since it was in June and at 6:00pm, it was still light out and the view was amazing. I was at a table right at the windows and that gave me something to enjoy looking at. My server that night was attentive but not overly so. One of my brunches I had an experience where the server apparently felt bad I was solo and hung around to chat. I know she meant well, but I felt a little uncomfortable having her stay table-side while I was trying to eat.

While I really enjoyed my dinner, I do prefer the brunch. I love being able to sample so many different things at the brunch. I schedule that for 11:00am and then don't eat breakfast so I'm good and hungry for brunch.

Maybe I might do brunch even though it's not my favorite rather than dinner, because it is beautiful and less formal.

 

[Bridgets2011]

Dinner was great solo! I scheduled an early dinner there as I wanted to accompany my DD to dinner in the MDR and we had second seating that cruise. Since it was in June and at 6:00pm, it was still light out and the view was amazing. I was at a table right at the windows and that gave me something to enjoy looking at. My server that night was attentive but not overly so. One of my brunches I had an experience where the server apparently felt bad I was solo and hung around to chat. I know she meant well, but I felt a little uncomfortable having her stay table-side while I was trying to eat.

While I really enjoyed my dinner, I do prefer the brunch. I love being able to sample so many different things at the brunch. I schedule that for 11:00am and then don't eat breakfast so I'm good and hungry for brunch.

Just took a peek at the Palo menu - sounds yummy! Maybe I'll try that one evening!

 

[dcassetta]

On my last solo I asked not to be announced, but I think I will be The Queen next time.

I have always gotten great table mates, and I also have enjoyed Palo dinner and brunch only own.

 

[TACK]

I'm doing the Transatlantic Westbound solo in September. My daughter is working full time and does not have the same time off as I do. And she's getting to the age of doing vacations on her own and with her friends. I have done Disney World and Disneyland trips on my own, but this will be a new adventure. I start out in Disneyland Paris, then make my way to Barcelona. For the cruise, I did request to sit at a table with other solo cruisers but no families or couples if possible. I do not need to converse with anyone at supper, if it happens - great but it is not a necessity. I will be partaking in every table meal regardless - for me, that is a huge part of cruising. It's a treat to go and eat in the restaurants. I won't do Palo - no need. I'm very excited about the trip. No doubt I will book another one once on board.

 

[minijaffacake]

I'm doing the Transatlantic Westbound solo in September. My daughter is working full time and does not have the same time off as I do. And she's getting to the age of doing vacations on her own and with her friends. I have done Disney World and Disneyland trips on my own, but this will be a new adventure. I start out in Disneyland Paris, then make my way to Barcelona. For the cruise, I did request to sit at a table with other solo cruisers but no families or couples if possible. I do not need to converse with anyone at supper, if it happens - great but it is not a necessity. I will be partaking in every table meal regardless - for me, that is a huge part of cruising. It's a treat to go and eat in the restaurants. I won't do Palo - no need. I'm very excited about the trip. No doubt I will book another one once on board.

I too am doing the westbound transatlantic solo in September. I did it last September also and was seated on a table with I think 6 other solo cruisers. The first couple of nights it was a little awkward but after that it was fine and we would chat away all evening. Looking forward to seeing who my table mates are this time

 

[JCfan]

Hi- I'm booked on an Alaskan cruise with my SO. He's sick and has work issues - so I'm trying to decide to go or not to go? any suggestions for making the best of it? TIA!