Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

Topics for those cruising on their own

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anniec
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Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#1

Post by anniec »

Regrettably my husband died four months ago and I find myself in the unwelcome position of holidaying solo in the future (family all rallying around brilliantly, but I don't plan on relying on my adult children for holidays and know I have to get on with doing things on my own, plus I'm a bit younger than the average widow, thus friends are all still in couples).

Can anyone recommend particular cruise/travel agents who specialise in decent singles offers for cruises or land based holidays? Are any of the cruise lines better than others for singles (we usually went on Cunard, but also happy with P&O and Fred Olsen)? Any other land-based holiday companies particularly good for singles (UK or overseas)?

Any information/help with any information on solo holidays of any type hugely appreciated.

Annie

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GillD46
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#2

Post by GillD46 »

A friend used Saga holidays - her first was to the Caribbean - and said they were really excellent. On her first trip she met a couple of ladies she got on with very well and has since travelled with them a couple of times.

So sorry about your husband.
Last edited by GillD46 on 01 Jan 2020, 12:53, edited 1 time in total.
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david63
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#3

Post by david63 »

anniec wrote: 01 Jan 2020, 12:34
Can anyone recommend particular cruise/travel agents who specialise in decent singles offers for cruises or land based holidays?
Club 18-30 - well you did say you were younger than the "average" widow :lol: :lol: :lol:


Ilovemygarden
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#4

Post by Ilovemygarden »

Hi Anniec - I am in the same position but 4 years further along than you are. I have been on 2 Marella and one P and O cruise so far and have 4 more booked with P and O. They both catered for solos very well with coffee mornings where you can meet others - because Marella is freedom dining only you can link up to share table(s) and on P and O I ask to join a big table at dinner and they put you on with other singles. I don’t mind being on my own during the day but I am sure you’d find others to go ashore with if you wanted to. The single supplement on P and O is about 60% extra per cabin.
Hope this is helpful and good luck!


colin parry
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#5

Post by colin parry »

Hi Annie
I lost my wife just over 4 years ago having completed getting on for 30 cruises with her. Like you I canvassed opinions on here and was encouraged by many but particularly Jan, to carry on cruising. I have since done 9 cruises on my own and enjoyed them all,making many new friends one of which I now arrange cruises together. You can arrange to sit on the same dining table which adds to the enjoyment. We have 2 more cruises booked for this year. All my cruises have been with P&O whiich suits my taste. I would not book a single cabin as from what I have seen they are very small. I do in fact always book balcony cabins which despite the exorbitant supplement I prefer.
All I can say Annie is give it a go,you will not regret it.
Colin

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Jan Rosser
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#6

Post by Jan Rosser »

First of all I am so sorry for your loss - unfortunately I know all too well what you are experiencing at the moment.

Colin is very kind - I just encouraged him to try a cruise on his own and just take it day by day - that’s all you can do really and I am so glad he is still enjoying his cruises and has made new friends. I find there are always people willing to chat and pass the time and sitting on a larger table at night is always wise - to be honest it’s impossible to click with everybody ;) I am still in touch with a dear lady I met on my first solo cruise - she was very kind to me and I went on a few excursions with her.

I have been lucky in that I still travel with friends that my husband and I cruised with and I have also made friends particularly one from this forum and I have been with her and her husband several times - got one booked on Iona in July with them. I was only 59 when I was widowed - 13 years ago last month and I was determined to give it a go - I always say if you don’t like something you don’t have to do it again but I think you will feel very safe and there is so much going on - you should give it a go. Like you most of my friends still have their partners but having been friends for so many years things have worked out okay when we have holidayed together.

My son and family have got the cruise bug too and I have a family cruise at least once a year with them. However single supplements depend a lot on the cabin and as Colin says can be exorbitant particularly for a balcony which I love in the Caribbean but I usually book an outside if it’s in Europe. I book with Hays Travel and they do give a discount which helps a bit but supplements range from 60 to 80% depending on the ship.

Good luck - I’m sure you will be okay.
Janis


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anniec
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#7

Post by anniec »

Many thanks to all of you for your helpful suggestions and commiserations - I knew from reading your posts over the years that there were so many on this forum in the same situation and you have given me the encouragement I need to book something at some point in the future.

Many thanks again for your help and kindness. :)

Annie


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anniec
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#8

Post by anniec »

david63 wrote: 01 Jan 2020, 13:00
Club 18-30 - well you did say you were younger than the "average" widow :lol: :lol: :lol:
I might try that once I'm old enough :D

Annie


popeyethesailor
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#9

Post by popeyethesailor »

Another single traveller here, has anybody booked a fly cruise from Bournemouth Airport to the Caribbean leaving on 25 February 2022 ???? will be joining The Britannia at Barbados

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Mervyn and Trish
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#10

Post by Mervyn and Trish »

So sorry to hear the news. We have cruised as a couple with Saga and they seemed to do well looking after solo travellers, with more single cabins than many others for example.


CaroleF
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#11

Post by CaroleF »

I too am in the same position. My husband died just over a year ago. I don't know that I will consider another cruising holiday in the near future but I won't say never. We did over 30 cruises, nearly all with P&O apart from three with Fred Olsen and one with Cunard. I certainly won't book anything until there's no masks or testing. I'm not sure if I'll stay with P&O, maybe on Aurora or Arcadia assuming they are not sold. I definitely don't want to go on one of P&O's enormous ships. I'm more inclined to think about one of the two new Saga ships. John and I had two cruises booked with them but never got to go, one because of Covid and the other because of John's illness. If I do I will have to consider if I can afford the single supplement. We usually cruised in a mini suite or occasionally a suite and even on my own I would like space so it would have to be a balcony cabin at least. I would really like Club Dining assuming it still exists. That's what we always had and enjoyed meeting up with the same people each evening. I'm not sure I could cope with Freedom Dining and sitting with different people each night. It's been useful reading of the experience of other people and maybe at some point I will feel able to join them. I can't envisage going on any other type of holiday other than a cruise. If you do go on a cruise Annie, do tell us about it.

Carole


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anniec
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#12

Post by anniec »

Carol, I first posted the original question just over 2 years ago, then covid intervened, so I still haven't had a solo holiday and have little appetite for going abroad under the current unpredictable circumstances; for example, I rather doubt being offloaded as a solo would be a happy experience.
A round-Britain is about as adventurous as I'm likely to get at the moment.

There is a travel agent specialising in solo cruising - Passion for Cruises in Cardiff; they were recommended by a friend, but I have never booked with them so can't make a personal recommendation.


CaroleF
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#13

Post by CaroleF »

I agree Annie, if I do go on a cruise it will be round Britain. I, like you, wouldn't want to risk being offloaded as a single. I did have the experience of having to pack up and leave the ship in Canada when John had, what I now think, was the beginning of his problems. Luckily after a visit to a hospital in Newfoundland we were able to get back on the ship and continue the cruise but I certainly don't want to go through that experience again.


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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#14

Post by Whynd1 »

I travel solo and meet up with a friend. We have moved several cruises this year mainly down to the fact of being offloaded as a single traveller. The thought of being put into isolation in a hotel somewhere fills me with dread.

That aside I have travelled solo for a number of years on cruises almost all P and O and it's a quite a safe way to travel. I ask to be put on a table of 8 all solo and get to meet a wide ranging ggroup of people. Like any holiday you are not going to get on with everyone but from cruising I have made 2 friends and we are in touch on a weekly basis and have p,eans for travel in the future.
I have had had inside and balcony cabins, but have noticed that balcony cabin prices have risen considerably. For me I cant always justify the single supplement on a balcony and I find that if you are sitting out there then you are not mixing.

Lindsey

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Southern Belle
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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#15

Post by Southern Belle »

One thing to be aware of is that single supplements are at their cheapest the day that the cruise goes on sale, they gradually creep up after that.Out of curiosity I've just looked at the cruise that i've got coming up in May and it has gone up by £6000!
i don't want to get offloaded either but that is always a possibility even without covid and I've decided that life's too short so I am going.

Take care
Jan


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Re: Recommendations on Single Cruising/Holidays?

#16

Post by Almarkencol81- »

I am travelling solo for the first time on Arvia from Southampton on 1st October. My wife died 3 years ago and I have always cruised with her. I am apprehensive about meeting people for the first time. Has anyone travelled on Arvia as a solo. Which are the best restaurants for meeting up with solo groups.
Alex

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