Cruising Solo – What A Delight

Have you ever found yourself wanting to take a trip, yet you cannot find anyone who’s free to travel on your time frame or perhaps no one wants to go to the same destination you are interested in? Well, don’t let that stop you! Think about taking a leap and cruising solo on a cruise. That’s just what I did this fall as I wanted to go to the Balkans, especially Saint Petersburg, Russia. To my delight, as I searched the web, I found that some of the cruise lines offered affordable solo pricing, while other cruise lines charged full price for double occupancy (That means you pay as though there are two passengers).

The cruise line that I went with offered solo cruise deals where you can choose from free shore excursions, specialty dining, WiFi, or open bar on selected cruises.  Connecting with fellow solo travelers is easy as each day on the ship “solos” gatherings. There was a special “Meet & Greet” on the first day which allowed us to connect and set up future meetings during the cruise. During one of our social gatherings, a passenger politely reminded me, that these meetings were indeed for “solo travelers” as I incorrectly called it a singles gathering. He let me know, right away, that many “solo travelers” may have a partner who just couldn’t get away at the same time.

Exploring off the ship was simply amazing as the Baltics are quite beautiful especially in the fall with all the trees changing. It was a bit nippy, but I brought the appropriate clothing to stay warm. While embarking on my daily adventures I often found other “solo travelers” to connect with along the way.  I met the most fascinating people from all over the world during the ship’s shore excursions. It was a great experience as people gracefully asked if they could help taking photos for me (they saw I was traveling alone) and this opened the door, to strike up a conversation.

The activities on the ship are plentiful and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to join in.  The crew was excellent and always made me feel welcome.  People were having a great time and invited me to be part of their experience. Of course, there were times I just wanted to take it easy and be alone, and that too was pleasurable. As I reflect on my trip, I’m grateful for so much, especially that I got to go the Baltics, I felt safe, never lonely, and enjoyed being a “solo traveler”.

I truly love cruising from exploring the ship with the vast activities onboard, the onboard spa experience, and dining options. I also love getting to disembark with the amazing variety of excursions keeping me engaged and happy. For dining, I personally enjoyed the Garden Café as it is an open buffet with lots of options to choose from.  I would walk around and look at everything that was available and then go back to dishes that looked tantalizing as well as healthy.

As much as I enjoy traveling with friends and family I found “solo traveling” on a cruise to be a wonderful experience. I got to choose exactly what I wanted to do and see and it opened up opportunities to meet people I may have never met if I was traveling with someone.  My Baltic Cruise was such an incredible experience. I will always cherish the memories because of the gracious people I met, the historic significance of each country and the incredible architecture.

I loved perusing the quaint shops, cafes, bakeries, cathedrals, palaces, gardens, and cobblestone streets. It made me feel as though I was walking through a historical novel, especially as I walked through the streets of Saint Petersburg, it brought such reality to Danielle Steel’s novel: Zoya). Treasured memories like the delicious hot salmon soup I found in the outdoor market in Finland to warm me up are unforgettable.

Every port we visited was special and during the “on sea days” I enjoyed the spa, classes, and stellar evening entertainment. At the end of the cruise. There is still much to see and cruising is a great way to see the world with ease, pleasure, and safety. What a delight to travel, relax, and have fun at an amazing price for double as well as solo traveling. 

Norine Rae resides in Redding, California where she is a member of Bethel Church. In 2012 she completed her Master’s in Intellectual Leadership from A.W. Tozer Seminary through Simpson University. She has worked over 30 years in Human Services fields and has done extensive work in ministry, missions, and leadership both foreign and domestic. She is a lifelong learner, international speaker, minister, writer, mother, and friend.