Bucket List Trips

Bucket List trips # 10: Cruises

I have been getting the Smithsonian Journeys catalog for several years. It is perfect for dreamers, adventurers, thrill seekers, and let’s face it, the wealthy. I’m a single public school teacher, wealthy is not the demographic I fall into. But, what this catalog does give me is epic bucket list ideas. It also has tons of tips about different kinds of adventures that I can definitely incorporate into my budget friendly trips. Also, it’s FREE.

For many years, I wouldn’t even dream of going on a cruise. There were a lot of reasons, but a big one is the fact that I once got “sea sick” on a moving truck… yep, I’m that person. But another big reason is I just knew it wouldn’t be fun with the travel partner I had at the time. Trust me when I say that if you don’t have a good travel buddy, travel can be stressful to say the least.

As I flip through this catalog, casually glazing over the price tags, I find myself daydreaming about the day I take my first of hopefully many cruises. I have done my research, and have found that there are several companies that are now noticing the uptick in solo travel. Here are my pics for best solo cruise choices…looking forward to the day where I can start reviewing each of these with experience to back it up, but we all have to start somewhere.

Virgin Cruise Line: https://www.virginvoyages.com/ Worth a mention here, specifically for those that are looking for a party on water. So, if you are looking to see and be seen, nightlife, and meeting new people, Virgin Cruise Line for solo travelers might be what you are looking for. They offer many different social events, but you will pay a higher price for a single room. This is not my scene unless I am with a group of friends, but not for solo travel.

Royal Caribbean: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en?&country=GBR Offers 5 ships that offer single cabins. Some with a virtual balcony (interior room) and some with actual balconies. RC is known as a family cruise line, so you may find your quiet getaway to be a little less quiet than you were hoping for. However, you should be able to find more deals and slightly lower prices when booking single.

Holland America Cruises: https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US.html Offering fewer ships and therefore fewer single rooms, however ALL are said to have an ocean view. HAC gives single passengers the option to choose how social they want to be. If you are feeling outgoing and want to meet new people, there is plenty of opportunities for it from, dining, adventures, and entertainment. But if you have reached your limit of social time, you can still find plenty of entertainment options.

Norwegian Cruise Lines: https://www.ncl.com/ Considered to be the number one choice for single cruisers. With many cabins on several different ships, NCL seems to be taking the lead in catering to solo travelers. All single rooms have full size beds and private bathrooms, however (at the time of this post) all single rooms are interior rooms. The do however have either a virtual porthole or a window to the walkway outside. Also, single rooms have their own common spaces with coffee stations & lounge areas with a bar.

So, I think when I am able to begin planning my first cruise, I will have to weigh the cost of a single room over paying extra for a “regular” room with a legit balcony. Given my history with motion sickness, Dramamine, the wrist thingie, tab behind my ear, and access to balcony so I can feel air moving will be a must. Cruising seems to be a great way to go solo. It really makes the planning of your trip easy. No hotels, air B&Bs, or hostels, to research, and no tour companies to choose from, it’s like one stop shopping. For people like me with even minor anxiety issues, seeing the same faces on the deck and then again on your excursions off the ship can be a real comfort. I have a lot of places I want to see and adventures I want to have, Looking forward to getting out there on the water.

This is the first of 10 in my bucket list series. Stay tuned for more.