Cruising Solo: The Joys of Independent Travel

Taking the Leap

I recently embarked on my first-ever solo adventure. It was a short 3-night cruise on the Allure of the Seas out of Miami, Florida. I had no idea what to expect; as I have always vacationed with companions. With my job giving me the flexibility to take extra trips that my family doesn't always have the PTO for, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone and explore the world of independent travel. A 3-night weekend cruise seemed like the perfect place to start.

I took the train from Orlando to Miami, a 3.5-hour ride that allowed me to catch up on work and pass the time productively. Once I arrived at the Miami station, I grabbed an Uber to the cruise terminal. While it was my first time taking an Uber solo, I found the process smooth and secure. Uber’s safety features—like driver pin numbers and location-sharing options—helped put my mind at ease. While it’s always important to stay alert when using ride-sharing services, these modern conveniences have become an integral part of travel, and with a little mindfulness, they can be a safe and efficient option.

Getting Comfortable with Solitude

My first moment of hesitation came at dinner. Sitting alone at my table, it hit me—there was no built-in conversation partner. My servers were wonderfully kind, though I couldn’t help but wonder if they felt bad for me. Or was I just imagining it? Either way, the dining room experience didn’t quite spark excitement, and for the first time, I questioned how the next three days would feel. After finishing my meal, I decided to clear my head with a peaceful evening stroll on the deck, letting the sea air work its magic.

I quickly discovered that traveling solo doesn’t mean being completely alone. There are loads of opportunities to strike up conversations with other friendly guests. Most cruise lines even host solo cruiser get-togethers. I’m a bit of an extroverted introvert. I like a chat buddy but don’t seek them out. If you are someone who needs companionship and conversation, I am sure you would find them at these solo gatherings. Modern cruise ships are also fitted with very capable wifi that allows you to stay in touch with friends and family back home if you're the type who prefers your usual circle. I was sleepy after a long day of travel and headed to my cabin around 9pm to FaceTime my family, tell them about my day and get a good night’s sleep. It turns out that is exactly what I needed.

All Aboard

Boarding the ship was actually smoother by myself than when traveling with others. Like many of you, I am the family mama hen—making sure everyone has all of their belongings, gets through security together, and doesn’t leave their travel documents behind. With solo traveling, I just had myself to worry about.

Once on board, I found my cabin and dropped off my luggage. It was time to explore the ship. I’ve been on Allure of the Seas several times, so I knew my way around. That may have helped with my initial comfort level, but I honestly don’t think I would have minded setting foot on any new ship. Part of the fun is exploring all of the nooks and crannies!

Perfect Solo Day

Waking up on my first full sailing day starfishing in the middle of my king size bed I felt rested, relaxed and ready for a day of fun. It very much helped that Perfect Day at Coco Cay was our port of call that morning. I adore Royal Caribbean’s private island and even planned an excursion that I might not have done on a non-solo vacay. I was starting to see the benefits of solo travel. You can go where you want, eat what you want, sleep when you want and aren’t trying to keeping everyone else happy along the way! The excursion was fun, and I even met some lovely people on our little adventure. The rest of the day was spent exactly how I like at Coco Cay— sipping bevies on a lounger in one of the quieter areas of the island. It was perfection!

That evening I decided to skip dinner and dabbled in the casino while eating popcorn—something else I wouldn’t do if traveling with companions! It felt fun and silly and was exactly what I needed to end the perfect day at Perfect Day.

Flying Solo, Having Fun

By now, I was completely relishing the quiet, restful respite that solo cruising affords. Our final port day was in Nassau, Bahamas. I always love staring at the blue Caribbean waters and seeing Atlantis in the distance. I did not disembark but chose to spend the day lounging in a cabana that I scoped out early in the morning. The choice to stay on board wasn’t something I was doing because I was alone. We hardly ever disembark in Nassau when we travel by ship. That has little to do with safety and everything to do with enjoying the ship with fewer people on it! I would have felt comfortable scheduling and participating in one of the many group excursions that Royal Caribbean offers. In fact, if you haven’t been to Nassau, I recommend exploring a bit. There are some fun excursion options at this port, but it's a smaller island. If you've explored Nassau in the past, not much has changed; and it can be a great time to take advantage of some of the many on-board activities.

My final evening was absolutely wonderful. I watched the sunset set as we pulled out of port, spent some time shopping and wandering the ship and then grabbed a bite in the Windjammer. Feeling relaxed and fulfilled, I was heading back to my cabin when I got diverted by the best sounding big band ever and ended up spending an hour sitting in Dazzles listening to great music and reflecting on a stellar getaway. Just when I thought I had packed everything I possibly could into a full trip, the evening had one more memory in store for me! As the jazz band was wrapping up, Oceanaria, Royal Caribbean's signature aqua show, was beginning. I hate to admit that I had never seen this show from start to finish. It was amazing to appreciate the full experience! By the time I got back to my cabin it was late, and I was ready for some good sleep.

Heading Home

My only tiny hiccup on this trip came at the end—disembarkation. I planned an early morning train since on previous sailings I’ve always been able to walk right off the ship without a wait. For some reason on this cruise, it felt as if every passenger had the same idea. Disembarkation took about 45 minutes. The fact that it was a holiday may have contributed to the delay. Between that and a taxi driver who “accidentally couldn’t get over a lane” and had to take the long route, I had to sprint to catch my train. A couple of mentions here—I knew what the cabbie was doing, and I called him out on it. Know your routes and approximate arrival times when you get into a cab. Some dishonest drivers will attempt to hike the price by taking you a longer way. It gives taxis a bad reputation, as not all drivers are this unscrupulous. Secondly, give yourself a buffer. Had I selected a train that was an hour later, I would not have felt this rush and would have had time to schedule an Uber—my preferred method of transport. Most importantly, try not to sweat these small details. You WILL get home eventually. Modifying my train time would have only cost me $7. I still would have made it back to Orlando. It just would have been an hour later. We sometimes can stress ourselves out with things we can’t control. While we always want our travel experiences to go smoothly, occasionally you encounter a bump. How you deal with it can make or break the experience.

So overall, I would say I really enjoyed my solo cruise! I felt more relaxed on this trip than I have in a long time. The flexibility that’s afforded to you when you are only making decisions for yourself can be wonderfully therapeutic. I would equate the experience to jumping into a pool. It’s a bit shocking at first, but once you acclimate, it’s so refreshing! I highly recommend it and will definitely be taking more solo vacations in the future. Life is short. Work schedules and finances won’t always sync with your loved ones’. Make time for yourself and jump in with both feet!

If you’re interested in planning a solo cruise, please reach out. I’d love to help make it whimsical and memorable!