Having mastered the art of travelling alone to various cities in North America, I recently decided to apply these skills to a bucket list item: cruising to Alaska. After examining itineraries that would stop in ports I wanted to see during convenient dates, and for a price I could afford, I booked the least expensive inside cabin I could find on a northbound, seven-day cruise on the Celebrity Millennium that started in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»and ended in Seward, Alaska. After a couple of days in Anchorage, where I viewed beluga whales from shore, I flew home.
Since posted cruise prices are based on double occupancy, as a solo passenger I paid 150 per cent of this price, approximately $1,500 including taxes. Some cruise lines will try matching you with a roommate, but I was satisfied having a room to myself.
According to Celebrity, it is primarily older women who take a cruise alone, and the Alaskan and European itineraries attract more solos. In line to board the ship, I met a woman who was also travelling alone. She was recently widowed, in her 60s and had never been able to get her husband to join her for an Alaska cruise. She met another woman her age on the boat and the pair were nearly inseparable. A nightly singles meet-up in the Platinum Bar on the ship was another opportunity to meet other solo travellers, although, I didn't realize this was on until halfway through the voyage.
Exuberant cruise director Ian Cresswell said he tries to make sure that solo passengers don't feel alone from day one, and suggests that anyone travelling alone speak with the activities manager for pointers on what activities they may enjoy, or speak with guest relations.
"The beauty of cruising is to develop relationships," Cresswell said. "The number one thing is to have fun and adventure in mind- look forward to having fun."
I didn't notice the community board at guest relations, which posted details for a nightly singles meet up as well as other special interest activities. However, I was never bored, and spent a lot of time on the deck taking photos, speaking with other keen photographers and relaxing with a book.
Each day was filled with opportunities to attend naturalist presentations, mock game shows (like "The Newlywed and NotSo-Newlywed Game"), live music performances, fitness classes, tours of the galley and bridge, and large-scale nightly shows, which featured Broadway musical hits, stand up comedians Louis Johnson and Victoria Jackson (of Saturday Night Live fame) and illusionist Jason Bishop.
On days we were in port, I took shore excursions, including whale watching tours in Juneau and Seward, and a historical walking tour of Skagway. During a visit to Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, not wanting to venture into the bear area alone, I accompanied a lovely couple from Winnipeg into a section of the park where a black bear was scooping salmon out of a stream just a few metres away.
The one aspect I didn't expect was that fewer than 10 per cent of the 2,000 passengers (including children) were under the age of 40.
While most of the activities were inclusive of all ages, it was unusual to hear live music from the last two decades. The one exception was talented pianist and singer Randy Heidema, who musically time travelled from the '50s to present day with precision, ease and authenticity (one couple said they walked into the lounge because from the hallway it sounded like Jackson Browne himself was performing). Each night, following stirring renditions of usual piano bar fare, such as "Piano Man" and "Candle in the Wind," Heidema accepted requests. While the crowd was primarily over 50, over the course of the week he fit in my requests for songs by contemporary artists, like Train, Green Day and The Killers. He deserves kudos for keeping everyone in the room happy and engaged.
Cresswell was correct in that part of the fun of a cruise is meeting and sharing experiences with other passengers hailing from all corners of the earth. In the age of email and Facebook, I arrived home with several new contacts and people to share trip photos with.
Tips for enjoying solo cruising:
. Before booking, research which cruise lines cater to your demographic-these will offer activities and cultural experiences that are more age-appropriate.
. After boarding the vessel, check with guest relations for what activities are available for single travellers. Don't count out dance classes, either-on Celebrity, women often pair up during ballroom dancing classes.
. Participate in ship-board activities, as these give you an opportunity to meet other people with similar interests. Shore excursion tours are another great way to share experiences with fellow passengers, but can be expensive. Cheaper options than those booked on the cruise are often available when you stop at a port.
. Try out flexible dining times, so you get to meet a variety of different people on the boat at dinner.
. Check out the different music offerings on board, and return to the ones you enjoy- you'll start getting to know the other regulars.
