Joy, a member of the Solo Traveler community recently returned from the Caribbean. Here she shares the story of her first experience going solo on a cruise ship.
While I’ve taken several short solo trips, going on a solo cruise required a large cup of courage. I’m glad I took that step and drank in all the Caribbean islands have to offer.
We left Jacksonville, Florida on a dreary, drippy winter day, and woke up the next day in the sunny Bahamas. Options in Freeport ranged from organized tours to exploring local shops, restaurants, and bars.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers a hosted solo meetup every day. On this trip, called the 12-Day Caribbean Round-trip Jacksonville, Dominican Republic & Bahamas, the solos ranged in age from 30s to 80s. Many were single, but some married passengers had spouses who don’t want to cruise. After a daily icebreaker or activity, the solos have the option of dining together as a group in the main dining room. Solo travelers also can attend shows on the ship together or just casually hang out.
The second day featured a stop on Norwegian’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay. A newly finished pier meant I could simply walk to the island instead of riding a tender boat that depends on the weather. A spectacular pool was recently added. For me, the beach was calling. I found a free lounge chair with an umbrella and still managed to soak up the sunshine. Once the water warmed up, I rented snorkel equipment and saw the most colorful fish of my trip.
On the following sea day, I strolled the promenade deck, explored the ship, including a “hidden” bridge viewing area, and chatted with fellow passengers. Since I had attended the solo gatherings, I could spot fellow solo travelers on the ship and engage in conversation. Attending the first several meetings helped me find a group of people with shared interests.
In Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic I took an excursion to Ocean World. The park has shows that include dolphins, sharks, sea lions, and birds. There’s also a man-made beach to enjoy in good weather. The park was small and had limited things to do between shows, but I enjoyed seeing the animals and watching fish in their aquarium windows.
Our next stop was Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Many people venture out to the Baths, where they can climb over and through huge boulders on a hike to the beach. I was looking for a more relaxing day, so I took a round-trip ferry ride to that island, Virgin Gorda. It was fun to be closer to the water and see the islands and boats from a new perspective. I explored the city and stumbled across Bobby’s Supermarket, where the locals line up for a Caribbean lunch at the hot bar buffet. That’s on the list for my next trip!
I next ventured to St. Kitts, where I explored the history of the island at several sites and had the opportunity to shop for goods locally made with batik fabric. Our excursion involved short stops at historical sites. I loved seeing the unusual colors and textures of the flowers and plants. I’m looking forward to a future trip where I can leisurely explore, for example, the botanical gardens at Fairview Great House and the breezy open-air bar at the foot of Brimstone Hill Fortress and National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our day at St. Maarten gave me an adventure on a 114-foot wooden schooner, the Spirit of St. Maarten. I snorkeled, which required another cup of courage. Those of us wearing fins had to jump in several feet from the ship’s edge. Others kayaked or chilled out on the boat. On the return trip, I climbed on the webbed ropes over the water and relaxed in my “hammock” over the waves. I also steered the boat, which was equal amounts fun and terrifying as the captain instructed me about how to follow the coast and avoid yachts and buoys.
In St. Thomas, I had a quiet day of visiting shops and a bar in the port. Some of my fellow passengers bought jewelry, while others enjoyed excursions including a boat hop over to the beautiful island of St. John.
At our next stop, I explored San Juan with a couple of my fellow solo passengers. To avoid the uphill climb from the port, we shared a taxi up to a fort, Castillo San Felipe del Morro, where you have expansive views of the island. We walked down through the city’s historic area, where the lovely Cathedral of San Juan was open for exploration and quiet reflection. The architecture and landscaping of the city’s buildings are candy for the eyes. Closer to port, we cooled off with pina coladas, which are said to have been invented here, and nibbled on local delicacies.
The last two days were at sea, where I treated myself to a wine and cheese tasting with other solo travelers and had a relaxing mani-pedi at the onboard spa. I reflected on my first solo cruise and started planning my next solo adventure at sea.
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