The Benefits of Travelling (and Cruising) Solo

When I was in Amsterdam prior to my most recent Live Voyage Report, I sat up in the SkyLounge on the 11^th floor of the Doubletree Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station, looking out over the twinkling lights of this fascinating Dutch city as rain pelted the floor to ceiling windows.

There are many benefits to solo cruising and travel. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders

I was alone, because I do much of my travelling solo. It’s something I never mind. Sure, I’d rather share the experience with someone else but sometimes – particularly if you travel as frequently as I do – that isn’t always possible.

So I thought about what it means to travel solo – and why you should try it.

First of all, solo travel can be a great confidence-builder. There’s something immeasurably pleasing about knowing you can navigate airports, trains stations, schedules, maps, customs, security checkpoints, and connecting flights by relying only on yourself.  It forces you to think quickly; to be much more alert and aware of your surroundings.  For me, solo travel has made me pay vastly more attention to small details. After all, if you’re standing on a train platform and you mistake Platform 7B with 7A, chances are you’re going to be in for an unwanted detour.

Secondly, if you can get yourself anywhere, you can go anywhere. Even amongst long-married couples, chances are there’s one destination that you want to visit that no one else does.  Mine is Antarctica; no one else is crazy enough to do that with me.  But knowing I can travel independently means I can go there anytime I want (or, when someone loans me thirty-five large.)

Of course, if you travel by yourself at a certain point you will also have to eat by yourself. Embrace this.  Eating alone doesn’t mean that you’re some poor, lonely, friendless sap. Instead, eating solo – particularly in a nice restaurant – proves you’ve got the guts to dine solo. But things can get a little boring without conversation, so I always like to ask the waiter or waitress if they have a local newspaper kicking around. More often than not, they do.

To make eating solo a little easier, I like to grab quick breakfasts and lunches, then treat myself to a nice dinner.  Europe in particular is great for having a quick, healthy bite to eat on the go rather than a sit-down lunch or having to rely on fast-food chains.

With its Studio staterooms designed specifically for solo cruisers, Norwegian Epic is well-suited to solo travel. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders

Cruising is also naturally-suited to the solo traveller, with some lines – notably Norwegian Cruise Line – adding single-occupancy staterooms to their newbuilds and refurbished cruise ships.

Are there drawbacks to traveling solo? Of course; you’ll miss your significant other, your family, your friends, your pets. That is only natural.  But many people have to endure long periods apart, like pilots, flight attendants, captains, and every cruise ship crewmember you’ve ever met.  These people make this work on stretches that can last over a year. Is it nonstandard? Sure – but what is “standard” anymore in this recession-hit, Eurozone-crisis, debt-cliff world we live in?

Personally, I feel that solo travel has made me a better person.  After all, there’s no better education than the kind you earn when you really do have to sink or swim.

From the Deck Chair will return on Wednesday, December 26th!  Happy Holidays!