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Arielle Curtin's avatar

God do I love a little throwaway piece like this: so well-written and puts a smile on your face. No I've never been on a cruise: seems like a petri dish to me and I'm proactively afraid of the other passengers. Yes, I can put Mauritius on a map (had a classmate in Taiwan who was from there). Further newly emboldened to solo travel. Check out Socotra!

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Alex Kruger's avatar

Those trees are so cool in Socotra. Wow

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Derek Baker's avatar

One cruise, which was through the Mediterranean, Rome-Civitavecchia to Lisbon. So the day trips were amazing, but time aboard the ship was just…alright. Mostly it seemed like staying in one of the bigger, nicer Vegas casinos, with slightly less emphasis on gambling (which I don’t do), so the idea of taking another is just…meh. But I love solo travel; one can tune it to exactly the right mix of exploring and resting one prefers.

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Alex Kruger's avatar

I completely agree. The cruise itself is usually not that interesting.

I did a Virgin one and that was a little better.

I will probably keep going though because it’s still an amazing way to be alone without having to do anything

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Bill Coffin's avatar

1. Have you ever been on a cruise? - I have. Many, in fact. When I was a kid, my family experienced a number of serious family crises around Christmastime, and my father believed we were under a curse, and needed to be away from the house during the holidays. Knowing my dad, this is the kind of excuse he'd make up to justify a lot of expensive vacations, but when I pressed him on the matter, he got unusually serious with me about it. So who knows? This was back in the 80s, though, and cruising was a quantum step below where it is now. The biggest ship I was on was the Royal Princess, which was huge for the time, and now would be a mere tender compared to most top-of-the-line cruise ships. I would not like being on one of those. Far too many people;

2. Before reading this, would you have been able to point to Mauritius on a map? - Yep. I know exactly where it is. I have no idea what things look like there, though, and until reading this post, was unaware that it had incredible forests. Shout out to Sumi.

3. Do you ever solo travel? - Only for business. I don't mind being away from home, but I kind of hate being away from my family, especially if I'm somewhere I know they would enjoy.

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Alex Kruger's avatar

Fun Fact: Royal actually now has the biggest ships.

I wanna go on the one called Icon. I think it's almost 8k people haha

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River's avatar

The way I can picture the individuals you mention so well is delightful. I have never been on a cruise but am dying to; I think I would really enjoy it. Could not point to Mauritius on a map but will be Googling ASAP. I love to solo traveling. Currently in Budapest and headed to Vienna next week. The best part is popping in my headphones, walking aimlessly, and taking photos of everything.

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Alex Kruger's avatar

Yeah, it's very good for your brain and soul.

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Karen O's avatar

I’ve never been on any kind of cruise myself. I wouldn’t mind going, but I have motion sickness, so I try not to have issues with that. You would be a fun & interesting person to talk to on any cruise, though! It’s like being far away from home and you meet people who you’re probably never going to meet again. That’s not so bad.

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Alex Kruger's avatar

You can get a little bracelet and then it makes you not sick I guess. Or like those ear patches.

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Sandra Stephens's avatar

I have been on one cruise and it was exactly was I expected, and I didn't like it because I am not comforted or impressed by copious amounts of average food, and food is all there is to do on a cruise. As far as I could tell. I was hopeful when I heard “unlimited ice cream” but it was just milky soft serve, boo.

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Alex Kruger's avatar

That is exactly what it is. I wish there was an all inclusive, but in a forest.

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Alissa MacLeod's avatar

Never been on a cruise. Heard they’re bad for the environment. Have been on an overnight ferry in Greece recently, I drank 3 bottles of wine and had the best time. Was a bit nervous it was going to ‘titanic’ in the middle of the night but I clearly survived.

No, no clue where Mauritius is. Can hardly spell it.

And yes, solo traveled once. Hated it. Prefer to have my husband to navigate me. 😃

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Alex Kruger's avatar

They’re so bad for the environment. But they’re so fun. And what world are you preserving if not a fun one

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Jorunn Hernes 🇳🇴's avatar

Loved reading this! It made me think more highly of cruises, even though I

1. Hate cruises. I have been on two and resolved to not go on any ever again. But reading your post gave me a different perspective.

2. Not to brag, but I will brag, since you asked: yes, I could have pointed to Mauritius on a map. One of the perks of growing up in a small country in Europe: Geography was an important subject at school.

3. I travel frequently with my husband, and that's as good as traveling alone because he likes the same things I do: sitting at a wine bar quietly reading our books and/or looking at people. Which we could do on a cruise as well, come to think of it.

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Alex Kruger's avatar

Yes, maybe a cruise with the only intention of people watching should be your next adventure together haha

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Doug's avatar

I have been on 5 Atlantis cruises. I have been on 3 "regular" ones. I will go on gay ones if I ever do another one. I enjoyed all the gay ones. However, when cruises stopped during the pandemic, I reconsidered doing another cruise. Cruise ships are floating environmental disasters. Sure we are killing ourselves in many different ways, but cruises are something that can be easily bypassed. I travel alone almost all the time. I am responsible only to me.

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Alex Kruger's avatar

Yeah. I’ve never done the gay ones. I feel like they’re too much stimulation for me. I kinda like being ignored on the non gay ones

And yes. They are the epitome of waste. So fun

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Khris's avatar

Been on a few cruises but was single and with family so was unable to let loose. Never heard of that place before but definitely stuck with me to look place up & their forests. Have traveled solo and it’s pretty fun to meet new people. Most travelers seem friendly 😅

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Alex Kruger's avatar

What’s the last cruise you went on

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Khris's avatar

Catalina

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