Single Woman Solo Cruising:

Sonia enjoying the Paul Gauguin cruise in Bora Bora

I’m a single woman cruising solo and enjoying life at 67. I feel young, vibrant, and excited about life.

With all the turmoil and uncertainty in our world today, I’ve decided to cruise solo as much as my budget will allow. I’m in good health and want to enjoy the positives, meeting people from other countries and seeing new places on our beautiful planet.

Focusing on small ships catering to singles:

This year, I’ve booked three different cruise lines to compare: PONANT (French), CRYSTAL (owned by Abercrombie and Kent), and SEABOURN (Carnival Corporation & plc.) After trying all three cruises, I’ll be able to discuss the pros and cons of each, and decide which cruise line I prefer.

Solo traveling is growing, especially among women, so I have researched the smaller ships that offer discounts for solo travelers, and cannot wait to compare all three.

My first cruise is on The Paul Gauguin Cruise Ship (PONANT)

I plan to spend a week in Bath, U.K., before heading to Singapore, where the first leg of my cruise starts.

This will be my third cruise on the Paul Gauguin twice to French Polynesia, which I highly recommend.

The ship is small, with 330 passengers, and the crew is always upbeat and friendly. They remember my first name and the extra-strong Americano is ready every morning when I arrive at the early risers continental breakfast bar.

On my Christmas cruise in French Polynesia, I met a nice Romanian woman who loves to swim as much as I do. We would meet at the coffee bar at 6:00 a.m. and wait for the swimming pool to be refilled with warm seawater. I love that there is no chlorine in the pool and that they replace it with seawater daily. Here’s a video on how they do it.

I’ve never been to Singapore, so I decided to hire a guide (tours by locals). I arrive in the evening at Changi Airport, and a Paul Gauguin representative will drive me to my hotel. (That’s the plan!) The following day, I’ll have 3 hours to tour Singapore’s highlights with my guide before embarkation.

Another bonus are the lectures on board the Paul Gauguin by various experts. So I look forward to learning about different cultures and other interesting facts on my two-week journey to Darwin (see map above). I’ve pre-booked my excursions to stunning islands and beaches such as Parai Beach, Indonesia, Java, Bali,

Komodo Island (and the famous Komodo dragons, the largest species of dragons up to 330 lbs).

My last excursion before Darwin, is in Dili (the capital of East Timor), an island that I was hoping the Peace Corps would send me to volunteer when I applied.

Please follow me as I cruise along for another two weeks to Fiji.

Let me know if you’ve experienced a wonderful cruise and which cruise lines you would suggest I try.

More to come!!!

Sonia

2nd part of the cruise from Darwin to Fiji

What’s included on the Paul Gauguin cruise?

All shipboard meals, in your choice of venues

Complimentary 24-hour room service

Complimentary beverages, including select wines and spirits, beers, soft drinks, bottled water, and hot beverages served throughout the ship

In-room refrigerator replenished daily with soft drinks, beer, and bottled water

All shipboard entertainment, including our troupe of Polynesian performers and live music in the evenings

Presentations by onboard experts, and select sailings feature guest hosts

Onboard gratuities for room stewards, dining and bar staff

Watersports, including complimentary kayaking and paddleboarding from our marina or destination beaches

Complimentary snorkel gear for use throughout the cruise

Use of our secluded, white-sand beach in Bora Bora*

A day on our private islet, Motu Mahana, off the coast of Taha’a, featuring snorkeling, watersports, a barbecue, full bar service, and Polynesian hospitality (on select voyages)

Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship