My first solo cruise to Alaska, departing from Vancouver
Before going on my first ever solo cruise, I had only traveled with family and friends. Therefore, this experience presented me a fantastic and nervous opportunity, as it was a destination I had always wanted to visit. I thoroughly enjoyed my two-week stay onboard.
This cruise was on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, and it set sail from the Port of Vancouver on September 9, 2024. Since I had flown 13 hours from Australia, and Alaskan cruises are usually only 7 nights long, I decided to do two separate cruises back-to-back. That way, I had 14 nights onboard, and I had plenty of time to explore, do, and eat my heart out!
Boarding & Security/Customs
On the day I boarded the cruise, there were two other cruise ships docked. All passengers were required to use the same border and security checkpoints, regardless of the cruise line we were boarding. You're technically leaving Canada and entering the US. There was hundreds of individuals, even before reaching the cruise line check-in counter and boarding the ship.
I missed what I was used to experiencing from Royal Caribbean in Miami and Port Canaveral, as these destinations were exclusively dedicated to a single cruise line and had far better facilities.
First Day Onboard
As soon as I set foot on the ship, coffee is first 🥰. Then a mission to explore every nook and cranny. I want to get a feel for the place and know exactly where everything is. Knowing where the restaurants and entertainment spots are makes the cruise way more enjoyable. No more wandering aimlessly every day, searching for something to do or when you need to be at a venue on time and you’re lost!
Food
Being on a cruise ship solo for the first
time was a bit awkward, and I didn’t want to sit alone at a table, so I
didn’t book any speciality restaurants. I’ve been on other cruises with
friends and family, so I’ve tried most of the restaurants, so there
wasn’t anything I was missing out on. The buffet was the best option as
the food changes daily, and there wasn't a time I was tired of the same
food.
I didn’t think about this before I set sail on my solo cruise, but there’s one thing to keep in mind: go back to the buffet to grab some more food. They cleaned my table, and someone else took it! Since it wasn’t a full cruise, it wasn’t a big deal. I could easily find another table, but just one thing to be mindful of for next time.
TIP: It’s a great idea to bring a jacket or hat with you to leave, so your table doesn’t get cleaned and taken away. I definitely remembered this for future visits!
Entertainment
As it's a smaller cruise ship there
isn't a lot of variety with the shows onboard, or ones that were of
interest to me.
The show I didn't go to see was We Honestly Love You, performed by
Susannah Mirana singing some of Olivia Newton-John’s most popular songs,
I was a bit doubtful. But as a huge fan of her music, I was pleasantly
surprised. It was way better than I thought it would be, and it sounded
just like her! I really enjoyed the entire performance.
Ports of Calls
We went to Haines,
but I wasn’t really keen on getting off the ship. The local port didn’t
have much to offer, and none of the excursions sounded exciting. The
other port I was looking forward to was Ketchikan, but unfortunately, it
got canceled because of the weather.
I have
individual posts for
Overall Experience
My 14-night cruise was an
absolute blast! I learned so much and wouldn’t trade it for anything. It
was my first solo cruise, and it was an amazing experience. Alaska was
way colder than I expected, so I didn’t pack enough warm clothes. Next
time, I’ll bundle up like a Yeti!
