Day six aboard Holland America’s Rotterdam brought us another sea day as we continue making our way toward our next port of call, Cartagena, Colombia, where we’ll spend a few hours exploring the city on Saturday.
Sea days are always a good opportunity to talk about topics that come up frequently when people ask about cruising, and today I’ve got two of them lined up. The first is solo cruising, something I get asked about quite often, especially by people considering their first cruise alone. The second topic involves one of those travel experiences that pretty much every traveler encounters at least once… usually in a very uncomfortable way. But we’ll get to that one later.
Let’s start with solo cruising.
Cruising Solo
Someone recently asked me for some tips for a first-time solo cruiser, and it’s a great question because traveling alone can seem a little intimidating at first.
The reality, though, is that solo cruising shouldn’t deter anyone from traveling.
I cruise solo most all the time and honestly, I love it.
One of the biggest advantages of traveling alone is that you’re on your own schedule. Anyone who has traveled with friends or family knows the familiar back-and-forth that happens when trying to plan the evening.
“Let’s go to dinner at 6.”
“Well I really want to go at 7.”
“If we go at 7 we’ll miss the show.”
“I don’t want to see the show at 9:15 because that’s too late.”
“But the late show is less crowded.”
Suddenly a simple dinner plan turns into an HOA meeting with one of your friend suddenly turning into “Cruising Karen.”
When you’re cruising solo, that entire debate disappears. If you want to eat at 6, eat at 6. If you want to eat at 8:30 after the show, do that instead. Want to skip dinner entirely and just graze around the ship? No one’s stopping you.
Your vacation runs on your schedule and your schedule only.
Will You Be Bored?
Another concern people often bring up is the fear that they’ll be bored traveling alone.
Trust me, boredom isn’t usually a problem on a cruise ship.
You’re surrounded by thousands of other people, and opportunities to strike up conversations happen everywhere. It could be at the bar, during a show, grabbing something to eat, lounging by the pool, or even chatting with someone while waiting in line at guest services.
Cruises make it very easy to meet what I like to call temporary vacation friends. Sometimes those friendships last just for the evening. Other times you may find yourself running into the same people all week and suddenly you’ve got a group of familiar faces to say hello to around the ship.
And who knows… maybe they’ll even become the modern-day equivalent of a post-cruise pen pal.
Solo Cabins and Solo Pricing
Most cruise lines have become much more accommodating to solo travelers in recent years.
Many newer ships now feature staterooms specifically designed for solo cruisers, and some lines have even gone a step further. Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, offers Studio cabins that come with access to a private lounge reserved exclusively for solo travelers.
The downside is that solo cabins are still relatively limited in number and they’re often in high demand, which means they can be difficult to snag unless you book early.
Solo cabins are also usually inside or oceanview rooms, and they’re typically a little smaller than standard cabins designed for two guests.
If you can’t get one of those rooms, don’t worry. Solo travelers can still book any regular stateroom onboard. The catch, unfortunately, is the single supplement.
Cruise fares are usually based on double occupancy, so solo travelers often end up paying up to 200 percent of the cruise fare even though they’re the only one in the room.
It’s the dreaded single supplement, and… yes, it’s not exactly fair.
The good news is that cruise lines frequently run promotions that help soften the blow. Sometimes they offer reduced single supplements, and other times promotions like “50% off the second guest” can effectively reduce the solo traveler’s cost.
With a little patience and flexibility, you can often find some pretty good solo deals.
Cruise Line Single Supplements and Staterooms for Solo Travelers
Dining Solo
Dining is another area where first-time solo cruisers sometimes feel uncomfortable.
Years ago, cruising had a strong tradition of placing guests at large shared tables in the main dining room, where you would dine with the same group of strangers every night.
For some people that was part of the charm of cruising.
For others like me… SHEER HELL!
Personally, I absolutely, positively refuse to share a table with strangers, and these days cruise lines are more than happy to accommodate that preference.
Dining rooms have largely moved away from the big round tables for eight or ten people and now offer far more two-top and four-top tables, making it easy for solo cruisers to dine privately.
If you prefer to socialize at dinner, many ships still offer shared tables, and some cruise lines even organize solo traveler meetups or group dinners.
Virgin Voyages, for example, has a dedicated solo sailors table where solo cruisers can meet and dine together each evening.
But the key point is this: the choice is yours.
If you want to dine alone, simply let the dining room staff know and they’ll happily seat you at your own table.
My Top 5 Tips for Solo Cruisers
If you’re thinking about cruising solo for the first time, here are five tips that can help make the experience even better.
- Embrace the Freedom – One of the best parts of solo travel is doing exactly what you want, when you want. Take advantage of it. Sleep in, stay up late, skip activities, or do everything on the schedule. There’s no one else’s agenda to worry about, and that is refreshing at times.
- Sit at the Bar – If you’re looking to meet people, sitting at the bar is one of the easiest ways to do it. Conversations tend to happen naturally there, whether it’s with other guests or the bartender. If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t worry! All the bars on cruise ships are welcoming and more and more NA cocktails and NA beers are making their way onboard. There’s no need to feel awkward sipping on a Coke at a bar!
- Attend Solo Meetups – Most all cruise lines host informal gatherings for solo travelers during the cruise. They’re a great way to meet other people who are traveling alone.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Do Things Alone – Going to dinner, a show, or an excursion alone might feel awkward the first time, but honestly, nobody notices or cares. Once you do it once, you’ll realize it’s not a big deal at all, trust me.
- Book Early for Solo Cabins – If the ship offers solo staterooms, book early. Those rooms are limited and tend to sell out quickly.
Solo cruising might seem intimidating at first, but once you try it, you may find it’s one of the most relaxing and stress-free ways to travel.
When “Don’t Drink the Water” Becomes Very Real
As I mentioned in yesterday’s report, I spent most of the day out and about in Curaçao, logging a lot of miles wandering around town and then heading back out later in the evening for dinner ashore.
One rule I always try to follow when traveling is the classic traveler’s mantra: don’t drink the water. Ever. Regardless of what country I’m in.
That includes avoiding tap water, ice, or drinks made with local water, unless the drink comes from a bottle or a can. As someone whose stomach has never exactly been my best travel companion, I tend to be pretty strict about that rule.
Different countries have very different standards and methods when it comes to water purification and treatment, and while the water may be perfectly safe for locals who are used to it, visitors can sometimes have a very different reaction.
The first time I ran into trouble with this was when MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas, first opened. I had a soda at one of the beach bars that came with ice, and within a few hours I was completely down for the count. It turned out that one of the chemicals used in the island’s water treatment plant just didn’t agree with me, and I paid the price for the rest of that day and well into the night.
So normally, I’m very careful about it.
But last night, my mind was obviously somewhere else.
Both of the cocktails I ordered with dinner… had ice.
Now to be fair, Curaçao actually has a reputation for having some of the best tap water in the Caribbean, and some people even claim it’s better than the water in New York City. The island uses a large desalination plant to produce drinking water from seawater, and the quality is considered extremely high.
But around 2:00 a.m., I realized something had gone very, very wrong.
That’s when Montezuma came knocking.
Once the symptoms kicked in, the realization hit me.
“OMG Scott… you had drinks with ice.”
For the next 12 hours, I paid the price for that simple mistake and it pretty much wiped out most of the day.
Why Ship Water Is Different
You might be wondering whether I follow the same rule onboard cruise ships.
The answer is no, and there’s a good reason for that.
Modern cruise ships have some of the most advanced water treatment systems in the world. Ships produce most of their water onboard using desalination systems and then run it through multiple purification processes, including filtration, UV treatment, and mineral balancing.
In many cases, the water onboard ships is actually cleaner and more tightly controlled than the water coming out of your tap at home.
That’s why drinking water, soda fountains, coffee, and ice onboard ships are generally very safe and under strict quality control.
The challenge comes when you’re ashore, where water treatment standards and chemicals can vary widely from place to place.
A Little About Montezuma’s Revenge
What people commonly call “Montezuma’s Revenge” is usually just a form of traveler’s diarrhea caused by bacteria, viruses, or unfamiliar microorganisms in food or water.
It can come from:
- Ice made with untreated water
- Tap water used in drinks
- Raw fruits or vegetables washed with local water
- Undercooked food
- Street food handled improperly
Even when the water itself is technically safe, your body may simply not be used to the mineral or chemical composition, which can cause some unpleasant digestive reactions.
How to Avoid It
The best ways to avoid these issues while traveling are pretty simple:
- Stick to bottled or canned beverages
- Skip ice in drinks
- Avoid tap water
- Be cautious with raw fruits and vegetables
- Wash or sanitize your hands frequently
Basically, follow the rule that has saved many travelers over the years:
If you didn’t open it yourself, think twice.
The good news is that when this happens, it usually passes fairly quickly. Hydration, rest, and letting your body do its thing typically solves the problem within a few hours to a full day.
Thankfully that was the case here.
By late afternoon I was starting to feel human again, but it definitely reinforced my long-standing “don’t drink the water” travel mantra.
And yes… I’m still kicking myself for being stupid enough to break my own rule and not even realize what I was doing while sipping those cocktails.
Because of that little overnight adventure, today turned into a pretty low-key sea day.
I spent most of my time relaxing in my Retreat cabana, taking it easy and trying to take in as much water as possible – from a bottle, of course! There may or may not have been a few cat naps involved throughout the afternoon… but I’m neither confirming nor denying that.
When it came time for dinner, I wasn’t about to tempt fate, so I kept things simple and grabbed some food from the Lido Market and enjoyed it back in my stateroom.
Holland America Lido Market Dinner Menu Night 6
Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026
Available on: all ships
Holland America Main Dining Room Dinner Menu Night 6
Menu from Rotterdam, March 2026
Available on: all ships
We’re sailing towards our next port of call, Cartagena, Columbia where Rotterdam has a short port day. We arrive at 7am but are only going to be in port until 2:00pm, with all aboard at 1:30pm, so lots of people with shore excursions will be getting up early tomorrow. More on my day in Columbia, in tomorrow’s report.
As always, thanks for following along!
Daily Schedule
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Abs Class | Fitness Center (Deck 9) |
| 7:30 AM | Walk a Mile | Atrium (Deck 3) |
| 8:00 AM | Tai Chi for Everyone | Lido Poolside (Deck 9) |
| 8:30 AM | Morning Catholic Prayer | Hudson Room (Deck 1) |
| 8:30 AM | Stretch & Release | Fitness Center (Deck 9) |
| 9:00 AM | Code with Nick: Featuring Security Officer Simon | B.B. King's Blues Club (Deck 2) |
| 9:00 AM | Pickleball Instruction: Scoring | Sport Court (Deck 11) |
| 9:30 AM | Complimentary Footprint Analysis | Fitness Center (Deck 9) |
| 9:30 AM | Origami Folding: 3D Heart | Game Room (Deck 12) |
| 10:00 AM | Ballroom Dance Class: Salsa | B.B. King's Blues Club (Deck 2) |
| 10:00 AM | 30 Minute Art History | Billboard Onboard (Deck 2) |
| 10:00 AM | The World Up Close: The Panama Canal | World Stage (Decks 2 & 3) |
| 10:00 AM | Pickleball Tournament for Intermediate | Sport Court (Deck 11) |
| 10:00 AM | Party Bridge Play until 12:00 PM | Hudson Room (Deck 1) |
| 10:00 AM | Mahjong Players Meet until 3:00 PM | Half Moon Room (Deck 1) |
| 10:00 AM | Mahjong Players Meet until 3:00 PM | Half Moon Room (Deck 1) |
| 10:30 AM | Marbella Mimosa Mornings with EFFY | EFFY Jewelry (Deck 2) |
| 10:30 AM | Non-Surgical Face Lift | Greenhouse Spa (Deck 9) |
| 10:30 AM | Creating Designs from Doodles | Game Room (Deck 12) |
| 11:00 AM | Pickleball Tournament for Advanced | Sport Court (Deck 11) |
| 11:00 AM | Over $1400 Jackpot Bingo – Ticket Sales | Rolling Stone Lounge (Deck 2) |
| 11:00 AM | Stronger & Fitter After 50 | Fitness Center (Deck 9) |
| 11:30 AM | Color & Pour at Artist Studio $30 | Art Studio (Deck 1) |
| 11:30 AM | Colon & Puerto Limon Q&A | B.B. King's Blues Club (Deck 2) |
| 12:00 PM | Modern Calligraphy | Game Room (Deck 12) |
| 12:00 PM | Embroidery & Sea: Tanzanite Tales | B.B. King's Blues Club (Deck 2) |
| 12:00 PM | Inside the Panama Canal | World Stage (Decks 2 & 3) |
| 12:30 PM | Last-Minute Beauty Gifts | The Shops (Deck 2) |
| 1:00 PM | Watercoloring: Flower | Game Room (Deck 12) |
| 1:00 PM | Watercoloring: Flower | Game Room (Deck 12) |
| 1:30 PM | Champagne Party | Greenhouse Spa (Deck 9) |
| 2:00 PM | Let’s Play Cornhole | Sport Court (Deck 11) |
| 2:00 PM | Shuffleboard Challenge | Sport Court (Deck 11) |
| 2:30 PM | Guess the Carat Weight of Alexandrite | EFFY Jewelry (Deck 2) |
| 2:30 PM | Friends of Bill W. Meet | Stuyvesant Room (Deck 1) |
| 3:00 PM | Regional Wine Tasting $49 | Dining Room (Deck 2) |
| 3:00 PM | Over $1400 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino (Deck 3) |
| 3:30 PM | Shabbat Service | Hudson Room (Deck 1) |
| 4:00 PM | Ballroom Dance Hour | B.B. King's Blues Club (Deck 2) |
| 4:00 PM | Singles & Solo Travelers Meetup | Billboard Onboard (Deck 2) |
| 4:00 PM | Ask Your Travel Guide Holly until 6:00 PM | Crow's Nest (Deck 12) |
| 4:00 PM | Origami Folding: Heart | Game Room (Deck 12) |
| 4:00 PM | Have Your Casual Portrait Taken | Atrium (Deck 2) |
| 4:30 PM | Body Sculpt Boot Camp $20 | Fitness Center (Deck 9) |
| 5:00 PM | Evening Catholic Prayer | Hudson Room (Deck 1) |
| 5:00 PM | A Pickup Game of Pickleball | Sport Court (Deck 11) |
| 5:00 PM | Thomas Kinkade Exhibition and Sale | Art Gallery (Deck 1) |
| 5:00 PM | Collect Energy in Shopping Coupons | Atrium (Deck 2) |
| 6:00 PM | PRIDE Meetup | Rolling Stone Lounge (Deck 2) |
| 6:00 PM | Shabbat Service | Hudson Room (Deck 1) |
| 6:00 PM | Ballroom Dance Hour | B.B. King's Blues Club (Deck 2) |
| 6:30 PM | Singles & Solo Travelers Meetup | Billboard Onboard (Deck 2) |
| 6:30 PM | Dance Blitz at EFFY | EFFY Jewelry (Deck 2) |
| 7:00 PM | Music Trivia: Through the Decades | B.B. King's Blues Club (Deck 2) |
| 7:45 PM | Game Show: Cell City Bluff | B.B. King's Blues Club (Deck 2) |
| 8:00 PM | Movies by the Pool: Freakier Friday | Lido Poolside (Deck 9) |
| 8:00 PM | Heat Wave Hot Seats | Casino (Deck 3) |
| 9:00 PM | On World Stage: Vocalist Drew Pournelle | World Stage (Decks 2 & 3) |
| 9:00 PM | On World Stage: Vocalist Drew Pournelle | World Stage (Decks 2 & 3) |
| 11:00 PM | $614,000 Paradise Lotto Jackpot Drawing | Casino (Deck 3) |