In October, a conference I was supposed to attend in Florida was cancelled due to a hurricane. (The conference was rescheduled for this year and I look forward to sharing that experience in February!) However, I was still able to sneak one last trip into the end of 2022 and celebrate the New Year on the sea thanks to my sister! This New Year’s Cruise Trip was my first time traveling outside of the United States and my first non-work trip of 2022 so it was nice to truly relax and explore. This was also my first time traveling solo, so here’s a bit of what I learned:

Cozumel, Mexico

1. Pay what? Pay attention.

When I ask people why they are put off by the idea of solo travel, the typical answer I hear is the fear of something going wrong. I find this interesting because we go places alone all the time at our home base. We often doubt what we’re capable of. Navigating a new place, figuring travel details out on your own, and trying things you haven’t before help us grow and bring confidence. Recognize that the anxiety of thinking, “But what if something goes wrong?” is common (and good forward-thinking to have plans/solutions stacked up), but don’t let it stop you! You are so capable. Just pay attention to your surroundings and make careful decisions. There is so much beauty in this life. Go out and see it for yourself!

2. “You-ber”

AKA a fun thing called WALKING! (If you are able.) Besides the 45-minute drive to and from the airport, I saved money walking to a restaurant, the beach, and around Galveston, TX the day before the cruise. I got my steps in and gave my pocketbook a break—a win-win. Because I was alone, I could enjoy the long walk and time with my thoughts like I usually do walking alone at home. (Since it was the winter, I was missing walks outside back in Kansas, so I loved having nicer weather to enjoy in my birth state of Texas!) Normally, the folks I travel with tend to opt out of walking and pay for transportation instead—another perk of solo travel: truly getting to do whatever YOU want.

3. Catch Up—On a Whole Lotta Nothing

One of the great things about traveling alone is doing absolutely NOTHING. Well, not “nothing,” but all of those little things you can’t enjoy when someone else is in your ear or other responsibilities take priority. I read 50 pages of a book I hadn’t picked up in months (and honestly haven’t returned to since this trip. I’m working on it!) I journaled in Puerta Maya while listening to a mariachi band. I drank 2 margaritas and ate the best chips and guacamole of my life while able to focus on just existing and my senses and surroundings: the music of xylophones, the vivid blue of the sky, the sun on my skin... It felt amazing to have time and a peaceful getaway to allow myself those moments since work and school doesn’t always allow for that level of true relaxation. In the New Year, I am making it a priority for more of those moments, or “quieting the mind.” For people with packed schedules, a cruise is a perfect vacation to take because it forces you to be still, relax, and enjoy the now.

Progreso Yucatan, Mexico

“For people with packed schedules, a cruise is a perfect vacation to take because it forces you to be still, relax, and enjoy the now.”

4. UNPLUG & Unwind

I was without phone service for 5 days so my iPhone was more so just a camera to document my travels when I was on the cruise and on the ports. Depending on the person, you might feel “stuck” by the idea of fully unplugging, but I found living like smart phones didn’t exist paired with all of the aspects of solo travel freeing. I explored the Cozumel and Progreso ports focused on taking in the beauty for myself in the present moment and captured photos and videos later. I could stop and chat with more people than I probably would have with access to text travel updates to loved ones. We are so connected to others through technology and social media to a point where it can often have the opposite effect and, furthermore, make us feel disconnected from ourselves and experiences that should ground us, like traveling. Traveling solo with the added level of fully unplugging let me feel the adventure, gratitude, and peace to the fullest in memories of feelings I wouldn’t trade for phone service to share “live.” Instead of sharing live, I LIVED!

5. Starting Small Is Ok!

Going on a cruise was a manageable first solo travel experience because when you port you only have a select amount of hours to be on land (or you can simply stay on/close to the ports!) If you’re timid about solo travel, the option of going on a cruise is a great first step. Then you can be more adventurous on your next go at it with a positive travel success under your belt.

What a way to bring in the New Year! I am so thankful to have these memories with my sister as New Year’s Eve was always a big holiday in our house growing up. (Our mother battled breast cancer for most of our lives so, looking back, I realize that each year was a celebration our mother was still with us.) Standing on our own, but never alone, I am so proud of all my sister and I have accomplished in our adult lives. This was her first contract as a cruise ship performer and I have 2 more semesters of grad school before earning my Master’s Degree. Here’s to more creating, traveling, learning, and growing to come in 2023!