By Sinaiyouth 
I cruised with my kids to Alaska and Costa Rica, and while those experiences were definitely memorable, a kid-free cruise with Holland America provided more opportunities to relax and explore the cruise ports differently. I booked a seven-day cruise with stops in Norway and the Shetland Islands, two places I’ve had on my must-visit list for a long time. In addition to traveling without my children, I was traveling alone; a way to celebrate my recent 50th birthday.
Vacation before the cruise
I took the opportunity to extend my trip and add a few days in Amsterdam before the start of my cruise. I took a food and canal tour including pickled herring and crepes (the latter was definitely preferred), and I also took a fascinating tour of the red light district with ToursByLocals, led by Salomé, a local chocolate shop owner with a unique perspective on this ever-changing neighborhood. Traveling alone allowed me to stop for a glass of sparkling wine when the mood struck and spend the afternoon exploring the vintage market without complaint.
When it was time to head to Rotterdam for boarding, I hitchhiked with DayTrip which included a stop in the picturesque town of Leiden. The beauty of this car service is that my driver waited for me with my luggage while I explored the windmill museum and enjoyed a limoncello spritz and truffle fries at a canalside cafe.
I had almost a full day to explore Rotterdam, from the cube houses to the street art scene. I even passed people learning to surf (in town!) as I walked to my hotel.
Rotterdam to Norway and the Shetland Islands
The next day, I boarded the Rotterdam and left to explore Norway and the Shetland Islands. Here’s what makes it so great as a solo traveler:
1. The History of Holland America in Rotterdam
The city of Rotterdam has a long history with Holland America Line (HAL), as it is where the cruise line began taking emigrants from Rotterdam to New York. Rotterdam served as the cruise line’s headquarters and today you can even book a stay aboard the decommissioned SS Rotterdam (HAL has seven ships named after the port city) which is permanently docked in the port.
2. Well-being experiences
I knew I wanted to take advantage of the ship’s wellness offerings, since I usually ignore them when traveling with my kids. After boarding, I went to the Greenhouse Spa and booked a massage with a complement to the hydrotherapy suite, which I had access to all week. By booking early, I was able to choose my appointment times and receive a discount on my service. Access to the hydrotherapy suite was a highlight of the trip, especially after a day of hiking around port towns.
3. Entertainment
My son and I sailed with HAL to Alaska. Although I managed to convince him to join in on the discussion about the Iditarod, he wasn’t particularly keen on learning about the entertainment offerings beyond that. Traveling alone meant I could join the mixology class or take advantage of the port talks to learn more about the cities we would be visiting.
4. Shore Excursions
I booked my shore excursions in advance to avoid them selling out (I highly recommend you do so). Traveling without a child meant that when new excursions were added, I could start in no time without considering other people’s opinions. I also didn’t have to worry about age restrictions.
More adventurous options, like the RIB boat trip to Skjolden, were immediately added to my list. We drove through the beautiful fjords and I didn’t have to worry about whether my child would enjoy it (they certainly did!).
5. High-end catering
Although I love a good buffet or poolside pizzeria as much as anyone, I was definitely able to enjoy all the high-end restaurants on my Holland America cruise. I dined on truffle-topped pasta at Caneletto, a delicious lobster dinner at Rudi’s Sel de Mer, and candied bacon on a clothesline at Pinnacle Grill (don’t skip this!). Even though children are invited to dine at these places, meals tend to last longer, which can be a challenge for little ones.
6. Flexibility in ports
One of my favorite things to do in Norway was booking a sauna experience in the small town of Leirvik. When I first booked this Norway cruise, I was hoping that a sauna trip would be offered, as it’s a popular activity with the locals. But since no offer was offered to me, I took matters into my own hands and booked a session at Sauna Stord. I invited a few new friends to join me, and we dove in the freezing water then jumped into the cozy sauna. Weather wise, it was a gloomy day so this activity was a great option.
When we visited the Shetland Islands, my shore excursion was a walking tour that took us through narrow lanes and to places like Fort Charlotte. Then I went alone to Fjarå Café Bar, which was featured in the Shetland series. I dined on hearty bread and Cullen skinka tasty fish soup loaded with smoked haddock and potatoes. I would have had to resort to bribes if I had accompanied my children on the long round trip.
After my RIB boat trip to Skjolden, I followed a group of other cruisers on a hike to the viewpoint recommended at the shore conference the day before. Talk about epic views (the first photo in the story is from this vantage point). Then I meandered downward, passing llama farms and strawberry pastures. I had seen the Hauge gård cafe on the map, so I headed to this waterside spot for strawberry mead and a perfect strawberry pavlova.
A pep talk for any parent considering solo travel
Would my children have enjoyed this HAL Norway cruise? Of course. However, traveling alone allowed me to experience the cruise line and port cities in a whole new way, which I highly recommend to all parents.