Last Updated on December 24, 2023 by Sarah Wilson

This cruise was my second ocean cruise as a solo traveller with Viking Cruises. The first time I travelled solo with them was from Barcelona to Rome for a week, and I loved it. This time, the journey would be for two weeks, cruising from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale, with five days at sea. That was a first for me. 

One of the best parts of travelling again with Viking Ocean Cruises is your sense of familiarity when boarding their ships. With each vessel being virtually identical, it felt like I was coming home. I already knew where my favourite restaurants and bars were and was so looking forward to having sushi again at my favourite sushi bar in the World Cafe on deck 7. 

Here is my diary of a solo traveller from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale on board the Viking Star. 

Day 1 – Arrival in Montreal 

I had a very long day of travel from my home in Malta to Montreal. I was offered two flight choices – a one-hour layover in Frankfurt or a five-hour layover. I chose the longer layover, and I’m glad I did. There were incredibly long queues at immigration and customs. 

Frankfurt Airport is huge, so if you ever have connecting flights here, do make sure to allow for extra time, especially if you have a non-EU passport. And know that the distances between gates can be considerable.

In fact, when booking a cruise, I highly recommend getting to the departure city a few days ahead of time to sightsee on your own. This eliminates any concern about flight delays and whether you will get to the ship on time. 

Did I follow my own advice? Of course not, but Montreal does make a fabulous city break, and if I hadn’t been there before, I would have stayed there for sure. 

Upon arrival at Montreal Airport, spotting the Viking Cruise representatives is very easy. They are everywhere. However, with your tickets, you will receive a red sticker to wear and labels for your luggage so they can easily spot you.

After a short wait, a large group of Viking passengers and I were taken by a comfortable coach to the Grand Quay at the Port of Montreal to board. The port is located within a short walking distance of the city.

 It would have been so easy to take a wander around the city, but I was exhausted, jet-lagged, and ready for bed. Fortunately, having stayed in Montreal a few years prior, I didn’t feel too bad about not popping into the city. 

Check-in was straightforward and simple, and just before heading to your cabin, you needed to see a quick life jacket demonstration. 

I finally got to my cabin at around 7 pm local time, though my body thought it was well past 1 am. I ordered room service, unpacked, took a long hot shower, and was in bed by 8. I slept soundly for ten hours.

Day 2 – Montreal 

Beautiful Montreal is the largest city in Quebec Province and the second-largest in Canada.

The city has a rich history and a wonderful multicultural vibe. Its architecture is a mix of modern skyscrapers and historic structures, and the Notre Dame Basilica is probably one of its most famous landmarks. It’s a gorgeous city; if this is your first time in Montreal, do not miss it. 

However, I opted for the full-day excursion to the Laurentian Mountains, as I wanted to see the fall colours. However, the weather wasn’t exactly cooperating. 

I woke up at 6 am starving but well rested and headed to the World Cafe on deck 7. I enjoy the breakfast there – it’s buffet style with plenty of excellent breakfast options from fruits to eggs to fabulous bread, and it’s always easy to find a table and very rarely a queue. 

My tour was leaving at 8 am, and I have to say Viking Cruises is so well organised and efficient at ensuring passengers are in the right place, on the right bus at the right time. It’s always such a smooth operation; I don’t know how they do it. 

The first stop on our tour was a half-hour break in St Sauveur. It was a pleasant spot to stretch your legs, take a toilet break and grab a coffee before heading to Mont Tremblant. Fortunately, it had stopped raining, but the skies were still grey. 

On arrival in Mont Tremblant, there were almost four hours to explore at leisure. Woohoo, I love that.

 I took the cable car (ticket included in the tour) up to the top of the mountain, but the fog was so thick I couldn’t see a thing, but at least I can say I got to the top of Mont Tremblant. I’m sure on a clear day; it’s beautiful. 

So, instead, I wandered around the town, admired the colours of the leaves, found a little waterfall, and enjoyed some lunch. 

In the evening, there was a meet and greet for all the solo travellers onboard in the Explorers Lounge, but I wasn’t quite up for socialising, so I enjoyed a lemon drop martini and then dinner in the World Cafe instead. I actually managed to stay awake till 8:30 pm. Oh, the joys of jet lag! 

Day 3 – Quebec 

I woke up to a beautiful view from my cabin of Quebec City. It is a lovely historic city in Canada with a European feel, cobblestone streets, and a well-preserved old town. 

But maybe it was because I had a few glasses of wine last night, maybe because I was still tired, but memories of a previous trip here with Jonathan made me a little teary. I needed coffee!

The ship wasn’t leaving until evening, so I took a short trip out to the nearby Huron-Wendat village. I knew very little about the First Nations of Canada, so it was fascinating to learn about their culture. 

I returned to the ship in time for a spot of buffet lunch in the World Cafe, then took a leisurely stroll around the city. Quebec City is really lovely, so I recommend it to everyone. 

In the evening, I met up with a fellow solo passenger I’d met on the morning tour, and after an aperitif in the Explorers Lounge, we headed to the Restaurant on Deck 2. Yes, I do occasionally venture away from the World Cafe. 

The Restaurant is a lovely venue for dinner, and unlike Manfredi’s or The Chefs Table, the other more formal restaurants, you don’t need to make a reservation in advance. 

As tables for two were busy, we opted for a shared table where we joined two vivacious women in their 80s from Texas. Lots of laughter and tales ensued. Other diners commented that we were all having way too much fun. Was that code for we were perhaps a tad too noisy?

Afterwards, we headed to the Star Theatre for the evening entertainment – a ventriloquist act. The audience loved it, but for me, it was a little cringey, and the jokes were very old, but I was by far in the minority thinking this way. That’s why I always like to sit at the back of the theatre, so I can easily sneak off. 

Day 4 – Saguenay

Saguenay, in Quebec, is a city by the Saguenay River known for its beautiful scenery, deep fjords and green landscapes. Its history is linked to the fur trade and forestry.

At every port, Viking Cruises offers a complimentary shore excursion, and on this day, I opted for the included Viking tour. Several departures were provided throughout the day for the two-hour Saguenay Discovery.

Today’s optional tours included whale watching, which I would have liked to have done but meant being on a bouncy zodiac all day, and despite being brave enough to go on a cruise, I’m still a scaredy cat when it comes to zodiacs. 

I took the included shore excursion. The guide was excellent, but let’s just say the highlights were far and few between.

Afterwards, I took a stroll around the Port Village, which didn’t take long and made me wish I would just get over my fear of boats and had gone whale watching instead. 

It would have been nice to have seen more of Saguenay Fjord, and even though our cruise passed through the fjord, it was dark when we arrived and dark when we left. 

So, for this cruise port, I would recommend taking one of the optional tours to truly experience this corner of the world. Those who took the whale-watching tour had a fabulous time and saw plenty of whales.

That evening, there was a dinner for all the solo travellers onboard, and quite a few of us were on this trip.

 About 12 women and one chap, and unlike my previous cruise from Barcelona to Rome, we weren’t all grieving widows. Most of the women were married but had husbands who didn’t enjoy cruising or were supposed to have come on the cruise with friends, but their friends had cancelled on them at the last minute. 

It was a lovely meal and an enjoyable evening in The Restaurant, followed by a movie in the Star Theatre. 

Day 5 – Cruise The Gulf of St Lawrence

 

The Gulf of St. Lawrence is a partially enclosed sea that links the Great Lakes in North America to the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence Seaway. Vikings sailed here in the 10th century; later, people from France, Scotland, and other parts of Europe came and brought their ways of life.

In 1535, explorer Jacques Cartier sailed into the gulf and called the nearby lands “the country of Canadas,” using the French word for settlements. The Basques also came here to hunt whales and trade with the First Nations, adding to the local culture.

But for me, cruising the Gulf of St Lawrence was my first ever sea day. What would I do with myself all day apart from sleeping and eating? Actually, that didn’t sound so bad. 

Well, there was an abundance of activities from crafting to games, origami to wine tasting, port talks to guest lectures. Now, you probably thought I went for the wine tasting, nope! 

I took my first line dancing class, which was an experience. Coordination and remembering steps is not my forte, but it turns out, nor was it anyone else’s in the class. So it was quite a laugh. 

Not having eaten for a few hours and having done some exercise, it was time to try the afternoon tea in the Wintergarden. Delicious, and what a choice of teas from around the world. 

The ship began to get a little bit rocky, swaying a bit too much from side to side, and people were turning green and disappearing fast. Fortunately, not me, which came as a complete surprise. 

Feeling a thirst for knowledge, I attended the guest lecture on Charlottetown (our next port of call) Cradle of Confederation. It was a very interesting talk although I forgot everything I learned the moment I left the theatre.

Then, some sushi for dinner, a couple of glasses of wine and ready for bed.

Day 6 – Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown, located on the southern coast of Prince Edward Island, has approximately 40,500 people living there. It is the capital of Prince Edward Island and is famous as the “Birthplace of Confederation” because of the 1864 Charlottetown Conference, which played a crucial role in creating Canada.

It’s also where Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote one of my favourite books from my childhood- Anne of Green Gables. 

I woke up to calmer seas and clear blue sky, and I could see land. I headed to breakfast early, as I always wake up starving. The restaurant was lovely and quiet. That first morning coffee and looking at the ocean is an excellent start to the day. 

Today’s included tour was a visit to a ceilidh (pronounced “kay-lee”), a Scottish- and Acadian-inspired kitchen party. Music was by the Ross Family Band, one of Prince Edward Island’s most popular ceilidh groups and nibbles included a glass of wine, a seafood chowder and a lobster roll, followed by a short walking tour of the town. 

After the tour, there was time to explore at leisure. One must-do in Charlottetown is to try the Cows ice cream. I recommend the gooey mooey ice cream made with burnt sugar ice cream (vanilla ice cream mixed with English toffee), English toffee marble, caramel cups, and chocolate flakes, and it obviously contains no calories! 

Also, try the chocolate-covered potato chips, although I’m unsure how I felt about these. But you have to give them a go. 

Day 7- At Sea 

Well, let’s just say I’m glad I picked up some seasick tablets in Charlottetown yesterday. Grey skies and rough waves all day today. 

It was an eat and snooze day today and catch up on laundry day. 

At 4 pm, I treated myself to a fabulous relaxing massage in the spa. But alas, as with all massages, it was over way too soon. The spa on board the Viking Cruise ships is lovely. If you just want to swim or use the sauna, those facilities are all complimentary. 

You will need to pre-book your massage, and of course, at sea days are popular spa days, so make sure to book in advance. 

In the evening, the sea became calmer or maybe I was just getting my sea legs. So I went for a lovely Italian meal in Manfredi’s on deck one. You usually have to have a reservation to get into this little Italian restaurant, but I figured with the rough seas, there would be a few no-shows at dinner, and I thought right. 

Did you know that there is no extra charge for the premium restaurants on Viking cruises? 

Day 8 – At Sea

I woke to calmer seas – thank goodness! And although the sky was grey, it was a brighter shade of grey.  

This meant I could take a stroll and even a nap outside on the sun deck. 

Feeling guilty about all the napping and eating, I joined another Line Dancing class as my Fitbit kept asking me if I was still alive. 

Later, I joined a surprisingly enjoyable Bayeux Tapestry Tour with Viking Resident Historian William Whobrey. Images from the Bayeux Tapestry are on the main stairs of all the Viking Ocean Cruise ships. Although I vaguely remember this being discussed many years ago at school, this was far more interesting. 

Afterwards, I headed to the Star Theatre for a port talk on St John, tomorrow’s destination. 

At 6:15 in the evening, there was another solo travellers get-together in the Explorers Lounge, followed by a delicious dinner in The Restaurant on deck 2. 

There’s so much to do on Sea Days; I understand now why people enjoy them. On my last cruise from Barcelona to Rome, we were in a different port each day, so I never actually got to experience all the ship’s facilities. 

Day 9 – St John, News Brunswick 

Saint John is a city in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. It is the largest city in the province and is located on the Bay of Fundy, known for having the highest tides in the world.  

In 1785, this “Loyalist city” was incorporated by Royal Charter, making it Canada’s first incorporated city.

I did two excursions today -The Highlights of St John, the included tour, and one optional tour. 

Note: if you do the St Martins and the Bay of Fundy tour like I did, then there is no need to do the included tour as you will see again what you saw on that morning tour! 

The other optional tour today was whale and wildlife watching. 

The highlights of St John include a trip to the local market, which is a market just for tourists but has some quite good souvenirs. I was almost tempted. 

And a trip to Fallsview Park to see the Reversing Falls Rapids, a daily phenomenon created by the collision of the Bay of Fundy Tide and the Saint John River.

On the included tour, you visit the falls, but on the other tour, you visit at the beginning and also at the end of the tour, which I thought was a bit strange at first until you realise that on the last visit, the water flow was going in reverse, so was actually quite interesting. Unfortunately, there’s a big ugly paper mill that spoils the photos. 

If you’re lucky, you might even spot some seals. I didn’t see any, but I could smell them. 

The drive around the Bay of Fundy was lovely, with some gorgeous views of the fall foliage. At Fundy National Park, the difference between high and low tide can be as much as 12 metres. At the head of the bay, the tide can rise 16 metres, the height of a four-story building.

St. Martins Sea Caves were formed by the constantly changing tide cycle of Fundy Bay. Did you know that the water from all the rivers on earth that flows into all the oceans is actually equal to the amount of water flowing in and out of the Bay of Fundy in a single day? 

Day 10 – Eastport Maine

Eastport, Maine, is the easternmost city in the United States and is situated on Moose Island in Cobscook Bay at the head of Passamaquoddy Bay. The city with a rich maritime history was once a busy port and centre for shipbuilding and trade.

After taking two tours yesterday, I thought I wouldn’t do the included tour today but just explore Eastport on foot. 

It’s only a small town, so I assumed I would only be out for a few hours, but in fact, I spent the whole day exploring. What a lovely little town with some fun, weird and wonderful characters.

Day 11 – Portland Maine

Portland is situated in the southern part of Maine, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and is the closest U.S. transatlantic port to Europe.

The city’s historic Old Port district reflects its maritime heritage with cobblestone streets and 19th-century architecture.

The Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, just south of the city, is one of the USA’s most iconic lighthouses. 

I visited here a few years ago with Jonathan. There is so much to see and do in Portland but, I didn’t join the included excursion today but instead chose to simply wander the city streets instead and later meet up with Jonathan’s cousins for lunch at DiMillos. 

Day 12 – Newport, Rhode Island 

As larger cruise ships cannot dock at Newport, Rhode Island, you must take a tender across to Perotti Park in the centre of town. 

Nestled on the New England coast, Newport, Rhode Island is a delightful gem renowned for its maritime legacy, Gilded Age mansions, and pivotal role in the American Revolution. 

But alas, the weather today was awful: rain, grey skies and more rain. I had planned on exploring the town at leisure, but with the weather so bad, I decided to take the included 90-minute Panoramic Newport by motor coach tour. 

At times, visibility was virtually zero through the heavy mist and rain, but it was still a pleasant drive. Apparently, we drove past the homes of Judge Judy and Jay Leno. Many more celebrities have homes on the island, but those were the only names I recognised. 

I had hoped to take a stroll along the Cliff Walk, a scenic 3.5-mile walkway with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and passes by many of the Gilded Age mansions, or at the very least, a little stroll in the town, but the rain was even heavier than when we started, so I jumped on a tender back to the ship. 

I enjoyed lunch at the pool grill, then took a creative writing workshop and realised I’m not very creative.

Tonight, I had reservations for dinner at the Chef’s Table; that was a first for me. The food was lovely, but I must say I prefer the food and ambience of Manfredi’s more.

All the restaurants were quiet tonight as choppy seas. This was the first time I had seen sick bags placed on stairwells by lifts. 

Day 13 and 14 – At Sea

The further south we headed, the better the weather. It was time to relax by the pool and on the sun deck. 

A couple of dance classes, a pedicure and a good book. And a horrific realisation as I saw some photos of myself that, yep, it’s time to diet 😳 

On our last day, the captain announced that we would be arriving five hours late into Fort Lauderdale. Was there chaos and commotion on board? No, none at all. 

Everything was taken care of and dealt with in a professional manner. How a company deals with a crisis is how you know how good a company is, and Viking handled it so well. I even sneaked down to Guest Services just to see if there were any angry passengers, but no, everyone seemed happy with another five hours on board. 

Viking often offers free or reduced airfares as part of their travel packages, and if you booked this through them, which appears most passengers had, they sorted everything out for you.

 My flights weren’t affected as I had a late flight out of Miami, so I was pleased to have an extra five hours on the ship rather than at the airport. 

It certainly was a lovely cruise from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale and I loved every minute and I’m sure you would too.

Is A Viking Ocean Cruise Right For You? 

A Viking cruise is not for everybody. If you’re more interested in the larger ships, casinos, theme nights, nightclubs, a younger crowd, etc., then you’re probably NOT going to enjoy a Viking Cruise. Check here to see if a Viking Ocean cruise is right for you. 

Would I Recommend Travelling Solo With Viking Ocean Cruises? 

Yes! But unfortunately, the single supplement on Viking is pretty steep. The price for a single passenger is more or less the same as two people travelling in a stateroom. This supplement means there won’t be many other single travellers on board.

 

However, Viking occasionally offers special rates for single travellers, so check for this and other special offers here. 

And if there are travellers on board travelling by themselves, Viking does arrange opportunities for the solo travellers to meet.

But I really enjoyed travelling solo with Viking Ocean Cruises. I love the fact that almost everything is included in the price. I love the fantastic service from all of the staff, which you cannot fault. 

And I met some fantastic people on board this cruise from Montreal to Fort Lauderdale.

And as us ‘mature’ solo travellers are one of the fastest growing niche markets, maybe one day there will be ways around the single supplement.

For more reviews on Viking Ocean Cruises, check out these reviews on Cruise Critic. 

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Disclaimer: I was a guest of Viking Ocean Cruises, but all opinions expressed here are my own. A big thank you to Viking for this fantastic opportunity. 

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