Markets 
The Golden Girls of cruising.
Upon booking her first-ever solo cruise, Debbie, 59, was nervous.
She was fresh off a breakup and ready for a change — but feared a trip by herself would have the opposite effect and ultimately make her feel lonely.
“From the moment I booked the cruise to the moment I stepped on the ship, I was on edge,” the UK resident told Jam Press. “Everyone was telling me I’d meet people and make friends, but I was so nervous.”
“I was worried about what I’d do if something went wrong and I was on my own – who would I talk to?”
It wasn’t until she met two other cruisers in the same boat as her, no pun intended, that she realized this trip was going to change her life.
While boarding one of the cruise’s transfer buses, the 59-year-old met Cath, a 66-year-old widow from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who was desperate to rebuild her life after the loss of her husband and son.
“When I met Cath, we hit it off straight away,” Debbie explained to Jam Press. “Neither of us knew what we were doing — it was the blind leading the blind, but we were so relieved when we met each other.”
“The bus was full and there were only two seats,” Cath chimed in. “Debbie sat next to me and that was it – our friendship was made.”
That solo cruising bond only further grew when the duo met Donna, 58, another solo cruiser who had booked the trip after her children moved out, leaving her with no on else to vacation with.
“I overheard Debbie at reception asking about booking up for the solo meet-up, so I shouted, ‘I’m here on my own too’, and that was it,” the Hastings, England resident told Jam Press.
From that point onwards, we just stuck together like glue. “We’ve got the same sense of humour. “We call ourselves the Witches of Eastwick because we’re always cackling,” Donna added.
After making unforgettable memories together, the trio exchanged numbers to stay in touch.
“We can go months without speaking but then we’ll get on the phone and an hour later we’re still laughing. We pick up exactly where we left off,” Donna pointed out.
And not only did Donna find two new BFFs on her “Eat, Pray, Love”-esque vacation, but she also found love.
“I wasn’t looking for anything but I met someone, another solo traveller, and we just clicked,” she said of her and her man, Alan, 61, who she’s already been on two cruises with.
And of course, Donna’s new beau got her besties’ stamp of approval: “Cath and Debbie approve. You never know what could happen, so take the leap!”
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