From Wall Flower to Dance Floor: How Viking Sky Taught Me to Say Yes

I almost didn't go. That's the honest truth. I had my Solo Traveler cabin on the Viking Sky booked for three weeks—a repositioning cruise from Rome to London—and for two months leading up to departure, I kept imagining myself sitting alone in my stateroom, ordering room service, and watching the ocean through my private veranda door. Which, let's be real, sounds kind of nice. But also kind of lonely. The problem is that I'm shy. Not in the quiet, mysterious way that sounds romantic. I'm talking about the sweaty-palms, heart-racing-when-someone-makes-eye-contact kind of shy. I'd been working from home for five years before I decided to take this cruise, and my social muscles had basically atrophied into nothing. My therapist had gently suggested that a solo cruise might be "exposure therapy" in the best possible way. I'd told her she was crazy. Turns out, I was the one being crazy for booking it in the first place. The first night aboard the Viking Sky, I dressed carefully—dark jeans, a safe navy sweater, nothing that would draw attention. I made my way down to the Main Dining Room for the welcome dinner, hands literally shaking as I waited at the maître d' stand. "Are you dining a…