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Can you direct me to some dependable association or Web portal for older singles travel? I’m 65 and looking to travel with a group of other singles.

— Jean F.,

Journey can be luxurious, partial or lonely for singles, come again? With most of the journey business presentation the earth from side to side the prism of “twice tenancy

But millions of lively little one boomer are preliminary to hit departure age — and many are single, separated, widowed or married to spouses who don’t care to travel. So expect to see an ever-increasing array of travel around and cruise choices.

Here are some options:

More than 5,000 singles of varying ages have traveled with O Solo Mio Tours (www.osolomio.com) since 1991. The Los Altos-based company specializes in the European market, primarily Italy and Greece, and offers a mix of its own tours (10-20 people) and interesting itineraries from other companies.

“Our tours do not have an age restriction,” O Solo Mio manager Melanie Doorley said. “The average age range is 45 to 55, with some as young as late 30s and some as senior as 65 to 70-plus.”

The company helps match single travelers with roommates and will connect them via phone or e-mail before their departure.

On the fall/winter 2008 schedule are five journeys, including one designed with the solo traveler in mind: There’s no single supplement for the “France Holiday Getaway,” Dec. 26-Jan. 3. The

Land-only price is $1,979.

In 2009, look for Ireland and Greek Island itineraries, among others.

Marking its 50th year of catering to Americans 50 and older is Grand Circle Travel (www.gct.com), which started in 1958 as the in-house travel agency for AARP. Both Grand Circle, which specializes in trips and river cruises, and its sister company, Overseas Adventure Travel, which focuses on small-group adventure travel, have high percentages of single female travelers.

For those clients, the company offers a roommate-matching service and “travel pals” newsletter listings.

“Some matches have resulted in women becoming incredible friends and travel partners — nice for single women as well as for those who have been widowed and are hesitant to travel alone,” Grand Circle Travel spokeswoman Priscilla O’Reilly said.

Negotiating with vendors also allows Grand Circle Travel to offer low-cost single supplements, O’Reilly said.

For example, the single supplement starts at just $895 for a 21-day, $4,095 “Australia, New Zealand and Fiji” itinerary. Get on the mailing list for early alerts on single-supplement pricing.

Source- http://www.mercurynews.com

It was the first day of our cruise to Alaska, but the trip began previous to the boat still left port.

Exhausted — and a bit starving—all my husband, Bill, and I wanted to do was find our stateroom. Instead, we found a state of confusion.

Everywhere I looked, glassy-eyed passengers were wandering to and fro asking deep questions like “Is this port or starboard?” while clutching diagrams of our cruise ship.

I was gripping one, too.

“You’re holding the illustration upside down,” Bill groaned. “The way you’re viewing it, we’re on the Titanic.”

“Wait a minute! Now I’ve got it right! Our room is this way,” I shouted over the din of tight-jawed couples discussing directions.

By the time we reached the ship railing at the rear of the boat, Bill and I were ready to jump overboard. As an alternative, we dived into the bazillion-course buffet.

“No wonder we ended up at the bow rather than the stern,” I gurgled through mouthfuls. “The way I was looking at the ship layout, our boat was headed due north backwards.”

Bill reached for the printout.

“How about if I read the map and you watch for whales,” he sighed as he eyed my quickly disappearing rum torte, chocolate mousse and Love Boat Dream Cake.

By the look on his face, he may have just had his first sighting.

Before I could plunge into another dessert, we left the Lido Deck, nicknamed the “Eat-Oh!” Deck, to walk forward — or was it aft — in our quest to locate our room.

Once we were safely inside, Bill gave me a big hug.

“You may not be a ‘map person,’ but I’m sure glad you found me 43 years ago.”

Well, even if I’d been confused earlier, one thing was clear — my prayer for journey mercies had actually been answered many years before. Traveling through life with Bill has been a “piece of cake.”

This was going to be a delectable anniversary cruise.

Source: http://www.tri-cityherald.com