I thought I'd feel lonely on a cruise full of travelers in their 60s and 70s. I'm glad I was wrong.

I was one of the youngest people on a 12-day expedition cruise. Vivienne Dovi I was nervous when I realized I was one of the youngest guests on an Antarctica expedition cruise . However, my fellow cruise-goers immediately took me under their wing and made sure I wasn't alone. I left the cruise with new professional mentors and friends, and a new perspective on connection. I don't spend much time with anyone over 50, besides my parents. As someone in my early 30s, I mostly find myself interacting with people in a similar life stage: completing postgrad degrees , building careers, and figuring adulthood out. I typically take my trips solo, too, connecting with other travelers around my age as I explore. All of this changed in January, when I boarded a 12-day expedition cruise to Antarctica with about 200 other guests.