In the wanderer the dominant impression of the speaker's life at sea is one of

The dominant impression is one of loneliness. He is condemned to spend his life in exile, but loneliness makes it even harder, as he is not allowed to see anyone. Everybody he has ever loved is dead. The fact that he had experienced love, friendship, joys, makes it even worse for him. He will spend the rest of his days with sorrow as his only companion.