OTrail

Well I sincerely hope not or it may be difficult for it to take me around the Baltics in June.

I've not been on Celebration yet (going on it in June though) but have been on Spirit twice as a solo traveller.

First time was quite apprehensive but met lovely people, even just sitting in the port waiting to board I met a nice family who I saw a few more times throughout the cruise, also had an older couple take me under their wing which was really nice. Again I saw them a few more times. Best thing I did though was went to the solo traveller's meetings. As has been said they're advertised in the ship's newsletter and depending on how long you go for there'll be a few. Two weeks is usually a couple of breakfasts, dinners, drinks. Met some fantastic people who I'd meet in the evenings for drinks and the entertainment.

Second time I actually met up with people from this forum, check the Roll Calls forum to see if anyone's posted a thread for meeting up, if not, post one yourself. We met up for drinks and everyone was great, a lot more folk turned up than I expected! Again I went to the solo's meet ups, I even randomly bumped in to a couple I'd met from the first cruise on the second!

Eating in the main dining area is probably a better bet for meeting people than the buffet, as that's very much a sit-where-you-want affair rather than being seated with different people. Easy enough to get talking to people as the easy openers are asking if they've cruised before and what trips everyone's doing.

As an aside, I'd be really interested to know how you got on with the cabin (pictures would be wonderful!) as I'll be on Deck 2 for my cruise too.

Does anyone know if there's much of a difference between the narrower looking cabins than the wider ones?

When you look at the deck plans some cabins are shorter but wider than others, usually ones on corners.

Thanks for the heads up! I always like to check the online price compared to the price I got to make sure it's no less, nice to see I've saved some money.

I've been on two so far, third planned for next year.

Ages do vary, but speaking as someone who's not yet 30 it's a narrow variance! I will say all the people I've met have been lovely, on my second cruise ended up randomly bumping in to a couple I'd met on the first!

Both times have been on Spirit. 1st time I was in a single cabin and as said above, it was just a re-purposed cabin room. Two single beds instead of a double despite it being sold as a solo cabin. Did notice some noise but not enough to stop me sleeping, and I was in the very last cabin. 2nd time I was in a standard room (which again had two single beds but wasn't sold as a solo cabin so no complaint) and while the solo cabin was roomer the standard room was a bit more comfortable with more storage and a proper desk.

First sea day was a breakfast, then we had a coffee morning, then dinner, and another coffee morning. This is one of the things that has made me return to Thomsons as I like that these things are planned, you don't have to go, or you can go and see what the others are like.

Also check the roll call forum as there's often a planned meet-up in there. I went to one on my 2nd cruise and it was great to meet people.

I'm booked on it and haven't had any word of it being cancelled.

As said above though, you can't book online until after the summer, only though TAs.

Just booked July 2017 from Newcastle - with my TA, it did take some time due to busy lines, UK cruises can only be booked with TA. All done and dusted.

Glad you posted this, I was looking online with nothing showing up so just phoned and booked the June one from Newcastle.

Does anyone know when they go on sale?

After taking the last couple years off as they didn't do UK sailings, if these are correct the June or August Baltic ones look very tempting.

Whether it's a scam or not has no relevance to the fact that you should not be lending a relative stranger money. No matter how many times he's been your waiter on a cruise, you don't know him. You especially shouldn't be lending money to anyone using Western Union as that's the service most often used by people to fraud those who sell goods via eBay and Amazon.

Let him know you're uncomfortable with him requesting money from you and remove him from your Facebook friends list.

I would also let any of your friends who may have him on their Facebook know that he's been asking too.

I would have thought the best bet would just be to get the train straight in to Waverley, a lot easier for people to get to than Edinburgh Park, and then hop on the Airport bus as it's only about a fiver and leaves from just outside the train station.

That way you're saving yourself an extra train journey and the cost of the taxi.

My first ever cruise was almost 3 years with Thomson, and I didn't really know what to expect but I have to say that I wasn't aggrieved at the room or cost - perhaps mainly because I didn't know of anything else. The first thing that struck me as odd was that even though I'd booked a single cabin the room came with two single beds on either side of the room, obviously an old staff quarters room as it also had a proper key rather than a key card! But I didn't mind it, for the amount of time I spent in the room it was fine.

Then last year, again as a solo cruiser, I had to book a "normal" room as I was late in booking and all the solo cabins had gone. I priced it up as a solo and also as a couple just to see the price difference and there was hardly any. I know we solo cruisers pay a premium but it's awful at having to almost pay double - and as has been mentioned, there's no loyalty scheme, no added incentive or gratitude for being a return cruiser.

My problem now is I don't know who to turn to. I originally booked with Thomson as they'd been highly spoken of by family and I honestly had no problem on either cruise with how I was treated or the service I received. I enjoyed the relaxed nature of it, the informal dining even in the MDR. However, with Thomson now not sailing from the UK I'm looking at other cruise companies - how do they compare for solo travellers?

I really liked Thomson's morning meeting of solo travellers, where you could go along and meet others who were there on their own. I met some absolutely fantastic people last year, many off this site, who made the 2 week cruise so much more enjoyable. Do all cruises do that, or are you left to your own devices? I'm 28 and so, apologies for being a bit ageist here!, don't tend to fit in to the normal demographic for cruisers so not sure how I'd get on trundling around on my own for two weeks on a P&O / Fred Olsen / Celebrity

I was there last year and we docked at Holmsgarth, which is just up the road a bit from Lerwick. Half hour walk.

I had my first ever cruise last summer, not only my first ever cruise but my first holiday in 10 years. And I did it alone. I was nervous as heck. It's such a massive step to take so can understand your apprehension.

My cruise was the Fire & Ice run by Thomson, it was two weeks and it went to Norway and Iceland. I was in the fortunate position of knowing before hand that they run solo traveller's dinings, so the first morning they set up a breakfast. Aside from this I didn't know what to expect. I was 27 and hadn't been on holiday for so long because I could never stomach going to a foreign city alone, finding my way around, getting lost, dining alone, just being on my own for so long really, which is why I went on a cruise as I figured I'd meet people. And I did.

The first breakfast was really good, everyone there was older than me (by quite a bit I hope they won't mind me saying) but they were all really friendly and nice and took me under their wing. From that morning I made one really good friend (who I'm still in contact with 7 months later) and others who I would spend the evenings with. My excursions I had all pre-booked before going and although none of the solos I met were on most of them you either meet people on them or you're too interested in your surroundings to really think about it.

Like yourself dining was a concern of mine and I'll admit the first night felt rubbish, but that's because I went to the wrong restaurant I reckon. Thomson have a buffet restaurant and a sit-down waiter restaurant. I went to the buffet, which is a lot more informal. The sit-down restaurant you're seated by crew members so you always had others at your table to talk to. After that first night I always ate in the sit-down unless meeting the afore mentioned solos.

I had also talked to some people in the port while we were waiting to board who helped me through the first stages, I saw them on board a fair bit and would always have a chat too.

Ultimately it was a great experience and I'm so glad I ignored my fears and anxieties over going. I met some really nice people, saw some great sights and had a really enjoyable time. So much so that I booked another cruise for myself a week after I got back. I've still got the same fears and anxities building for this one (what if there's not as many solo travellers, what if I don't get on with any, what if what if what if) but I know it's not going to be anywhere near as bad as I imagine.

Anyway, I hope my experience has helped. It's normal and natural to be anxious as it's a really big step and brave thing to do, but don't let the bad thoughts put you off because you'll kick yourself if you don't step up. I think the one bit of advice I would give is to talk to people, you'll either get along and have some friendly faces to see or you won't but since there'll be hundreds of other people on the ship and you'll only be there for a week or two it won't matter!

Well after my positively fantastic first cruise last year (Fire & Ice) I booked up for the Arctic Affair a week after my return.

Perhaps not the most popular cruise as it goes in the completely opposite direction to ones I see discussed more, but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity of going to Svalbard.

Is there anyone else on here going?

After spending 5 minutes listening to Dolly Parton on repeat and with a call costing me 10p a minute, i eventually got through to a Thomson advisor who had obviousely had a long day as he must have sighed at least 5 times during our 2 minute conversation. He then told me i couldnt book my cabin with him as id booked instore! What difference does it make? A booking is a booking isnt it? Their loss cos i was going to upgrade as well, but now i cant be bothered and ill just take my chances!

I had the same experience when trying to book my shore excursions recently. I'd emailed Thomson's asking if I could book them online even though I'd booked the cruise instore and was told I could, but despite the email I received saying they were on sale when I tried to book them they were unavailable.

Called through to their centre to book them instead and the guy on the end of the phone seemed to be the most fed up man in the world. Constantly sighing down the phone, going silent for ages at a time (while probably only 10 seconds but when you're on the phone it feels like minutes) only for him to then tell me I couldn't book them online or on the phone and I'd have to do it instore.

In all honesty it just sounded like he couldn't be bothered doing it himself.

I did Fire & Ice last year and it was excellent, my first ever cruise but I don't think it will be bettered overall. Perfect waether, calm seas, lovely people, great countries.

There were two formal nights last year, I'd assume the same for this.

I would advise booking excursions in advance, some have limited space. I've also seen that you're stopping in Bergen so one thing I would recommend is going to the open air fish market there. It is excellent.

Enjoy yourself.