morrieb1

I just found out that my fiance will not be able to go on a cruise, but he gave me permission to go by myself. (As long as I am a good girl. ;)) I am on a budget but want to get the best deal possible. I am seriously considering the Norwegian Getaway's studio cabin. Carnival has a lot of very cheap cruises with almost no single supplement. In the past, my TA has warned against Carnival due to its frat-boyish atmosphere. She said that you get what you pay for with them. Since I am on my own, I am looking for a lot of entertainment.

 

Which line do you think would be the best for a solo cruiser for the first time? I'm very excited!

I have cruised both NCL and Carnival solo but I haven't been on the NCL ships with dedicated solo cabins - so I can't speak to how that changes the NCL dynamic.

I haven't seen any more of less "fratboy atmosphere" with either line - I think it depends more on the time of year. Spring break is going to give you kids and college students on either line.

NCL ships are prettier - Carnival ships tend to look rather Vegasy. Carnival cabins are bigger - particularly compared to the NCL studio rooms.

I think the food is fine on both....though I give the edge to Carnival in terms of offering a wider range of choices at lunch. Both lines have Vegas style shows, dance clubs, musical acts performing in various lounges, and at least some comedy happening.

My personal preference is Carnival because of the bigger cabins, the comedy club, the adult serenity lounging area, and set dining time options.

I have heard many good things about the NCL megaships, particularly the solo lounges so I don't think there's a wrong decision.

The only thing I'd caution you about if this is your first time is that you might find the sheer size and number of passengers to be a bit overwhelming. I prefer a smaller ship because its easier to get around and its easier to meet other passengers because you run across the same folks more frequently.

Em

5/9/14 Liberty from Port Canaveral - 8 day Aruba/Curacao/Grand Turk

679 inside solo - bit less if eligible for military discount

Same itinerary 5/2/14 - Carnival Sunshine 689 inside solo

Would anyone have a reference for me to contact as I would love to cruise and can't persuade my children to go with me and I am recently widowed. Are there any cruises that have a guide or someone in charge that would look out for someone alone also would arrange a suitable cabin mate to share a room. I have looked online with no luck and trust that someone on this site could steer me to the right direction to a travel site in a sincere and trustworthy manner. Thank you.

Along with googling single cruises and single travel - there are travel companies that offer holidays including cruises geared towards older travelers...for example Grand Circle in the US and Saga Holidays in the UK.

Holland America still offers a single share program, I believe.

I have been on "hosted" cruises and have to say that in my experience their cabin matching was really no more than matching the gender and attempting to find a similar age -if that's enough to be suitable, then the Holland America share might work well for you.

I found the hosts assigned to these groups to be nice enough but as far as "looking out for someone alone" - generally on a group singles cruise everyone comes alone so I don't know how much individual assistance they would be able to give you.

Hope that helps a bit.....

I just checked for the Allure Sept 15th sailing and the interiors start at $1,200, which is not a bad price, but too much ... oh well, I'll enjoy my Jewel cruise and some extra days in San Juan :D

Looks like the 8/15 Allure is going to be on next weeks Sales Event with that 110% supplement http://www.creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Multi_Dest/Special_Offers/rci_sales_event.pdf

I already did two solo cruises, and each time, I found myself getting heavily screened at customs. The agents were being total jerks, asking me detailed questions about what I do for work, purpose of my travel, who I'm traveling with (were they being rhetorical?), purpose of some things I packed for my cruise, etc. During one of the cruises, I was even picked out for more detailed screening. It was a quick, but irritating experience, and when the agents found nothing, they begrudgingly sent me on my way.

 

I ran into two of my cruise friends after getting through Customs; we were waiting for our buses in the same area. They told me that it was because I was traveling alone. While that won't stop me from cruising solo again, the reason is quite unsettling. Compared to my experience with Border Patrol, the TSA agents at the airport were almost as nice to me as the Carnival crew members. If you believe the news articles, TSA is supposed to be really bad.

 

So on with my question: just how common is it for solo cruisers to get the third degree at Customs? Do they screened and questioned more thoroughly than couples and families? Has there been a history of people using cruise ships to smuggle drugs from countries like Jamaica? If you've had similar experiences or can suggest an answer, please go ahead. If it makes a difference, I'm male, age 29.

I've travelled alone for many years and used to get questioned more than other folks -but it was much more intense when I was coming back from a Caribbean cruise or land trip then when I returned from Europe. I had my bag searched coming back from land trips to the Bahamas and Cancun, in fact. But once I hit my 40s, they started to just ask a couple of questions and send me through like everyone else

So I think its that you are relatively young and coming from the Caribbean alone and they are doublechecking that you aren't involved in drugrunning.

Just my thoughts - I don't have any evidence to back it up except that like I said, they don't bother with me anymore.

Hi all,

I just happened across the RCL Jewel of the Seas 5 night 1/5/12

Inside 453 total

Outside 593 total

Balcony 752 total

I booked inside L as my Christmas present to me :)

I have been watching this and watching this particular cruise. It has been on the "bucket list". Not sure I would feel safe going solo. I'll sort of keep an eye on what you're doing and maybe I'll jump on board. It's a saveable cruise being that it over one year out. It's the air once again that I'm curious to know what it will be.

Hi Pat,

I don't have any plans to wander around by myself except in the Mexican ports - I'm thinking ship sponsored excursions......especially since I don't speak more than maybe a dozen words of Spanish and doubt I'll manage much more in the next year ;).

As for the air - of course one never knows what the future holds but Avianca's March rates for this year are a bit less than 1000 for DC to Santiago and then LAX back to DC.

And I don't know if this one qualifies, but a large agency is advertising that they will cover the required deposit for all bookings made this month.......

Just thought I'd tempt you a bit....and now I'll get back to the point of this thread and hunt some deals for between now and then ;).

Em

Have you seen any deals like that for 2013?

Not Antarctica- but the Star Princess Santiago to LA 3/10/13 has about a 60% single supplement for insides and oceanviews. On their website insides are 2072, outsides 2272 so less than 150/day.

I just booked an obstructed view - first trip to South America and first time on Princess - and with plenty of time to save up for excursions and such.

Em

I looked at one of the singles cruises for the end of January, even did a tentative booking, since it's a ship I like. But the more I looked, it seemed most of the group is into heavy drinking and smoking- not my thing. I canceled- not without hassle- and they offered a buy-in on the ship of $200. (I was able to get a single cabin on my own, cheaper than their cabin-share price, staying on B2B from the previous week.)

I expect those who share my interest (dancing), I'll meet in the lounge; the rest are welcome to their pub crawls. If not- well, like hoshk_1 said, in the Toronto area, singles events are pretty doubtful. At least the weather will be better here than home.

I jiust came back from a cruise with a large singles group onboard - the 11/8 Carnival Valor - in fact, my table included some of those folks the first night (then they moved to their mingling).

I met about a dozen single travelers who were not with "the group" and I'm sure there were more aboard that I just didn't come across in my wanderings. We all had a great time on the ship.

It's really just a matter of style, I think. If you want to be part of group parties and group activities....then a singles cruise fits well. If you are more into just relaxing on your own schedule and are comfortable meeting people on your own - then it probably isn't worth spending all the extra money to go with a group.

But in any case, after more than half a dozen Carnival cruises, I assure you that men traveling alone will always find plenty of dance partners and dinner companions.

There tends to be a lot more single women than men on cruise ships - even in the organized singles groups.

Em

With the future cruise certificate - do be aware that the onboard credit for a solo traveler is only 1/2 the amount for double occupancy - even if you are paying a 200% supplement for the cabin.

Em

The only problem I had with the Fantasy 1A is at first I bumped my head on the top bunk a few times - even folded up it sticks out just a bit over the bottom bed....and it made it tricky for someone like me who tends to sit up in bed a lot.

For the price it was well worth a couple of oops moments....and some of them are Empress aft which puts you just a flight of stairs away from the Serenity Deck.

Em