travelchick989

Thanks everyone for your responses.I'm a teacher so that means the only times I will be able to cruise is when the kids are out. And as I look I notice that it tends to be more pricey around winter break, spring break and summer breaks. I'm coming from NYC so thinking of booking a cruise out of NYC to save on a plane ticket. 

@mtwingcpa  thanks for your reply! I MIGHT try booking a cruise 2-3 weeks away just to see if I get better deals. 

@IrieBanjan 54 thanks for your input!  Thanks for the advice on putting a cruise reservation on hold, haven't thought of that. And yea I am picky about cabin location as I typically prefer a balcony cabin. Thats my only concern about booking very last minute.  

When booking last minute do you all book through a travel agent or on your own? I'd think on your own since its very late?

Hey all,

I'm sure this question has been asked multiple times but has anyone ever booked a cruise, a week, two weeks or a month away from a cruise? Do you get a better deal as a solo booking last minute? Also if your booking last minute, is your stateroom in a good location on the ship? Thanks!

I took my first solo cruise at 27. I also look very young, am female, and a minority so I felt like I had so much going against me. However, I was tired of living life on friends' time, budget, vacation allowance, and interests! My first solo was amazing, I told a few people (mostly women) I was alone and they expressed shock that I was able to do at 27 what they couldn't do until 50/60 and encouraged me to keep living life with courage and confidence and on my own terms! Second solo was not so good but it hasn't stopped me - third solo booked for Sept 2018! :)

 

For me the "scariest" part is embarkation, not dining. If you are on a cruise line that has traditional dining, you will be seated with other solos or a table of women in your age range. Embarkation is a group activity and it is very obvious that I'm in line alone. I usually put headphones in and bop along to my favorite jams until its my turn at the desk. Once on the ship, no one knows anything, ha! :)

Thanks for sharing! I am of a minority (african-american) as well, and that is something to that I feel could adding to my insecurity of traveling alone. When I cruised with Norwegian, there wasn't any embarkation parts that I remember. I've always said to myself if I dine, Im dinning buffet for breakfast lunch/dinner. :') lol Enjoy your next solo trip!

All my travels by land or sea are solo. I love it. I have meet people from all over the world. Yes I pay double occupancy price, but I like certain cabins, so I pay. I find that there are plenty of people to talk to. Most of my cruises are 10 days and more. Often people ask it I am afraid to cruise by myself. I tell them know. As even cruising with someone else, you still have to be aware in different ports you visit. Many of the people will invite to dine with them, tag along with their group if we are on the same excursion. The craziest group was from Canada. They were a fun group to hang out with. Go solo, have fun.

Yes I would pay double occupancy was well! And I've some how always have meet other people even though I was with other people. I'm just tired of waiting, and every time I ask my friends there's just no response really lol.

Hello All :)

Age: 27

State: NY

What you do: Teacher

Hobbies/Interests: Music, hanging out

Next cruise: Who knows?! lol

Last Cruise: NCL Breakaway July 2017 Bermuda

Thanks for sharing! I would like to try it at least once but I'm so nervous. I'll be 28 this December and I look really young as well. I guess that leads in to my insecurity going alone. I may get the stares and the "What are you doing looks". Who knows one day I would like to take the risk!

I've been traveling solo since I was... 27 lol. Just turned 35.

 

I just get fed up traveling with people who constantly want to do stuff that I don't want to do. Grew up taking family vacays like that, and of course when I got to college half of my Spring Break would be doing stuff with friends I didn't care to do... and traveling with my now ex was nice at times but also annoying because he was more of an extrovert who wanted to show off for everyone... or not go at all because he couldn't show off. :rolleyes:

 

At 27 I said, "I want to travel and I want to ENJOY it!" Hopped on a cheap flight to Daytona Beach out of the blue one day. Had a great time. Started doing more solo travels since then... I have a goal to visit all 50 states (Hawaii and Alaska will be challenging, but ONE DAY!) and finally took a cruise this month for the 1st time so I've officially been outside of the country, at last ;)

 

I still travel with other sometimes, but I no longer wait if I want to take a trip alone either. I've found it makes for a better balance. I sincerely hope you decide to try it sooner than later - even if you start with a short, close trip where you just drive somewhere and spend it solo. I think you'll enjoy it, but if you don't at least you'll know for sure if it's not for you.

Wow thanks everyone for your awesome responses! I'm really encouraged by your post!

Age is just a number baby! ;p

 

I took my first solo cruise when I was 25..... loved every minute of it! And never looked back.... I've done one a year for the last 5 years, with another booked for next year! (NCL Epic Med - 10th June B2B to the 24th June, if your interested ;) - Awesome early booking perks at the moment!)

 

Before my first cruise I was exactly the same.... I really wanted to holiday but none of my friends could afford to.... but I picked a cruise line I liked the look of and went for it. The second I got home again I looked for my next (that's when I found NCL! and fell in love...) :hearteyes: ** I have a link to my second solo cruise in my signature if you want to check it out... I was 26 at the time.

 

I have met many solo cruisers of all ages.... from a 24 year old that i became great friends with this year to an 80 year old who was amazing!....

 

If you find the right cruise line for you.... and you can afford it.... go for it - you wont regret it! I didn't :)

@ Sparkels I wish I could go! I'm a teacher so during the month of June I'll be working. It would be a dream though one day to just take time off from working and just travel. And to a B2B cruise definitely going to add that to my bucket list!

great review! Nice seeing you were able to meet some cool people and enjoy yourself. I may embark on a solo trip next year, we shall see.

TravelChick.... You would like the NCL ships with studio cabins, and the studio lounge. Lots of people to meet. I learned from another cruiser that you can book NCL cruises with Solo discounts, as these will have a lot of solo travelers onboard. She said there were 50 solos in her group. I am going to try this on the NCL Norwegian Gem from Manhattan to Canada ,New England, Sails Sept 30th. Hopefully a lot of Solos onboard. This ship has no studio cabins, but Solos flock to the Solo discounted tours from what I hear.

I've seen videos and pictures about the solo cabins. But perhaps I'm picky but i gotta have my balcony. When I first went cruising I opted for a balcony. Yes people will argue that your not gonna be in the room alot but I like to have natural day light lol. However I do need to save up $$$ every now and then. Who knows I may end up trying a inside/solo cabin one day. The solo cabins do look very nice on NLC. So far every cruise I've been on has been with a balcony. I'd be willing to pay extra for it. Thats one thing I'd wish cruising companies would do is give more bargains for solos who want to cruise, especially if you want a balcony or ocean view.

*And I know Anthem of the Seas has the virtual balcony in the solo cabins but I still like the real thing lol

I am 51 and i am terminally single (LOL) I have been on about 4 or 5 cruises alone, but I also enjoy the company of others and have had great luck in the past of meeting up with other singles through the ships roll calls and had a great time and made new life time friends, some of which I have cruised with again. However My last cruise was a bust...roll call was kinda of a dud and really never connected with anyone, also instead of being seated with a large group in MDR I was at a 4 top with one couple, nice people, but older. That was a truly singles/solo cruise, I really did not enjoy myself as I had in the past...so sometimes it can be hit or miss.

:') :')terminally single lol. What cruise did you cruise on last year? If I were to cruise next year solo I would skip out of the MDR and just eat at the buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I feel like I may get the stare and the "oh are you alone" lol. I hope it would turn out ok if I were to cruise solo. I also feel like NCL is the line I would prefer to stick with one because I'm familiar and two they seem cater to more solo cruisers with meet-ups and such.

Unless I'm reading this as you moved out of NY, you can get on a cruise from Manhattan year-round, as NCL has ships departing from there year-round. I've done the Bermuda itinerary in July and the Bahamas in February, both solo and out of NYC.

 

As for the crowds of kids, it's not as bad during the summer, compared to February/April/Christmas vacations. Since it's a 3 month period, there are a lot of families, but also a lot of 20s/30s who have time off as well. And with the Breakaway/Epic Class ships, the studios help keep the price down for solo cruisers, with the added benefit of rooms that, while well appointed, encourage you to spend your time elsewhere on the ship.

I'm from the city and still live in the city! :D Thats one of the perks I liked about that ship leaving from NY since I don't have to buy a plane ticket and im literally 10 mins away from the port by taxi. Yea I've thought about maybe cruising during the school year with the school holidays but idk yet :P still pondering that idea.*highly unlikely* lol I feel like i'd rather cruise next time in mid August instead of July.

I would suggest scheduling during the shoulder season's after the families and kids are back in school. Price drops significantly and I personally know a lot of single cruisers who generally cruise as soon as the kids are back in school. Might be different school calendars in different departure ports depending on the state

ahh good idea. However that does mean traveling to another state to get my cruise of course. I've been spoiled since I was able to get on my cruise from NY since I live in the city. And I'm a teacher so I know i'll see the kids when im off. I thought about cruising during the holiday/spring breaks but I hear its a lot of kids too.

I took my first solo cruise when I was 50 years old. It was my 3rd cruise overall. I think one of the reasons there aren't more young solo cruisers is the price. It almost always costs more to sail solo, so it becomes more cost prohibitive for the 20 or 30 something cruiser.

 

Roz

I agree. Its so expensive! I wish they did have more deals for solo travelers. But its all about $$$.

And @Travelnap I still like to "party" so to speak. Thats the only thing, I recently went on a cruise and sometimes if my friend didnt want to party I would sit off to the side and kinda people watch. I really enjoy being surrounded by good company at the same time I like having time to myself.

Hey everyone,

I just got back from a great cruise and perhaps Im already having withdrawal lol but I would love to book another. I'm 27 years old (yet I look maybe 18-22) and I just dont have a lot of people who would be down for cruising with me. I feel like if I was older I would look older for one, and have more confidence. I'm just curious what is the age range of those of you that travel solo? And if you traveled solo do you feel awkwardly alone? I like to have fun and its always nice when you have a good circle of people that you know. I've never done a solo cruise before but I've been pondering about it! Maybe for my 30th I will have more courage! ;p

An extremely intoxicated kid, (looked to be barley drinking age) trying to get into the roped off, closed, partially drained pool late at night. He was also yelling and causing a scene.

 

Saw the same kid a couple more times extremely intoxicated, and just out of control. Really sad.(IMHO)

Well I can thank God I havent seen the worst. Idk about other cruises but i know on NCL once the boat went in the middle of the ocean drinking age was 18 years old. And that was only beer and wine I think. *But drinking age friends always snuck them the hard liquor.* When I was on that same cruise I just saw a lot of young people acting "rebellious" so to speak lol. Drinking, falling on the floor, getting loud etc. I'm not saying you can't have a good time but there has to be some limits. It is sad, hopefully one day they will grow up and see that theres no fun in puking your guts out the next morning or doing something embarrassing.

i've pondered the idea of cruising solo for a while and I'm thinking of cruising solo next year. I thought I would have been the youngest to consider it. Im 27. Just like the OP I too was just a bit nervous what if I meet some weird creepo guy, and even though im pushing 30 I look like a teenager lol. Definitely following this post for some encouragement. I love cruising and its hard at times to get friends or anyone to go if they dont have the $$ or just dont want to. I figure why wait? Although Im a mixture of being extroverted and introverted, there are times when I really enjoy the company of others and not be socially ackward. And yet I love having my own room and being alone

I'm in between being an introvert and extrovert. While I love hanging out with people I know and comfortable with, I do wish I had more opportunities to cruise without " the need of having someone" holding me back. Additionally I LOVE being able to do my own thing and not have to wait for other people. I am cruising with a friend of a friend in a few months, and not sure if I have the boldness to cruise alone. I'm 27, female I would love to find a short cruise later this year to go on. I feel like if I was 5-10 years older I would care less but I'm not that bold yet. I also wasnt down for the NCL solo cabins either. Ever since I started cruising it has always been balcony or window at least. I can not do inside cabins. Maybe I'll gain the courage to go solo on a cruise one day..

I was on the 9 day cruise and there was only a 70s themed night from what I recall. There wasnt that many which I was kinda expecting. No white party, and no sail away party either, I still had fun but themed parties make it a little more exciting.

Thank you so much for this review! This would be my second cruise. Considering this one a real cruise, as another one I went on wasn't that great lol I am so excited. Going with my best friend and her family.

I'm just wondering how were you able to get your own snacks and water on the boat? Did you have to put it it your suitcase so it can get cleared? I was thinking about bringing the teeny bottles of water, and some crackers. Thanks!