caryn

I'm almost 50 and did my first solo cruise this past June. I loved it and am doing another in a few weeks. I never felt unsafe. I don't get bored easily in just a week and made friends on the cruise who I could join for trivia or a drink. I'm ok with approaching people to see if i can join their team. If you feel comfortable with that, i think you can definitely find enough to do. Some invited me to join them for dinner but I chose to eat by myself for the wind down after touring all day. Also didn't want to be on someone else's schedule.

I do Instagram stories so the feedback helps me feel like I'm sharing the views with others. I don't do it for this but realized that my friends commenting on gorgeous views probably helps me feel like I'm still sharing the experience. 

I would to try it. If you hate it, just don't do it again. If you like time on your own and are considering it, give it a chance. 

On 8/15/2022 at 3:54 PM, Billdref said:

I have heard that the port only allows licensed cars to enter. True or false

I took the train from Termini to Civitavecchia and there were taxi shuttles running back and forth between the train station and the boats (once you go through the train station). One ship had a bus shuttling people as well. The taxi van was $5 a person and I jumped in with another family.

6 hours ago, Twilightstar18 said:

This is so helpful! Thinking of doing the same if our transfer doesn’t work out. Did you ask for the cab driver to drop you off at a particular entrance of termini station as I understand the regional trains are in a part of the station which is further away? Did you buy the train tickets when you got there? How much was the taxi from Civitavecchia station to the port and did it take you all the way to the ship? 

I didn't see if there was a place the cab driver could have dropped me off that would have been better. I had to go through the main gate and then the walk was long. I would estimate that I walked 10 minutes. My platform was at the end of the station. I bought the tickets before and used my phone to get through the gate. I bought a ticket a few weeks ago for a different time that was not refundable/changeable so I bought another for the 5E. I jumped in the a group of 5 but the driver at the port said it was 5E each. He dropped us right off at the check in tent. 

PS Once you get off the train you have to go down stairs, under the tracks and up stairs. There are lifts and I took one down but opted to carry my luggage up to avoid  the lift line. I bought my wine in s little shop at the train station. 19E and no twist offs when I was there. I meant to buy some at Carrefour and forgot.

This morning I took a cab from my hotel (15 E) to termini station then the train was 5 euros to the port, taxi was 5pp to the ship (I joined a group I befriended at the taxi stand). There are busses too but not sure if they are only for certain boats. 

For timing, I requested the cab at 945, train left at 1042, arrived a little after noon and I was on the boat before 1p. This was with no rushing.

Can you hold them in your hand, against your chest? If your arms are crossed, they're probably pretty safe. (I've never ridden a waterslide on a boat).

18 minutes ago, brillohead said:

He came to the conclusion that the DBP doesn't make sense for them, based on what they will be drinking and when/where they will be drinking it

This is my thought for my upcoming Greek Isles cruise. If I were going to stay on the boat everyday, $63 might be worth it but I figure with 5 port days, I won't have time to drink 5 drinks everyday and not feel like hell the next day.

49 minutes ago, Laylyn05 said:

So I logged into my RCCL account this morning

Yes, I didn't get an email yet but log in and my new room assignment is there. It worked out well for me even though it's on a higher deck (which I was avoiding due to ship rocking). Hopefully it works out well for you in the end. I would imagine they want to keep you all together, even if they want to insist that an adult can stay in each room.

2 hours ago, Laylyn05 said:

I received this email this afternoon. Anyone know why Covid protocols would make a room not be available? Also, does anyone know about how long it takes for them to tell you your new room?

 

I got this email today too for a June 20th sailing. I have an interior on deck 3 (I wanted low and midship and chose this one on purpose). I'm also thinking they're making a quarantine deck or area. Hopefully if they move me somewhere that doesn't work (I'm a very light sleeper), I have a little bit of sway with negotiating what will work for me since i'm being moved involuntarily. I debated bidding for a royal up but don't want to be risk being in a noisy area.

15 hours ago, PNW Traveler said:

 It takes a bit of work, but other cruise lines and tours will offer an identical excursion and provide a more detailed description.  

 

 

Thanks, I'll look into that. Doing that work is worth it to me so I can make an informed decision.

17 hours ago, Swann5 said:

 We have enjoyed many of the ship excursions we have taken and also like the convenience of going through the ship, but you have to have a certain amount of trust that the excursion will exceed their very basic descriptions. Very frustrating!

 

Completely agree. I don't want to book a private tour and then we don't even stop because of covid, the weather, etc. So much easier with the ship excursions, especially if you don't know 24 hours in advance to give a company enough time. 

5 minutes ago, island lady said:

I am hoping things will continue to relax with Covid.   I hope. 

Fingers crossed 🤞

Well, this is just further convincing me to do my own thing. When my family did a med cruise years ago my parents came along so we didn't mind the accessible tours and motor coaches for some days. As a solo traveler for this cruise I want a bit more adventure or uniqueness. 

Just now, island lady said:

Reality?  No sand at all, just sharp jagged rocks and coral on skinny stretch of water front.   

Really bad. I don't mind paying for an excursion that will be well planned and organized but I don't want this to happen and essentially waste my day.

2 minutes ago, Mapleleafforever said:

We booked private tours and posted on our roll call if someone wanted to join.

Yeah, I'm probably going to join another couple on my roll call for one, possibly two tours. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm just baffled that the RC descriptions are so bad. Maybe I'm spoiled by Airnbnb experiences since usually list the timeline of what you'll be doing so there are few suprises.

1 minute ago, Mapleleafforever said:

Is it still excursions through Royal only or are you free to book private yet?

I'm not exactly sure. Royal hasn't specified but it wouldn't surprise me if they think they don't have to. Last time I did a European cruise we booked mostly private tours so I might go that way again. I just like the ease of doing some through the ship if it's something I'm interested in.

I'm looking at excursions for my Greek Isles cruise at the end of June and the descriptions are terrible. The warning section is longer than the description of what the tour entails. Is this as good as it gets? I haven't sailed RC in a few years and I'm really hesitant to book through the ship if I don't have a good idea of what I will be doing, for how long, and on which kind of transportation. Any chance the descriptions will get better as it gets closer to the cruise?

6 minutes ago, smarcbie said:

As many, I was hoping for an Easter sale on UBP, dining and excursions. What happened instead was a giant price increase. My 5-night dining went from $122 to $157, UBP went from $66 to $73 (the new sale price), and an excursion I was watching went from $84 to $124. I see that the 'base price' for unlimited beverages also increased from $88 to $98. Has anyone else notice their cruise planner items jump in $$?

Look again in a few days or so. The prices go up and down. If you have anything in your cart, think about taking it out. Those sales aren't really sales and you'll probably see them back to the cheaper prices again.

There was a mechanical problem that week so they had to go to different ports. The ship has been fixed and is back to it's scheduled stops.

There's a few threads about the problem.

Thanks... still nothing recent in the search though...

Does anyone have pics of the most recent Fantasy 5 day Fun Times? Just trying to plan ahead :)

 

I wouldn't wear the top pair. I would consider the middle pair, but I'm not sure if my work will count those as flip flops this summer. The last pair, I wear to work regularly and will likely wear to dinner.

 

And, yes, orange is my favorite color!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Agree with this. I would only wear flip flops if they were leather and/or "bedazzled".

If I'm going to the beach or pool I'll wear a sporty drawstring backpack - I don't care if it gets wet, it closes at the top and it's very light and packable. It's never in my way and if I buy something I can just toss it in there. I also like to bring a water bottle to the pool so that fits in without being bulky.

I would not be caught dead in flats. The heal must be at least 3 in. I have two plates and 10 screws in one leg/foot. I even wore two inch heals the entire 6 months I was in a full leg cast. I would walk out of the house shirtless before I would walk out of the house in flats.

Haha - now that's dedication!! I also love to wear heels and wear them to dinner each night. Yes, my feet hurt by the end but since my daily wear is sneakers, I like dressing nicely on cruises. Actually, nowadays wearing flats would kill my plantar faciitis so I would be in more pain in pretty flats.

I also don't have a husband and find a wristlet convenient when I want to carry my phone (for pictures) along with my card, lipstick, some cash, etc.

And honestly, after a few drinks it's much easier to have my things around my wrist so I don't set it down and forget it :p

Oops - it's actually The Wet Lizard!! Mixing up my reptile bars!