SoloAlaska

Ship time is when you finally feel like you can just relax. There is so much to do onboard you’ll never be bored if you don’t want to be. if there are flight cancellations and your flying into let’s say Miami you can always fly into Fort Lauderdale.

Double check your flight no matter who you book through. Air Canada completely changed my flights and never sent a notification. The only reason I found out is because I went on the app for something else. My direct flight I paid a ridiculous amount for now has a connection where we will now have to go through customs. Not so bad if I’m flying solo but as a group of 12 there was several reasons a direct flight was preferred which is what we paid for.

Unfortunately mine still says 25% off so that’s equal to $78.72 USD

Unfortunately mine still says 25% off so that’s equal to $78.72 USD

When is the best sales for the beverage package? I’ve been watching for several months and it seems to usually be a bogo 50% sale, aka 25% off. With RCI having pretty much the most expensive package in the industry I’m trying to get a price that makes sense. My cabin mate (on paper only) is 14 and has the non alcoholic package already so I’m having to worry about two people. If it weren’t March in the Caribbean with my whole family I wouldn’t drink that much. With all those factors and my needing to avoid drama I will be spending my share of time at a bar.

I’m not sure why you’re responding to me. I said to NOT attach before a flight.

Haha as one should. The December Gem TA we had a daily knitting group that met up. For my next TA I’m stopping by Liberty London to shop for fabric before boarding. Tourist yarn/fabric doesn’t count as stash, it’s a souvenir 🤣

Add me to the camp of don’t even bring a book on a TA. I do bring my knitting but honestly didn’t have much time. My days were way too full and I struggled to get 2 hours of work in on a sea day.

Avoid deck 6 as much as you can. I found even the forward elevator area smelled like smoke but the meeting rooms were fine. The lounge area of magnums can occasionally smell like smoke from the cigar lounge. Other than that just avoid the outdoor smoking area.

Crossing fingers for Spice H2O on Encore. I’ll be on the cruise after the dry dock so I’ll find out in person.

Ahhh hormones… I’m down 3.4 lb since earlier this week. The scale goes up and then if I’m careful and don’t give in too much it comes down. So I’m at my lowest weight in several years and can’t wait to break the 200lb mark. Hopefully within the month if I’m diligent I can make that happen.

If you travel more than once or twice a year it would be who’s to look at annual coverage. My annual premiums are only slightly more than the cruise lines for one trip. I’m sorry the insurance did not cover what you thought it would. There’s a great board on insurance here and would be worth a deep dive to find the right coverage for you.

Many do but the Aeroplan Amex I have does not. You need to pay in full direct for the insurance to cover the flight but not for the one piece of free luggage and lounge access. Totally read the fine print and know what you get and how with your card so there’s no surprises.

There are several ports that are 2 hours from a major international airport. For example the flights I can take to Anchorage get me into town later in the day so I’ll stay in the city that night and take a transfer the next morning in order to board the ship. That’s a 2h20 drive assuming no construction delays or stops to enjoy the view. Anchorage to Seward or Whittier London to Southampton Paris to Le Havre Rome to Civi is less than 2 hours but takes well over an hour by car still.

This why I like traveling with one suitcase and a small backpack at most. I fly in a day or two early and go into Rome by train. I stay near termini and the next morning take the express train to Civi. There was a line of taxis that were the same price as the shuttle waiting in Civi and brought us right to the ship. It was a great way to get to the ship for me. If you struggle with the amount of luggage you bring then a private transfer is the right choice for you. When traveling with a lot of luggage the train can be grind. I do it when going to Germany on business with a total of over 320lb between two of us. I’ve hauled it all up stairs multiple times and walked long distances, this is why I work out. 50lb farmers carries are practice for carrying luggage. i completely agree some ports a train transfer isn’t suited but for some it works. You just have to do your research and figure out what works for you. Civi and Southampton I’m happy by train with a taxi for the final bit. Maybe in 40 years that will change but for now I’m fit and solo and love the adventure.

Depending on your card it doesn’t matter what you used to book to get your free luggage. I have a business credit card with first free luggage plus lounge access but I don’t need to have paid with it to get the perks. The benefits are linked to my aeroplan account so any AC flight I take I get free luggage.

Yep I’m the one who loves the train to transfer. The adventure especially in Europe is something I look forward to. I’m a solo traveller and the idea of sitting for 2 hours in the back of a car alone is not my ideal start to a vacation.

Yes celebrity has a lgbtq meet and greet but I could never go since it was at the same time as dinner.

This also works when one person wants to drink but not the other. You don’t both have to have the package. I met a couple last year they had an interior room and a balcony but both used the balcony.

Quebec City within the old part is much like Europe. Think lots of cobble stone and also a massive hill from the water to where a lot of things are. It was a great defensive position but not so great for accessibility. You may want to ask on either the Princess or the port boards for details about the shuttle sorry I have not been to Quebec City by cruise ship.

20 years later my friend still has amazing memories of the cruise she took as a young teen to Alaska. The one way is amazing and I highly recommend doing a transfer with the wildlife center as a stop. I love Celebrity for Alaska as well. They have great naturalist program onboard, Celia Garland is my favorite. Book the ship that fits your family the best and enjoy everything Alaska has to offer.

Kids are germ magnets. Your odds of getting the kids sick on a cruise are probably not that different as school or daycare. In 3 cruises post covid I got sick twice but never had covid or noro. I don’t have kids of my own and work from home so my immunity is much lower to all the germs running around. My last cruise my friends with kids caught what sounded like I had but I was in the middle of the Atlantic and they weren’t.

I met my friend as we boarded a plane in Reykjavik. We hung out in the hot tub before the first solo meet up. My next TA I’m spending the night before with a cruise friend who I call my “cruise husband”. We both consider ourselves solo but we have been known to enjoy each others company on a cruise. Im all for whoever self identifies as a solo wether traveling alone or being single or both being welcome at the mixers.

I liked to dress up for dinner but a semi formal type cocktail length dress and a light shawl was perfect. I also tend to run cold. This was on Celebrity. For NCL I will be dressing more casual. from my observation onboard and in port… Celebrity - Patagonia chique Princess - LL Bean chique

Packing two is a good idea. I ask my steward for extra towels and after washing my swimsuit in the sink I lay it on a towel, roll the towel, press the water out (aka step on it even). Then I hang it to dry in the shower. Usually it’s dry the next day but YMMV so bring an extra just in case. I usually cruise interior or OV and wash my clothes the same way as I explained above. It works like a charm for most fabric and if it’s not 100% I take a hair dryer to it for a few minutes.