vswan

Many years ago when they first started the Free at Sea drinks it was Free for the first 2 guests in the room, with no gratuities charged. Yes, the sail away rate was generally less expensive than the lowest level allowing you to pick your own cabin, (most lines offer a lower rate if they can pick your cabin) but it was really a good deal.

This has been such an interesting thread. I am following the carnival boards because after 30+ years of cruising I am taking my first Carnival cruise ever in 2 weeks. I have cruised on HAL (3 star mariner), RCCL (5 cruises), NCL (platinum), MSC, Costa, Celebrity, and Princess but never Carnival. This is primarily due to two reasons. My initial TA who knew me well said that Carnival was not the best fit for our family (this was 30 years ago) and I just never booked with them, the second reason was that I like port days over sea days and most of the 7 day Carnival cruises only offered 3 port days. So why Carnival now? I am taking a spring break trip with my daughter and her oldest son - the 3 yr old is staying home with dad. My daughter loves Carnival and this was the cruise she choose. I'm very much looking forward to trying something new. She loves the "fun" of the ship, the food selections and she very much likes comics for entertainment. How does this fit into this discussion? Well I've been looking at the drink packages - cheers. I am used to the NCL included drinks and specialty dining - paying the gratuities - and there are times I question if I even drink enough to come out ahead paying the gratuities. My daughter may drink a little more than I do, but we can bring on a couple bottles of wine and get a couple buckets of beer and with four port stops we would never drink enough to get the cheers package. I like the drink package, I never worry about how much I'm spending and if I should have another, but I know I won't even get close to $1000 (for 2). I always book by itinerary, dates and value. Have never been in a suite or private area. Book what you want, enjoy whatever cruise you take.

One thing that might be considered. If your wife has some motion sickness issues, I would recommend choosing the ship where the room is near center lower in the ship. Cruise lines tend to promote higher level rooms, but it is smoother sailing closer to the center of the ship - and avoid the far forward cabins on any level. I take a "precautionary" bonine everyday of a cruise. I can still have issues with very high seas - the kind where the drawers in the bedstands go in and out on there own.

The one suggestion that I would have is to go to the first night meet up. This seemed to be the best attended with so many people doing specialty dining on different nights. On our cruise about three tables for 8 then went to dinner together with reservations made through the NCL solo organizer. Gave us a chance to talk a bit and get to know some of the people a bit better. Was nice to see a friendly face while out and about. I was on the Jade. No studio cabins or lounge, but they had just changed to offering solo inside, oceanview and balcony cabins - it's my understanding that these are available on all sailing now, even on ships with solo studio cabins. I'm not sure if there were solos in the cabins near me, never really saw anybody coming and going. Do know that the people I met were not all on the same floor.

They did a great job with the solo program in January on the Jade and they have no solo studio. Meet ups were generally scheduled nightly in one of the bars before dinner time. The bar did change a couple times because of events, but the location was always listed in the freestyle daily. Enjoy!

Did an 11 night solo cruise on the jade in late January. It was a great cruise. Nice size ship without it being too big. Things were spread out well so nothing felt crowded. I did attend some of the solo functions/gatherings and had a great time. If you wanted to go to dinner with someone you could, but many just did what they felt comfortable with. I booked shore excursions with my free and sea credits and didn't spend a lot more than the $50 at each stop - the nice thing was that on almost every tour there was another solo cruiser I had already met who could share a beach umbrella or have watch my stuff when I went into the water. Agree the bars on 6 were the most utilized in the evening. I went to Cagneys (great food), Teppenyaka (noisy, but good food and fun) and Moderna (good salad bar and plenty of meats to try and find something I liked). You will have a good time on this ship.

On the Jade late January they had solo gatherings in two different locations depending on what entertainment/gatherings might be going on. The location will be listed in the event schedule. The first night we had somewhere between 20 and 25 people show up. Seemed like a few new people joined here and there throughout the week, but the first night was the largest group.

Returned from my first solo cruise just over a week ago. Was on the NCL Jade in one of the newly designated solo balcony cabins. The price was a bit less than paying the double price for solo supplement, but was still not cheap - but none of the cabins are right now. I love having a balcony that I can spend time on, so was very happy when they added the solo balconies. The Jade does not have a studio/solo lounge, but I was told that as a solo I would have had access to that if it was available. I loved this cruise. I have been on more than 30 cruises over the years as part of a couple. As a widow I still wanted to cruise and decided I could either go or sit home by myself. I went. Every night there was a solo meet up and those that wanted to go to dinner together could. Every night at least one table of solos went to dinner together, not always the same people. Our NCL staff person (Patrick) was great. If several people wanted to go to specialty dining on a certain night, he could arrange it. I booked ship excursions at all the stops. Used the $50 shore excursion credit and since I was only booking for 1, made the shore excursions reasonably priced. Best part, on almost all of them there was another solo who I had already met who I could hang out with - someone to share an umbrella or watch your things when you took a walk along the beach. Age range of solos on our cruise was from mid 30s to mid 80s. A real mix of interesting people. I enjoyed myself so much I have been browsing the website to see when and where to go next.

Had to zoom in. Thought the last pole dancer was wearing a diaper.

I prefer to prepay my gratuities and leave them on. A question though, if I tip bar staff $1 per drink, how do they know that I left my gratuities on and that the money doesn't need to go into the pool?

Am platinum and just cruised solo. I got the two for two vouchers in my room. Met another solo with vouchers (also both had 2 free at sea) and we used the vouchers together and stretched our specialty dining meals. One night we invited two other solos along and had dinner for 4 with two of our vouchers.

I agree. On most cruises I don't even use my 150 free minutes. Check into my email a couple of times and check out a few news headlines, afraid that I might use up all my minutes. This time because I'm traveling solo and have some issues that may need to be addressed while I'm gone, I just pre-purchased the mid-level internet for the whole cruise. Was just easier. I did purchase the internet on day two in August for my grandson. We had used some of the minutes and still got a reduced priced in the $130 range.

Everytime I go there it seems like it has changed. At the end of the pier is a private cruise spot with a pool, at least one bar, entertainment, shopping, some dolphins that some swim with, etc. If you walk through the port area to the back is the taxi/transportation area. We bought the transfers to town on an open air "bus" thing. Don't remember cost, but it wasn't expensive. In town there are beaches on one side of the road and bars/shops/restaurants on the other with locals setting up their sales booths along the way. I've also had an outdoor massage which was divine. Many go to beach clubs which I think many are also located in this same area. If you go to the ports of call area there will be many recommendations of what others have done.

I am platinum on NCL and have taken 5, maybe 6, cruises on RCI. To me, both cruise lines are similar in general. Which ship you choose on each line can make a difference. One think that may be in NCLs favor, they have nightly solo traveler gatherings where you can meet up with others traveling alone and go for dinner, etc. With a short cruise, the FAS will not be as important to you, especially if you don't drink, but the $50 shore excursion credit can cover most of the cost of an excursion at each port if you choose wisely. I would still take the one with the most port stops.

I'm the original poster of the thread referred to you above. I understand where you are coming from but thought I'd give a bit of an update. My husband will be gone a year next month. I decided that at 66, I could either continue to do what I love or stay home by myself. I went on my first cruise in August with my 14 yr old grandson. Just the two of us. I went on another in November with my daughter. It was good to cruise with someone who understood where I was at in my recovery. I had a good time and am now confident to be able to branch out on my first solo cruise. I leave next week for an 11 day cruise. I'm taking my mom to Florida to visit friends and decided I would jump on a cruise ship while she visits. Since Tampa was not a port for HAL, I choose to do the NCL option which has daily solo gatherings. I am 3 star on HAL and platinum on NCL, so have cruised both lines quite a bit. I'm excited to go and give this a try. I did book most excursions through the cruiseline. Right now that is my comfort level. Agree, join your roll call. You are not alone as a solo cruiser, think more are doing it all the time.

I'm in the same situation as you. Taking my first solo cruise in a week on the Jade. They do not have studio cabins or a studio lounge, but I was able to book the "new" solo balcony cabins. Would not have even known this option existed if I hadn't called my PCC to upgrade to a better ocean view cabin. Happened to call shortly after this option became available. Perhaps your PCC could help with this. Just a guess on my part, but I would imagine if they have open cabins close to sailing they would add more solo cabins into the mix to make sales.

I did book a solo balcony on the Jade leaving in a week. This is not a studio, but they do have solo cabins - think inside through balcony. Balcony was on deck 8 and is a hull balcony forward of the lifeboats.

For me, I would do the NCL because of more port stops. Just preference. Not sure what part of the beverage package you do want, but you could refuse the FAS drink package (or FAS all together) and not have to pay the gratuities on it, then buy NCLs soda package. If you are looking for the coffee/water/juice that's probably not your answer, but you could buy water for the room and it would probably reduce costs.

Thanks everyone for your input. The itinerary I'm looking at would only have one sea day so think the older/smaller ship would not be an issue versus the port days.

I know it's an older ship without all the bells and whistles, but the itinerary looks good and the price is attractive. A bit of background. My daughter (early 40's) and I took a cruise last year on the Oasis and she decided we should make it a yearly outing. My niece (mid 30's) was widowed in November and my daughter has invited her to go along on our next adventure. My daughter and I have both cruised a lot, on both newer and older ships. My niece has never cruised. Would it be a mistake to take her on an older ship as her first adventure? If it was just me, it would be a no brainer - better itinerary over bells and whistles. We are looking at a balcony cabin, although I wouldn't be opposed to upping to a junior suite for the extra space. Looking at the ship specs it looks like the only option for a third person is the pull out couch. Is that the case? I would be more comfortable with a pull down bed for a third person. Have looked at the 2 bedroom suite, but the cost more than doubles and I don't see a lot of benefit to the suite (wifi, drinks?) on this level of ship. Have also looked at getting one inside cabin across the hall, but would have to pay single supplement on that and that would jump the price a lot. (I'm the one with the checkbook, LOL) Looking at one of the aft balconies/jr. suites to get more outside space for three people. Are there any drawbacks to afts on this ship?

The snorkeling tours that I've seen take the passengers to a reef off shore at West Bay. It's easy to just walk out from shore and snorkel. I've even stood in less than waist deep water and watched the fish swim around me. We've never taken a tour, usually just ask a taxi to take us and they dropped us off and picked us up - in one instance it seemed like they had a "deal" with one of the bars/restaurants and just took us to that spot. Paid for chairs/umbrella, etc. Been a while and don't remember the cost, but not too high. There are many bars/restaurants with chairs for rent lining the beach.

There is always a chance that a port will be missed or the times adjusted. It just happens. In the past I've booked nonrefundable rooms, flights, etc., since the price was so much less, knowing that anything can happen and I could be out the original investment. I was willing to take that chance. Insurance can possibly mitigate the risk, but that really depends on the type of insurance you have - or if you have insurance at all. Only you can decide if this excursion is worth the risk you take.

Last couple of cruises was asked if I preferred morning or afternoon/evening room cleaning. There is shampoo and conditioner - was not impressed, used my own. Did not have body lotion on the last couple. I didn't request beds ahead of schedule. Asked my room steward to change when he introduced himself. Didn't think it was appropriate to share a bed with by 14 yr old grandson. Next cruise the beds were separated. Think unless if they have specific instructions they just leave them the way they were on the last cruise.

I have been on well over 30 cruises. Have never been loyal to any particular cruise line and base who to sail on by itinerary, cost, ports and cost to get to embarkation port. Have sailed HAL, NCL, Princess, Celebrity, RCI, Costa and MSC. I have to highest loyalty status on NCL and HAL. Overall I have found these two lines have a nice choice of ports at a reasonable price point - not always the case. Have sailed on the Dawn when it was one of the newer NCL ships and liked it, it was much fancier than the older ships I had sailed. Now it is one of their older ships... It really depends on what you want out of your cruise. I love the older, smaller ships. I am not interested in an amusement park vibe. Are you sailing for the ports or the ship? If the ports are of interest to you and you like a smaller ship which is easier to navigate this would be a good choice. Because I can be a victim of motion sickness, I always go for one of the lower decks, mid ship. I will say that I once tried a rear facing balcony in Alaska and loved it. Really depends on where and when you are going.

Take a poncho. Even though I had a raincoat which did quite well, found that having something that would cover me from over my head to about knee length worked really well. Kept anything I was carrying along dry and could shake out and hang to dry. Also pack a second pair of shoes for walking. If one gets wet it may not dry overnight. No fun putting on wet shoes for a day of touring.