cormike1

I am now traveling solo as my husband passed away in 2019.  We both loved cruising so I am doing that by myself.  I cruised just before the pandemic hit and never felt unsafe being by myself.  I have a couple of long bus trip/cruise trips over the next 2 years and look forward to being able to do my own thing and not have to be on a schedule.  I wouldn't leave a drink unattended even in my home town.  I am aware of my surroundings and would hope not to fall into any trouble being on my own.  I always do a door sign when I cruise and I like seeing what people have come up with on their door signs.  With all the extra cleaning precautions now I would think they might not be allowed anymore.

24 minutes ago, triple7tahoe said:

Thank you for posting; I also got the same offer and it made me pause. It seems to have many of the same offers as the two previous offers but the offer seems to be for less. When they made the first offers, some folks were being offered as much as $1000 and a balcony; we were and accepted (then upgraded) a ocean view and $500 plus the free grats, drink package, and unlimited WiFi. I asked at that time if there was a limit on the number of "free cruises" per customer as there were a couple more I was interested in. Princess agent told me she would check and get back to me. She never did. The new offer appears to be for an inside cabin and$250 free play. No mention of the packages. I had wanted to take one of the cruises on either side of the one I did book and it is now being offered as free. I am wondering if I will be able to upgrade (to stay in same balcony cabin) and how much adding the packages will cost? I will be following this thread.

Maybe I am not quite understanding your post triple7tahoe but why would you not phone Princess again and ask them about this new offer and which cruises you are interested in and see what they offer.  I use my own travel agent and they always check to see if an offer is better using the casino offer or not.  Sometimes one offer is better than another or you can not use one with the other.  Anyhow I would call Princess again and see what the cost will be.  Following this thread might not answer your particular situation.

Could anyone recommend a tour company that does San Francisco day tours and goes to a lot of the special places that the city has to offer.  I love the HoHo buses and wonder if the one in SF is worth using to tour the city.  Does it go up any of the huge hilly streets that are famous?  Any recommendations as we are there for a full day and don't sail until 10:00 p.m.

Thanks everyone!

Have you looked here on CC to see if there is a roll call set up for the date of your cruise?  You would be able to chat with people that are going the same time and meet up once onboard at a "Meet & Greet" that usually someone will set up the first sea day.  If you book "anytime dining" then you can request being seated with others once you get to the dining room.  That way you don't sit alone and if you don't like the people at that table, no worries as chances of sitting with them again will be slim.  If you want to eat alone then you can tell the Maitre D you want a table for 1.  If you choose a set dining time such as "early dining" then you will be seated with the same people each night and you might not like them but it will be hard at that point to switch tables.  If you like to play Trivia, that can be a great way to meet people and have some fun by joining up with a team.  Just go and do what you want, when you want, as you said.  You are your own boss and will be the one to make yourself happy with doing the cruise with your rules!

On 11/30/2019 at 5:39 PM, Tropical Fish Biz said:

This is so encouraging as I'm taking my first solo cruise in February on Princess.  I became a widow early this year and cruised often with my husband.  After months of grieving, I realized I don't want to give up nice vacations and the ocean is my happy place.  I was a little hesitant to book, but now I'm looking forward to it.  In fact, someone was trying to arrange to come with me, but it fell through and I'm a little relieved!  The down side is having to pay for 2 but I got a pretty good deal.  It wasn't until after I booked that I realized I'll be on the ship over Valentine's Day...not the best timing on my part, but it will be fine.  Thanks for the tips on this thread.

Hi there,

So sorry for the loss of your husband.  I to became a widow in December and my husband and I had been traveling for most of our 37 years, all modes of travel and just started to cruise about 10 years ago and loved it!  I went on a Caribbean cruise with another couple this past Feb. as we had that cruise booked before my husband passed away.  While I was grateful to have my friends there and they did give me space, I did wish I was on my own many times.  I love to play Trivia and it seemed that the times were when we met for drinks before dinner so I passed on it.  My husband and I would play Trivia and then go to dinner.  I didn't want to hurt their feelings by saying no I will not be eating dinner with you tonight or meeting for drinks.  Some nights I just wanted to grab some food from the buffet and wander around on my own but most times that was not possible.  They were "early to bed" people so I did go out to the casino or listen to the band after the theatre show a lot of times.  I had a Pacific Coastal cruise booked in Oct. but it just got cancelled.  I am looking at a bus trip of  South Africa in Feb. instead of doing the Caribbean again.  It all depends on this virus.  I am a very outgoing person and talk to everyone so I am not nervous about meeting anyone if I want to.  I booked an inside cabin as the "single supplement" was just about nil on Princess.  I really hated it being alone....very boring and I tried not to be in it for too long.  If I travel to a warm place I will try at least for a window cabin if not a balcony as I do love sitting outside napping and reading lol.  Anyhow I am really looking forward to traveling really, really solo very soon.  I am sure I will enjoy myself.  Take care and good luck with your new adventures!

I am being very optimistic and I just booked the 7-day Pacific Wine Country cruise on the Star on Oct. 15th out of LA.  I cruised on the Sky this past Feb/March solo for the 1st time (husband passed away) and took an inside.  Beautiful room, lots of storage but not for me.  When I saw the price for this cruise for a balcony for a single cruiser it was a great price plus I added on the offer of the drink package, WiFi and gratuities and it was still a great price.  Got a wonderful casino offer and I am one happy camper right now.  I always like to have something in my near future to look forward to. 

I enjoyed reading your posts on your Hawaii cruise Jack.  I to take CC complainers with a grain of salt as the saying goes.  eople are always saying Carnival is a party cruise line for young party goers.  Well who is cruising late Sept. early Oct. on a Canada/New England cruise to see the leaf colours?  Certainly not the young party goers lol.  Your vacation is what you make it and I have enjoyed every cruise I have taken regardless of the cruise line.  My husband and I always asked to sit at a table with others if we were not cruising with friends, and loved chatting with others during meals.  I will continue to do that myself as I do enjoy meeting new people and hearing about different lifestyles.  It will be different traveling myself but I am looking forward to this new and different time in my life.  I know he is with me and encouraging me to do this so I will.  I enjoyed reading about how you made the best of everything to Jack.  By the way....the Island is a lovely small ship.  We have cruised on her a couple of times and really liked the size.  Happy traveling Jack!

22 minutes ago, Minya said:

I'm  a single cruiser too and I watch out for particularly American wives or partners claiming their errant one with an invisible chain. They may dress them in the same colours, they may walk around the ship one behind the other with arms firmly outstretched clasping their dearly beloved as if they are glued together. Keep off, mine, my territory: the body language says.  Dare the errant one if his loved one is not with him strike up a conversation with an obviously lone  female  particularly if say up to a decade or two younger . If the conversation is animated and smiling eye contact being made which mutually happens if conversation is flowing  ooh never fear hes being watched. Jealous eyes flash and in a jiffy the errant ones partner will be over to claim and drag the bad one away. "Come on,  what are you doing you know  we arranged to meet so and so"  "oh did we'? and the errant one, head bowed, meekly disappears on his chain . I just laugh. Sometimes if Ive finished ,just to be evil i will wait a couple of minutes and leave the area  very likely they are  still around but the danger has gone and they are doing different things. I just discreetly  try and catch  the eye of the male and smile  as I pass in the opposite direction.:)

You cracked me up with this post Minya.  Reminds me of a guy I worked with and his wife was so jealous if he talked to any woman.  They would be out walking and she would cross the street if they were walking towards me.  Guess what....two can play that game and I would cross the street and go up and say hi.  The stupid thing was their daughter and our daughter were really good friends so she knew I was happily married lol.  I think I would do what you do....always good for a chuckle.  I am now traveling solo for the first time in Feb. as my husband of 37 years just passed away.  I love to travel and will continue.

So sorry for your loss Lakemurraykid.  I know exactly how you feel as I just lost my husband Dec. 8th after 37 years of marriage.  We had a Caribbean cruise booked for this Feb. with friends and I had to cancel before final payment as we were waiting for test results.  Sadly he passed away.  My friends told me to rebook and I booked an inside. We had got a "casino offer" for our original balcony booking and I still got it with the inside cabin so it saved me quite a bit.  We didn't gamble a lot but we usually can save a bit asking for a casino offer.  As I like to cruise and I think I will feel very safe traveling this way, I will look for sales and last minute deals and know I have to pay the price if I want to continue to travel.  Good luck with your continued travels...it won't be the same but he will be with you in spirit!

Wow those prices are unreal!!!  I have been looking at another cruise line that does Kingston, Ontario to Quebec City or Ottawa and those prices are high also.   No wonder we go to Europe and don't travel in our own country.

Thank you....will be on the Sky in Feb. and a bigger ship than we normally sail on but because of being new, we decided to try it out.  Your video was great and it looks wonderful.  Thanks again for posting.

On 10/20/2019 at 9:05 AM, Capt_BJ said:

https://www.getyourguide.com/hamburg-l23/hamburg-line-a-hop-on-hop-off-sightseeing-tour-t25814/

 

altho the main train station is sort of the 'hub' you can board at any of the 27 stops and get tickets 

 

we had an upgraded ticket that included a harbor cruise of about 1 hour . . . 

 

Does the HoHo bus go to the Port area where the cruise ships dock?  Thanks for your help.

Just on the Zaandam last month.  You still have to use a card for the safes....just hate that....any card though with a magnetic strip will work.  But then you have to always use that card so where do you put it so that if you are not with your partner and they need to get into the safe, they will have access to it.  A real pain in that respect.  Hangers can be removed, thank goodness....lots of storage so that is good.  We were in Vista Suite 6108 and there was even 6 drawers under the vanity for storage and 2 drawers in the night tables. 

We were on a 7-day and here was the entertainment:  Listen to the Music-ships staff entertained,  Scott Harris-voted best Canadian Comedian (very funny!),  Dance-Zaandam's Singers & Dancers,  Planet Earth in Concert-absolutely wonderful!, Jesse Kazemek-a tribute to the beatles, Rock Legends-Zaandam Singers and Dancers, Scott Harris and Jesse Kazemek-shared a show

There was also Daniel at the Piano bar every night and Adagio in the Explorers Lounge which was classical music and the Ocean Quartet in the Ocean bar.

We liked the buffet, good variety. 

We liked the Zaandam even though it is older but it is still a nice ship and the staff were wonderful!

Hi Jeannie....just wanted to let you know I am enjoying your posts.  So sorry to hear about your foot and not being able to get off in Papeete this time.  I know you were looking forward to it.  Next time around eh.  Take care of yourself and keep on posting please!

Corinne

I believe it would be harder to change back to Traditional dining as a lot of people want Traditional so your table would be given to someone else if you gave it up.  What you can do on Princess is ask for  "anytime dining" but go down the first day and speak to the Maitre'd and ask to book a table for 2 at 6:30 p.m. every evening of the cruise.  If they have one available, they might give it to you.  I think this is defeating the purpose of "anytime dining" but we have done that before and had the same time and table for the whole cruise.  We don't like the set dining times Princess has for Traditional dining.

I tip $2 or $3 depending on what I have ordered.

1 hour ago, chrysalis said:

…..the answer would be wheat....

That is what I answered but she said it was blueberries....and the CD is always right lol.  Oh well there was no prize lol.

Just got back from a week long cruise on HAL and played Trivia every night.  No prizes and no cheaters that we could see.  We had a great time playing.  They even had a Canadian Trivia which made my husband and I feel very loved and wanted lol.  We still did not answer all of them correctly!!!  Who knew that blueberries are our biggest food export!!!  All the teams were a lot of fun and we had a lot of laughs.

We were on this cruise and thought HAL did a great job considering the few hours they had to get everything ready.  We were told it was a propulsion problem.  There were school buses and coach buses....lucky us on a school bus but the seats were way more comfortable than when I went to school lol.  No air but everyone opened the windows.  We made a stop and could buy some food or water but we had to pay for this ourselves.  We boarded the Zaandam around 4:30 p.m. in QC.  We got an onboard credit of $75 U.S. and the port taxes back.  Was that enough.....I was okay with it although disappointed not to sail out of Montreal.  We heard some upsetting stories especially with people flying in to Montreal that morning and not arriving in QC until the evening.  I can't complain as we were taken care of as best as HAL could considering all the people they had to look after.  We had a wonderful cruise after that!

On 9/16/2019 at 9:45 PM, 051654 said:

We are leaving on Saturday on this cruise. I am so disappointed to hear the negative review. We have never cruised on Holland or been to these ports so was so looking forward to some fun and relaxation and good food!  I hope our experience will be better than the one just described.  We have been on Celebrity, Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean--We were told this was an upgraded cruise line--Maybe the scenery will be good so at least we can look forward to that.

 

Sorry your cruise was not good--we all plan and look forward to these vacations and to have it not turn out is disappointing.

We are on the same cruise on Saturday.  Don't go expecting to be disappointed....expect to enjoy the cruise and you will.  People have different expectations and not all are the same as others, which is a good thing.  It is an older ship but as long as it is clean then that is fine with me.  One can expect a few chips and dings here and there....don't we have that in our own homes!  See you Saturday at the aft bar after muster!

We sail on Saturday and we love to play Trivia.... I hope we get some of these questions and I can remember the answers by then lol.

Thanks for the reviews everyone!  We are sailing Saturday from Montreal to Boston and looking forward to our 7-day get away before winter sets in.  Looking forward to the Ports as we haven't been to most of our Canadian ports on this cruise.  Thanks again for your info that you provided.

I am fine going through all the pages of checking in.  It could also be a security thing where they are not allowed to keep certain information such as your credit card #.  Any time I book a cruise with HAL it is always like I am booking my first cruise with them and have to enter every bit of data all over again.  I do find the web site frustrating sometimes when trying to do a mock booking to find out differences in prices between cabin categories but that is about it.

Oh that is too bad you had to end your first cruise with HAL on a sour note.  I would try and contact Customer Services and explain and try and get them to credit you the amount.  We have done 2 cruises on Celebrity and both times had trouble with shore excursions we had booked through them.  When we went to the Shore Excursions desk and explained the problem, both times and on different ships, basically said "too bad so sad" to us.  One guy just about called me a liar until I went back to the cabin and brought the internet write-up that I had run off when I had booked the excursion.  I am a paper freak and keep everything pertaining to the cruise and bring it with me just in case.  We did get a credit for 1/2 the excursion cost.  I would try again.  Good luck and don't give up on Hal....we didn't with Celebrity.

On Celebrity they give away the coveted "plastic gold X on a lanyard" that everyone wants.  It is so funny how you are amazing if you win one and everyone just thinks it is great to have one.  My husband won it by answering the question "What do penguins taste like"  People answered the usual answers, chicken, beef, etc.  My husband answered "penguins" and won that beautiful gold X lol.  Our granddaughter got that once we got home and loved it haha.