Victorious8

My guess is that the same person who gave Gambee's name to someone gave yours since you are a prominent poster.

Has anyone seen this recently on the Escape? I am thinking of booking it for my solo trip in August. Anyone have any info on the menu? I couldn't find anything recently posted so sorry if this has been asked.

I am not going to it to sample fine wines, I grew up near enough to wine country but am in my 20's so I enjoy cheap stuff as well. Just looking for something mildly entertaining for a At Sea lunch.

I was just able to book For the Record and After Midnight for my 7/31 sailing. Also to book for a price was the Wine Lovers and Cabaret in Supper Club.

Loving the review! I am going on Escape this summer as a solo and I am so excited. This is actually my first review of yours that I have read (I only seem to use CC when I am planning a trip). I'm close in age with you so it is good to see such an in depth review. Good luck in grad school. i just finished last week and boy was it exhausting!

Bumping to announce I finished my LAST FINAL EVER today, and received one grade back, 99% (she doesn't give A+'s anyways oh and it was an MSW class not law school).

Still left: 9ish pages of my paper for my seminar on Capitalism. The page MINIMUM is 40. It has turned into my own personal feminist manifesto despite the class being taught but a capitalist and being the only female in the class :D

"Dear Diary I also spent some time at Sugarcane sipping mojitos. The Devil's Juice has a hold on me this trip. I allowed myself to be lured into excess by the UBP....they should just put an apple stamp where the UBP logo is on my key card.

Dinner tonight was at Cagney's. That was the best steak at sea that I have ever had. I have to say at sea because Bern's in Tampa will always win. The atmosphere and service at Cagney's were great though. Not too stuffy but not Mickey D's...ok I realize that leaves a lot of ground so how about Applebee's?"

Loved all of this! If I could use proper emoji's I would have used the cry face too. Also is this not live or has the devil juice really gotten ahold of you? It's 5/9/16 according to my phone.

I also worked at an Applebee's for years in college. I was a fantastic waitress must to the shock of many people who dined there expecting the worst!

Awesome review! It was the first one I have read of yours and I really enjoyed it. As a fellow student you'll be happy to know i have used it to procrastinate from finals. I am excited to look through some of your old reviews that have your adult children in them. I am right around their age (27). If there are any that you would suggest I start on I would really appreciate that. I am doing most of the ports you did in this one. Unfortunately we seem to like very different excursions. Ocean life really freaks me out, I will get in but I don't want to see anything! I tried getting over this in the Cayman Islands and while I was proud that I didn't have a meltdown but it didn't make me any more comfortable.

Also you daughter is adorable! I am super single but seeing the fun times you have with her made parenting seem like so much (I am sure it is crazy hard though)

Thanks and I hope you have a break from school soon!

Smart girl......Oh if only I could pack for my teenage daughter it would be mom shorts and swimsuits with skirts all week.

i LOL'd swim suits with skirts are the WORST! (I mean if you're young and want to wear a bikini)

Also VERY excited to follow along! It will be nice to check in on while I am finishing up my semester!

Nope, it hasn't changed. I just got an upsell from a studio into a Haven Spa Suite. I was 31 days out.

How much did this cost you if you don't mind me asking?

Oh I wonder if this is why I can't select and internet package on my July 31st Escape cruise. I'm really excited about this, this pretty much solidifies my decision to do a "live" review!

What made you choose Caribbean over the med?

 

Isnt august hurricane and rainy season for the Caribbean :confused:

I almost always vacation solo, and have a great time every time. It's all in what you put into the experience, and someone as obviously extroverted, smart and funny as you will have no problems.

 

I did a similar cruise a few years ago to the western Caribbean; I loved the Mexican ruins at Tulum (reachable from Cozumel), but that may not be for everyone. Scuba diving in Belize was also fantastic - the second largest barrier reef in the world. The fish and other animals were breathtaking, and as it was a beginner's scuba, you were pretty much taught everything you need to know (you just don't go that deep). It doesn't look like you're going to the Caymans, which is too bad; I did a "Swim with Rays and Dolphins" thing there that was pretty cool, too.

 

Mostly, though, kick back with a fruity drink (something blue!), a good book, and a bottle of SPF 30 and relax!

Oh yeah I should probably mention I am deathly afraid of fish! I tried to get over it when I was in the Cayman Islands (did a power snorkel) and while I did have a meltdown it did not do much to help my fear. They still really freak me out!

Just bumping because I am really excited and wanted to take a break from my 40 page paper on Capitalism! I can't believe I graduate in a week, I feel like this vacation will be here before no time!!!!

Also from what I understand I shouldn't bother booking any shows or dinners correct? The solo coordinator can do all that?

23 Jul thru 6 Aug

I'm on the second sailing and hope to get Vibe passes as well!

I am 90 days out and I was hoping to book dinner reservations, none of the free dining rooms had the option of booking a table for 1. Is that normal or did all of the tables for 1 book up already?

What was the age range of the people in the studios? Did you hang out with anyone from there or were you mostly with your family? How late did the nightlife usually go?

What made you choose Caribbean over the med?

 

Isnt august hurricane and rainy season for the Caribbean :confused:

I almost booked the med but changed my mind for a few reasons. 1. I did a grand Med six years ago and was fortunate enough to have my Nana pay for EVERYTHING so we did all of full day tours so I have already seen most it. 2. After the year I have had I just want to RELAX and not feel like I really need to do much. 3. I am that big of a baseball fan and being able to cross another stadium off my list is important to me. 4. European cruise crowds are generally older from my experiences. 5. For the aforementioned reasons the extra price for the plane ticket did not seem worth it! Also I really like all of the features on the Escape.

Are you on your ROLL CALL?? Are people arranging independent tours and asking for people to join in? OR you can see what others are doing and book with the same company.

 

You will also find others sailing in the studios/solo and get to know them before the cruise as well. Have fun!

Our role call is super dead unfortunately!

So glad I booked yesterday! They've taken away the. Free UBP for inside cabins. Looks like the new promotion is for selected sailings too, which Breakaway is not one of them! Cruise Critic came through again, with the most accurate info. The May promo prediction was 100% accurate!

Glad I did the same!!!

Thanks for the responses so far! It's nice to have something to look forward to since I don't have a job yet. Well, I have a volunteer opportunity that I am excited about but with the type of law I want to practice, most places won't accept applications until you have passed the bar. In CA the process is you submit a ton of information for the character part of the exam during the last year of law school, then the exam is three days in July and results aren't scheduled to be released until mid November. CA has the lowest pass rates but this may be because you can take the exam without going to a law school or an ABA accredited law school.

Dougout's was great so I hope mine can be on par. I am a legendary snapchater, I have had some very memorable snapchat stories throughout the years. I'll probably post my username in my live thread :)

Thanks for the suggestion on booking later shows! 92 days away so I can start booking those things soon. Speaking of which if I did want to do dinners alone do you have to sit at a table by yourself? Is there a bar area or someplace else? I don't mind eating alone (I've basically always been single and i like going to eat at nice places) but I hate when people look at me with a punch of pity if I am by myself.

Also yes I have UBP, kinda bummed I lost my SDP when I switched cruises I decided to do this one because seeing the Giants on my birthday in a new stadium is going to be amazing, I am obsessed with Bruce Bochy and want to get my jersey with his name on it signed (see below). I'm pretty stoked to have the post cruise plans so hopefully it will make getting off the ship not as sad.

For those who have done solo trips before, did you regret booking excursions before the cruise? Would you rather have hung out with the people you met on the ship?

For anyone who knows the ports, I want to do some type of zip lining or tubing thing but I am not really sure which one to do. I'll spend tonight putting off studying to research those :D

So I finally committed, I bought plane tickets and everything so my bar trip is definitely happening!

This is my first solo cruise (staying in a studio) and my first cruise without my large family. While I am young (turning 28 days after the cruise) I love cruising and I felt like this would be such a relaxing, easy planning trip. It will be coming after the hardest year of my education and a summer studying for the dreaded CA bar (and the start of the almost 4 months I will need to wait before getting my results).

I think I will enjoy myself even though I will be alone. I am crazy outgoing and I love to drink. So at a minimum I will just become best friends with all the bar staff. The only thing I am bummed about right now is not having anyone to gush about my excitement and ideas, hence why I am posting.

I *think* I will do a live thread. I figure I will probably want the internet so I can connect with friends back home if I can't find any on the ship. Expect it to interesting, could potentially rival theDougOut thread. I might even try to win the contest at "home", I wonder if a woman has ever won?

I will be flying in the day of (direct flight and gets in at 6am so I will have plenty of time to figure out a back up plan in case of delays. Since I will be there SO early I might even try for Vibe passes! I'll be staying post cruise in Miami until the 10th so I can catch my Giants playing the Marlins on my birthday!

Does anyone have advice for me on what to expect? Anyone else in my age range (or have cruised with someone) and want to give me feedback/ideas? Anyone have any advice about excursions? I am pretty fearless and active. We will be going to Roatan, Belize City, and Cozumel (went here once, it was one of the most ridiculously drunk days of a cruise and one of my favorite stories).

Also if anyone else wants to just talk and get hyped with me I would love that! :D:D:D

Do a courtesy hold the last day of the month and see what happens the next day.

Problem solved.

OMG thank you so much for this idea. I am thinking of changing my cruise by a week but I currently have better promos for the one I have booked. Can you do a courtesy hold if it is near the 90 days mark? The cruise i have booked needs final payment May 9th and the one I want to change to is 6 days early so I figured final payment will be due May 3rd ish

Thanks for the solo review! I am going solo this summer and it really gets me excited to see reviews like this! Could you comment on the overall age ranges of the solos? Was the "core group" around a certain age?

Actually I think I figured it out. I can take the Tri Rail from MIA, transfer at the "Tri Rail" station located here 1125 E 25 Street, Hialeah, FL 33013 and then it will drop me off at Historic Overtown / Lyric Theatre station. From there it should be just over a mile to the port and I'll probably grab an Uber or maybe explore a bit!

Greetings! I am doing a solo cruise this summer and I am looking for the cheapest way to get from FLL to the Port of Miami. I am flying in the day of (I am not worried because I have a direct overnight flight so if it is cancelled or delayed I will have plenty of time to figure out another option). My flight gets in just before 8:00am.

I am thinking Tri Rail will be a good option for me but I am having trouble figuring out if I can take it to somewhere closer to the Port or do I just take it to MIA? I am also good with taking public transportation for the entire trip. I am younger (27) and well traveled so I am not scared/nervous about taking public transportation. Is there a public transportation way to get from MIA to POM?

Thanks for any help or advice! I plan on renting a car when I disembark so I only need to worry about getting to the ship!

Loving your review! I can't wait to sail on her in August. I hope they still have all star bartenders on her since I will be alone and will likely just be forcing the bartenders to be my friends :)

Curious how becoming a beer aficionado has been going? Also does DPH have any sour beers?