pomcruise

Go for it and enjoy it! I've been solo cruising (apart from a bit of marriage in the middle) for about 20 years and never have a problem! Always someone to chat to, the crew are fairly young so they'll be happy to engage with you and as you're on NCL they have the solo "suites" and access to their own solo lounge with meet & mingles and a chance to catch up with other like minded people. Friend of mine cruised solo on NCL and LOVED it, made friends straight off and had dinner on a couple of nights with them, and wandered ashore with them too.

Bon voyage and have a grrrreat time!

Karen

Hi, I'm a solo cruiser and planning a world cruise (solo) which is likely to be P&O, so would also be interested in peoples repsonses!

I did get a lot of information when I posted about solo world cruising some months ago which might help!

Karen

Seems like 2021 is a good year for World Cruises as I'm planning to be on one for the big five-oh birthday that year!

As a solo traveller my concerns are as to whether I'd be lonely and whether I'd be considered a "youngster" ;) But like most people my prime concern was packing all the associated "stuff"! No way I could manage to go with only one suitcase, but I'm also thinking that travelling on my own will provide me with at least lots of space to hide the cases away! Perhaps I could rent out storage space to pay for the bar bill at the end??

As I'm based in the UK, I'm looking to cruise out of Southampton (my home town, thankfully) and looking at either P&O Cruises or Cunard... Based on 2018 prices, I've still got a lot of saving to do!

Anyone have an P&O World Cruise experience they'd care to impart?

Bon voyage for now

Karen

Dear All,

I haven't dropped into Cruise Critic for a while, so it's been great to catch up on the World Cruise thread I started last year! :D

I was seated with a lovely lady on a November cruise who had done several world cruise with her hubby and said that they loved every minute of it and yes, I probably would be one of the youngest on board even at 50, which still seems very grown up to me! ;)

I've already sown the seeds with the boss that I'd like a sabatical in 2021 (despite them saying they coldn't cope with me being gone for two and a half weeks)! Best I start saving in earnest seeing as i keep telling everyone I'm "doing a world cruise for my 50th birthday"!!

Thanks again for all the feedback and advice and bon voyage for now

Karen

Try Argan Oil, again from Avon which I think is about £3-4. Two small pumps (or more if the hair is longer) and it helps keep my hair soft. Does he have her hair professionally highlighted or dyed? If not, pack a couple of home hair dyes and then put one through about halfway through. Whatever conditioner they have always sorts out any straw like feeling in my verrry red hair which I have to dye after about 10days as the colour fades and the grey shows through!

I found that if I lay off using heated rollers, tongs, straighteners etc etc also saved my hair from damage (whether at sea or not).

You men have it soooo easy ;);)

Bon voyage for now

Karen

I hope you do it....im saving for another 2019....im hooked.

Hi Roscoe,

Wow! I couldn't wait to get home from work today to finish reading your blog! Thank you for posting a link to it, makes for great reading and a good laugh, plus seeing blue skies and sandy beaches when it's frosty outside here in the UK at the moment was an added bonus! :)

You and Scrapnana have inspired me to "go for it"and my spreadsheet looks a little empty at the moment, so I shall start saving hard! But as I said to Scrapana, I wanna go noooowwwww!!! Lol!

Hope you have as much fun on the 2019 cruise :)

Happy travels

Regards

Karen

xx

I'll end by saying I loved my World Voyage so much I am going on another one in 2018!

Thank you so much for your kind reply to my many questions! The more I read, the more I want to go, but don't want to have to wait :)

Sounds like a world cruise isn't a "once in a lifetime" trip :)

Thanks again...

Time to start saving like mad and/or start playing the lottery!

Regards

Karen

Check for the book, Views from a Cruise: Solo around the world by Fabienne Wolf. She went solo on P&O I believe.

 

Sent from my SM-J700T using Forums mobile app

Thanks JBurton59, will check it out! :D

Ahoy!

It's been a long held dream to "do" a World Cruise (Southampton to Southampton), no flights, no airports and more importantly - no baggage restrictions!

I've read through some of the threads, which are sadly quite old, but still contain loads of useful information, so thank you all!

My query is this:

1) Has anyone ever done a full WC on their own? :)

2) If so, did you ever feel lonely (I do know how social cruises are, but just wondering if people keep more to themselves on such a long voyage)?

3) I'm looking at Cunard or P&O, but the single supplement is making it sooooo pricey... Did you get a better deal with the cruise line direct or through a travel agent?

4) How much "stuff" did you take? I'm thinking more in terms of items like deodorant!! :eek:

5) Were there any "perks" for being on for the full voyage as opposed to the sectors?

6) Did you manage to get an upgrade? Thinking I could book an outside and hope for an offer or free upgrade to a balcony?! ;)

I'm sure there's loads of questions I could rattle off, but those are the ones that occupy the mind - along with "how on earth am I going to pay for this and the bar bill at the end"!! :eek::eek: I'm planning for my 50th birthday so have just over 5 years to save!

Thanks for your advice!

Ahoy!

I always attend the "travelling alone" get together, which in my experience is predominantly ladies - perhaps we're more social? I've only ever had one chap that was a bit creepy, rather than pervy in all the cruises I've done on my own. I'm in my mid 40's and had phone box red hair at the time and being quite tall, I suppose I stood out like a proverbial sore thumb!!

I tend to go primarily to meet the entertainments crew, as they're always good fun and keep an eye out for you in a non creepy way!

Been cruising on my own for 20ish years now, and never had a problem with meeting people, chatting to people and making friends for the duration (and even after), but I also enjoy the chance to have a bit of me time too.

As others have said, swing by the travelling alone get together, but don't be surprised if only a few people turn up!

Ahoy fellow solos!

I'm off on my fourth cruise this year, on my own, in a couple of weeks. I have joined the Roll Call on Cruise Critic, and always attend the "travelling solo" get together on the first day out. I'm in my mid 40's and been cruising solo for 20+ years (apart from a hiatus with the now ex-husband for a few years)!

I LOVE it!!! I enjoy having some time to myself and the fact that everyone will chat to you. I've had some wonderful table companions at dinner and laughed so hard I've almost cried with them! Met many people who, with the joys of technology, have become friends and met up with them away from the ship!

For some reason, I seem to be a "person of intrigue" when I'm on a cruise, "Ooooh you're so brave" is something I've often been told, but I figure if I don't go alone, I won't holiday at all as I don't like to fly, if I can help it. Living close to Southampton is another bonus for me, as it's only a short drive to the docks rather than hours in an airport.

Any other solos on P&O Cruises UK Aurora leaving on 20th November, then say hello and join the roll call!

Bon voyage!

I'm a loyal P&O cruiser and one of those cheerfully optimistic people who doesn't complain about the free xmas pressie from them (like many did)!

It's rare for me to whinge... but here goes...

Like everyone here, I work hard to pay for my cruises and as a single person, I have to pay the additional single person tax for the priviledge (generally between 50-70%).

So when I booked my Select Fare back in Jamuary for my cruise on 20th March, I thought I was getting the best possible price after TA compared Select with Saver fares....

Seems that I should have saved the money and booked today as for the price I've paid for an outside with a view of a lifeboat (yes, I knew I was getting a lifeboat view) I could have booked a damn balcony and STILL saved myself over £150!!

I spoke with P&O, they said, "speak with your TA". I spoke with my TA and they spoke with P&O who basically said "ha ha, we've got your money, like it or lump it"! I'm paraphrasing here of course!!

My understanding was that if you booked select rather than saver, if the price went down, they would do something for you to compensate i.e. a cabin upgrade or perhaps some extra OBC?

What's your thoughts on the difference between select, early saver, saver more or whatever ridiculously name pricing structure they come up with next?!

End of whinge, time for G&T methinks!

PS Before anyone points it out, yes I know I'm lucky to be able to afford to go on a cruise and if this is all I've got to whinge about, then blah blah blah. This is simply an expression of my opinion, so please don't shoot me down in flames (as has happened before)!!

I think this is what you are talking about

 

http://www.southamptoncruiseconcierge.co.uk/#!ventura-20-mar-16-n608-psychic-cruise/ciiu

Clearly my googling skills aren't that good, as I didn't find this one at all last night!!

I'm booked on this cruise too and did a bit of googling and found that there is a cruise scheduled on Ventura, but it's 18th May...

http://www.focustravel.co.uk/psychiccruise.html

So I "foresee" that we'll be okay!!

Karen

I was allocated cabin E516 (guarantee booking) at Christmas which I described as having a "breathtaking view of the lifeboat" in that I could see the sea through the sides of the lifeboat! Did make the cabin a little darker, but didn't really care that much as was on deck when the sun came out!

I've booked E620 for my cruise in March which looks to be at the end of a lifeboat, so might have a little bit more of a view.

Bon voyage

Karen

I was on Ventura for Christmas and was delighted to receive my P&O Cruises special edition Monopoly... but yes, I heard people moaning about the FREE gift!! :mad:

The best response I overheard was at the pursers desk when the kind purser explained politely that "it was a complimentary gift from P&O and very sorry to hear that you're not happy but there is no alternative. If you would like to bring the complimentary gift to reception, I'm sure one of the crew would like it for their family"!! All said with a great big smile and emphasis on the complimentary bit! Wish I'd got his name cos he was the model of calm in the face of snobbish entitlement. Bravo to him! :)

The level of whinging, grumbling and moaning coming from some of the passengers was nothing short of embarassing... but at least it gave the non-moaners something to "moan" about!! :)

It annoys me cos there's 1000's of people who would love to be on a cruise and yet these people complain about the slightest thing. I'm always pathetically greatful to be on a cruise (and yes, I work hard to pay for it, or rather the credit card!). Perhaps the litigous society we have allows these people to think "he who shouts loudest, gets a refund"....

Bon voyage!

Hi, I'm sailing solo on Ventura this Christmas, but not in a Single cabin - need the extra room for my shoes, dresses etc!

Been cruising on my own for many many years and I thoroughly enjoy it. Like the previous poster I always go for set dining time on a large table and touch wood, I'vebeen very lucky to have some great table companions and even convinced the Captain to dine with us last year!

I also go to a couple of the solo get togethers, and although my memory for names is appalling, I do bump into people and stop for a chat as I'm wandering around the ship (might help that I'm tall with very red hair, so I'm easy to spot in a crowd).

I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time, be interesting to hear what you think of the single cabin!

Bon voyage

Karen