Virtopia

198 until my first TA on the Jewel - Rome to San Juan :)

For ships I've been on:

 

Favourite: Explorer, Adventure

Least Favourite: Enchantment (and this is just me being picky - Majesty was my first solo cruise so I couldn't pick it.)

 

Also, for a ship I've never been on, I have no desire to go on Grandeur. I wish another ship would leave from Baltimore so I could try it out.

I had to edit mines. I just remembered my Rhapsody cruise - although it was my bucket list trip, I didn't enjoy the ship and it would defintely be my least favourite.

For ships I've been on:

Favourite: Explorer, Adventure

Least Favourite: Enchantment (and this is just me being picky - Majesty was my first solo cruise so I couldn't pick it.)

Also, for a ship I've never been on, I have no desire to go on Grandeur. I wish another ship would leave from Baltimore so I could try it out.

I've never gotten any perk for booking solo but I have never paid a full double occupancy. I try and book as early as I can so that I get the best rates and it's worked so far. My peace of mind is worth any amount though so I don't mind.

We had 9256 on our Western Med cruise and it was amazing! Quiet and the balcony is huge! Jewel is a great size ship and has an outdoor area at the Windjammer which is great.

The outdoor Windjammer area is still there? That's amazing! I thought it was being taken out with the refurb. I'm looking foward to enjoying it again on my fall sailing.

quite a few do. I no longer get off in any Mexican ports. many people now cruise the big ones: Oasis, Allure, Ovation, etc for the ship amenities and don't care where she's going.

 

some of my best days have been on port days when 2/3 of the pax are gone.

Ditto. I will never get off in any Mexican port again. I've also had my fill of Port Canaveral.

I'm interested in the drink card details as well - I'll be boarding in exactly 1 year! :) Also, pictures would be great. I'm in a promenade cabin on deck 8.

I'm a huge reader so if I don't have a balcony cabin, I'm usually finding a good seat on the promenade deck with my book. I also will dine in the MDR or a speciality restaurant alone and I absolutely love it. I feel like I'm being catered to and everyone deserves a little pampering!

My next cruise will be my longest yet as it's my first TA so I'm looking foward to plenty of reading, naps and drinks :)

This is my favorite post and has been for a long time! I hope you get to go again soon. We are lucky enough to live in Europe for a few years and we are in the process of picking out a cruise through the Greek Isles!

Aww thank you! I’m going back the end of October to catch a TA from Rome - I can’t wait!! I will definitely make it into the Colosseum this time around!

I also wrote a story about this trip that is being published in an upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul book [emoji5]this trip just keeps on giving!

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For Antigua, I'd definely recommend Coconut Beach if it's still open. I believe the day pass was for $45 and we got lunch included alon with free wi fi. It was nice and quiet with an absoluely amazing view. I wish I could be back there right now!

Anyone know when Europe 2020 will open up? Looking to book early on a newer ship and leaving Barcelona :)

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That is awesome!!!

We’re going in September so I’m excitedly planning and figuring out my priorities for things to see

 

 

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Have fun! Planning was one of my favourite parts of this trip - it was a lot of logistics but it was fantastic seeing it all together.

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Wow! Thank you to whoever bumped this thread this month as I may never have encountered this wonderful trip log otherwise :D

 

 

 

... Thank You Virtopia, for I thoroughly enjoyed every picture and every post!

 

My wishlist is long, but Italy and Greece have just advance to a much higher slot (sigh...someday, fingers crossed:D)

 

I sooo enjoyed your enthusiasm and the way you told your story...it made me so happy for you and your trip of a lifetime!

 

...and you've the heart of a poet I think...I loved the line about blending with the blues of Greece! and the picture of your feet in the sand...Goodness, what a beautiful journey! Thank You for sharing!

 

 

 

(I just found and began reading about your 2013 trip and am loving that one as well!)

Aww thank you!! It was so fun writing this review - I still go through it about once a month to relive it.

I’ll be back in Italy in November but hoping to go back to Greece and Montenegro in two years.

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a little late to the game here but can I ask if you regretted not doing the Colosseum tour?

Yes, I regret it, but fortunately for me, I’ll be back in Rome late October and that tour is my first stop :)

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I usually rotate between 3 formal dresses that I have. I only participate in the 1st formal night these days and I only cruise once a year, so that works for me. When they don't fit anymore or it's a special occassion, then I'll buy something new.

We had booked flights last summer via Westjet from Toronto. This spring Westjet has gone from Sat and Sun flights to just Sat flights. We are staying a week after the cruise in a condo so will fly home Sat instead of Sunday (Westjet gave us a $300 credit due to the change). I believe Air Canada has reduced flights as well.

Definitely this is the most inexpensive cruise we have booked (in a balcony no less!) but I get that while cruise prices have dropped, flights are expensive.

On our April 1sailing there seems to be many cabins available. Wondering if they will offer cheap rates to PR residents to fill the ship?

They did that for my recent sailing on Adventure.

It was, by far, the busiest cruise I've taken. It seemed really overcrowded and I ended up spending a lot of time in the Diamond Lounge and my cabin to avoid it.

Usually the VCL is quiet during the day so a few of us were there - all of a sudden, about a family of 20 came up and started playing some card game at maximum volume. I escaped into the DL shortly afterwards. Nothing against the locals at all, but out of my 3 SJU cruises, this one was definitely last on my list in terms of fellow passenger behaviour.

So glad I found this review - debating Harmony for spring 2019 and, as always, you are convincing me.

Looking sharp for formal night! [emoji5]

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0! Looking at the Adventure right now [emoji5]

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Just curious what happens with your Airbnb. We have one booked for our stayed next month.

 

 

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Beside being too far from the downtown area, in a sketchy neighbourhood and having no power (knew this beforehand), a bat flew into the unit last night - I was in a taxi within 20 minutes.

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After a snafu with my Airbnb booking, I’m presently at the Sheraton near the convention center and port. It is fully operational and quite lovely - I️ also got a great view of the Adventure and Summit!!

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I’m doing this cruise next year - I’m looking forward to it! What did you do at the port stops?

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I took the plunge with an onboard booking. If the stars align, I will trade it in within 30 days for a longer (10+) new release cruise. Unfortunately I learned yet another new policy...as a solo booking I was not permitted a solo deposit and was required to pay a deposit equivalent to 2 persons.

 

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Seriously? Ugh that is so disappointing to learn as I was going to book during my upcoming cruise.

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I hope your enjoy that Junior Suite and as a solo female cruiser, I'm leary of appearing like a stalker ;)

LOL! I’ll be doing a review so you’ll get to relive your sailing again [emoji5]

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I had an Explorer cruise in March one year with an aft balcony - It was a 8 night cruise and the balcony was only unusable the first and last night. It was less than an inside so that helped as well :)

Love this review from a fellow solo female cruiser - I'l be heading out on another solo cruise in about 12 days! I've had good and bad comments, don't understand why people are so surprised that sometimes, we just enjoy our own company.

I went on Allure in 2012 and absolutely loved it. I'm sure you had an amazing time!