NCL Epic: solo travellers

[HCTiger9704]

I am planning on going on the Norwegian Epic and staying in one of the rooms that is for the solo travellers. Any advice?

[HowardK]

Hello, a few- I went on in last year and loved it- much better than the NCL Jewel solo. Will be going on the breakaway next fall

 

-Attend the solo gathering every day to get tablemates for dinner, shows etc..

- Do not book any shows ahead of time for 7PM- if you want to attend any of them (with the exception of Cirque which fills up) you can always get in later

-If you see any activities you want to do but solos don't want to do them- do them

-If there is a restaurant and you are the only one who wants to eat there- wait until the last night

-Do research on excursions ahead of time. Although people will disagree- I would book the excursion through NCL

-Attend your roll call as well, this way you are meeting solos and cruise critic people

-Stay in Miami at least a night ahead of time

-Bring earplugs in case you need them for sleeping

 

I loved it- will be going on the Breakaway next year

[Valen9]

I am planning on going on the Norwegian Epic and staying in one of the rooms that is for the solo travellers. Any advice?

 

I was in a Studio around this time last year. Some advice:

 

• Check out everything as soon as you get to the cabin. I had a lot of trouble with the sliding closet doors, but eventually they found someone to repair them.
  
• This was my first inside but I had some coping strategies:
  
  • Leave the window open if the folks walking by don't bother you. They can't see you.
    
  • Figure out the lighting. I used an evening lighting scheme at night and a daytime scheme in the day to help keep myself alert on a schedule.
    

  [*]There's a clothesline in the shower stall.

  [*]There are shelves under the sink, though I was nervous about storing fabrics down there.

  [*]There is a basket on wheels under the bed. I put dirty laundry in there.

  [*]Don't leave any papers out on your tiny table under the TV... the steward cleans those out the night before you disembark.

  [*]The Studio Lounge has the only self-serve fancy coffee drink machine left on all of NCL, I think. It's awesome. Ask for help if you can't figure out the German labeling. :) (I sometimes had a mug of foamy milk before bedtime!)

  [*]The lounge has some salads and sandwiches during the day, some pastries in the AM, and cookies the rest of the day.

  [*]There are some banks of vending machines at various points in the internal corridor. They sell some different stuff than the soda machine in the Lounge. The machines take your card for payment.

Definitely go to the receptions in the evening if you want to meet folks. I was too shy about asking for dinner companions and missed a lot of fun activities!

[eigig]

Apologies to the OP don't mean to highjack your thread.

Just want to ask about how forward one has to be to be included in dinners when staying in the Epic studios.

I am booked for July 7 Epic Rt Barcelona and am travelling solo in a studio. I got the impression that there is a list to sign up for dinners with other solos. Am I wrong there?

Eating solo in the buffet is fine with me but I would like to connect with others in the evening.

also Howard you mentioned taking the NCL excursions. That was my impression also (Med Cruise--have been to Rome and Florence once already) for the convenience as well as the companionship--even if it is only a "transportation only" option. At least no worries about getting back to the ship.

Any advice appreciated. thanks

[HowardK]

Apologies to the OP don't mean to highjack your thread.

Just want to ask about how forward one has to be to be included in dinners when staying in the Epic studios.

I am booked for July 7 Epic Rt Barcelona and am travelling solo in a studio. I got the impression that there is a list to sign up for dinners with other solos. Am I wrong there?

Eating solo in the buffet is fine with me but I would like to connect with others in the evening.

also Howard you mentioned taking the NCL excursions. That was my impression also (Med Cruise--have been to Rome and Florence once already) for the convenience as well as the companionship--even if it is only a "transportation only" option. At least no worries about getting back to the ship.

Any advice appreciated. thanks

 

It just seemed to come togehter in terms of having dinner with people.

Everyone is in the same boat (no pun intended) and I found it was neat because you would have a core group of people, and some additional people joined on the 3rd day. We had no set list and the group kind of worked it out among themselves.

One night we all did the buffet and put 3 tables togehter.

 

My impressions a year later::

I still watch the documentary I made

I made a reservation for April but cancelled it ONLY because flight + one night hotel for me from NJ was around the same cost of getting a new electric piano.

I do have the breakaway in September.

 

I had a thread solo vegas vs solo cruise as the same week this year I have a solo vegas trip planned (5 free nights at Paris)

 

I am seriously thinking of not doing vegas; paying a flight change fee, and possibly rebooking the Epic because it had that much of a positive impact on me.

 

The whole week I had people to converse, eat, go to shows with.

Honestly, I doubt I will have that in Vegas.

My advice- get in there and go to those solo gatherings. DO not miss one.

[arhillbilly]

Just did the Epic in Oct. What Fernando (group leader of the solo travelers) did was had a sign up sheet in the studio lounge....the lounge door was propped open starting about 5 for people that wasn't in the studio cabins but were traveling solo. Each night was a different time (either 6:15 or 8:15) and the 2 main dining rooms alternated.....then there were also sign ups for the pay restaurants.....I will caution you tho....the 8:15 dining there is a wait for a table......

[eigig]

hey

thanks to all for your replies. Arhillbilly --good advice--Yes, I will plan to attend all solo gatherings and also join the roll call whenever someone else starts one :) --hope that is soon.

 

Howard--you said that you booked NCL excursions. I am leaning toward doing that also. What was your exact reasoning there? thanks again.

[yor1969]

Great advice from everyone, I booked the march 23rd Epic cruise. Has anyone else booked that date?

[HCTiger9704]

-Stay in Miami at least a night ahead of time

 

I am actually flying into Miami the day before so I can plan a Where's George gathering in Miami. It won't be my first Where's George gathering but it be my first one in Florida.

[Twinkstarr]

Just did the 11/24 Epic sailing in a studio. Had a lot of fun, met some great people in the studio lounge. Don't worry you won't have to eat dinner by yourself.

 

I use packing cubes, so that worked well with the basket under the bed. Glad to see I wasn't the only one having problems with the sliding doors. The one worked great the other by the safe was a pain.

 

We never had to wait for a table to eat with the group, we went to the dining room around 6:30. Fernando took good care of our group, even helped us get a group of us over to Maho Beach to watch the planes land.

 

 

I would definately do the Epic again when she moves to the Western route in 2014 or if I can sneak an early December 2013 sailing ;). Had too much fun, that I think I'll have to take the Hubz and the boys on the Breakaway to Bermuda in 2014.

[cutecat]

Great advice from everyone, I booked the march 23rd Epic cruise. Has anyone else booked that date?

Yeah I will be on the March 23rd 2013 Eastern Caribbean too , travelling in SOLO cabin - I started a ROLL call for this too.see you there ..

[HowardK]

hey

thanks to all for your replies. Arhillbilly --good advice--Yes, I will plan to attend all solo gatherings and also join the roll call whenever someone else starts one :) --hope that is soon.

 

Howard--you said that you booked NCL excursions. I am leaning toward doing that also. What was your exact reasoning there? thanks again.

 

I did the NCL excursions- in my opinioin better to go with a group from the ship; also the ship can't leave without you if it is late

[vpcats]

I may a little late jumping in here but I just want to say HOWARD K had a Fan Club on that Epic sailing! He plays some mean piano and is a very nice guy to boot.

 

I was on that ship. I started out booking a solo cabin and then my friend decided to go too so we switched to a regular cabin, but I had already started "mingling" with the other solos through the roll call and kept it up. We joined the solo pre-dinner get togethers, had dinners together, luncheons (including my birthday Teppenyaki group lunch) went to shows together, casino, whatever there was to do or not do was the agenda.

 

Still keep in touch with a bunch from that group. We had a great ole time. It was a better trip than you would imagine but we had a great group too. :)

 

Hi Howard!

[HowardK]

I may a little late jumping in here but I just want to say HOWARD K had a Fan Club on that Epic sailing! He plays some mean piano and is a very nice guy to boot.

 

I was on that ship. I started out booking a solo cabin and then my friend decided to go too so we switched to a regular cabin, but I had already started "mingling" with the other solos through the roll call and kept it up. We joined the solo pre-dinner get togethers, had dinners together, luncheons (including my birthday Teppenyaki group lunch) went to shows together, casino, whatever there was to do or not do was the agenda.

 

Still keep in touch with a bunch from that group. We had a great ole time. It was a better trip than you would imagine but we had a great group too. :)

 

Hi Howard!

 

Hi Vivian! Thank you for the kind words! I was actually watching Stray Dogs guide to the rough seas last week. Who else are you keeping in touch with? I have not heard from anyone in a while but think it would be fun to go on another cruise with the same people. I am on the Breakaway 9/15.

Have you been on any cruises since then?

[vpcats]

Casey moved to Vegas and she and Max are going to Alaska end of June. Dawn is going on another cruise with her mother next January (mother won the trip). Tina....sometimes. I know they keep in touch with some of the others too.

 

I'm looking into Alaska but boy is that expensive for a solo! The tours....ay ay ay. Also looking into partial transit Panama Canal out of Ft. Lauderdale. At least don't need airfare and probably not many excursions.

 

I went to southern Spain last October for one week and was booked on a RCCL cruise to Canary Islands for the 2nd wk. Last day in Spain I fell down in the Alhambra and broke my arm REALLY badly. Went to the hospital there and I had to fly back to Miami the next day because I had to have surgery fast. Still doing therapy and it hurts like hell! :) It was one of the worst fractures - first one in my life but a doozy!

 

I hope you have a great Breakaway time! I hope everyone else enjoyed our chit chat. :)

[janetlm]

Thanks for all the great advice. I am looking at the EPIC for the week of Nov 2 or 9th, 2013. I have traveled mainly Carnival and really want a change. I have heard mainly positive things about the studio cabins. I am used to an inside, so I should be OK.

 

I was a little concerned about the free style dinner, having a means to link up with other folks for dinner is a positive.

 

I have traveled solo 3 times and always had dinner companions using the . Last time I cruised with a buddy and ended up eating in the MDR at a table for 4 by myself twice. :( I felt a little awkward, but got through dinner. I joined up with another group for the last 2 nights and had some great conversation.

[HowardK]

Thanks for all the great advice. I am looking at the EPIC for the week of Nov 2 or 9th, 2013. I have traveled mainly Carnival and really want a change. I have heard mainly positive things about the studio cabins. I am used to an inside, so I should be OK.

 

I was a little concerned about the free style dinner, having a means to link up with other folks for dinner is a positive.

 

I have traveled solo 3 times and always had dinner companions using the . Last time I cruised with a buddy and ended up eating in the MDR at a table for 4 by myself twice. :( I felt a little awkward, but got through dinner. I joined up with another group for the last 2 nights and had some great conversation.

 

It should be pretty good-i do not think I have read any reviews were there were not friendly people. Remember, there will be other solos like you and myself and the other people on this board there as well. Sometimes smaller groups then can go try a specialty restaurant. The nice thing is we could do dinner in the MDR either 7 or 7:30 for example; we didn't need a set time.

[febtober]

I just got back home from a 7 day trip in a studio on the Epic. I had a great time.

 

I think I may have hyped up the studio area a bit much in my mind. The room was really cool (much more interesting than a typical indoor cabin), but I really didn't use the lounge area much and most of the people I met or hooked up with on the ship were staying in the usual cabins.

 

Although there were definitely several other people staying in the studios that I bumped into a regular basis and would chit chat with, which was nice.

 

I'd like to sail later this year, and in November, both Carnival and Norwegian have the Florida/Bahamas sailings out of New York. NCL is about $350 more expensive for a studio on the Breakaway versus an interior cabin on Carnival.

 

Sure, The Breakaway is a new ship, but I might give Carnival a try as I've only sailed twice, both times on NCL.

[cutecat]

Hey Janet - you will have a great time , I just did a solo Eastern Carib last month , the solo concept is great as you will meet loads of like minded fun people of all age groups in the lounge . It really is very much freestyle , it is upto you how much you choose to do as a group or not to do.

Every evening there will be a gathering ( on my cruise only about twenty of us were regulars ) and there will be a rep who comes and organises who wants to go to dinner together etc etc. We had a girl called Viani from mexico she was really nice.

The only thing i would say is that the group dining ( cos of large numbers on table) tended to be too early for me around 6pm , but if you wanna be sociable and get to know people do go along - you dont have to eat a huge meal just have a salad or whatever , you can always eat later wherever you want !! its not like anyone is counting!

 

I had such a great time and met some great people , you will love it ! I have already booked my second cruise on Epic solo for Septemeber in the Med. I really wanted to try Breakaway but still too pricey...do let us know how you get on and if you have any solo type questions just ask ...

 

 

 

 

Thanks for all the great advice. I am looking at the EPIC for the week of Nov 2 or 9th, 2013. I have traveled mainly Carnival and really want a change. I have heard mainly positive things about the studio cabins. I am used to an inside, so I should be OK.

 

I was a little concerned about the free style dinner, having a means to link up with other folks for dinner is a positive.

 

I have traveled solo 3 times and always had dinner companions using the . Last time I cruised with a buddy and ended up eating in the MDR at a table for 4 by myself twice. :( I felt a little awkward, but got through dinner. I joined up with another group for the last 2 nights and had some great conversation.