Awkward Solo Moments

[1jazzylady]

I'm not at all surprised, because 7 or 8 people were assigned to it, even if they didn't show up (because they ate at the buffet or a surcharge restaurant), and the cruiseline could not take the chance that they would show up one night and get upset because their table had been taken away from them without their knowledge.

 

As for taking a kindle to the MDR, I agree that it's not rude if you're dining by yourself, but keep in mind that one night, I went to the MDR and sat at my table for one, and after I decided what I wanted to eat, I closed my menu and put it down on the table (which I hoped signaled the waitress that I was ready to order) and took out my book. Eventually I realized that 20 minutes had gone by without my order having been taken, so I asked who was my waitress. When she finally showed up, she said, "I didn't think you came in here because you wanted to eat. I thought you came in here because you wanted to read!" That was the reason that she had decided to ignore me.

 

 

I think I will take my phone the first night. I can play games, read my kindle and nook apps if I want a distraction.

[1jazzylady]

Thank you Lois.

 

I am looking forward to relaying my experience when I get back and keeping an open mind on everything!

 

Leaving in about 3 hours.......

Have a great trip!!!!!

[Valen9]

Maybe it's been asked, but is it rude to bring your kindle in the dining room I'f you plan on dining alone? I personally don't mind, but would like to know others opinions.

 

I think that is perfectly polite. Anyplace where it would be OK to bring a paper book, it is perfectly OK to bring your Kindle. I see plenty of people doing that. My biggest problem with doing that is sometimes the servers and the attendants at the buffet think that I need company and start conversations when I'm in the middle of a great book!

 

You'll be fine. Exercise your ordinary caution and you'll be safe. And on a cruise, you don't have to work around anyone else's preferences, or sleep schedule -- and you don't have to be responsible for ANYTHING except getting back to the ship on time!

[Thoie]

I'd always have my kindle in a little handbag I carry with me. If my table mates didn't turn up, at least I'd have it with me. I'd always put it away the second they arrive though - even if I'm mid-way through the most exciting sentence in the book. People take precedence (even if sometimes I'd prefer to be reading!).

[FangedRose]

P & O tend to seat solo travellers together on a large table for dining.

[LuvBNatC]

Haven't read this whole thread, but seeing enough about NCL to chime in...

 

I'm returning to NCL this October after 8 years' absence because my first and only experience as a solo doing Freestyle on Norw. Majesty was so bad.

 

That ship didn't have many options. In the MDR, they'd ask, "How many in your party?"

 

I'd say "One," and be led to a table alone. OK, but it was ALWAYS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GALLEY DOOR. So I had wait staff rushing by and trays whizzing over my head throughout the meal.

 

I tried the other dining room. Same thing. Seated directly in front of the galley door. So I told the maître d' I didn't want to sit there and he was babbling as I turned to walk out, trying to steer me to an empty table for 10 in the corner.

 

I kept on walking and ate dinner at the buffet that night.

 

Since NCL is going after solos with studio cabins and a special lounge, I hope they've got their act together in the restaurants now. They're getting one more chance! :D

[1jazzylady]

Haven't read this whole thread, but seeing enough about NCL to chime in...

 

I'm returning to NCL this October after 8 years' absence because my first and only experience as a solo doing Freestyle on Norw. Majesty was so bad.

 

That ship didn't have many options. In the MDR, they'd ask, "How many in your party?"

 

I'd say "One," and be led to a table alone. OK, but it was ALWAYS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GALLEY DOOR. So I had wait staff rushing by and trays whizzing over my head throughout the meal.

 

I tried the other dining room. Same thing. Seated directly in front of the galley door. So I told the maître d' I didn't want to sit there and he was babbling as I turned to walk out, trying to steer me to an empty table for 10 in the corner.

 

I kept on walking and ate dinner at the buffet that night.

 

Since NCL is going after solos with studio cabins and a special lounge, I hope they've got their act together in the restaurants now. They're getting one more chance! :D

 

I had the same problems with dining that i let ruin a lot about my cruise. I like the dining room and don't like being stuck at the buffet or the pub with fried food every night on a long cruise. It was a problem that I let stop me from cruising for years. I am doing a cruise on the Queen Mary 2 just for the experience on this ocean liner. I will dine solo and enjoy the experience. You have to get your mind set that you may have some rotten experiences. Like being at a table for 8 but you are the only one who shows up. Or the night before it was a foreign couple whose language I didn't recognize. Not fun. I also am giving cruising another chance. i don't care about petty stuff anymore, i will get my full cruise experience, or it will be my last cruise. i have been seeing some great cruise prices lately but will resist temptation until after the Cunard experience .

Edited September 4, 2014 by 1jazzylady
spelling

[LuvBNatC]

I had the same problems with dining that i let ruin a lot about my cruise. I like the dining room and don't like being stuck at the buffet or the pub with fried food every night on a long cruise. It was a problem that I let stop me from cruising for years. I am doing a cruise on the Queen Mary 2 just for the experience on this ocean liner. I will dine solo and enjoy the experience. You have to get your mind set that you may have some rotten experiences. Like being at a table for 8 but you are the only one who shows up. Or the night before it was a foreign couple whose language I didn't recognize. Not fun. I also am giving cruising another chance. i don't care about petty stuff anymore, i will get my full cruise experience, or it will be my last cruise. i have been seeing some great cruise prices lately but will resist temptation until after the Cunard experience .

 

I sailed on QM2 twice from NYC to Canada with a girlfriend. She loves the ship, but I found it pretty stuffy. Harp music in the atrium before dinner and an abridged performance of Romeo & Juliet as afternoon entertainment by students of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. They screwed up the ending. Juliet woke up too soon and had to ad lib while Romeo killed himself. :D

 

I had my days enjoying a true ocean liner, the SS Norway, and found QM a disappointment. But to each his own. It's the closest thing we've got left.

 

Since Norwegian Getaway has so many restaurants, I intend to just walk around and scout things out every night. I've made no reservations anywhere. When I see one that doesn't look bustling, I'm just going to walk in. I've read on other boards there's usually no problem with seating solos.

 

I don't mind eating alone at all unless I'm situated to look like a pariah, as I felt I was on Norw. Majesty. Not on purpose. Just thoughtlessly. Lesson learned. I will pick my venues with care this time. AND NO MORE TABLES BY THE GALLEY!

 

Best wishes on your QM2 cruise!

 

Karen

Edited September 4, 2014 by LuvBNatC

[SandraDJ]

I loved QM2, it was my first solo cruise, and first cruise after a long gap.

 

There were solo get togethers. I was on a table for 8, and after a couple of nights there were four of us left. The next night I walked into the MDR to find no-one else at my table. My three remaining table-mates had asked for a smaller table, so the waiter showed me where it was. That was really nice!

 

All of the Cunard entertainment was to my taste. There was some fantastic jazz in the Chart Room, and I enjoyed the string quarters. I took part in the RADA workshops, and had a lot of fun.

 

Enjoy your voyage!

[dancinman66]

All if my Cunard sailing was as a solo so far

Never an issue

 

 

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[Valen9]

Haven't read this whole thread, but seeing enough about NCL to chime in...

 

I'm returning to NCL this October after 8 years' absence because my first and only experience as a solo doing Freestyle on Norw. Majesty was so bad.

 

That ship didn't have many options. In the MDR, they'd ask, "How many in your party?"

 

I'd say "One," and be led to a table alone. OK, but it was ALWAYS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GALLEY DOOR. So I had wait staff rushing by and trays whizzing over my head throughout the meal.

 

I tried the other dining room. Same thing. Seated directly in front of the galley door. So I told the maître d' I didn't want to sit there and he was babbling as I turned to walk out, trying to steer me to an empty table for 10 in the corner.

 

I kept on walking and ate dinner at the buffet that night.

 

Since NCL is going after solos with studio cabins and a special lounge, I hope they've got their act together in the restaurants now. They're getting one more chance! :D

 

I think you'll be happy. I've sailed on 4 different NCL ships, solo and with a party. (But even when I'm with others, I'll sometimes have a meal solo.) I haven't had that happen yet. They've gotten a lot more experience with Freestyle fleet-wide. When I show up at an MDR solo, they either seat me at a table for 2 or 4, or ask me if I am willing to share and seat me at a larger table.

 

It's true that I've been seated near the galley door (well, SOMEBODY has to when it's busy) but that's been when I've been with a party.

[1jazzylady1]

Karen I hope you enjoy the many restaurants on Getaway and have a terrific time.

 

 

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[1jazzylady1]

All if my Cunard sailing was as a solo so far

Never an issue

 

 

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Nice to know.

 

 

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[sgttami]

Doing my first solo cruise tomorrow on Carnival Splendor, 5 day Canada.

 

My sister was going to come but did not get her passport renewal back in time. She didn't know I was planning this or she would have waited to renew. I switched to this from a different cruise so it was pretty much a last minute decision.

 

Reading through the thread has been encouraging and funny at times.! This will be my 4th time on Splendor since February so I am familiar with the ship and the things I like to do. I've been on the same deck on every cruise so I will probably have the same cabin steward again!

 

I'm waiting to see what table I'm assigned and will check it out before dinner the first night. I have no problem dining alone. I LOVE meeting new people and chatting but prefer meeting at pools, bars, clubs etc. rather than "eating with strangers" initially and being trapped if it doesn't go well. I had one bad experience at a large table years ago and never did it again. I'm going with an open mind!

 

 

I had a great time sailing solo.

 

I tried to keep an open mind with the dining but being seated at a large table, late seating, did not work out and I know I will never do that again. The company and conversation (or lack of it) was unbearable! After the second night I decided not to go back there. I met another single traveler who knew my dilemma. He was very nice and invited me to switch to Any Time Dining with him. It was perfect after that. We had a table for two. The tables however are so close that they might as well be joined but we did enjoy conversation with the others next to us. It was also my first time doing AnyTime Dining and I'm hooked on that now. I would not have had a problem being seated alone or at a different table every night or eating at different times. As a single traveler, I thought this was great.

 

Seas were calm and the weather was perfect and there were countless conversations with others throughout the trip. I don't think I ever met so many wonderful, friendly people on a cruise and was very surprised that so many were traveling solo due to so many different reasons.(husband won't cruise, needs a break from the kids, short cruise combined with business)etc.

 

It was great and so freeing to do whatever I wanted. I'll absolutely do it again.!

[Lois R]

Hi Pam, welcome back and glad you had fun and the dining situation

ended up being ok:)

[sgttami]

Thank you Lois..

 

Yes, it was fun and I'm glad that the dining situation worked out.

 

I had met another single lady and she was at a table for 10 with all single woman, different ages, and said they were having a great time. She and I got along immediately and I knew I would have been very happy sitting with a group like that.

 

The only awkward part of sitting at a table for two with someone you just met was when the photographers come around at dinner and think you are "a couple" and want to snap away! We did laugh it off and I just used No Thank You, the same way as I don't buy ship photos anymore even if I'm with people I know.

[dancinman66]

Enjoy your cruise

Solo cruising is as much fun as you want

 

 

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[crusinpsychRN]

Thank you Lois..

 

Yes, it was fun and I'm glad that the dining situation worked out.

 

I had met another single lady and she was at a table for 10 with all single woman, different ages, and said they were having a great time. She and I got along immediately and I knew I would have been very happy sitting with a group like that.

 

The only awkward part of sitting at a table for two with someone you just met was when the photographers come around at dinner and think you are "a couple" and want to snap away! We did laugh it off and I just used No Thank You, the same way as I don't buy ship photos anymore even if I'm with people I know.

 

I was at a table of 7 solos, men and women, and every night the photographers would end up trying to pair us off. We just laughed and made some strange photos!

[42CruiseCrazy]

I was at a table of 7 solos, men and women, and every night the photographers would end up trying to pair us off. We just laughed and made some strange photos!

 

 

One cruise I was on the "singles" table consisted of two sisters

 

 

 

 

 

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[42CruiseCrazy]

I was at a table of 7 solos, men and women, and every night the photographers would end up trying to pair us off. We just laughed and made some strange photos!

 

One cruise that I was on the "singles" table I was at in the MDR consisted of two sisters, a gay couple, a man & woman travelling together who were "just friends" (all in their 30's) and me (the old married guy cruising solo). We got along just fine and enjoyed our dinners together but it confused the photographer when the only ones at the table who wanted a picture together were the two men.

 

 

 

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[TXGalAJ]

I just got off a solo cruise on Royal where I was seated with 5 couples. I know that sounds like it would be really awkward but I had to best time! I am mid-30's and two couples were younger than me, one my age, one slightly older and one old enough to be my parents. But it was very awkward when the photographer took pics of each couple and then got to me and tried to pair me with someone next to me. For me, it was fantastic to have the same dinner companions every night. But I had lunch in the dining room room with more than one group I wouldn't want to eat with again!

[LuvBNatC]

Last year on Vision OTS transatlantic, I was seated at a table for 10 with 2 delightful couples (from Boston and England) and a shy solo man (German). We always had 4 empty seats.

 

Several nights I brought various solo friends I'd made onboard to dine with us, who were always welcomed by my tablemates.

 

This had varying degrees of success. If I saw my guests didn't warm to the group, I wouldn't ask them back.

 

At the end of the voyage, I apologized to the table for messing with the vibe and was sincerely assured, "No problem. We loved it! We'd wonder all day what interesting new person Karen would find for us! We never would have met them otherwise."

 

So it was all good. :)

[evandbob]

I've read this whole thread with interest. I've sailed solo many times and haven't experienced any of these situations. I've noticed that most posters are women - I happen to be a guy.

 

Guess our civilization hasn't come very far when a whole class of people can be made to feel out of place, targeted, belittled, different, less than and otherwise objectified or stereotyped.

 

I tried bringing my daughter up so that she would instill in herself self respect and dignity, and even as she has broken glass ceilings in her business, she still relates stories to me about not being part of the Boardroom Buddy system endemic in her industry. I'm trying again with my grand daughter - but I wonder how many generations will pass before women are truly treated as equal to men?

[LuvBNatC]

Karen I hope you enjoy the many restaurants on Getaway and have a terrific time.

 

Oops, jazzylady, I just saw this post. Thank you very much for the good wishes. I'm planning to try as many of the restaurants as my stomach can hold! :D

[Valen9]

I tried bringing my daughter up so that she would instill in herself self respect and dignity, and even as she has broken glass ceilings in her business, she still relates stories to me about not being part of the Boardroom Buddy system endemic in her industry. I'm trying again with my grand daughter - but I wonder how many generations will pass before women are truly treated as equal to men?

 

When you can yell "Aw, you run like a girl!" at an 8-year-old boy and he just looks at you as if he realizes you meant *some* sort of insult but can't figure out what type of insult it is. THAT is when women are truly treated as equal to men.