Solo Cruiser's Roll Call

[LouisV]

I'm a solo cruiser going on the Eclipse on May 9, 2022.

 

Mo 

[Kittywashere]

Hi all! Taking a solo cruise on Carnival's Celebration from 12/4/22-12/11/22, leaving out of Miami. If anyone is going solo, feel free to say hello. 😃

[lt0826]

On 11/10/2022 at 5:10 AM, Mrs. H. said:

I just returned from my first solo cruise, NCL Breakaway.  I had no idea there was someone from NCL who was 'in charge' of the solo folk.  It was pretty damn nice!

 

Ready for my 2nd solo cruise in 16 more days.  

Would love to know more. Solo'ing on Breakaway on 12/18

 

[Mrs. H.]

11 hours ago, lt0826 said:

Would love to know more. Solo'ing on Breakaway on 12/18

 

It's in the daily each day.  It says 5:30 solo meet.  NCL rep, can't remember his name, super nice dude, would be there at 5:30 and escort whoever wanted to go to the Manhattan room over there at 6PM. You just walk in and he will direct you to the tables and you just sit and talk and enjoy. 
He even brings you to the shows early, about 45 minutes before show, and you go as a group in the side entrance.  First ones in the theater and you grab whatever section/row you want.  Of course we took middle, 1st and 2nd rows! lol  We met him at the theater/Tent at whatever time he said.  There was a sign up sheet in the Bliss.

Oh, and whoever had dinner vouchers hooked up.  ex. I took someone to Cagney's and they took me to Cagney's on another night.
It really made solo traveling so much better!

 

Enjoy!!!

[Mrs. H.]

Got the name of the guy!!!  HANDSOME ROB!!!

[hallux]

20 minutes ago, Mrs. H. said:

Got the name of the guy!!!  HANDSOME ROB!!!

Last I knew there wasn't a single solo host on a ship for every single cruise.  They switch it up so they participate in a variety of activities.  When I was on the Bliss in April 2019 the crew member that was the solo host had done it 2 weeks in a row, but he ASKED to do it (there were some B2B cruisers from the first week that were staying, he wanted to stick with them I think).  When I sailed in October the solo host was a different crew member even though the solo host from my April trip was still on board.

[HenkNetherlands]

5 minutes ago, hallux said:

Last I knew there wasn't a single solo host on a ship for every single cruise.  They switch it up so they participate in a variety of activities.  When I was on the Bliss in April 2019 the crew member that was the solo host had done it 2 weeks in a row, but he ASKED to do it (there were some B2B cruisers from the first week that were staying, he wanted to stick with them I think).  When I sailed in October the solo host was a different crew member even though the solo host from my April trip was still on board.

I was just wondering who my cruise director was going to be. Is there a website where it's listed who the director is going to be? For the NCL Bliss specifically. 

[hallux]

23 minutes ago, HenkNetherlands said:

For the NCL Bliss specifically

Go to the NCL forum section.  In the area above the list of topics is a drop-down where you can select the ship you want to search for posts about.  There may be some recent dailies there, the CD is listed on the back page of them if that page was included.  The CD's change too, though.  When I sailed in April 2019 I had one CD, when I was back in October there was a different CD (both EXCELLENT!).

[HenkNetherlands]

6 minutes ago, hallux said:

Go to the NCL forum section.  In the area above the list of topics is a drop-down where you can select the ship you want to search for posts about.  There may be some recent dailies there, the CD is listed on the back page of them if that page was included.  The CD's change too, though.  When I sailed in April 2019 I had one CD, when I was back in October there was a different CD (both EXCELLENT!).

many thanks ^_^ 

[eileeshb]

On 11/21/2022 at 5:33 PM, hallux said:

Last I knew there wasn't a single solo host on a ship for every single cruise.  They switch it up so they participate in a variety of activities.  When I was on the Bliss in April 2019 the crew member that was the solo host had done it 2 weeks in a row, but he ASKED to do it (there were some B2B cruisers from the first week that were staying, he wanted to stick with them I think).  When I sailed in October the solo host was a different crew member even though the solo host from my April trip was still on board.

The solos host definitely changes regularly, they tend to be relatively senior members of the cruise director’s team. On one of my cruises our host was training up a newbie to be solos host for the next sailing, and there’s definitely differences in the hosting style from the 4 I’ve dealt with. All 4 were great in different ways and all had different activities organised during the cruise dependent on the level of active participation of the solos. 

[reeinaz]

I just booked a transatlantic on the NCL Encore from Barcelona to Miami. December 3, 2024. It's only 12 days, so it shouldn't be too bad. I've done 10 days solo before (B2B on a 5 day). I'm still a bit nervous though because I'm guessing this cruise will have a completely different vibe than a short 5 day.

[jimdlt19]

Do shorter cruises have a better vibe? Ive never cruised other than Disney with the family and know I’m solo.  Doing Celebrity Silhouette Dec 15-18 4 Nighter

[reeinaz]

3 minutes ago, jimdlt19 said:

Do shorter cruises have a better vibe? Ive never cruised other than Disney with the family and know I’m solo.  Doing Celebrity Silhouette Dec 15-18 4 Nighter

In general, the shorter cruises tend to have a more party vibe and a younger demographic. Lots of evening activities in the club and on the pool deck. The 3- and 4-day weekend cruises tend to be referred to as booze cruises. lol. Again, generalizations. I've never cruised on Celebrity though, so can't speak on them specifically.

[jimdee3636]

5 hours ago, reeinaz said:

I just booked a transatlantic on the NCL Encore from Barcelona to Miami. December 3, 2024. It's only 12 days, so it shouldn't be too bad. I've done 10 days solo before (B2B on a 5 day). I'm still a bit nervous though because I'm guessing this cruise will have a completely different vibe than a short 5 day.

I've done six transatlantics (three in each direction), although none of them as a solo; my only solos have been four short cruises. Whether you're solo or sailing with someone, there's definitely a different vibe on a transatlantic. On a twelve night transatlantic from Barcelona, there are probably at most only three port days, so lots of long open-water sailing. The days going westbound are actually longer because you gain six hours over the twelve nights; i.e., you'll be setting your watch back an hour six times when you go to bed. Plan to go to the gym a lot, read a lot, and just relax and decompress. And you'll love Barcelona!

[bluetardis]

Cruising solo on Princess in April, do they have a good solo meet and greet? In past on Carnival and NCL had a good turn out.

[Smudgesmama]

Cruising solo on Grand Princess, Jan 27th out of Melbourne. Can't wait. I'm traveling from the states to make this trip of a lifetime! 

[pduncan]

23 hours ago, bluetardis said:

Cruising solo on Princess in April, do they have a good solo meet and greet? In past on Carnival and NCL had a good turn out.

Princess as a solo is hit or miss. First night there’s usually a ship scheduled meet up, usually in one of the bars. Princess activity director is there to welcome everyone bit after that you’re on your own. Some passengers take the initiative to keep the meet ups going by posting notices in the Patter and encourage group dining, shows and other group activities. But the leadership falls largely to the passengers to keep momentum going. 

[bluetardis]

@pduncan thanks for the response. It does help that a representative of the cruise line shows up the first night. After that it is easier for meet ups

[pduncan]

6 minutes ago, bluetardis said:

@pduncan thanks for the response. It does help that a representative of the cruise line shows up the first night. After that it is easier for meet ups

Yes. And persistence by passengers makes a difference!

 

[KansasTexan]

I'm booked solo (Studio Cabin) Sept 20-29, 2024 on the NCL Escape. It's a long way out but this gives me time to decide what I want to do in ports and although I doubt I'll need it, I'm trying to learn Spanish and brush up on my French. 

Edited December 17, 2022 by KansasTexan
added shipline

[eileeshb]

On 12/17/2022 at 12:07 PM, KansasTexan said:

I'm booked solo (Studio Cabin) Sept 20-29, 2024 on the NCL Escape. It's a long way out but this gives me time to decide what I want to do in ports and although I doubt I'll need it, I'm trying to learn Spanish and brush up on my French. 

Definitely a good idea to have the basics as I find the folks in France are more willing to admit to understanding English if you make an effort to speak French to them.  If you stick to excursions rather than wandering on your own the guides will all speak English anyway, but that may not be the case if you DIY.  I’ve been to France lots for a variety of reasons and a lot of areas and it is very much a basic rule to at least try to speak some french. I’m lucky enough to speak a decent amount and understand more, so much so that I’ll speak it to french customers in my shop in Ireland. 

I don’t have as much experience of Spain as I do for France but the locals always appreciate even a minimal effort at speaking their language. I understand a reasonable amount of Spanish but can’t say much more than thanks or order a beer in speaking it. 

[PhotoDennis]

Going solo on the Eurodam on Jan 25th out of FLL; the Panama Canal Sunfarer. Any other loners out there?

[bluetardis]

Have a great time PhotoDennis! I’m aboard Caribbean Princess come April.

[HenkNetherlands]

@PhotoDennisLovely dog 🙂

[RevZacc]

My very first cruise was solo (Inside cabin ~ Disney Wonder-2005)  My second was with my 2nd {now ex-} wife (balcony ~ Disney Magic).  My 3rd cruise will be solo on the NCL Spirit to Alaska in May 2023.  Wondering how many cruises I can fit in over the next 5-10 years as I enjoy my retirement.