Anyone planning a summer cruise?

[coastcat]

As a solo, I’m curious how social distancing will work onboard. Will solo gatherings and tables be halted, or will health protocols enable socializing? Will it be different for solos on an all-vaccinated-adults cruise like RCI than for a protocols-only cruise like MSC?
 

I’m going to book the first NCL Joy sailing in August. There’s no Studio area on this ship but in the Before Times they did have the usual NCL-hosted daily solo gatherings. It’ll be interesting to see if they continue that considering that everyone onboard will be both vaccinated and tested. 
 

Luckily I’m pretty solitary so as long as I have a sunny spot to hang out in, I’m happy to be distant...

[JsMom2]

I’m doing Adventure of the Seas in August.  I’m also pretty content to just hang out and enjoy my own company 😁. And Royal doesn’t really do much for singles anyway.  But yes it will be interesting to see how the changes are implemented.  

[Summerstravel]

I just booked the Norwegian Joy for September 11 out of Jamaica  my August cruise on the Breakaway out of Miami was just cancelled.  The prices are really good at the moment. 

Tracie

[farmersfight]

17 hours ago, coastcat said:

There’s no Studio area on this ship but in the Before Times they did have the usual NCL-hosted daily solo gatherings.

 

Interesting, I thought Joy was a Breakaway + ship and that all in this class has the studio cabins & studio lounge. Maybe only the newer Breakaway + class ships?

[farmersfight]

9 hours ago, Summerstravel said:

I just booked the Norwegian Joy for September 11 out of Jamaica  my August cruise on the Breakaway out of Miami was just cancelled.  The prices are really good at the moment. 

Tracie

 

I just put a courtesy hold on the Norwegian Gem out of Dom Rep (7-day E. Caribbean) for Sept 12th. I booked a balcony stateroom and I thought the price was reasonable; $2360 all in. I like the itinerary and I'm very interested in trying one of NCL's Jewel-class ships. Hmmm..🤔. I've got until Sat (4/10) to decide (the courtesy hold expires).

[coastcat]

1 hour ago, farmersfight said:

 

Interesting, I thought Joy was a Breakaway + ship and that all in this class has the studio cabins & studio lounge. Maybe only the newer Breakaway + class ships?

Joy is the exception. There’s also no thermal suite. 😞 It’s a beautiful ship and has the other BA+ features like The Waterfront and the go-kart track. 

[farmersfight]

14 minutes ago, coastcat said:

Joy is the exception. There’s also no thermal suite. 😞 It’s a beautiful ship and has the other BA+ features like The Waterfront and the go-kart track. 

 

Oh, maybe the Joy was originally built for the Asia market?

[Summerstravel]

4 hours ago, coastcat said:

Joy is the exception. There’s also no thermal suite. 😞 It’s a beautiful ship and has the other BA+ features like The Waterfront and the go-kart track. 

Yikes I didn't know about the thermal suite does it have a spa area? I might have to try for a vibe pass. Any other tips I have sailed the Breakaway and Escape before. 

Thanks 

Tracie 

[coastcat]

1 hour ago, Summerstravel said:

Yikes I didn't know about the thermal suite does it have a spa area? I might have to try for a vibe pass. Any other tips I have sailed the Breakaway and Escape before. 

Thanks 

Tracie 

Yes, Joy was originally set for the Asian market but NCL gave up on it quickly. The BA+ ships are so beautifully configured for Alaska and other scenery-heavy itineraries. I wish NCL would put Joy in the Norwegian fjords... that would be amazing. 
 

There is the regular spa area with the usual services. There’s just no Thermal Suite, so no heated tile loungers or salt rooms. The spa seems smaller than usual, too. Instead we have the Galaxy Pavilion with video and VR games. You will have Vibe if you can snag a pass, Spice H2O if you can’t. 
 

You’ve experienced The Waterfront on the other ships, but the Observation Lounge will be new. It’s fabulous. On Joy there’s both a bar and a Starbucks there! Light buffet meals used to be available in the OL and I hope that continues. Going there for embarkation lunch is so civilized. I’m an early bird even on vacation; the OL breakfast is the earliest available. Oh, I am so looking forward to sailing on Joy again! 
 

(or any ship, really...)
 

 

[Lois R]

I am waiting to find out some more information on certain cruises before I book something

for the summer but the answer is hopefully YES, I will be cruising this summer.🙂

[rkacruiser]

9 hours ago, farmersfight said:

 

I just put a courtesy hold on the Norwegian Gem out of Dom Rep (7-day E. Caribbean) for Sept 12th. I booked a balcony stateroom and I thought the price was reasonable; $2360 all in. I like the itinerary and I'm very interested in trying one of NCL's Jewel-class ships. Hmmm..🤔. I've got until Sat (4/10) to decide (the courtesy hold expires).

 

Doing a bit of arithmetic, as a solo, that price is $337.11/day.  My world cruise cost less per day than that in a well situated outside cabin.  

 

Prices have increased, I realize.  I think when cruising resumes, with the pricing that I am seeing, the per day price (is the figure that I use to determine whether it is a "good price" or not) is going to be significantly more post-Covid than it was pre-Covid.  

 

What's your air fare going to be?  If you can find decent air fare, your price may well be a good one.  

[coastcat]

2 hours ago, Lois R said:

I am waiting to find out some more information on certain cruises before I book something

for the summer but the answer is hopefully YES, I will be cruising this summer.🙂

• Last week: "Well, there's no need to rush, let's see what happens with redeployment and the CDC and everything else. I'll probably just wait to see what happens with my October MSC cruise and take it from there."
• Monday, 6:35 am: "Oh, wow, NCL is going to sail. Might as well take a look. Jade out of Athens, very good. Gem out of Punta Cana? Nice itinerary, but I'll wait. Joy out of... JOY?"
• Monday, 6:40 am: "Hi [travel agent's name], please book me into a BB cabin on the first Joy sailing, solo occupancy, thanks!"

 

The pricing isn't great, but I think bargains are going to be somewhat scarce for a little while. It's not like I've spent any money on travel for the last 14 months so that's okay.

Edited April 7, 2021 by coastcat

[farmersfight]

2 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Doing a bit of arithmetic, as a solo, that price is $337.11/day.  My world cruise cost less per day than that in a well situated outside cabin.  

 

Prices have increased, I realize.  I think when cruising resumes, with the pricing that I am seeing, the per day price (is the figure that I use to determine whether it is a "good price" or not) is going to be significantly more post-Covid than it was pre-Covid.  

 

What's your air fare going to be?  If you can find decent air fare, your price may well be a good one.  

 

I didn't look at the price/day (probably should have, lol) but I have a figure in mind for a 7-day cruise, as a solo (with no solo supplement discount) especially in a regular balcony cabin (which I consider to be a well situated outside cabin). The $2360 price (incl taxes & port fees) I thought was reasonable. But "reasonable" is a subjective term (one person's reasonable may not be another person's reasonable).

 

I'm not sure if NCL has raised their prices or not but I did get the 30% off and the 4 FAS perks. I plan on drinking at least $2,000 worth of booze on this trip, lol. So my cruise will only be $360, lol.

 

I booked United roundtrip from Grand Rapids, MI to Punta Cana, DR (who would've thought there would be an "international" airport there) for $700. It would have been $500 for economy but I need the extra leg room so I booked Economy Plus for $200 more. The flights themselves are pretty good. Only 1 stop each way; in Newark (EWR) on the way down and Washington Dulles (IAD) on the way up. Layover times are 1 hr and 1 1/2 hr, respectively. Oh, by the way, I just realized that in my previous post, I just notified that I had put a "courtesy hold" on this cruise (no $ involved). But since then, I did "pull the trigger" and book it. Deposit was only $125.

 

I'll be giving the CDC the "double rods" on my way to Dom Rep. 😁.

Edited April 7, 2021 by farmersfight

[farmersfight]

This Norwegian Gem cruise I just booked is Sep 12--19, so still summer (barely). So yes, I am planning on cruising this summer. 👍

[Catlover54]

3 hours ago, Lois R said:

I am waiting to find out some more information on certain cruises before I book something

for the summer but the answer is hopefully YES, I will be cruising this summer.🙂

Americans who are vaccinated can now travel to Iceland.

Crystal Endeavor, the new expedition ship ( aka very expensive) just announced they plan Iceland 10-day circumnavigations this summer starting in July, though not yet open for booking.

50% markup for solos.

 

 

https://www.crystalcruises.com/special-offers/luxury-iceland-expeditions?utm_source=adobe&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=expedition&utm_content=YES-2021-Preview-040521

[farmersfight]

10 minutes ago, Catlover54 said:

Americans who are vaccinated can now travel to Iceland.

Crystal Endeavor, the new expedition ship ( aka very expensive) just announced they plan Iceland 10-day circumnavigations this summer starting in July, though not yet open for booking.

50% markup for solos.

 

 

https://www.crystalcruises.com/special-offers/luxury-iceland-expeditions?utm_source=adobe&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=expedition&utm_content=YES-2021-Preview-040521

 

A cruise around Iceland? That would be cool. <-- get it? Iceland = cool. Sorry, bad joke.

[PhD-iva]

56 minutes ago, Catlover54 said:

 

Crystal Endeavor, the new expedition ship ( aka very expensive) just announced they plan Iceland 10-day circumnavigations this summer 

 

 

Be careful with Crystal cruises. Firm not doing well financially. No refunds possible, only future cruise credits if the cruise is canceled.

 

https://thepointsguy.com/news/crystal-cruises-parent-company-financial-trouble/

[AV8rix]

On 4/7/2021 at 1:26 PM, rkacruiser said:

 

Doing a bit of arithmetic, as a solo, that price is $337.11/day.  My world cruise cost less per day than that in a well situated outside cabin.  

 

 

I hear ya, Bob @rkacruiser.  I'm booked on the Rotterdam inaugural in an interior guarantee 😒 for $280 per diem.  And that's with my casino discount!  Although that's the rate with the SBP, HSC included, etc.  Still seems more than I've paid in the past. 

 

Interestingly, I'm also booked on the 150th Anniversary voyage -- likewise interior guarantee -- and I calculate $180 per diem for that one.

 

Go figure.

Edited April 19, 2021 by Av8rix

[Lois R]

I booked a cruise for this summer😃....Greece for 10 nights in July!

[farmersfight]

On 4/6/2021 at 1:04 PM, coastcat said:

As a solo, I’m curious how social distancing will work onboard. Will solo gatherings and tables be halted, or will health protocols enable socializing? Will it be different for solos on an all-vaccinated-adults cruise like RCI than for a protocols-only cruise like MSC?
 

I’m going to book the first NCL Joy sailing in August. There’s no Studio area on this ship but in the Before Times they did have the usual NCL-hosted daily solo gatherings. It’ll be interesting to see if they continue that considering that everyone onboard will be both vaccinated and tested. 
 

Luckily I’m pretty solitary so as long as I have a sunny spot to hang out in, I’m happy to be distant...

 

Hi @coastcat,

 

I also posted this in another thread but I am booked on the Adventure of the Seas out of Nassau, Bahamas (July 17-24th) and also the Norwegian Gem out of La Romana, Dom Rep (Sept 12-19th).

 

I guess I shall see what cruising is like with the new protocols.

[coastcat]

1 hour ago, farmersfight said:

 

Hi @coastcat,

 

I also posted this in another thread but I am booked on the Adventure of the Seas out of Nassau, Bahamas (July 17-24th) and also the Norwegian Gem out of La Romana, Dom Rep (Sept 12-19th).

 

I guess I shall see what cruising is like with the new protocols.

It looks like you’ll be the first of us to sail - please take notes and report back!

[farmersfight]

49 minutes ago, coastcat said:

It looks like you’ll be the first of us to sail - please take notes and report back!

 

O.k. I might even try to do a live review! Btw, I'd like to invite you to check out our CC Rat Pack group on our CC Rat Pack thread (in the Floataway Lounge forum). If interested in joining us, just do a quick post on our thread. We need more solo cruisers in our CC Rat Pack!

[ChangeOrder]

Keeping my fingers crossed for July 31st out of Rome... or Aug 1 out of Athens if you believe the Piraeus port schedule. 

[Lois R]

On 4/21/2021 at 11:57 AM, ChangeOrder said:

Keeping my fingers crossed for July 31st out of Rome... or Aug 1 out of Athens if you believe the Piraeus port schedule. 

Good morning🙂 I don't know anything about cruises going out of Italy but I do know Athens is starting up cruises on June 18th.  (It might be earlier than that) but I do know specifically June 18th there will be ships sailing out of Greece. I have one booked for July 8th🙂

[ChangeOrder]

On 5/9/2021 at 6:43 AM, Lois R said:

Good morning🙂 I don't know anything about cruises going out of Italy but I do know Athens is starting up cruises on June 18th.  (It might be earlier than that) but I do know specifically June 18th there will be ships sailing out of Greece. I have one booked for July 8th🙂

Yeah. Princess is messing with us. Our ship fell off the Rome port schedules awhile ago and appeared on the Athens schedules, but so far there is no change from Princess. It might be a last minute surprise!