Do you have any advice for solo cruisers?

[Ima Ginaree]

I have booked a solo cabin on an upcoming cruise. It’s been many years since my last cruise and I’ve never cruised alone before. I’m quite happy to go off and do my own thing but generally my cruise mate/s would at least meet up for dinner and we’d run into each other at different times and in different parts of the ship. If necessary (and if we could find each other) my friends would look after my stuff for awhile and vice versa.
 

If you have done a solo cruise and like me, you like your solitude (i.e. you aren’t continually surrounded by a group of your new friends’) do you have any advice on how to keep your deck chair or lounge table ‘reserved’ while you race to the rest room, head to the bar for a fresh drink or jump into the spa?  What can you safely leave on your deck chair or table?

If you are in one of the restaurants do you need to alert the wait staff you are heading to the rest room, but will be back shortly? What’s the chance they’ll clear the table before you return?

 

If your solo cruising level is set to anything higher than ‘Novice’, I’m interested in hearing your tips or tricks to get the best solo cruise mileage.

[RedgeToo]

Hi Ima,

I'm a long-time cruiser and have cruised solo since 2019 with Royal Caribbean(2x), NCL(1x), P&O(1x), Princess(1x), Cost(1x), Marella(1x) and MSC(3x).

 

"I’m quite happy to go off and do my own thing but generally my cruise mate/s would at least meet up for dinner and we’d run into each other at different times and in different parts of the ship."

 

Me too. I love my own time to read, think or just watch the world go by. I'm still happy to do things with others I have met if the "thing" interests me.

In the evenings, I try to arrange a pre-dinner drink using this forum and/or FB. Generally, this works well with the highest attendance being 35 people. Then I either have dinner with whoever turns up or Igo the main dining room and ask for a sharing table. A sharing table is a bit of a gamble, but in all honesty, I've been very fortunate to eat dinner with some very interesting people. This is probably due to the nature of the people who ask for sharing tables. Go for it!

 

"What can you safely leave on your deck chair or table?"

 

I think the easiest way to save your place in a bar, restaurant, around the pool etc is just to leave a book on the table.

 

"If your solo cruising level is set to anything higher than ‘Novice’, I’m interested in hearing your tips or tricks to get the best solo cruise mileage."

 

IMHO, I would skip MSC. MSC don't cater very well for solos and there is generally only one meet-up per week. If you board on meet-up day, you miss the chance to meet other solos and could well spend your week isolated from others. Many people swear MSC are the best, they're certainly good value for money, but not for this solo. 

NCL were superb with a solo-only lounge which allows you to meet like-minded people, arrange for dinners, trips ashore etc. The lounge has a bar and an NCL host, who will book seats for the shows etc. On my NCL cruise, I met lots of people and had a great time, whilst being quite content during the day to sit and read.

P&O have daily coffee mornings for solos.

RC, Marella & Princess have daily evening meet-ups in bars

Costa does nothing for solos AFAIK, but my Costa cruise was booked the day before it was due to sail and was my first solo after my divorce so I wasn't really in the mood for socialising so I could be wrong.

That's it from me for now: You didn't say which cruise line you're sailing with, so please feel free to ask about the specific cruise line if you want to.

[Ima Ginaree]

3 hours ago, RedgeToo said:

 You didn't say which cruise line you're sailing with, so please feel free to ask about the specific cruise line if you want to.

Thanks, great advice there. I’m booked on Norwegian Spirit which I understand does not have a solo lounge. I just want to be a little prepared for what to expect.
A book sounds like a great idea and an easy solution. Maybe I’ll look for a book with a title that fits the situation. Maybe there is a book called ‘I’ll Be Back’ written by Arnold Schwarzenegger. There is a library on board so I can always get another book if someone filches mine.

 

I just realised there is a Solo Cruises category as well and that is probably a better spot for my query.

[NSnJW]

With NCL be sure to check the dailys.  The NCL ships I have been on had nightly solo meetings even if there wasn't a lounge.  They usually go from there to the MDR for the solos who wish to eat together.

[Ima Ginaree]

10 hours ago, NSnJW said:

With NCL be sure to check the dailys.  The NCL ships I have been on had nightly solo meetings even if there wasn't a lounge.  They usually go from there to the MDR for the solos who wish to eat together.

Thanks for this advice. It certainly sounds like NCL are making an effort to attract and retain solo cruisers.