For those of you who have sailed HAL SOLO......

[Lois R]

:) Hi...for any of you who have sailed HAL Solo...can I get some input on how your cruising went? Experiences...how you were treated? Singles/get togethers?

Thanks......I cruise solo by choice and love it, love it, love it! Just wondering what I can expect on the Zuiderdam!
Yippeee...I am under 60 days:D

[Peggy Sue]

Lois,

Never took a solo cruise, but I do know where you can find a recent trip report. If you go out to Yahoo, groups, and look for allcruisetalk. If you join this group (free, and no junk mail will come your way) you can view the trip reports, or look at the posts from the month of May. Look for posts from WDW1972. She took a solo trip on the Zuiderdam and loved it. WDW1972 also posts here from time to time. I'd suggest searching, but I think her posts would be on the old board and not sure if you would be able to find them. Her trip reports are very detailed.

Hope this helps.

Peggy Sue

[wdw1972]

Hi Peggy Sue!

Lois - as Peggy Sue said, I did the Zuiderdam solo this past May. It was my first solo cruise and I think it was the best cruise of my life! I didn't bother with any of the singles stuff, and didn't intend to. I was fortunate to have met 3 terrific couples before dinner the first night and we all hit it off so well we spend alot of time together. The only time I was alone was when I chose to be - and it was nice having some alone time. Everyone treated me just fine - no different from when I'm not solo. My dinner table had 3 other solo travelers and a mother/daughter pair - all very nice people.

I'll cruise solo again without any hesitation at all!

[Lois R]

:) hi girls...thanks for the replies!

...glad you had such a good time......like I said, I love to cruise solo...and I don't normally care if there are other singles on board either......just wondered...as I have heard HAL makes an effort to have "get togethers". (Not looking for a hook-up)...but its always nice to meet people:D
And your dinner companions sound great.......that is one thing that can definitely help with a good week~

Thanks again:)

[tomc]

I travel solo all the time. One bit of advice: try to get the largest table. Also, in the Lido, I take a table for four all by myself when it's a bit crowded and wave others in after a few minutes saying, "I'm not going to be long." That gives us a chance to size each other up without having to spend the entire breakfast or lunch together. Also, when I see couples taking pictures of each other, I offer to take them together and engage in quick small talk, thus leaving the door open later on ("Hi; hope my photo of you is prize winning") to chat some more.

With a small table, you're stuck when you've got a bad couple and the only way to scare them away is to say something like, "I don't give my real name because last month I shot someone down South."

[Lois R]

hi Tom:).....Oh...I always request a large table!....and we think alike...when I see folks with cameras....I also ask if they would like me to take their picture;)

[cactuslady]

Lois R --

I cruised on HAL solo 3 times and was treated like a queen by the entire staff each time. The organized solo travelers get-togethers were either lame and lightly attended, or non-existent. On one cruise, they had this "ice-breaker" on the next to the last day! Regardless, there were plenty of opportunities to make friends or just chat for a moment among dinner table companions, trivia team members, fellow shore excursionists, tour guides, afternoon tea-takers, or even folks standing in line for the tender. There are plenty of women traveling solo, so no one will think you are weird.

(By the way, one way to spot other solo travelers is to check out the embarkation pictures displayed in the photo gallery. Although people are often in groups for later photos, it's easy to tell who got on board by themselves. Then if you see one, you can comment about how funny/cute/handsome/goofy/exhausted-looking their picture is, and that they look much better in real life.)

I loved it and would happily cruise solo again, except there's this man I met on the Ryndam who insists on tagging along as my spouse now . . .

[Lois R]

Hi CactusLady:).....thanks for all the information! (I have sailed solo before) so it never bothers me if people wonder about my cruising alone....I have always been very independent...traveled land vacations solo too:D ...cruises are so much more fun though!

Thanks again for you kind thoughts!

[LEtue]

Lois R,

I'm doing my first solo cruise in November and I think I will really like it. My kids are all grown up and can't always travel with me anymore....

Also, I'm thinking about HAL to Alaska next year. Have you cruised solo there? Hope we end up on the same ship sometime. I like your attitude :)

[FlorenceItaly]

LEtue - I am sailing solo to ALASKA on HAL next month...look for my review upon my return :). Lois is a special lady, isn't she.....she is a good friend to all.

Where are you sailing in November?

Marie

[LEtue]

Marie,

I'm sailing on the Jewel of the Seas 11/20/04 to the eastern cariibean.

I will definitely look for your review of your Alaska cruise. When are you sailing and on which ship? I am planning for August 2005 ;)

[Lois R]

:) Marie..thanks for the kind words...you are sweet!

LEtue...one of these days I will go to Alaska...not sure when but I will get there eventually!
And thanks.....I figure, I am going on a cruise for a week.....I always bring a good attitude with me:D .

Have a wonderful time on The Jewel!

[FlorenceItaly]

Sailing Aug 22-29 on the Veendam. It was a last minute decision...I booked it about a week and a half ago. I went on my first solo cruise, and also my first HAL cruise last month to NE/Canada on the Maasdam. I had such a lovely time and enjoyed HAL so much I wanted to sail again :). I found a great rate, and booked it.

Keep in touch! I will be looking forward to hearing all about your cruise on the Jewel.

Marie

[Thoth]

The Maasdam and Statendam were just great for this solo cruiser! This week I leave on the Oosterdam and will find out if the bigger size causes me to get lonely in the crowd.As an introverted person, I have found a number of tricks to making friends, and I even start to fool myself by the end of the trip into thinking that I am extroverted. Big table for set dining, and for open seating I always ask to be seated with someone else. Sometimes they talk sometimes they don't. The promanade deck is a good place to hang out. I jump head first into most any game. Last year I played Elvis in the passenger show and that created conversation around the ship( mostly good I hope?).

[divinggirl]

OK, all this talk about cruising has me thinking I should go ahead and try to book another week on the Z after my first, the 8/28 sailing...I received a quote of $800 for a solo inside guar, and $599 for a SHAR category, whatever that it but I assume it means the "sharing"program or whatever...anyway, is this a good price? I AM NOT asking anyone how much they paid, just if from someone who's cruised solo before to share their thoughts.

[FlorenceItaly]

The SHAR is sharing the room with a stranger. I don't recommend it, but jmo.

I think the $800 including taxes is a very good solo rate. Lois, is cruising solo on the Z near the same date, so she would really know best.....but, I went to a few on-line sites, and ran the 8/28 and didn't find anything lower than $800. That is comparable to what I paid for my Canada/NE cruise last month, but am paying a bit more than that to Alaska, next month.

Marie

[FlorenceItaly]

PS....I really want to cruise the Z sometime....The rates this year are awesome, especially solo. I have been looking at dates in 2005, but so far I am finding NO deals, like this year, especially solo.

Marie

[Lois R]

hi:) 800 including your port charges and sales tax is a very good price for a single.

Marie is correct....HAL does have a share program....and I get along with most anyone, but I still to choose to go solo (or share with someone I know)....You really don't how other people's habits are...(to share with someone you have never talked to).
There are a few folks on these boards I would share with---Marie:D. But that is a bit different...you can get to know someone on here..and with the phone and email as well.....
But to go into the cruise having no idea who your cabin mate would be....don't think I want to do that....and HAL's prices for single cruisers are VERY GOOD:)

[tomc]

I share all the time; never had any problems.

[FlorenceItaly]

Tomc- you are much braver than I am. My concern is that I am paying alot of money to have an enjoyable vacation, and for ME that is at risk not knowing who I am rooming with....it's just not worth it to me to save a few hundred dollars, when all could go bad, and then I have lost much more.....But, that is just ME.

Lois, I would room with you anytime :)...you too Alison, or just about any female on the boards.

Marie

[tomc]

It's just a matter of starting off on the right foot.

If you're a guy: When the lights are off, sit on the edge of your bed and softly mutter, "I once shot a guy down south. He got on my nerves and I just sorta snapped. It was over a bunch of small things, too. Well, good night."

If you're a gal: "Well, howdee, my sister in Christ. Jee-sus has matched us up for this grace-filled cruise and I can hear the Lord speaking to me right now. He wants me to help you with your life. I just know that cleanliness is next to Godliness, so if your side of the cabin isn't clean and sparkly, I'll read you some Scripture to energize your soul.

[FlorenceItaly]

ROFL! Oh, Tom, you are so funny!!!!! You have made me laugh before...Thank you :). I hope we will meet someday on a cruise.

Marie

[Seabee]

Hi LO...I miss you over on that other board. :o

[Lois R]

Hi Seabee:) I am on both boards:D

[Iggipolka]

Does HAL charge a single supplement? I'd love to cruise solo, but really don't want to pay double to have my own cabin, or share with a stranger.

[FlorenceItaly]

Iggipolka - Yes, they do, but most sailings are very reasonable. On my cruise in June, my fare was less than some double occupancy rates. For my Alaska sailing I am paying about 130%. There are deals, just have to shop around :). I think there are some great rates on the Zuiderdam right now.

Marie