Celebrity Did a Bad Job With Solo Travelers!

double post

I just returned from a transatlantic on RCL. They organized a solo lunch in the MDR a couple of times during the cruise. It was a great way for us to make that initial introduction. We took it from there by scheduling a set dinner time for those with My Time dining-- anyone who wanted to show up could sit at the solos table (room permitting).

 

It worked out great-- some nights I'd dine with couples I had met, other nights I'd dine at the solos table.

 

I think the key is for the cruise line is to organize some way for solos to meet alone early on a cruise for them to connect (if they so choose). Having the meeting at a random bar where it's impossible to identify the solos from the others is just a waste of time.

 

Joe

Finally, someone who gets it. If I wasn't an independent person I would never have gone on my own! My expectations were not overblown. I just wanted to be recognized as a sub group (which solos are) as much as kids, disabled and even couples. Just put yourself out a little . Call for a luncheon or dinner at a dedicated table for solos or singles. If no one shows up, they tried. Celebrity did nothing. Telling people to hit a bar and spend some $, is not nice, and in my case it was impossible to tell where the solos were. And I also didn't go to "meet" or make friends. I thought of it like camp. You make your besties for the time you're there, swear eternal friendship, (in modern terms that's exchange email addresses) and quickly forget about them once you're home. 12 days is a long time to be all by yourself. You guys are probably right. I'm not a solo, but I can be with very little human contact. I'm not even bragging when I say I make friends easily. I just do, but that doesn't mean I don't value alone time. I just like moderation. Being alone for that long a length of time just doesn't feel right to me.

I will make one more comment and I realize it is not agreed with by the original poster but it is my opinion...after reading the last 2 posts.....

I don't care about being recognized as a "sub group"...........

and as for cruising on my own for 12 nights? I would LOVE it!....my

longest was 10 nights on the ship with 1 night pre-cruise...that is 11.

Wish I could cruise for a month and it would feel totally right to me.:)

As for "getting it"? It is about different opinions......we all have them.

I get it....you want the cruiseline to set up things so you can meet

other solo cruisers.....that is something that is not important to many

of us.

Finally, someone who gets it. If I wasn't an independent person I would never have gone on my own! My expectations were not overblown. I just wanted to be recognized as a sub group (which solos are) as much as kids, disabled and even couples. Just put yourself out a little . Call for a luncheon or dinner at a dedicated table for solos or singles. If no one shows up, they tried. Celebrity did nothing. Telling people to hit a bar and spend some $, is not nice, and in my case it was impossible to tell where the solos were. And I also didn't go to "meet" or make friends. I thought of it like camp. You make your besties for the time you're there, swear eternal friendship, (in modern terms that's exchange email addresses) and quickly forget about them once you're home. 12 days is a long time to be all by yourself. You guys are probably right. I'm not a solo, but I can be with very little human contact. I'm not even bragging when I say I make friends easily. I just do, but that doesn't mean I don't value alone time. I just like moderation. Being alone for that long a length of time just doesn't feel right to me.

I do understand where you are coming from but I have also seen cruise lines that do set up events for solos and have very few people attend the events that they set up for them. I just returned from a 10 day solo on Hal and they had a solo trivia get together every evening. I couldn't tell you if many were there because I did not go to it, because like others I enjoy travelling solo, and don't really want or expect the cruise lines to entertain me or cater to me any different than they would any other passenger.

We are all different and have different things we enjoy so it doesn't make one right and one wrong, it simply makes us different, and that is what makes the world go round. The point is, different people have different expectations, so if you did not have your expectations met, then maybe try a different cruise line rather than complain that a line is not good for solos just because you didn't care for it. I have not yet sailed on Celebrity so I don't know, but they do have some very loyal solo customers so they must be meeting their expectations. Happy Sailing

I do understand where you are coming from but I have also seen cruise lines that do set up events for solos and have very few people attend the events that they set up for them. I just returned from a 10 day solo on Hal and they had a solo trivia get together every evening. I couldn't tell you if many were there because I did not go to it, because like others I enjoy travelling solo, and don't really want or expect the cruise lines to entertain me or cater to me any different than they would any other passenger.

 

We are all different and have different things we enjoy so it doesn't make one right and one wrong, it simply makes us different, and that is what makes the world go round. The point is, different people have different expectations, so if you did not have your expectations met, then maybe try a different cruise line rather than complain that a line is not good for solos just because you didn't care for it. I have not yet sailed on Celebrity so I don't know, but they do have some very loyal solo customers so they must be meeting their expectations. Happy Sailing

This is MY last post on the subject too! I realize that THIS IS MY OPINION, not everyones and from this thread, probably my minority opinion! One thing I need to say is you call it "complaining". Well, when you say you think they do a good job, because you have no expectations or want to be with others, I call that YOUR subjective opinion! When I say I expected more and think they did a bad job, that is MY subjective opinion, not a complaint. Unless you take it that way, because my opinion differs from yours. As Barbra says, "People that need people, are the luckiest people in the world." So I am sorry for you and am glad you like being alone. I got on this forum 3 yrs. ago because I liked to cruise with my Husband and he died. The encouragement I received from many people in my exact situation was so positive and none of them said, oh you will love being without a loved one or a friend. They all said if you like cruising, go, you will find people to talk with, eat with and hopefully have fun while you're on the ship. So I guess I'm really not a solo, because I like being alone, but not all the time!

This is MY last post on the subject too! I realize that THIS IS MY OPINION, not everyones and from this thread, probably my minority opinion! One thing I need to say is you call it "complaining". Well, when you say you think they do a good job, because you have no expectations or want to be with others, I call that YOUR subjective opinion! When I say I expected more and think they did a bad job, that is MY subjective opinion, not a complaint. Unless you take it that way, because my opinion differs from yours. As Barbra says, "People that need people, are the luckiest people in the world." So I am sorry for you and am glad you like being alone. I got on this forum 3 yrs. ago because I liked to cruise with my Husband and he died. The encouragement I received from many people in my exact situation was so positive and none of them said, oh you will love being without a loved one or a friend. They all said if you like cruising, go, you will find people to talk with, eat with and hopefully have fun while you're on the ship. So I guess I'm really not a solo, because I like being alone, but not all the time!

I apologize if I offended you, that was certainly not the intention, and I am truly sorry if I brought up some sad memories for you. I know that we are all different and I wasn't judging you or anyone else. I am a very outgoing person and have never had a problem meeting people on a cruise or just about anywhere else. I sometimes forget that I have an extrovert type of personality, and not everyone is that way. I have always traveled solo, but I have never felt alone on any trip that I have ever been on, and wouldn't want to.

I have not lost a spouse as you have, and I can't imagine how difficult that was for you, so again I do apologize if I offended you or brought up some sad memories.

Nobody meant to hurt anyone's feelings......:eek:

Neil, we are both extroverts:D...no need for anyone to be sorry for us......

Finally, someone who gets it. If I wasn't an independent person I would never have gone on my own! My expectations were not overblown. I just wanted to be recognized as a sub group (which solos are) as much as kids, disabled and even couples. Just put yourself out a little . Call for a luncheon or dinner at a dedicated table for solos or singles. If no one shows up, they tried. Celebrity did nothing. Telling people to hit a bar and spend some $, is not nice, and in my case it was impossible to tell where the solos were. And I also didn't go to "meet" or make friends. I thought of it like camp. You make your besties for the time you're there, swear eternal friendship, (in modern terms that's exchange email addresses) and quickly forget about them once you're home. 12 days is a long time to be all by yourself. You guys are probably right. I'm not a solo, but I can be with very little human contact. I'm not even bragging when I say I make friends easily. I just do, but that doesn't mean I don't value alone time. I just like moderation. Being alone for that long a length of time just doesn't feel right to me.

LOL! I can just imagine what it would be like if they tried that for other "subgroups"......an announcement for a luncheon table for postmenopausal women or a cocktail party for men who use walkers. Or a special table in the dining room for people who have red hair.

EXCUSE ME???? The disabled as a sub group??? Are you serious? I've been disabled since age 2 due to polio, and I've NEVER seen myself as a sub group in any walk of life. And, in 77 cruises, I've never seen special get togethers for the disabled, and if I had, someone with the cruise line would have gotten a severe butt kicking. Trying something like that would be insanely stupid, and totally embarrassing.

Oh, and maybe did you ever consider that there were very few solos on your cruise? That would have impacted any attempt at getting solos together.

Heck, I was on a world cruise where they had absolutely nothing for solos. But, I never felt alone during that entire time.

OP, while you're well within your rights to be disappointed with Celebrity, it seems like you expected them to read your mind and give you the good solo experience you wanted. The way you describe it, it doesn't sound like you were overtly mistreated, just not provided activities specifically for solos. First of all, you have to remember that cruising alone is not a socially mainstream activity. The travel industry is very much like Noah building the arky, arky; hence, all those "per person double occupancy" prices. So expect to swim against the current at least somewhat if you go on a cruise solo. Is it a good thing? No! But that's the reality we solo cruisers are given. What you should have done is find ways to make an existing situation work for you. Of course it's better when the cruise line hands you everything on a silver platter, and on a line like Celebrity, it's a fairly reasonable expectation. But when you're part of a non-mainstream demographic like solo cruisers, it's also reasonable to expect to do some legwork and self-advocating, to give yourself the best experience.

I've never sailed on Celebrity, and don't plan to in the near future (it's too quiet), but here's how I did it on Carnival. Their solo gathering was no good, either: just random people putzing around in a nightclub, and you don't know who's solo but taken, who's single, and who's with someone. But never in my life did I get any repercussions for a one-time "would you like to dance?" invite. Have you extended or accepted invites to dance with new people, even if you only know the basic steps? What about team-based activities, like trivia or cheesy how-to lessons? Did you do assigned seating, so you'll have a group of people to sit with at dinner? Also, what I found is that it doesn't matter if the person I meet is a solo or not? Don't write off someone just because they came on a cruise with someone. Heck, the people who "adopted" me on my cruises were not solos. Were you able to get "adopted" on your cruise?

I am leaving in 2 weeks for my 2nd solo cruise (Celebrity AUS-NZ). While I am somewhat of a cruise solo novice, I have travelled the world solo. As a single female, I have been to India, Vietnam, Bermuda, Thailand, Indonesia, Myamar, China, Japan, Peru, Argentina, Italy, England, .... and more All of these trips were as a solo traveler. My solo cruise was to Greece, Egypt, Turkey, and Israel about 5 years ago. I would never have thought to look for a solo group event on a cruise. I also travel a lot for my work, so staying in hotels and eating alone is not foreign to me (I have been in all 50 US states at least once if not more).

Too many women (and men) don't travel because they don't have a travel partner. After you learn that you, and only you, make your travel fun and happy, then you will find that that you don't need a travel partner (unless its for economic reasons). Even when schedule/plans go off course, one can still have a great time - but you have to have a mindset to make it a good time. A friend of mine said -- only you can make your self happy. I DONT want a travel partner, as I am very selfish and want to do things my way. I like meeting new people and socializing on my schedule. I will talk with anyone and often strike up conversations with people when I find myself standing still or waiting, and have met some really fascinating people. I will say that many of my friends at home think it strange that I go alone, but none of them are as well travelled as I am because of it.

I do wonder if it depends on how many solo travellers there are on individual cruises. I was disappointed the first time that I travelled with RCI. It was a 7 night Dubai and the Emirates cruise on Brilliance of the Seas. There was a solo get together on Cruise Compass the first night. The problem was that it was by the Sky Bar at sailaway! I went up there and of course it was difficult to see if anyone else was on their own in the crowd! I had selected MyTime dining, which I think was a poor choice. I only met a couple of other people who were on their own during the cruise. There were no other events on Cruise Compass for solo travellers. I can only guess that there really weren't many of us.

I decided to try RCI again last year and went on a leg of a repositioning cruise on Voyager of the Seas. This time there was a roll call on CC, and I linked my booking with other solo travellers so that we could share a dinner table. There were a number of lunches for solo travellers during the cruise. There were a few solo lunches on Adventure of the Seas last month. I'm glad that I did decide to try RCI again.

I tried NCL in January, and didn't think that they catered too well for solo travellers. There was a solo meet-up on Jade on the first night of the cruise. After that, a few of us agreed to meet up in the bar every evening if we wanted company at dinner. However, if I went into the MDR at breakfast or lunch on my own, I was seated on my own. I did say that I was prepared to share, but they don't fill up tables like other cruise lines. I just took my Kindle with me if I was on my own. It wasn't much fun eating alone. I only had dinner alone once, as I got back from Istanbul too late to meet up with the others.

Cunard was pretty good at catering for solo travellers when I did a TA on QM2.

I just returned from a transatlantic on RCL. They organized a solo lunch in the MDR a couple of times during the cruise. It was a great way for us to make that initial introduction. We took it from there by scheduling a set dinner time for those with My Time dining-- anyone who wanted to show up could sit at the solos table (room permitting).

 

It worked out great-- some nights I'd dine with couples I had met, other nights I'd dine at the solos table.

 

I think the key is for the cruise line is to organize some way for solos to meet alone early on a cruise for them to connect (if they so choose). Having the meeting at a random bar where it's impossible to identify the solos from the others is just a waste of time.

 

Joe

Joe - I've just noticed that we were both on the same TA! I was on the 8.30 dining, and was very lucky with most of the people on my table. I'm still in touch with a couple of other women. We went off together after dinner to the casino, Promenade parties etc. There's a possibility that a couple of us may book the same cruise in future.

There were more than a couple of solo lunches, and I went to most of them, unless I had something else to do. They were all very well attended.

There were a lot of people on the M&M. It was great that a CC lunch was also put on for us - with complementary wine!

I recently returned from a 12 day Celebrity Constellation cruise and was very disappointed with how I was treated as a Solo guest. Their only nod to being a Solo was a small sign at the Guest Relations Desk advertising a nightly gathering of Solos, Singles, Gay & Lesbian "Others" meeting at one of the bars on the Ship. I stopped by one evening and could not find where I would have belonged. It just looked like a bunch of people in a bar. That was it. On other cruise lines I've taken, (specifically) RCCL & NCL Solo activities have been listed daily in the Ships Newsletter and there have been luncheons, game team & religious services offered to Solos. It like the Ship didn't want us to find each other. If anything keeps me from booking Celebrity again, that would be it! I don't travel Solo all the time, but when I do I still like to meet people. I like meeting couples but also would like to find others traveling alone and Celebrity pretty much acted like we weren't there. Even at dinner I was seated with 3 other couples. How hard would it have been to put a few single tables together? Anyone else notice this kind of neglect by the cruiseline or am I just sensitive?

I continue to book with X Celebrity and often travel solo.

However, I'm inclined to agree as they don't seem to consider the dining location of solo/single passengers.

As I have at least 3 more upcoming X cruises booked, we'll see how they are handled.