solo dining

On cruises I have been on I have spent my time eating at the buffets. I am traveling on NCL Epic in a studio cabin and would like to eat in the MDR and other restaurants. Should I plan on eating with other solos or trying to eat at a larger table. Any feedback is appreciated.

On cruises I have been on I have spent my time eating at the buffets. I am traveling on NCL Epic in a studio cabin and would like to eat in the MDR and other restaurants. Should I plan on eating with other solos or trying to eat at a larger table. Any feedback is appreciated.

Good morning:).....I have never sailed NCL but I always cruise solo. I just returned home from a cruise yesterday

and I never ate dinner in the buffet. (my experiences).....I met some lovely folks on board and ended up eating with

2 different couples on 2 evenings.....another evening I asked to be put with other folks and was seated with a nice

group.

1 night was the SUPER BOWL and I ate in the theater with 100's of other people to watch the game:D

2 nights I dined Specialty........once on my own, once with another couple I had become friendly with over the week.

And 1 night I was part of a culinary excursion during the day and dinner that night was included in the tour.....we

had a group of 9 and it was good fun:D

My feedback? I can't remember the last time I had dinner at the buffet........but that is just me and also, I don't really care

if I am seated with other solos.....as long as the table is friendly, that is more important to me.

If you eat solo in the MDR on NCL they will put you at a table by yourself... They don't really do mixed company tables like other cruise lines. The solo coordinator will set up dining for solos at the solo meet ups, which are normally nightly at around 6:00

I have no problem dining solo in the MDR or the specialty restaurants...

On NCL there is usually a solo meet up each night and anyone that would like to go to dinner together the solo host will set up reservations. When I was on the Getaway in December we had about 15-20 people each night that went to dinner together

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I did an NCL cruise in a studio cabin last year (sailed on Feb 17). The first night I attended the solo lounge where our solo concierge arranged for two of us to go for dinner together As the week went on, the group got larger, and at our last dinner there were at least 7 or 8 of us. Of those, a number of us have kept in touch. In fact three of them will be on the Norwegian Escape on the same cruise this year. I'd be there with them, except that my first grandson is expected to arrive around that time.

To my mind, it was the easiest way to meet other solos. I've also sailed Princess solo and although there was singles/solos meet and greets, these were usually after dinner. However, sailing Princess I always choose traditional dining which provides an opportunity to meet others at the table every evening. Sometimes that's good, sometimes not as good. :)

Enjoy your cruise!

I sailed on NCL Epic and usually met people at the nightly solo lounge event and we then went to dinner in MDR. The other restaurants would seat me solo otherwise. You can also sign up in the lounge on the board to join others in various dining rooms and specialty restaurants

Tip - secret cookie tray was in casino corner by high roller tables but anyone could help themselves

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If you eat solo in the MDR on NCL they will put you at a table by yourself... They don't really do mixed company tables like other cruise lines. The solo coordinator will set up dining for solos at the solo meet ups, which are normally nightly at around 6:00

 

I have no problem dining solo in the MDR or the specialty restaurants...

I used to ask my TA to place me at a large table for dinner because I travel solo. About two years ago I asked her to see if she could get me a table for 1 (which is actually for 2 but since I was alone, it was for 1) Anyway I got tired of eating with couples all the time - and opted for solo seating. I love it. When I travel this year on Grandeur, I will also be seated by myself. It's not that I don't like meeting people (I do that at the pool bar and different venues) but I just don't have anything in common with "married" or "couples" so I tend to rather just stay to myself during dinner. Besides, the waiters, etc. always make sure I'm well taken care of . So, no matter how you do it, just enjoy your cruise.

I have sailed on the Gem two times as a solo. I go to the MDR and ask to be seated at a "share" table. Always had dinner with others.

On NCL there is usually a solo meet up each night and anyone that would like to go to dinner together the solo host will set up reservations. When I was on the Getaway in December we had about 15-20 people each night that went to dinner together

 

 

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Hi, just read your post. Does NCL organize this solo meet up? This is my first time cruising alone. I am interested in knowing how to learn more about this meet up. Thanks!

I may be in a very small minority here, but having been used to travelling alone, for work or vacation, I actually prefer to eat alone for a number of reasons. Being slightly hard of hearing I find dining with a large group (of strangers) every night quite uncomfortable. Once I agreed to be seated with a group, I was put next to 'spare' male who proceeded to flirt with me. Yuk. I had to mention that my husband just doesn't fancy cruising or dancing (I love both) so I come alone. Luckily for me the head waiter in one of the restaurants very kindly made sure I got a table to myself for the rest of the cruise. I make friends during the cruise on the dance floor, in the spa, on excursions, just not in the dining room.

I'm going on a solo cruise in October and I hope to be able to get a mix of experiences for dining. I don't mind sitting with couples but that could be because I'm not single...just traveling solo. Don't know how comfortable the couples will be with a solo traveler joining them but I'm fine with it.

Worse case I dine solo and I'm fine with that too.

i don't like eating dinner alone on a cruise. my last cruise, there were 8 of us solo travelers at a table. what fun we had!

Hi, just read your post. Does NCL organize this solo meet up? This is my first time cruising alone. I am interested in knowing how to learn more about this meet up. Thanks!

Yes NCL has dedicated solo staff that organizes the solo meet up each night. Depending on the ship your own they either meet in the solo lounge or at one of the bars on the ship. The meet up is usually posted in the Cruise dailies.

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On NCL, sign up for Freestyle Dining, not assigned seating. When you enter the dining room, tell the concierge that you will share a table. That way, you meet different people every meal, or arrange to dine with them again.

On NCL, sign up for Freestyle Dining, not assigned seating. When you enter the dining room, tell the concierge that you will share a table. That way, you meet different people every meal, or arrange to dine with them again.

Thank you. I like this idea.

^NCL doesn't have assigned seating anyway. It's all freestyle, but that means they are reluctant to seat you with anyone else. The best way to do it is through attending the solo meets they run, and the coordinator for those will arrange meals where solos can dine together.

Of course, you may well meet people separately on the cruise and choose to dine with them. But walking into one of the dining rooms and asking to share a table doesn't appear to have a high success rate.

Just returned from a solo 7 night river cruise on the AmaCerto. They have a open seating at a single time for each meal. I prefer to not eat alone, and for every meal on this trip I was able to be seated at a large table (usually 6) with other people. Never was a problem finding someone to share with, and I was not the only solo on this trip. The first night I was invited to dine with the Cruise Director in a large group, and I met people there that I often dined with later in the trip.