least awkward for solos

Hi there!

I'm considering going on a solo cruise (first time solo) this year on either:

(1) NCL Epic, 11-day Transatlantic, April 27-May 8, staying in a studio cabin,

or

(2) Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas, 10-night Palm Trees and Pink Sands, June 9-19, staying in an ocean-view stateroom (only available on decks 2 & 3 a this point).

I would be booking directly from the cruise line websites (Is there a more cost-effective method?). The total cost, including return airfare (flying out of Calgary, Alberta), service charges, transfers to & from the pier, cabs, laundry, etc. is approximately $3000 for each one. I consider $3000 a lot of money for 1 person, so I want to make sure that I choose wisely. Is $3000 an average price for this type of cruise for a solo traveller?

Which of the above 2 cruise ships & iteneraries would be the most comfortable (least awkward) for a solo traveller. For example, which one has the best options for buffet & casual style meals (as opposed to traditional seating that would work better if you are travelling with other people)? Which one would give me more options to just grab something at any time of the day & either sit down & eat it there or just take it out to the deck & eat there?

I don't care much for casinos & bars. I want to spend my days on the jogging track, in the fitness centre, in the solarium, pools & whirlpools, walking along the decks (smoke-free areas) in the daytime & at night, sitting on the deck & reading and, of course, EATING.

Any thoughts to help me decide between these 2 cruises & get the best deal?

Just a quick thought....Because I do a lot of solo cruising although admittedly not for so long. I have pretty much met great fellow travelers ( very few exceptions! ) when doing the more formal dining. But it depends on whether you enjoy being open to new encounters.

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Thanks Artatwerk! I can see how formal dining situations can be conducive to getting to know people on a more personal level. However, I really feel that, at this time, I need more freedom & more "me time". I want to be able to zoom in & out, & eat & go whenever, wherever, & however I want. I don't want to feel constricted or restricted, although I AM open to meeting people & spending time with them.

I've never been on either of the ships you mention, but I've done several solo transatlantics, and I can give you advice from that perspective at least.

There are always lots of solos on transatlantics because the price is usually good, therefore more affordable as a solo. So you should have lots of company if you want. And of course Epic has the solo lounge where you could also meet other solos.

A transatlantic generally doesn't have warm weather the entire way. It really depends on where its ports are, but you can't count on it being warm all the time in the spring and fall. I don't know if the Epic has an indoor pool...but you might check on that.

I'm not sure if your other cruise option is also a transatlantic. If it is, might want to check for an indoor pool there as well since you want to spend lots of time at the pool.

Have fun whichever you choose! :)

Thanks Bottomfeeder! I suppose I would stand out less on a ship that has more solo travellers (a definite plus for the Epic transatlantic cruise). The other cruise, with Royal Caribbean, is not a transatlantic; ports include Bermuda, Bahamas, etc. However, the jogging track is longer, & it does have an indoor pool. I just hope I won't feel freaky & singled out as a "lonely solo traveller" (that's the only thing that would prevent me from enjoying the experience); otherwise, I can see myself having a wonderful time.

I would not recommend going transatlantic and then just flying home, that's usually not a good deal. If you want to go to europe anyway and spend time there it can be a good way to lengthen your trip for not much more than flying both ways.

Cruiselines usually charge a single suppliement of up to 100% more to travel solo. This is not always the case some searching and you will find sales where they will charge as low as zero extra. Definitely spend some time searching online for deals or if your not as savy get a travel agent to help you find a deal. It will pay off and they get paid by the cruiseline so it won't cost you a cent. :)

Thanks Artatwerk! I can see how formal dining situations can be conducive to getting to know people on a more personal level. However, I really feel that, at this time, I need more freedom & more "me time". I want to be able to zoom in & out, & eat & go whenever, wherever, & however I want. I don't want to feel constricted or restricted, although I AM open to meeting people & spending time with them.

I haven't cruised solo in a couple of decades, but our last cruise was on NCL. While it is NOT one of our favorite lines, if I were cruising alone, it very well could be my first choice.

I say this also because of what you posted and I quoted above. What you are asking for is very much his I would describe NCL.

BUT (and it's a BIG but), a transatlantic is not the right trip for a first time cruise

There MUST be other alternatives.

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I'm doing a transatlantic with RCI next month, and paid closer to $4,000 for all the things you mentioned. However US solos on my roll call seem to have paid less, as there was a special rate for US solos at the time we were all booking last year.

I've never sailed NCL, and have been steering away from them for precisely the reasons you've called out as good things :)

I get the impression that the NCL studio cabins are a bit claustrophobic (and that's from their own marketing material), and I don't like the idea of no fixed shared table dining. It sounds like that might suit you perfectly though.

RCI does offer MyTime dining, so you don't have to go for a fixed shared table, and obviously you can eat at other places too. Both lines offer a variety of dining styles and locations that sound as if they'd suit you.

I don't think you'll stand out as a solo on either ship. I used to feel that too, but then I realised that even people who are traveling with others aren't surgically attached at the hip, and no-one knows when you're swimming/jogging/sitting alone if you have room-mates elsewhere on the ship who are just doing other things.

None of the other passengers need ever really know you're solo unless you tell them.

The Independence of the Seas cruise on May 4 that Thoie is on is currently $349 for an inside guarantee which would be $698 plus about $106 in port taxes, so for roughly $800 you can go for 14 days to Southampton England on a ship that has just about every amenity you would ever want. This cruise has a super active roll call (3000+ posts) which you can join to make connections and to find out what folks are planning. Even if you don't participate, you will know what's going on and will have options. My Time Dining might still be available which would give you dining flexibility.

I just booked a RCL TA on the Brilliance last minute. The way to do it is to go to the RCL web site and put a 24 hour hold on a cabin. Then you call RCL's Choice Air to see what kind of flights they can offer you. If the numbers are OK, then you can complete your booking.

If My Time Dining is not available, you want to be one of the first people on the ship so you can go to the MTD desk to see if they can squeeze you in as just one more person. Plead your case and be persistent.

My first solo cruise was a transatlantic. The roll call was huge, and I participated in a lot of on board activities arranged by cruise critic folks. Also, I went on independent excursions with them. It is a great way to meet people on board. It was my best cruise ever.

For any of the above posters, have you done a European cruise solo? How was your experience?

I did the Navigator from Rome to Barcelona followed by the TA from Barcelona to Galveston. There were a lot of B2B'ers and solos. The Nov prices were great.

I joined both cruises "late". The roll calls were active. I joined excursions and also set up excursions. The Rome-Barcelona leg was port intensive - only one sea day - a bit much after trashing myself in Rome for four days.

Where are you thinking of cruising in Europe? After my experience on the Navigator, I wouldn't consider doing the Med in the height of summer. Rome was still very hot on Nov 1. The weather was very good across the Med except for one day. The itinerary went to Naples, Sicily (instead of Malta because of a storm), Sardinia, Majorca, Valencia, and Barcelona. Many of the B2B'ers did the previous cruise to the Eastern Med and did not continue on the TA.

I also did the Brilliance TA from Harwich stopping in Lehavre, Portland (Dorset), Cork, Dublin, Faroe Islands, Reykjavik for two days and Boston.

 

I also did the Brilliance TA from Harwich stopping in Lehavre, Portland (Dorset), Cork, Dublin, Faroe Islands, Reykjavik for two days and Boston.

That route is one I'd love to take on a TA. Did you enjoy the ports? And does RCL have any kind of arts/crafts classes on sea days? I did jewelry making on a Celebrity TA and water color on an Azamara TA and really enjoyed them.

I'm thinking of going on a British Isles cruise in June.

138 East - I'm thinking of going on a British Isles cruise in June. Some of the ports are the same as your TA on Brilliance.

On my first couple of solo cruises I ate in the buffet as I felt less obvious and you could eat whenever you liked. Then I had a cruise with fixed dining & discovered the wonders of a 4 course evening meal. Since then I've always gone for MyTime dining (or whatever the cruise line calls their version). That way I can eat when I like - usually I time eating so I can get to the shows -but still have a great meal. Sometimes I share a bigger table, sometimes I eat alone. It works for me, although I have read a lot of posts on here where solos much prefer to share at fixed dining & understand why they would like that. I haven't travelled on RC yet but this worked for me on NCL. Now I don't worry about standing out as a solo - most people don't notice & those that do tend to make an effort to get to know you. Some of the best friends I've made on ships have been couples - who equally like making new friends on holiday.

For any of the above posters, have you done a European cruise solo? How was your experience?

I did the Eastern Med solo on RCI (before I knew about cruise critic), and it was just "alright". There were a number of factors. All the shore excursions centered around "quick, go look at this ancient thing". While I'm not a total philistine, I had already seen most of those ancient things already, and had no major interest in seeing them again.

I went mid September, and the temperatures were still a bit too hot for me - Athens in particular is in a bowl, and it was around 42 degrees the day I was there (almost 108F). I ended up heading back to the ship asap.

I speak a number of languages, but the cruise I was on happened to be over 50% Italians - which I don't speak. I did meet some people, but not as many as usual, as the Italians seemed to be mostly traveling in large family groups and weren't mingling very much. I realise that's a sweeping generalisation!

I was a bit unlucky with my dining as well - ended up being moved/moving tables 3 times during a 7 day cruise. Overall, I haven't rushed back to do another Mediterranean cruise, though I've started looking at them again for my next trip. I'll be tempering my expectations, and aiming for more ship-based "me" time.

That route is one I'd love to take on a TA. Did you enjoy the ports? And does RCL have any kind of arts/crafts classes on sea days? I did jewelry making on a Celebrity TA and water color on an Azamara TA and really enjoyed them.

I loved the ports and went on private or DIY excursions in all of them. I'm not sure about the arts/craft classes. I think there was a scrapbooking class and maybe more.

Thanks everyone; you guys have given me a lot to think about! Now, decision time.:)

I've done two solo cruises in the last few months on RCI and I have never once felt singled out as a solo. I just do my own thing. :D

Thanks everyone; you guys have given me a lot to think about! Now, decision time.:)

Keep us posted on what you decide :)

Keep us posted on what you decide :)

Well, it's officual, I've decided on the 10-night Palm Trees And Pink Sand cruise on Vision of the Seas. I hope I made the right decision. Thanks for all your input everyone!:)

Well, it's official, I've decided on the 10-night Palm Trees and Pink Sand Cruise on Vision of the Seas. I hope I made the right decision. Thanks everyone for all your input. :)