Help choosing first cruise for my special birthday ....

Hi there, please be gentle with me :) I have never been on a cruise before but have always wanted to. It is my 60th birthday next March :( I'm a very young at heart and young looking 59 year old. I will be going on my own and am a bit nervous of which cruise to pick for the best price. I live in the UK, I'm tempted to Western Caribbean but would like to have the opportunity to meet other singles on the cruise, but if not, I'm happy with my own company. I just don't know where to start so any advice would be gratefully received ! Thanks.

Congratulations on planning your first cruise, and happy birthday! What appeals to you? Would you like lots of great entertainment options or a more laid back atmosphere? Are you looking to be pampered or do you prefer to be active? There are a lot of choices, so if you give us a little background on what appeals to you, we can help with suggestions. :)

Find a date you would like to go and check the roll call for people you would like to befriend. There are many solo cruisers out there so get out there and chat...

Enjoy your cruise...:cool:

The best advice anyone can give you since this is your first cruise, is to seek out a travel agent near you that specializes in cruises.

There are way too many choices here for something that fits your needs.

They will ask you about your likes and dislikes, budget, setting up flights, hotel stays maybe before or after (never recommended to fly in day of cruise, in case of delays), medical and dietary considerations, passport requirements. Possibly more things that I can't think of right now.

Also check out the Singles cruise board here on Cruise Critic.

Whichever cruise you go on, I am sure you will have a wonderful time.

And be careful, cruising can be addictive. :D

A singles cruise would be the way to go. ;)

Just realize that solos usually pay double the per person fare. It's called a single supplement. I agree with others who say to find a good local travel agent. They might be able to find you a break on the supplement. But expect to pay at least 175%.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Many cruise lines do charge quite a bit for sailing single in a cabin -- anywhere from 175% to 200%.

However -- there are a couple of ships that have single cabins -- check out Norwegian cruise lines.

You may also be interested in checking out another section of this site -- Solo Cruises -- at this link:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=373

The best advice anyone can give you since this is your first cruise, is to seek out a travel agent near you that specializes in cruises.

There are way too many choices here for something that fits your needs.

They will ask you about your likes and dislikes, budget, setting up flights, hotel stays maybe before or after (never recommended to fly in day of cruise, in case of delays), medical and dietary considerations, passport requirements. Possibly more things that I can't think of right now.

 

Also check out the Singles cruise board here on Cruise Critic.

 

Whichever cruise you go on, I am sure you will have a wonderful time.

And be careful, cruising can be addictive. :D

You're getting great advice here. If you know someone else who's in the same boat (single and needs a vacation), it may save you money.

Welcome to Cruise Critic and the Wonderful World of Cruising! :)

On Princess ships we always meet LOTS of people from the UK.

They almost always book cruises that are 10 Days or Longer for the Caribbean to make the cost of flying worthwhile. That's something you might want to take into consideration.

LuLu

Welcome to Cruise Critic. There are several lines cruising from England that cater to single travelers and feature single cabins. Fred Olsen Lines, a very popular line among British travelers features traditional service aboard some classic style liners like the Braemar.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=206

Another option is Cunard Cruise Lines most recent ship the Queen Elizabeth. This a gorgeous and elegant vessel that recently was refitted with single cabins. Cunard is a bit dressy, but, the service and food are wonderful and the ship extremely elegant. We sailed the QE in 2011 and really loved her.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=528

As others have suggested it would be very helpful for you to visit with a local travel agent that specializes in cruise travel. They could alert you to other lines that feature single cabins and find the ship that is just right for you.

Have a wonderful first cruise.

Jonathan

Hi there, please be gentle with me :) I have never been on a cruise before but have always wanted to. It is my 60th birthday next March :( I'm a very young at heart and young looking 59 year old. I will be going on my own and am a bit nervous of which cruise to pick for the best price. I live in the UK, I'm tempted to Western Caribbean but would like to have the opportunity to meet other singles on the cruise, but if not, I'm happy with my own company. I just don't know where to start so any advice would be gratefully received ! Thanks.

Hi!! I'm planning my first ever cruise for my next birthday too. I've already found mine. I'm going to Alaska. I hope you find your perfect birthday cruise too!!:D

Although there's lots of ships out there, I think you need to be cautious for your first cruise. For a start, you will probably better off doing a full package from the UK which includes flights, and where the company will be responsible for you from check-in to arriving back at your home airport.

Avoid going through US ports if possible because you'll have to go down the road of buying an ESTA- a simple process but yet another thing to think about.

The two companies which do a full package from the UK to Barbados/Jamaica are P&O and Thomson. Both P&O ships have single cabins, but they are very sought after...Thomson uses their own aeroplanes, and some regional airports.

It also means that the currency is £££ throughout the cruise, although you'll need $$ for the islands.

Both lines will have meetings for singles, and also more of a party atmosphere in the warm waters... The Thomson ships are much older and smaller than the 2 P&O ones, but are incredibly friendly....one sails from Barbados, the other goes from Jamaica to Cuba.

Find a travel agent who specialises in cruises, and look at those options.