Solo cruising on NCL

I have been reading about the Solo Lounge on the Epic.Do hosts arrange group activities such as shore excursions, dinner group and or bridge?

I have been reading about the Solo Lounge on the Epic.Do hosts arrange group activities such as shore excursions, dinner group and or bridge?

They definitely help with dinner groups but I have not seen them arrange others. However, you can use the whiteboard in the Studio Lounge to try and arrange one yourself!

It's easy to arrange excursions or join others if u show up each night at the studio lounge gathering. The host arranges dinners.

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On my solo raise in January on the Epic I believe the staff initiated sign up sheets for the ice bar and also Cirque. Dinner was a 'given' every night and you were free to join whenever you wanted. Solo travellers used the white boards in the lounge to try to organize other things like excursions/port plans (sharing taxis to a certain beach, etc) and dinners in specialty restaurants if they didn't want to go with the other group to Taste.

NCL has a staff member who is the "host" of the solos and their activities. There is a solo meetup every evening at 6:30 in the lounge and a planned activity for each night. I think we had two group dinners, went to see a show together, went to the ice bar as a group, and had a sail-away party.

There is also a white board where you can post messages and try to find people to join you for various things, like dining in a specialty restaurant or going to a show.

The host only coordinates evening activities; for everything else, you are on your own. I did all my excursions through NCL because it felt safer, but plenty of solos were doing other tours they arranged themselves.

At the first night's meetup in the Solo Lounge, we had about 20 people on the Epic last week.

From that about 5 of us had dinner every night plus we did some late night entertainment together. It seemed that every night there were 3 groups going off to a given restaurant and it worked out really nice, at least for me.

The host Jovan was great and via the white board, he set up Cirque, Ice Bar and specialty restaurant group activities.

Finally, I have to put a plug in for that coffee machine in the Solo Lounge. Wow, that is really a good amenity.

All packed and ready to set sail.... This solo cruiser is ready!!!!!! Wool hoo!!!!

All packed and ready to set sail.... This solo cruiser is ready!!!!!! Wool hoo!!!!

Hey there!

I am planning on taking a solo cruise on the Epic on the 25th of January. Can you please tell me where/how you booked your cruise?

I wanted to get a special that I saw earlier where you got to eat at 3 specialty restaurants when you bought your cruise ticket. But when i called the NCL agent, he said that special doesn't exist anymore and was quite rude about it.

Can you give me tips on where to actually book the cruise for the best deals/specials?

~kumar247

Does anyone know if there is a solo lounge on the Jewel?

Hey there!

 

I am planning on taking a solo cruise on the Epic on the 25th of January. Can you please tell me where/how you booked your cruise?

 

~kumar247

I booked through NCL. I just watched the website until I found a good deal and then called my cruise consultant. I don't know that I got the best deal, but I was pleased with my overall price. January 25 is really soon...I would hurry because those solo cabins go really fast!

Does anyone know if there is a solo lounge on the Jewel?

I don't think so. I think the only ships with lounges are the ships with solo cabins, so Epic, Getaway, and Breakaway. I think the ship that sails around Hawaii (Pride of America??) has a very small common area for the 4 solo cabins on board.

Just was on Breakaway last week. Solo cabin was great and the Lounge was the best part because of the meetings at 6 each evening. The Staff Solo Host did a great job. We had group dinners every night, went to the beach together and saw Rock of Ages as a group. NCL has got it right! Best Solo Friendly cruise I have ever been on!!!

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Hey there!

 

I am planning on taking a solo cruise on the Epic on the 25th of January. Can you please tell me where/how you booked your cruise?

 

I wanted to get a special that I saw earlier where you got to eat at 3 specialty restaurants when you bought your cruise ticket. But when i called the NCL agent, he said that special doesn't exist anymore and was quite rude about it.

 

Can you give me tips on where to actually book the cruise for the best deals/specials?

 

~kumar247

Specials change. Prices and the NCL offered freebies are generally the same no matter what agency you go through. The difference is some agencies kick in a bit more. If a better NCL offer comes up before the 100 percent cancel day, they can simply book under the better offer. I am on Star for a week starting tomorrow, and unfortunately have 4 specialty dinners for 2 plus other stuff. I didn't know I was going to be going alone.

2 of the dinners are a part of a bonus package that would have been available no matter where it was booked. One dinner is for Latitudes platinum status, and one dinner is for VIP status with Casinos at Sea (my last year with this status. I gave up most gambling)

I booked through NCL Casinos at Sea, because I can get myself into a minisuite for about $300 per week including taxes and fees. This is my 6th cruise of the year. I have 2 scheduled for the coming year. An April transatlantic and a June trip from Barcelona. (My 7th and 8th trips on Epic)

Michael

Hello I have done 3 NCL solos (Epic, 2X Breakaway) Studio lounge was fantastic and excellent for meeting a group of people. We also had non solosjoin us throughout the week.

Likely going again later this year.

Please note you can still get in the lounge for the gathering even if you don't have a studio. I booked studios but ended up upgrading later to balconies.