California Cruisin'

Have a wonderful time!

So.... DO it!

It was sweet to read of your acquaintance, and that the two couples met while on a cruise. Attribute this to the romantic in me..... why not book as solos on the same cruise and see what happens? Id love to be there to see what happens. 'Nothing to lose and, at the least, renew a friendship.

Maria (new to cruising. new to solo cruising)

30 bucks for 30 hours! 120 pp 5 days, 210 for 7 days, even doubled, that's cheap!

Please tell us (me) what your post is talking about. Thanks!

I recently retired and am looking at my first-ever cruise next March, heading from Florida to Barcelona or Rome -- haven't decided. Then I will spend 4-6 months touring Europe, also a first for me. I also hope to do a Baltic cruise during the trip -- I would love to visit St. Petersburg. I'll be traveling solo.

 

Yes, I'm excited!

omG!!! Allow me to offer my congratulations (and my company!) What a great retirement you have to look forward to!!! 'Wish it was me! (she said with a distinct tinge of green)

Well, nuts (almonds) are the perfect snack to bring ashore, if allowed. I need protein at every meal/snack to manage blood sugar (hypoglycemic.) They are a perfect protein, don't require refrigeration, and are very portable. If I was in an enclosed space with a group, whose member had announced his/her extreme allergy, I would not have opened a bag of nuts in that space (IF the allergic person had announced how extreme a situation it was.) In that case, I would expect that the tour director/guide would have non-reactive snacks to provide.

Extremely RIGID rules on food being brought into a country. When you leave the ship you enter a country! Doesn't matter if USA (if you went anywhere) --still entering the country from "foreign territory". Punishments up to and including jail! Immediate fines (up to thousands of dollars) and court fees. (happened in New Zealand). The rules are well stated. Prepackaged, unopened commercial packages are allowed some places but why take the chance -- read the rules (in the daily cruise paper) and follow them! Usually they will ask you if you have food/not allowed items. When you answer that is a legal statement!. Then they check -- stand in a line and a friendly little dog smells the area (and you:D). Sometimes x-ray. Sometimes a puff machine that can tell chemicals and odors. I have seen armed guards with the dogs (Chile -- scared me to death -- guy next to me was carrying an apple and did not throw it out. A crew member taking a present to a girl -- got taken away from area and his friends said he will loose his job and not get transportation home. Passengers too can be left behind if they are under the "care of the local authorities". The rules have gotten stricter and the local officials take it very seriously. So should you.

 

All countries are concerned with the spread of insects and pests that can sicken people or cause their agricultural interests problems. Pests hitchhike and there is nothing that can help the situation except to have ALL follow the rules. Do not believe you are special and will not be bothered -- you will be. You will be checked more than once.

 

The time I was most bothered was when I had a bottle of soda confiscated at the door of the airplane when I had just bought the bottle at the shop next to the gate. 3 checks at that airport and 2 more coming back into the USA airport. Travel is not very simple these days. Keep your cool and follow the rules and you will do well. Try to sneak food or other things in -- I bet you will get caught and not even see it coming:eek:

WoW, Bowie MeMe! Thanks for this heads up. I really hadn't thought about that. Silly me! On my one and only cruise so far (Alaska and Canada) I was often hungry while out on the shore, and did not want to take precious time ashore to stop and eat, so I brought some nuts in a ziplock bag. I will know better next time, and at least make sure the nuts are in pre-packaged commercial bags. This will be OK in foreign countries, right?

Hi!

I went on my first-ever cruise (and went solo) to Alaska in June. It was AMAZING! 'Had no problem meeting people, and we met up during other events as well. I've kept in touch with a couple of couples since then. I cannot WAIT to do it again!!

Traveling solo on the crown princess, out. 18 to Hawaii and Tahiti...would love to meet other solo travelers...:)

Hi, Drhugs. It looks like you really like the Princess line! I just came back from my very first cruise. It was on the Crown Princess to Alaska, and I went solo! I even sang in the Popstar choir! AWESOME experience. I am hooked!

Oh! And your interactive images are wonderful! How ever do you do that!!??

Maria

Hi, Roz. And Hi to Horton, too! Does he hear the Who?? My condolences on the loss of your Brenda. It's so hard to lose a trusted friend and helper. 'Must be a very different experience cruising with a service dog. My (now previous) boyfriend has a service dog. Frankly, I may have been more in love with that sweetie, than the human one, as I miss him every moment of every day! My boyfriend did allow people to socialize with "JoBo" at varying levels, depending on the situation and, I must say, that sweet dog brought several new friends to the man! I understand that most do not allow socialization with their service dog while he/she is working. May I ask what your stance is on that? I'm thinking about how that factor would have an affect on your cruising experience. It obviously has been a great experience for you, and for the dog! Perhaps the question is too personal and, if so, I apologize. It would just be interesting to know.

I was just on my very first cruise in June and went solo to Alaska. (On the Crown Princess.) I flew from the LOs Angeles area into Anchorage, then Southbound to Vancouver where I stayed an extra few days, visiting Vancouver and Victoria, BC. It was a fantastic time!!

Maria

This is a video of a 1a porthole on glory

 

THanks! Are these porthole cabins the same price as insides without any view??

They are classed as inside cabins but in fact are outside cabins with two portholes instead of a window.

So they don't just look into the hallway, they actually look out on the sea? How large are they? Thanks!

Hi, Starrgazer. Forgive the newbie question, but where do the portholes look out to, if you're in an inside cabin? Thanks!

Greetings, Patrick. I'm sorry for the recent loss of your wife. I cannot imagine.

'Wonderful to be able to take your grandson with you on a cruise. Here's to a terrific transatlantic cruise for you!

I took my first-ever cruise to Alaska last month. 'Never cruised before, nor had I ever been to Alaska, and I went solo! It was the most fun I'd had in years. Met so many delightful people. The helicopter flight over the glaciers was one of the most awe inspiring events of my life.

I am HOOKED!

Thanks!

Thanks, that's what I am thinking too.

I am never ready to get off the ship - well there was that one time I went with a kill joy - but that was an exception.

I am dreaming of 4 cruises back to back now. Prices really went down on this 1/2 year sale.

Packing - think I am just gonna pack for my 8 day. Then I am taking some detergent and washing a load. At least I think I am.

Hi, tbbtravels

Prices really went down on which cruise line?

Thanks

were you on one of the ships that only stops here in the evening? its better than not at all but its a shame you can't see more of victoria. and alaska is a trip I've done a few times, it never gets old.

 

good for you going solo on your first cruise! my first solo cruise was not my first cruise so I knew what I was getting into. I am ready to go NOW!

Actually, the cruise ended in Vancouver, where I extended my stay for 2 1/2 extra days, spending one full day in Victoria, seeing the wonderful Buchart Gardens. I didn't have as much time to spend in Vancouver, as would have liked.

And I am DEFINATELY going back to Alaska. 'Probably next summer.

Oh, MAN, Cdngirl! How I ENVY you! I just returned from my first cruise ever to Alsaka and Victoria, BC. I had never been either place, and I went solo. It was WONDERFUL!!!

Great tips, Euby, Thanks!

Thanks, BottomFeeder and CruiseLady. It's just been my *general* experience, since my divorce, some 20 years ago, that the woman of the couple, is wary of my presence, and directs convo away from me. At parties, I am usually better accepted by older couples (which is fine) and other singles, of course. There likely being few singles on the cruise, I can't really just "go home!" And worry about that (I AM a worrier!)

Scott , yes I get the looks . And have to try and explain I run out of friends who can get the same times off or even have the free time to go . That's how I started and now I have so many friends I have met I am never really alone anymore . Enjoy your trip !

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I'm going on my first-ever cruise (7 Days,) leaving Saturday. I'm especially worried about being "unaccepted" by the middle aged (I'm Middle aged) couples I may be seated/grouped with. Any tips??

Is the 2nd part Advise?

This is very low for Alaska:

 

NCL Sun Guaranteed inside cabin

Mon, Jun 16-Jun 23, 2014

$548.83 and $50.

Whittier - Vancouver

 

The last time I did Alaska, I did a B2B.

That was really nice to visit each port twice. Plus it was cheaper to do a round trip air fare from Vancouver...

Is the $548.83 and $50 the price for the entire cabin (including supplement?) Does the $50 reflect the supplement? Thanks!

Hi, Catte and Andrew. I, too, will be taking my first cruise this Summer. June to Alaska on Princess. I've found it very helpful to sign up on my cruise's "Role Call" here on Cruise Critic. This way, you can "meet" others on board your ship before you sail. Just look up "Roll Call" on the menu, then the site guides you to your particular sailing. Maria