bhsolo

On 1/8/2020 at 3:02 AM, MAVIP said:

The shuttle service we (4 adults, 2 children) used Spring 2018: 

 

http://www.cruise-express.be Round-Trip Shuttle Service from Zeebrugge to Bruges.pdfUnavailable
info@cruise-express.be

Just a few minutes walk from the shuttle "ship to the gate of the dock" in Zeebrugge and (of course) a walk from the Parking outside the "walls"  to the city center.

Round-Trip Shuttle Service from Zeebrugge to Bruges.pdf 7.78 MB · 7 downloads

Thank you for this and all of the other information you provided, going to book my ticket today.

59 minutes ago, gptraveler said:

Thank you everyone for the uplifting posts on solo cruising.

I love cruising and my husband doesn't. The idea of traveling alone is quite new to me as I've never done it and I'm a bit afraid.

Things that break my nerve are traveling to the port and handling all my own baggage. I usually take the 2 smaller suitcases and my husband the 2 bigger ones as well as a backpack. I'm also an introvert so I don't relish the idea of interacting with others and yet I'm afraid I will be lonely.

Still, I'm going to look at cruises out of Boston last minute since I don't need to fly there.

Thanks again all you positive solo cruisers.

Well traveling by yourself means only 1 big suitcase and you can probably get away with 1 backpack. 
The beauty of interactions when traveling by yourself - you can talk to people if you want to or be by yourself if you want to. Everyone on the cruise is on vacation so people will chit chat more easily. I love catching up on my reading. The worries about being lonely are sometimes always there but you learn to deal with it and become a stronger person. 

The RCL studio with virtual balcony is great and big enough for me - 5’ woman. If you are 6’ I do think it would be a little tight. Love cruising solo and the virtual balcony for me is key because it’s basically an oceanview room without the oceanview pricing. I have heard, as pp, mentioned the NCL studio can be cramped. When I checked measurements they were smaller than RCL. 
 

What type of room are you used to when cruising, have you checked itineraries, the longer you have the better the trip from the east coast as it will take awhile to get down to Caribbean. 

Love San Juan and have traveled by myself, woman, with no issues. As you say, take precautions because while you are on vacation criminals are not. Taxis from the airport are super easy and getting from hotel to wherever. Exploring Old San Juan and the fort is great plus sitting on the beach at your hotel and not moving. I loved the San Juan Marriott Stellaris & Casino. 

I have been traveling alone for 10 years and will be coming up on my 2nd cruise alone. I love the freedom of doing what I want, when I want, where I want, how I want and eat what I want. It's amazing way to gain your strength and perspectives. When people ask me about my safety I always say "remember that while you are a tourist on vacation the criminals/opportunists are not". Being alone in ports is the same as traveling anywhere, make sure you are cautious.

If you are concerned, depending on the ports, an excursion through the ship is great. What ports are you thinking of?

Oh my word, yes Wellington lol. Thinking I'll need to try out Duke of Wellington for one meal and Dancing Man for the other as the dessert menu looks mighty good too. Need some fish and chips plus sticky toffee pudding before I leave 😉

Unfortunately, I can't remember which car service but there were a few that were around that same price. I'll try to look tonight and let you know. 

Thank you for all of your help and good to know my initial reaction of Novotel was the right one. I found a great price for it, under $100 US, that was also cheaper than HI. Helpful to know about the location being big and boxy parking lot type so I know I'm in the right but safe area, that's fine for me. I like it's close enough to walk from the bus station and to Duke of Ellington, Tudor House and to keep exploring. Does Duke of Ellington get very crowded for lunch and dinner for 1 person?

JB...you have been so extremely helpful not only for me but for so many others. I wanted to update you that when I was pricing out a private car from Heathrow to Southampton it is now over £100. 

45 minutes ago, newfielover said:

I have enjoyed the solarium on the Allure and Oasis several times in the Caribbean. What is the solarium like in Alaska? This might sound silly, but what is the temperature like in there? 

It’s warm. Sometimes people open the windows to get pics and see the wildlife better but then they are shut pretty quickly. If you are going to the glacier that’s a day I would suggest dressing warmer for solarium as all of the windows are usually opened. 

I am deciding between two recommended CC hotels in Southampton - Novotel and Holiday Inn. I'll be arriving via National Express the day before from LHR to cruise on RCL. I would like to be able to walk around, explore and eat in Southampton after my arrival. So my wonderings are:

1) Is Novotel within walking distance of the bus station with a large piece of wheel luggage or is too cumbersome and I'll need a cab? It looks close enough to walk to as well as to walk into the city center but is that accurate?

2) For the Holiday Inn can I walk into the city center? Looking on Google Maps it says to be careful walking because it may not be true and the satellite does not show any sidewalks.

3) They are within 10 pounds of each other...is it worth paying a bit more for Holiday Inn?

Thank you!!

Loved the Ovation to Alaska, such a wonderful trip. I really enjoyed the Solarium Bistro for dinner as it was nice and quiet, beautiful views and lovely food.

1 hour ago, Lois R said:

Good morning, glad you are so excited....you are preaching to the choir here---but my circumstances are a bit

different than yours. It is just me. No husband/mate/so/ or anything and I have been cruising solo since 2003

and my next one up is on Jan 16th so the week after next

I can relate to all those positive things though....it is all MY SPACE/MY CRUISE

Same! When I booked my trip and they asked who are you traveling with I said “me, myself and I”. The woman was shocked and then said that’s so amazing! 
 

Traveling by yourself is one of the most empowering and strengthening things. I love doing what I want, when I want, how I want, where I want and eating what I want. 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Your detailed information/opinion was everything I could possibly need.
 

I will be coming into Terminal 2 so that makes having to wait for a bus, should my flight be delayed, not as bad. Good to know about the 90 minute window so I’ll make sure to get a bus after that. Seems like my best option would be to just keep traveling and can always nap on the bus as that looks to be a nonstop ride straight to Southampton. I think I read somewhere they also have bathrooms on board so that will be good just in case. 
 

Nice to be able to walk around Southampton for the afternoon to keep my interest and help adjust to the time difference. Just one other place for me to explore. That link and map are going to be so helpful! 

Would love your experienced opinions. I'm taking RCL out of Southampton at the end of May, flying overnight from the States so I arrive the day beforehand. A what would you do:

1) Take National Express from Heathrow to Southampton and then cab to hotel. Concern being after that flight I'll be exhausted since I don't sleep well on planes. How bad is waiting for a bus? Do I need to buy a ticket beforehand or can I do an open ended time in case my flight is delayed?

2) Get a hotel in London for the night and then take National Express or a shuttle service to Southampton the next morning? This would cost more due to the hotel being more expensive but I would be able to possibly rest sooner. I've already been to London so sightseeing isn't as huge a priority.

Thank you for any and all help

I love this, all of this!! Solo traveling and cruising is the absolute best thing. I do it once a year for all of the reasons you said. I’m actually just about to book my next one for this May...I may also be getting hooked. 

4 minutes ago, coastcat said:

I’ve been looking at HA for an Alaska cruise but there’s no easy way to find sailings with reduced solo supplements. Celebrity and NCL make it easier. 

I just did RCL to Alaska solo and really enjoyed the solo cabins. It was a great trip and I liked the space as they have the virtual balcony so I knew what was happening outside at all times.

So glad you loved cruising solo!! I’ve been solo traveling for 10 years, first cruise was this summer, and it really is difficult to travel with others for me now. I love my me travel time. You hit the nail on the head - do what you want when you want how you want. 
 

I ate at Solarium for dinner and was fine. I also had my journal with me. Sometimes it’s one of those things that takes getting used to. 

I'm looking at a quick Caribbean getaway on the Mariner or Navigator. Is there any chance of finding shade while on deck that is a lounger and not at a table, sitting at the bar or in the solarium? On Ovation the only shade was in the solarium, is it the same thing? 

14 minutes ago, nyc2pdx said:

As for eating-I am not sure how I will manage that.  I don't want to join a group and be the odd one out.  I guess I will figure that out when I get there.  

You definitely don't have to join a group for eating. On my Royal trip I never did. I ate in the buffet area looking at the ocean, at a couple restaurants with my book, or in the dining room (though that wasn't my favorite) all on my own. You only have to join/converse if you would like to. Otherwise you just do what you would like to do and how you feel comfortable.

I was on the Anthem for an Alaskan cruise and enjoyed it. I was only planning to use it for sleeping and kept my expectations low but was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it is small and there is no place to sit, however, it was great for sleeping and I would just sit out on the ship to read when I wanted to. I loved the virtual balcony, basically a 50' tv turned on its side, that was better than a porthole. I found the storage to be pretty adequate considering all of the clothing/shoes I had and my suitcase fit under my bed. There is overhead bed storage and I appreciated where all of the outlets were. The size of the bathroom was very good, especially the shower.

Is it grand and huge and wow, no. Is it a great place to sleep and comfortable with all you need, absolutely. 

Not at all if you make an effort to say hi to others. I did that on the excursions, when sitting by the pool, sitting down for lunch/dinner. I also brought books with me for reading by the pool and eating, went on excursions where I said hi to people and sometimes you just end up seeing people to say hi. 

People had two reactions when they found out I was solo which are usually the same ones whenever I travel solo. 1) Wow that’s incredible and shows so much strength. A lot wishing they could also do it. 2) Absolute shock that anybody would travel solo, they just couldn’t think of being alone. 

I did Ovation in June and we got in fine. The few trips before us were not able to get in due to ice floats but that can happen at any time with nature. It was a gorgeous trip and I loved the boat.

34 minutes ago, LandlockedCruiser01 said:

It's semi-common knowledge that us solos don't get a lot of love in Customs.  We're always viewed with suspicion, resulting in anything from quizzical looks, to additional questioning, to being detained for secondary screening.  (The latter usually relatively brief, less than an hour.) 

I have traveled solo to many a foreign country and have never experienced this so I wouldn't necessarily generalize it as being semi-common knowledge. In fact, the one time I was actually taken aside for questioning, to see if I had any fruit/etc., was when I was traveling with my friend. Otherwise, I usually breeze through Customs because I am solo. 

Congratulations on booking this, I'm sure it was hard but it's an awesome thing you did. Excursions are a great way to meet various people and see them throughout the day/night on the ship. Also, just sitting around people you start random conversations. It's fun to say hi to people you see and ask what they did during the day or what excursion they liked, etc.

For my trips I pack a lot of items that can all be layered together and I rewear clothing a lot. I'll also rinse out shirts and bottoms on the regular.

10 hours ago, brillohead said:

Just a note, the beds are the same in a balcony room as they are in an inside or oceanview, at least on Royal Caribbean -- two twins that combine into a "Royal king" (with the rounded corners). I know that there's a full king bed in at least one of the suite categories (Grand or Owner's Suite, I believe) that can't be separated into twins, but all the other beds in all the other rooms are the same.

One thing I like to do when traveling solo is have the beds separated and pushed apart with both nightstands in the center.  This makes a little extension of the walking area, and makes the room appear more spacious.

If you like a salad bar, I recommend doing lunch in the Main Dining Room on a sea day on your next cruise -- they have the Tutti Salad Bar where you point out what items you want (large selection of greens, veggies, and proteins) and choose your dressing and they chop/toss the whole thing for you.  It's delicious, and a highlight of every cruise for me!

In the solo cabin there is absolutely no way to separate a bed, this may have been only one twin bed or something along those lines but it is still a tight squeeze if you are someone who is tall. 

I did the salad bar in 270 sometimes when I felt like having someone do it for me. I'm glad you enjoyed the MDR but it wasn't my type of enjoyment. Which is why it's great that we can each do our own thing and no one is right or wrong. And now you can say you have heard of someone getting in and out in 15 minutes.