fallcruiser

Booked in this cabin in November ..... first cruise. Any comments on this cabin please....... Thanks.

I'm a bit nervous about seasickness too.

If you are cruising Western Caribbean don't even worry about it, because usually the sea is completely calm. If you are cruising Eastern Caribbean then be aware that your ship will actually be in the Atlantic Ocean for the longest sea days, and if you encounter 29-foot seas like I did, and you don't have any Dramamine (or equivalent), then I don't think it matters where you your room is, you will be sicker than a dog.

The very first cruise I went on I paid what amounted to $25 per day upgrade to get a "seaview" room. What this got me was a round portal about 12" in diameter. Every morning as I peeked out of it to see the ocean (yep, it was still there) I thought, "Wow that was the most useless thing I have ever paid $25 a day for."

If you can afford it then yes an actual balcony would be nice, but don't even waste your money on a so-called sea-view room. Think about it: What do you want to do as soon as you've showered up and shaved in the morning? Answer, breakfast! Not staring out a 12" window.

I am 27 years old recently divorced. I love to cruise so I told myself why should I stop just because my relationship ended. So I booked my first solo cruise on The Freedom and I'm really excited about doing anything I want! :D However, I am kinda wondering what dinner is going to be like... Any suggestions for first time Solo?

I have been on four cruises, all of them solo. The culture of cruising is to be friendly to your fellow cruise guests. It doesn't matter where you are seated in the MDR. Chances are you will be seated near people of all statuses, relationships, races, colors, etc. The most typical guests are the 60ish husband and wife, but really, you're going to meet all combinations, and all are interesting to get to know.

I like to book sea kayak excursions just to see who I end up paired with. Once it was a woman who's DH was golfing in port that day, another time I was paired with a young flight attendent who was cruising with her parents. We had a great time until the end of the kayak trip when she asked me how old I was :-) (I was about ten years older than her.)

My philosophy as a single adult for most of my life has been to not let being solo limit my activity in any way, and I used that philosophy while cruising. I simply just "went out there" and did what I want to do, when I want to do it. I have been a very avid book reader at times, and on cruises I always make sure I have a good long book or two with me. During many a "at sea" afternoon there is nothing more delightful than to find the quietest corner of the sun deck I can find and then take sun and bury myself in a good book. Hours can race by quickly in blissful solitude!

That said, yes I love to meet people and have social interaction. I'm a sociable person. At the beginning of one cruise, before the ship had even left port I had stowed my luggage in my room and immediately headed for the most busy, most visible bar I could find, which I believe was in the main atrium area by the center stairs. I started to chat with a woman next to me, and quickly I found out that she was from the same home state as me, though not born there as I was. This immediately gave us fodder for chat. I also quickly found out she was traveling with her husband, so it's not like I had plans of hanging out with her later.

I try to eat in the MDR always for dinner, and I don't care who my table-mates are, as long as they are friendly. I have also met some delightful people while eating in the MDR for lunch - that's a wild card because you get someone new every time. They are sometimes fascinated that someone would cruise solo.

Shore excursions: ALWAYS! The tagline is so very true: Get out there! I have gone on two sea kayak excursions where the partner paired with me was a woman - actually the only two I've been on. One was a younger woman in her early twenties, and another was a married woman in her 30s (whose husband was out golfing that day). Both were women fun to be kayaking with.

As I get older (late 40s now) I do sort of long for a cruise with "someone" so we'll see what the future holds.