IamAlyce

Anyone have experience cruising solo on Princess?

TIA, A

Does anyone have experience with American cruise line?

TIA E

I’ve done 3 AQ river cruises and as others have said it’s all about the ports. From my experience, the demographics were mostly over 70 with a few younger people sprinkled in, one time even a family with two young boys! Depending on the ship, some do habe a very small pool and a small gym. Lots of people walk the decks and I enjoyed just getting off the ship at the small towns and wandering. Meeting others was very easy as the ships are small. And yes, you will be paired with others to make a larger table. I was at one that seated 4 but I was solo so we found two more that were seated at a larger table and we joined them for more fun conversation! 
It is nothing like cruising on a large ocean going ship, but there was always good music, someone to play cards with, and fun entertainment at night. If you want to be active, I would suggest going on an ocean liner instead of a small river ship. 
elaine

On 4/12/2023 at 8:41 AM, Eli_6 said:

I am not getting them to Europe.  Already tried that.  I am going to recommend that they look into Princess, HAL, or Celebrity.  

Check out a US river cruise. We did two last year and they were both wonderful! You can be as active or lazy as you want. We did American Queen and they have bikes available for each port.  Viking also has some US cruises. Both are really enjoyable and so interesting!

7 hours ago, shorne said:

 

Although it would be rude to take reading material to the table when others were present (small exception for the newspaper at breakfast), it is perfectly polite to read a book while eating by oneself at a restaurant or similar venue.

 

A smile and «Perhaps another time» should suffice to decline a well-meant invitation.

Yes, it would be rude if you are sitting with others to bring a book to read at the table. I was suggesting this if you are sitting alone as a way to enjoy your meal/drink, etc and not be bothered. I feel it is okay to be reading or writing, etc. while sitting alone and have seen many others doing this. As this is the OP’s cruise, they should be able to enjoy it how they want, and not have to worry about how others perceive them.

elaine

On 4/1/2023 at 9:34 PM, PW_NICD8819 said:

It's definitely the atmosphere on ship that I am a little apprehensive about. I am happy to dine and enjoy a drink alone but I am worried that others may be pushy and try to join me or include me in their activities, with the best intentions. I'm easily drained by social occasions and a whole evening of chit chat is my idea of hell. I will have to brush up on my German and pretend I don't speak much English.

 

I don't expect any issues on land - the tours I booked are part of groups and I won't be exploring too far off the beaten track. Norway and Iceland look amazing. I will be taking the RIG to see the church in Skjolden and then have a bike booked for the rest of the day. I plan on doing Loen ski lift in Olden and the tram/trolley tour in Alesund. I don't have anything planned in Iceland yet, but I don't want to plan away all my time, I want to be sure I have time to take it all in.

 

 

 

Why not just take a book to dinner or a journal. Enjoy your drink and or meal and read/draw/write and if others try and bother you, just motion to what you’re doing and continue on. My daughter does this and has no issues. People get the hint and move on.

1 hour ago, cruisegal40 said:

We flew into FFL in September. The taxi SUV that picked us up at the airport to the hotel, also did runs to Miami.  I just took his card and texted him when we wanted to be picked up to go to Miami.  We stayed in FT. L beach.  Nice and clean SUV.  

Could you share his info? Pm it to me?

19 hours ago, janetz said:

Uber is around 50.00 to the port of Miami

Ty, good to know!

5 hours ago, NoShoes2 said:

 

We usually rent a car in FLL It gives us some pre cruise flexibility. We usually stay in Ft. Lauderdale as well for the less expensive hotels, but like to be able to choose a place to eat and shop for items that I forgot to pack. 🙂 We return the car in Miami near the port and take the car rental shuttle to the pier.

That’s a great idea! Thank you!

10 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Many discussions here on this topic. Generally, hotels are cheaper in Ft Lauderdale.  Then a shuttle ( easier to book for earlier in the day) will be cheaper than Uber. But you would need to stay at a hotel, or close to a hotel the shuttle services transport from.

Thank you! 

Hi! I will be flying into FLL mid day and cruising out of the port of Miami the next morning. Is it best to Uber to a port hotel the day of my flight or stay at a fll hotel and Uber over day off? 
TIA

19 hours ago, donaldsc said:

I would suggest that you also post your message on the AQ roll call.  

 

DON

Oh, I did t realize there was one, thank you!

Anyone on the Memphis to St Louis cruise?

Was just boarding on Sunday and no testing on Saturday! Check in went so quickly!

I agree that it is pointless to have people tested at check in as people are on and off the boat almost every day and from my last few cruises, many have developed covid as we sailed! 

We were on the Queen a couple weeks back. We were assigned a specific table for the entire cruise. It happened to be a two person but we met the people across from us and they had a six top so we asked and were switched to their table for the rest of the cruise.

20 hours ago, uktog said:

Great review thanks. Isn’t Phil just great, we loved his talent every evening. We were on in May and our findings were very similar to yours, we were in 504. 

Thank you, we loved the cruise and the crew!

American queen River cruise, NOLA to Memphis. June -26-July 4, 2022

 

One night hotel and Transfer to boat included

We booked one extra night ourselves 

We had a Nola tour. On boarding day, Very good info. Three stops.

Then Transfer to ship after tour

Our buses and drivers stay with us the entire time, they drive the buses at night and then on our tours during the day

The shore excursion staff are also our tour helpers and we pick up a local for the day on each bus

The tour guides are all very knowledgeable and friendly. Lots of good info and stories

 

Boarding: Easy quick walk on, champagne welcome, music playing

Rooms ready quickly

Suite 509 which was deluxe suite. We loved the location, which was on deck 5. The only bad part is if it rains hard the deck gets flooded and slippery but they do try to come around and clean off the area as quickly as possible. We had fast access to the Front Porch for drinks and food and quick access to inside the ship.

Had more room and a few extra perks which included: early boarding, a bottle of wine, a box theater seat, Choice of dining times

 

Queen bed, sofa and two chairs

Dressing area with closet and drawers

Dresser in main area

Very antique and southern feel

Full tub with shower and commode and sink inside bathroom

Extra sink area outside of bath

 

Easy walk off and on at all ports. They offer golf carts to shuttle anyone who wants or needs it to the buses or the ship.

 

lobster offered every night

Danced to fun music

Shows are music and very good performers 

Our cruise director performs in the shows

A lot of the crew do multi jobs

 

Food: very good and flavorful, portions are on the smaller side which is fine by me

At breakfast and lunch there is a buffet and also order off the menu in MDR. Buffet upstairs is all three meals plus ice cream and snacks

Breakfast and lunch was usually 7-9/930am

Dinner was two seatings: 515 and 8pm

Buffet was also during these times

Coffee and tea, juices and lemonade, etc available self serve 24 hr

At least one bar is open at 11 and one stays open late

We were sad the River Grill was never opened but understand they are short staffed.

 

Tours: at all ports there’s a free included tour. Usually a HOHO bus. The buses follow the ship from port to port and are used by the cruise line to transport us while in port. We got to know the drivers well. 

 

Tours have been interesting and informative with people coming from the towns to be our guide.

 

You meet pretty much everyone on board.

 

We had French doors that led out on the deck with two chairs and a table. Plus to this was we had a nice view of the water and could chat easily with neighbors or people walking by.  This was also a downside some days.

 

No photographers but fellow passengers will happily take your picture

 

Drinks are included and they do have a premium package we didn’t find it necessary

 

No bar service except in dining room, it’s all walk up at all three bars

 

Walls are very thin, we could hear our neighbors tv very loudly. And their talking also.

If you have French doors you will have spaces that look outside. Also sometime water comes in!

The ship is still being worked on, it’s a beautiful vessel but still needs a lot of work. Crew can be seen cleaning all the time. Right now they are very short staffed.

 

I would recommend just doing HOHO in each port unless you need to see something specific. We had booked two preferred tours, one was mostly just a bus ride and the other we were five hours behind so they ran an abbreviated tour which felt rushed. Was disappointed they wouldn’t let us cancel the tour.

 

Would have liked a bigger pool, the one in this ship is more large hot tub size.

A covered area by the pool would work well.

The calliope is a very interesting, we loved getting a chance to play it!

 

 

Our fav crew:

Vaughn

David bartender

Guitar player who is also security guard 

Phil piano

Mike

 

I felt a few things would be nice:

Bar table service

Leaf blower

Ingredient lists for buffet

Coffee/tea cart in morning

Real coffee cups

 

We really enjoyed our time on our first river cruise. Looking forward to another one in the future!

On 6/20/2022 at 10:29 AM, nana3quinn said:

My husband and I  will be on the cruise.  We are from Florida.  This is our first riverboat cruise.  We have been cruising on ocean cruises for years. I hope this cruise will be much better than the reviews I have read. We'll see soon enough. By the way my name is Cris and my husband is Mike.

Hi Cris! We are Jim and Elaine and we own in lake Wales, Florida but only winter there as we also have a place in Michigan also!

this will be our first river cruise, two cancelled before this one. Looking forward to something different!

elaine

On 6/19/2022 at 7:38 AM, shaupt2918 said:

Hi!  We will be on this cruise.  We have a group of 17 family members on a family reunion cruise.  We also have 6 kids with us aged 6-20.  My Sister-in-law who paid for the whole cruise really wanted to do this specific cruise.  I'm a little worried that the kids won't have a lot to do.  They will probably be in the pool a lot!  So, I hope we don't annoy the other people on the cruise!  I know this cruise usually has a lot of older people on it.  We are excited as we probably would not have done this cruise due to expense, but personally, I would have picked a more kid friendly cruise.  Thank goodness we should be in port most days.  My husband and I both live in Michigan in the summer, and Florida in the winter. 

funny, my husband and I do the same, which part of Michigan are you from? We are in the Ann Arbor area in summers, Lake Wales for the winter.

On 6/21/2022 at 12:38 PM, nesila said:

Happy Summer everyone.

 

I'm considering doing a sailing in Aug, from NY preferably.

 

Is anyone traveling from NYC mid Aug? If so which cruise line?

 

 

I am doing a 15 day Princess cruise Aug. 15.

We just booked this cruise and was wondering if anyone else is onboard?

I have a few solo trips planned, anyone on NCL Getaway, sept 29, or Caribbean Princess, Aug. 15?

Looking fo other solo cruisers on NCL Escape, Dec 4 & 11, 2021

51 minutes ago, chloeyoh said:

Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady 10/10 to 10/15/2021 Mayan Sol.

They have great rates for solo cabins. I'm excited to try this new line.

Any other solos on this cruise?

I am! 
elaine

6 hours ago, 13cheermom said:

Thanks for this information, as I booked this hotel for a 1-night stay prior to cruise for next March.  Didn't really know anything about it, so this puts my mind at ease.  We will be flying in to FLL and wanted to take advantage of airport shuttle as well.  Glad to hear there is a cruise port shuttle as well.  What is the current cost of that?  Thanks!

It was a package that was bookable, but I think you could just pay for it also $7?

elaine