kek123

Back from my fourth Azamara cruise and loved just about every minute. Food, service and staff great everywhere on board. Highly recomend the line!

I agree with Lois, sometimes you get a low or no supplement fare and others you pay pretty much double. While the supplement ticks me off, I look more at what the cruise breaks down to as a daily rate. 

I have been to the Med three times in the last five years on cruises, all solo. I generally book thru the cruise line. If you book early they are very comparably priced to private tours and have the return to ship guarantee. I have also done the HOHO (Hop on Hop Off) buses in Barcelona and Monte Carlo. Very reasonable, I think it was 19 euros and took me all around the city. 

I have had great experiences on Celebrity and Azamara as a solo. 

Thank you everyone!

I only cruised with Princess once and will never sail with them again, it was that bad. Couple examples,  Maitre D stated he had to "sit it somewhere" when a woman complained about having a solo woman at her table, staff told me I'd have to pay double for the Chefs Table due to "denying a couple a place", steward stated "you really should only need one towel". I could go on and on. Worst vacation ever. To be fair this was several years ago, perhaps they have improved more recently in how they treat solo women.

Unless you love being around other peoples children I'd stay away from Disney. I hated my solo cruise on Princess and was treated horribly by the staff. Have loved solos on Celebrity and Azamara.

Wondering if anyone knows if you need to show the full passport book or if the USA passport card will be sufficient when entering Havana? I generally prefer to not walk around with the book if I don't have too. 

I enjoyed the ships excursions to Aix en Provence from Marseille as well as a walking tour in Monte Carlo. If you like jewelry the ships store has some beautiful and pricy things.

Relating to the visa purchased thru Azamara, is that automatically done by Azamara or do I have to complete a form or something on line. I am a US citizen. Any guidance greatly appreciated!

Booked on Azamara Journey in March going to Cozumel and Cuba with a couple sea days on the trip. Can't wait! Has been a very long time since I was in Cozumel and Cuba had been on my list of places to go for a very long time.

If I can answer any questions for you please ask.

Hi Lois, 

Have sailed on Azamara three times as a solo and loved each trip! Never once felt awkward or that I was being treated less favorably. Looking at another cruise for next year now. Think you will have a phenomenal time!

Yes, let the ship personnel know your plans once onboard.

For an early disembark you'll not put out your packed luggage the night before. You'll carry your own luggage off when you disembark.

Hello Bonnie, would the same apply for a requested later depart time?

Prior to leaving on the Journey last year I had purchased an AT&T package for Europe for about $60 if I recall correctly. They neglected to tell me it did not cover maritime usage. I got a call from AT&T a day into my cruise where they "kindly" offered to add the maritime package for $100. I had no service issues at all anywhere.

I travel at least every month, and I don't care how much or little I am screened. I NEVER think I'm being "picked on", like it seems being reported. This is a fact of travel. I'd suggest, rethinking your claims- as they may be slanting your presentation.

 

Why on earth should I rethink my claim?? My thoughts on my experience with Customs/ Security are my own. To suggest they are "slanted" is rude. Good for you if you have never received this type of treatment. I have more times than I can count. Do I still travel, of course I do. The point of this thread is that single women in particular seem to be picked out and questioned way more than couples and families.

Agree that if they don't feel a need to offer a reduced or no solo supplement Azamara won't. My first Azamara was at 25% and second at zero. My third later this year is at just under 100%. Very sad. What annoys me as well is that the included drink and wi fi package upgrade is for two people. I get nothing extra for only being one person there. I like to drink and will do my part but seriously I can only drink so much! You would think they would offer an little OBC, massage, bottle of wine or something! Oh well, I am booked and still looking forward to my cruise.

I have been asked many times "if I am traveling alone?" on both land based trips and cruises. People have also taken it upon themselves to comment along the line of "is that allowed?", "why would anyon evever want to travel alone?" and "since it is just you why don't you give up your seat so my wife can sit down". Yes, these have all been said to me!! I cruise by myself for a variety of reasons not the least of which is I enjoy it. I eat either in the specialty restaurants or main dining room. Usually but not always at a table by myself. If I meet interesting people love to share a meal as well. Booked on Azamara Quest for a cruise in Europe in Sept and can't wait!!

Have sailed on Azamara twice as a solo with another trip booked on the Journey this September. With one small exception was never once treated differently or poorly due to being a solo traveler. Only instance where I was treated poorly involved being removed from a transfer to the hotel to make room for a couple. That infuriated me at the time but I forgive Azamara for that. Highly recommend to any solos considering a solo cruise.

This past April I stayed at the Condes de Barcelona for a night pre-cruise and it was very very nice. Great rooftop bar/restaurant. Very close to the Sagrada Familia, Ramblas and higher end shopping and boutiques. Great service and rooms were gorgeous and quite large.

Great post..........maybe some folks can actually learn from it.:)

 

"Empower yourself and just keep in your head that you are awesome - and people judge your awesomeness before they even notice your colour"

So very true!! I took my first for pleasure solo trip at age 27 for many of the same reasons others have stated. No boyfriend/significant other and/ or tired of waiting on others schedules and budgets. I had a blast and have not looked back since. I mix it up with land based and cruises and have always had a good time. Do other traveling people and sometimes cruise and resort employees say ignorant/ hurtful things on occasion? Sadly, yes. But the majority of people are genuinely supportive and in some cases envious because you are doing something they know they never could. Have a land based trip next year in March coming up and another cruise for my 50th later next year to look forward to.

Just back from my third solo cruise and have nothing but great things to say about the experience. Was on the Azamara Quest in the Western Med going from Barcelona to Rome. Booked a couple tours thru the ship and a couple days just wandered around in port on my own. Never once felt like I was treated less favorably as a solo, felt like queen most of the time. The service and food were top notch and it's as close to all inclusive as you will find on a cruise. And, this sailing had no single supplement either! For anyone on the fence about sailing solo, do it!!

Congratulations! Looking forward to departing on the Quest on the 18th, less than two weeks to go!

I'm in my early 40's, but started traveling solo in my late 20's/early 30's. It really started that I was itching to get out of town and none of my friends were able to go with me, so I just went by myself and the rest is history! Traveling solo has become very normal for me. I choose to go it alone most of the time……it's just easier for me. No waiting on others, I can decompress and relax and just enjoy and go about my own pace. I'm social, but also introverted, and I need a lot of alone time to mentally "rest". I've cruised solo once, and am going on my second at the end of this year. I've done tons of land based solo travel all over…Europe, Disney World, USA. Disney is awesome by the way, as a solo you can really enjoy the parks…no kids, so fun!

It's so easy going alone, that when you travel with another person it's an adjustment, at least for me.

I totally relate to this. I am in my late 40's now and started traveling solo in my late 20's. Just got to a point where my friends either had no money to travel or were coupled up and unwilling to travel without their sweetie. So far my luck with boyfriends that like to travel and/or are good to travel with is nonexistent. I did not grow up in a family that traveled or ever encouraged it, even now. Call me the rebel but it is something I have always wanted to do no matter how much people roll their eyes and judge. Whether land based or cruise, I love to see the world as often as I can. Leaving in two weeks for my third solo cruise and can't wait!

I have also recently disembarked Princess as a solo. Anytime dining was not a good experience. Once a table for 2, once a nice table of 8, and then seated by myself in the middle of the dining room at a table for 8. The waiter didn't want to serve me and said I should move. I finally got the maitre d attention and asked to be moved- to a table for 2. After that buffet 3 nights and specialty one night.

 

Next time, even if assigned dining is full (as it was on this trip), I will go to maitre D immediately upon boarding and ask for assigned dining.

 

It really was not a pleasant experience most of the time

 

 

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Granted, my awful solo Princess cruise was several years ago but in reading this thread nothing much seems to have changed. Dining was the worst part of it. On one evening when I was seated at a table with several couples traveling together they had a fit and called over the Maitre December and complained, he just rolled his eyes and stated, "he had to sit it somewhere"! I love enjoying a nice dinner and every night was a chore on that cruise.