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A small solo "pre-trip report": returning to Escape Studios next month.


perditax
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I guess this is one of those things you do out of excitement.

 

This will be my first solo cruise on NCL in almost a year. It has not been a good 12 months. It included a really dreadful cruise on Oasis (also got sick (a nasty cold) that trip). It made me realize how much I missed NCL's Studio areas. And their food.

 

NCL Getaway was my first cruise ever, in a solo studio, and I was enchanted.

 

Looking forward to my boarding lunch at O'Sheehan's (Caesar with salmon).

 

I'm looking forward to setting back up in my tiny but cozy studio (I've got it down to a science).

 

I'm looking forward to the tea, coffee, water and snacks in the studio lounge.

 

I'm looking forward to hitting the buffet anytime I want (instead of RC's limited hours). I'm looking forward to being able to find food I like, not inedible goop.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing After Midnight again.

 

I'm SO looking forward to lounging in the thermal suite for a good part of each day.

 

I'm looking forward to walking through the main activity decks at night, even the smoky casino, and seeing everyone dressed up and having a good time (I'm a people watcher).

I'm looking forward to sitting on the Waterfront area at sunset and meditating.

I'm looking forward to Food Republic, one of the few a la carte options I'll pay for. (Perfect dining setup for an introvert.)

Looking forward to losing my $20 on the stupidly tight slot machines. :)

My last time on Escape, I got sick a few days in (I think it was some bad Brie, not noro), and it took me a while to let go of the psychological associations (I was very, very sick and they had to admit me to the infirmary). I'm looking forward to enjoying the ship for my whole (knock on wood) seven days this time.

 

Edited by perditax
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Oh my! I am sailing the Oasis, solo this month. Now you make me wish I could jump ship! You mention all the things I love about NCL! This will be my first experience on a huge RCL ship...wish me luck!

 

 

Well, let me try to sincerely remember what was better on Oasis. (Hopefully you're not as reliant on the buffet when traveling solo as I am, because there is very little good I can remember about it.)

 

I suppose any room you have on Oasis will be bigger than a Studio. The extra space was nice for sure.

 

The internet will be faster and much cheaper.

 

My room was serviced in a much more timely fashion in the morning and early evening (on NCL it's more like 1pm and 7:30pm).

 

The room service food was good. (I don't normally get room service on NCL because the buffet is open almost all the time.)

 

Disembarkation was so much better than at the Port of Miami on a big NCL ship.

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Hi perditax, I'm also on your sailing, also solo. Saw your post to the roll call. I too love the NCL studios and especially the studio lounge. Will be my 4th in a studio 2nd on escape. Looking forward to all the things you mentioned send the thermal spa, did that last time and it was wonderful. Hope you have a great illness free cruise see you there. Debbie

 

Sent from my SM-T550 using Forums mobile app

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I really like your list of things to appreciate on Escape as a solo cruiser! I'm booked for a solo cruise in the studio area on Escape this July. I've done many cruises with a companion, but this is my first solo. Everyone says that NCL is the one to go with if you're solo, so I'm abandoning my frequent-cruising status on other lines to try out NCL.

 

Cheers,

Darrin

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  • 1 month later...

Perditax - since you have the studio room “down to a science” may I ask you a question? I am planning to bring an over the door shoe organizer for my odds and ends (toiletries mostly) and plan on hanging it over the outside of the shower surround. I know it curves slightly but do you think that might work? I had a hard time fitting all my junk in just the cubbies last time. Thanks in advance!

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  • 2 weeks later...

I whole-heartedly agree that NCL is absolutely tops for solo cruiser's, but...I would not book a studio again....

In January of 2016, I cruised the 14 day Caribbean on the Breakaway, and waited until the last minute to book a 'Guarantee Inside", for about half of what a Studio would have cost me, if there were any still available. And when I received my cabin assignment, I was delighted to see it was a very nice mid-ship balcony! Now, I realize that is not as likely to happen anymore, since they implemented that "bidding for upgrade" program a month after that cruise.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the nightly hosted solo meets in the Studio Lounge, and so I decided to book a Studio cabin in advance for my January 2017 cruise. I did love the 24 hour access to the lounge that came with it, but I did not really like the cramped space, and the sink and shower within the cabin layout. So next time, when I book on the Escape or Bliss, when they come here, I will go back to booking a Guarantee Inside, and take whatever I get. And still enjoy the nightly solo meets in the lounge, although, I will note that in 2017, the meets became so popular, that they were forced to hold them in 'Fat Cats' lounge on several occasion's...

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I whole-heartedly agree that NCL is absolutely tops for solo cruiser's, but...I would not book a studio again....

In January of 2016, I cruised the 14 day Caribbean on the Breakaway, and waited until the last minute to book a 'Guarantee Inside", for about half of what a Studio would have cost me, if there were any still available. And when I received my cabin assignment, I was delighted to see it was a very nice mid-ship balcony! Now, I realize that is not as likely to happen anymore, since they implemented that "bidding for upgrade" program a month after that cruise.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the nightly hosted solo meets in the Studio Lounge, and so I decided to book a Studio cabin in advance for my January 2017 cruise. I did love the 24 hour access to the lounge that came with it, but I did not really like the cramped space, and the sink and shower within the cabin layout. So next time, when I book on the Escape or Bliss, when they come here, I will go back to booking a Guarantee Inside, and take whatever I get. And still enjoy the nightly solo meets in the lounge, although, I will note that in 2017, the meets became so popular, that they were forced to hold them in 'Fat Cats' lounge on several occasion's...

Too late to edit...but I got the year's wrong...I was talking about 2017 and 2018.......

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