Sort of Solo...live from Norwegian Epic 23 July

I'm writing this on board my flight from Manchester Airport (that's the one in England in case you were wondering) for the very short hop to Barcelona. Just 2 hours so not much time for drinking but I'll do my best ...alcohol will be a recurring theme in this review so for readers of a sensitive nature, please look away now.

 

Bit of background. I went on my first solo trip in December 2015, the Epic med b2b for Christmas and new year. I had a ball, rarely left the ship and became totally hooked on solo cruising. Oh, I'm Amanda by the way.

 

So last July, a year ago exactly I took a second trip on the Epic round the med (another theme!) and met some amazing people (I won't mention their names, don't want them getting big headed!) who were all travelling solo. Spread across the world, we kept in touch, each meeting one or more of the others at various reunions or cruises (ah, big shout out to Christmas and New Year 2016...the cabana on GSC, the serenaded fake engagement, the illnesses, the silent stalker and championship doggy top trumps.) What's that, two consecutive Christmas and New Year back to backs, if you do it again it might become a theme you say? Too late, beat ya to it...2017 Epic east/west booked it packed it .....you know the rest. Also shout out to the 'Scottish incident' May '17, never has pool been played so badly, drinks been consumed so colossally and love for our friends made so magnificently)

 

Due to the ludicrous amount of fun, alcohol and like minded silliness we've got up to (smoking cigars in a yurt, a true romance and some clog-based comedy to name but a few) we decided to have another reunion to celebrate our cruise-aversary....which brings me nicely back to where I started.

 

I arrived at the airport bright and early (430am) expecting to breeze through check in, fly past security and get myself nice and comfy in the exec lounge for a couple of hours of free flowing fizz and food. But it was not to be...low cost carriers and cattle class masses resulted in a mere 40 minutes of luxury in the lounge. I chugged a couple of glasses of champagne but really didn't do it justice....booo!

 

I am quite a nervous flyer (that means I sweat, swear, panic and cry) and have tried booze, pills and hypnotherapy with limited success. I'm determined not to let the anxiety stop me from travelling though so I bought an app that's been highly recommended. I listened to the podcasts for a second time yesterday, and played one whilst we took off. Now call it mumbo jumbo if you will, but I am sat here, zero sweats, no f-bombs, not a panic in sight and those tears are firmly locked away. I am delighted and have ordered 2 bottles of grossly overpriced fizz to celebrate. Clearly the 'low cost' in low cost carrier is not a theme!

 

Knowing that there'll be a wait to get into my studio cabin once on board, I have planned ahead and packed the following items into my hand luggage (translation for my American cousins: 'carry on bag')

 

Flamingo flip flops

Flamingo purse (x2) one for cash and one for no reason other than it looks fabulous

Flamingo cover up

Flamingo towel clips

Flamingo straws

 

Anyone notice a theme?

 

In other news I have a selfie stick. Despite being the proud bearer of opposable thumbs I am not down with the kids and need assistance to take a selfie. I had a go on the plane. Even the stick cannot circumvent my failure to grasp the basics of a selfie, in that it should include yourself. See' self omitted from picture' picture below. I'm the triangle of pink flowers, bottom left. I was also treated to the annoying (and pointless) self congratulatory fanfare from the low cost airline..hopefully it was in recognition of their 'on time' status as opposed to 'nobody died of a heart attack whilst checking the prices of the drinks'

 

Next up...getting from the airport to the port and hooking up with my cruise fam....cannot wait to see them!

In other comedy news, my bag was first off the carousel, I was delighted. But then my transfer to the port didn't turn up so after several phone calls they sent an entire coach just for me...yay!

Great start to your review- very funny! Look forward to more. Who was your transfer company? We used Sun Transfers from Barcelona and they were great!

Officially on board, in spice having fizz (theme). Wearing flamingo outfit (theme). A further comedy incident occurred (now also a theme) where the late transfer dropped me off at the wrong flipping ship! I was trying to barge my way on allure of the seas but thankfully I was shooed away by a porter!! So I was very hot, very sweaty and tottering about in my heels with a bit of a rage going on, until I bumped into buddy number one...see pic.

Great start to your review- very funny! Look forward to more. Who was your transfer company? We used Sun Transfers from Barcelona and they were great!

 

 

 

It was resort hoppa. I will be writing a very stern letter when I get home (if I can be bothered!)

Flamingoing crazy!

more flamingos courtesy of this fabulous princess

It was resort hoppa. I will be writing a very stern letter when I get home (if I can be bothered!)

 

Ooh I had a nightmare with them in Majorca. I complained and they did refund. Used suntransfers twice and they were great (for future reference!)

Ooh I had a nightmare with them in Majorca. I complained and they did refund. Used suntransfers twice and they were great (for future reference!)

 

 

 

Sounds like you're hoping for a new theme!

Love the review so far - bought some sunshine to the very rainy England!

Also doing the Epic for the second year in a row in September so be good to hear how it is now with the 'all inclusive' compared to last year where it was not!

I also love the fact that the Solo cabins have bought people together and you're now all booking future cruises together :D

Love the theme! It's funny I was shopping with my mother and she saw a set of flamingo luggage that she feel in love with. I'm going to back and buy it for her first cruise next year.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Enjoying your fun review! Nice photos!

After approximately (finger in the air, straw man, starter for ten) 3 million glasses of prosecco I decided that I ought to attend muster to ensure I'm fully prepped for any major incidents and am clear about my role in such matters. Even the hilarious anecdotes from Pedro the CD couldn't hold my attention, and a little disco nap was undertaken. The lure of further sleeping couldn't be ignored, and a power hour of sleep was scheduled. Despite being 100% positive that I'd set an alarm for 6pm, it appears there was a malfunction, system error, not my fault. Therefore at 7pm I had the shameful privilege of 'being banged' ..that's a load of idiots clammering against my front door demanding I get immediately awake and me lurching towards said door swathed only in a beach towel. Cheeks were seen, but will never be discussed. In record time I was washed dressed and drinking fizz in the now mostly deserted studio lounge. The magnificent even more flamingo bearing princess you met earlier (the one with the inflatable pineapple drink holder) decided that this evening we would all be wearing fancy dress, of her impeccable choosing. I don't know what my American cousins call fancy dress, maybe 'dress up' ? Our refined and glamorous status brought us barely any attention so tomorrow we will be mostly keeping ourselves to ourselves, being quiet and demure.This evening , tardy Amanda made it to Manhatten with the glamorous cruiseaversary boys and gals. Caesar salad (no anchovies, name ONE person who likes a hairy fish) was belatedly followed by salty spaghetti bolognese. Not content with that, Dr Oregano was in da house....bleurgh. I'm a fan of social herbs (with a H) but my goodness he was every which way and I did not like it. So, I tried cherries jubilee to take the rancid taste of Dr O away. It did not work and I did not like it (theme...OMG are my themes a theme? I hate myself)

 

The remainder of the evening is awash with casino losses, demanding 'kum by ah' in Howl at the Moon, larking about with strangers in assorted venues and then staggering off to bed at a shamefully early hour, reminiscing about the 'nearly fell over at the life boat drill' incident and continuing to be mindful that last years 'security Dave insists on speaking to you, Amanda' should never, could never, MUST never be repeated.

There's a thread on here about how difficult some people find getting drunk onboard. I can heartily recommend the double treble treble vodka with a droplet of cranberry

I awoke refreshed and raring to go (lie) and headed off to the gym to workout the previous day's badness (lie). What I actually did was douse myself in all things flamingo...ooh, I've just had a thought, I'm going to rename it 'glam-ingo', because it so is! So suitably 'glamingo-ed ' I swanked off to the buffet after a minor detour to the secret sun deck to hog chairs and mark my territory.

For the food-conscious amongst you, Frosties with chocolate milk is the official breakfast of champions, fact.

So here I am, only slightly burnt to a crisp after doing the British thing of sitting in the sun drinking for hours without sunscreen yesterday and saying, I'll be ok, it's not that hot. . A very nice waiter man has just strolled by and casually asked if I'd 'like something to drink'. Well, the chocolate milk hasn't really quenched my thirst so in a bid to make him feel useful I placed my order. Vodka and orange...it's delicious, nutritious and ticks all the start your day the healthy way boxes.

Whilst catching up with Cap'n Jack (see previous fancy dress pic) this morning, I came up with a game for later tonight. The cruisaversy soloistas are all Scottish, I'm the token Englander (and have been subjected to outrageous racism from the jocks!) so we will be playing 'spot the scot'. This will involve all of us saying the same sentence to random strangers and seeing if they can 'spot the scot'. Since 80% of us are Scottish, I'm hoping my special jocktastic accent will fool the passers by and I will win. Recommendations for the sentence are welcomed...feel free to use your childish imaginations as you see fit

Recommendations for the sentence are welcomed...feel free to use your childish imaginations as you see fit

 

 

"P.S. Wear your clogs!"

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Miss you all but am there in spirit...and prosecco...and cafe patron [emoji8]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Well. If I could sum up the rest of the day in a single photo here it is....