debenson0723

I just looked at a European cruise last night on Princess and it did charge more for a refundable deposit (from the US site). It also charged more if you wanted to pick your own cabin. I really believe it all depends on the number of people in your party, what port you are leaving from, included/additional perks and where in the world you are cruising to get a true picture of rates across all cruise lines. If you are just sailing over and over again in the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, rates are going to vary greatly and NCL appears to be higher in a lot of cases. But if you expand your search to include the Med, Baltics, Asia, TAs, I have found NCL to be competitive with all of the other mass market lines, and in some cases, significantly cheaper. I am a budget (cheap) solo cruiser who uses a strategy to plan my vacations, including airfare and hotels. I am lucky that I have a lot of vacation time and the freedom to cruise when I want. Rates are going to vary for all travel from month to month and week to week. What may work for you (general you, not anyone in particular) doesn't work for me. As long as the product brings me happiness and satisfaction for what I paid, then that's the bottom line for me.

I have cruised President's week multiple times and it is always filled with kids. Not sure about the week before. Would help to know where you would be going and the length of the cruise (longer cruises usually mean less kids).

No but we always tip the servers what a typical tip would be in a land based restaurant based on the amount of what the bill was if we paid for it.

Your son will still need to order one item at FR in order to share. We tried using the one FAS voucher to get 4 items and split last month and it was no longer allowed. So we had 5 items to share with me paying for my one item (it was $9). This is not allowed in Los Lobos but again, if your son ordered one item, he could probably share some of your food.

Balcony comes to about $142 a day for a solo but I am happy with an inside as I spend very little time in my stateroom. TAs tend to drop even more as the sailing date gets closer. As for airfare, I just booked last week Phoenix to Rome for $527 on Delta, with a return from NYC to Phoenix for $208 (for the Saturday before Thanksgiving). You can be creative with airfares too.

Earn but not redeem.

As mentioned above by @Sugar Magnolia and others, cruising solo is a whole different world. I have looked at a couple of MSC European cruises and if I change the number of people from 2 to 1, then it shows 'sold out' (whereas with 2 there is availability). Same thing happened to me when trying to price a Princess cruise to Asia...cabin for 2 was available but cabin for 1 was 'sold out'. So it's obvious those lines are not interested in solo cruisers. RCL and Celebrity are now charging a 225% solo supplement, which is beyond ridiculous. Add on the crazy prices for drink packages and there is no way I am paying their prices. Right now on the Epic TA in November, a solo can sail in an inside cabin, with all the FAS perks for $86 a day. That is well below the $150 limit you have set for yourself. While I am glad that you are enjoying your cruises on MSC, pricing for a lot of cruises are not as outrageous as they appear and there are deals to be had. I will continue to price all of the mass market cruise lines but as a solo, NCL usually has the best product for the best price.

As mentioned before, NCL will provide water needed for a medical condition. No need to carry on your own.

If you have a medical condition or disability, all you need to do is contact them and they will comply, even providing the water for a CPAP machine. But I am not aware of any condition that requires soda.

I have never gone for the refreshments and only eaten them maybe once or twice. I see so much food go to waste that I am sure that was part of the decision. Having just coffee, tea, juice and water available should be enough and easier to manage.

Epic TA just dropped the solo supplement. Now $788 for inside...or at least it was yesterday.

Funny you mention that...the A/C was out in our whole office building for about 2 weeks. Had portable units brought in but all they did was churn the hot air. Every time it was "fixed" a pump would go out. Or a breaker. Was doing the homeless routine, like @Sugar Magnolia. Now that it's working we keep the temp on meat locker. It's freezing but no one is complaining. Better too cold than too hot! And I love that melting photo.

I believe that's a photo of me from the brig on the Bliss in 2019. Damn paparazzi...apparently I didn't pay enough to destroy this!

Hope to meet you someday too, We are easy to find...just look at the nearest Waterfront bar, Hope you have a wonderful time on the Joy, It's a fun ship.

People get more bedbugs from shopping bags that they throw on their bed than luggage. I speak from experience...very expensive and traumatizing. I wouldn't buy used furniture but luggage from a neighbor...no problem.

On my 3 week adventure I am taking one carryon and one backpack too...for my shoes and make up!

I just looked up the fine for my 'speeding' ticket..$265. That is stupid. My brother in law just printed out the Oklahoma statutes and the posted speed was 45, while the 'suggested' speed around the curves I was driving was 30-35. The white sign supersedes the yellow suggested signs. So I am going to fight it (via certified letter to the Court). I think the officer saw an out of state license plate and thought I was an easy mark. Little did he know he is messing with the wrong woman. Nothing to lose, worse that can happen is I go to jail (just kidding...I will just have to pay the fine). $265 will almost pay for my spa package in November!

I have only needed motion sickness meds twice...2 times off the coast of Oregon on Pacific Coastal cruises (well known area for rough seas) and once on a tender going to Cabo. Other than that, very rarely feel the motion of the ocean. But I am like a walking pharmacy...I am such a 'what if' person that I pack everything (but I am working on it...honestly I am).

This group all needs help. I probably should have said BFOK but learned the E stands for Egypt. And nothing against Oklahoma but I wasn't speeding.

I could have contributed my casino winnings. Note that I said could, not would. 😉

Ha! My son and dog were with me so that would have been a little awkward 😅

My travel companion was called on the day of our Ocean Blue reservation and reminded that long pants and a collared shirt were required (last month on the Joy). I do know that @graphicguyate outside on the Waterfront and wore shorts. But jackets and blazers are never required.

I tried to give him more than that but he wasn't buying what I was selling 😉

Thank you. Can't wait for November. BTW I was driving through BFE Oklahoma today and got a speeding ticket. That never happens when I cruise!

Aren't you sweet? And for sure we are friends! ❤️