WickedRed

I have heard of solo sailaway cruisers getting assigned a studio before.  I've done a studio and loved it.  Didn't feel like I was in a padded cell at all.  Personally I don't see them as a lower category but equal to and maybe better than the lowest inside rooms.  If you paid for a sailaway, with a solo discount, then the studio was probably more money making it a higher category in a sense.  To each their own.  Best of luck and enjoy your cruise either way.

HAHA!  I read "naturalist" and thought this was a completely different kind of thread.  Along with isn't Alaska kind of chilly for that kind of activity?  Glad other people have the correct information.

I did Western Caribbean on the Getaway last year, but I imagine my ports were different.  Hurricane Michael got in the way of the original itinerary.   Never gone NY to Bermuda, but I have done Boston to Bermuda a few times.  Basically the same itinerary just different days in Bermuda.  Honestly, I'd pick going to Bermuda for the 6th time over doing W.C. again.  Having multiple days on Bermuda and easy access to transportation to explore the island however I want is a bonus to me.  Instead of only spending a few hours at a variety of ports where you are limited in time.  Plus Bermuda is very safe to explore without excursions (NCL or third party).  Both the Breakaway and Encore are large ships with lots of things to do, so I'm sure the boys will have a great time on either.

One thing to keep in mind is that Bermuda is further north and May is early in the warming season.  Some think the water is too cold for swimming at that time of year.  Being from Maine I thought the water was perfect a few weeks ago, and still warmer than what it gets all year at  home.  Since I see you're from FL, you may not enjoy the cooler waters.   

I'm a night before person.  This usually includes doing laundry.  Since I tend to do last minute cruises, planning and packing ahead isn't always possible.  Guess it is a benefit of being an empty nester.

JoAnne

I was on the Gem earlier this month.  My friends and I just walked up and asked to be seated.  We were seated right away and the place was pretty much empty the whole time we were there.  This was the first night though, and I think it was a different story the rest of the week.  Food was excellent!

I was on the Gem 2 weeks ago.  Still got a towel animal every day but the last one without asking for them.  It was a pleasant surprise.  Can't say I've ever seen a coffee maker in an inside cabin, but I don't drink coffee so really never looked for one.  No ice bucket was a surprise, but I don't usually need ice so no big deal.  Maybe as a company they found most people aren't using the ice buckets or coffee makers as much.  Working in retail, if our customers aren't buying a specific product.  We don't keep it in stock. I know a number of people who had coffee delivered to their rooms every morning.  They said it was the best coffee on the ship.  I'm sure if you had asked for either, you would have received them.  Enjoy doing whatever you decide.

9 hours ago, Njkc said:

So we just had a similar experience with a few passengers on the breakaway. They were loud, obnoxious and extremely rude to the staff. Anytime they were near us they were so loud and obnoxious and they would butt into our conversation. They seem to always be around us. My problem is I’m on vacation and really don’t want to be confrontational. So we would always just try to change venues when they were around. Unfortunately it really did affect our cruise, and i’ll probably take a break from cruising for a while because of it. What I did notice was these people all seemed to be ‘last minute cruise deal’ people which I think is a bummer that these people are paying half what I paid and putting a damper on my vacation.

That is seriously insulting to all the last minute cruise people.  I happen to be one and know MANY others.  Most of us going on a sailaway rate don't have the drink package, because those rates don't come with perks so must of us are all sober for the whole cruise.  Imagine that, going on a cruise for other reasons than to drink 24/7.  Many of us are solo cruisers and going last minute is the only way we don't have to pay for 2.  Sorry you paid too much for your vacation, and hope you enjoyed your perks.  You have no idea what the loud and obnoxious paid for their cruise.  Unless they tell you.  Even then they could be telling tall tails.   

OP.  Next time hit up the Hotel Director.  Let them know what's going on and see what options they have on the matter.  They genuinely want everyone to have a good time.

I just got off the Gem last Friday and do not recall hearing a lot of construction noise.  That said, I spent most of the day ashore and did not have a balcony. 

Don't worry.  You'll have so much fun!!  Hit up the rollcall for that cruise and go to the solo meetings as a good way to meet new people and  make some friends.  I'm assuming you're going this Friday.  That price is amazing and I'd be going too if I didn't have to work this Saturday.  Chances are there will be a bunch of other solos hoping aboard for that price.  If for some reason you're leaving on the 3rd, I know there are a number of solos going that week.  They seem like a fun and friendly group so don't be shy.  Other than that...  Load up the tablet with some books or bring some real ones and enjoy some time alone with no responsibilities. 

All-ready2cruise.  That is strange.  I had Fiona on the Getaway last October and she arranged the whole week.  Had a schedule for us to sign up in things we were interested, did shows, ropes course, and dinners.  If we expressed an interest in the diner show or Ucanvas, she was always willing to help us set that up.  She was great!  Back a couple years ago I had a Ron for a solo coordinator on the Dawn.  He had just switched from the Breakaway and said he felt as though he had less abilities on the Dawn than the Breakaway.  On the Dawn he wasn't able to set up diners, but he kept trying.  The hosts at the dinning rooms seemed so frustrated with him each time he showed up with our group of 8-12 for seating.  Seems the experience will vary from ship to ship and coordinator to coordinator. 

Back to the OP.  Even ships without studios will have a solo coordinator and solo meetings every night.  Keep an eye on your dailies as the location can change from day to day. 

I didn't even bring my printed edocs last time I sailed from Miami.  Completely forgot them, oops.   Used the app to show I had a "ticket" and everything went fine. 

Just now, Two Wheels Only said:

 

The case isn't  "one time use" like the plastic straws. It also is unlikely to blow overboard....unless Escape lists again. 

No, but the plastic holding it to the cardboard backer is.

And the plastic each one of those items is encased with is better for the environment?  Any one else see the irony here?

Maybe they live someplace where fish is extremely fresh and cheap?  Like along the coast.   I'd never pay to eat lobster on a ship or most other places.  That price is outrageous!  Then again, I'm a bit spoiled when it comes to lobster prices.  I'm sure there's nothing wrong with the fish on board a ship and should be very safe to eat.

26 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Well,,, we like our lobster grilled (not steamed) and you need to half it for grilling. (We are obviously not from New England). 

Honestly, I've never had it grilled.  Always either boiled or steamed. It's how we do it up here.  Since I'll never spend $25 on a 1.25 lbs lobster, guess it will be a long time 'til I try it grilled.  (ETA: I totally understand that is a typical price for lobster elsewhere and know I'm spoiled when it comes to lobster pricing due to where I live.)

Thanks again for the pictures and the play by play of your cruise. 

I'm going to echo what's already been said.  Join the roll call and see if anyone wants to go with out.  That's what a group of us CC people did a few years ago.  It was a good time, but a long day.  Bermuda is a very safe island.  I also travel alone and am female.  Never felt unsafe venturing around the island alone.  Have a great time!!

What did they do to that lobster!!!!  It's cut in half!  That's no way to eat a Maine lobster.  Good grief.  So wrong...

Always enjoy your reviews.  Enjoy your trip!  I have to wait for the end of October for this trip.  😞

For the record the Breakaway, Getaway, and Escape all have a ropes course and a climbing wall.

That's awesome!! Congrats!!!  Fingers crossed that I can with the next one.  lol

There will be samples where you sign up.  You sign up for the day and time of the painting you want to do.  When I did it on the Dawn, sign ups were in the library.   There were palm trees, tulips, guitar, and the pine trees at night.  That could have changed, so you'll want to check the Dailies.  Sign up time and location will be listed there. 

I've done this on the Dawn and the Getaway.  Lots of fun.  Some of it depends on the confidence of the crew member "teaching" the class though.  Shirley on the Dawn was so much fun and did a great job instructing the class!  Can't even remember the guy's name on the Getaway who did the class. He did not do so great.  I'm pretty sure the canvas board is 11" x 17", but I would need to double check.  You are provided a plastic apron to protect your clothing.  Most of us used it to wrap the painting after it dried.   

Thanks for the review! 

The Dawn and the larger ships are a different experience.  I've been on the Dawn 3 times, once before refurbishment and twice after.  Then I went on the Getaway last year.  Honestly I prefer the Dawn over the bigger ship, but only because it was a more personal experience between me and the crew.  They seemed to be more into getting to know you on the Dawn than the Getaway, and they remembered you. Some of them will remember you a  year after you were last on the ship.  A lot of the ship activities are the same on both ships (like mr sexy legs, not so newly wed show, etc...)  Entertainment on both ships were top notch.  Things do tend to slow down early on the Dawn compared to the Getaway.  Food was good on both ships aside from the desserts on the Getaway.  It turned into a running joke with the group that night after night the desserts were terrible.  I'm a fat chick and really enjoy dessert, so this was a real bummer for me.  Also the Dawn has a poolside burger buffet and ice cream sundae place.  I really missed this on the Getaway.  Having to actually go to the buffet to get lunch was soo inconvenient.  I brought my son on the Dawn when he was 17 and he managed to entertain himself well.  His only other cruise experience was on the Caribbean Princess and he barely remembered that.  IF these boys are expecting water slides, climbing walls, rope courses and things like that...  They will be disappointed.  Pretty much there is the teen club, basketball court, chess, ping pong, shuffle board, golf net, and arcade.  You really are comparing a single scoop hot fudge sundae with a banana split with all the fixings. 

I usually get a call from my PCC when I've suddenly been looking through my account.  A few years ago I was looking to book a last minute solo cruise Boston to Bermuda in July.  The choices I was looking at were either getting off the ship on my birthday or getting on during my birthday.  At that time they were both about the same in price.  When I told him my thinking, but how I wasn't sold on either weeks if I could get a good deal on a different week in the near future.  He told me he had heard the solo supplement was about to be dropped on this cruise for the last week of July, but it wasn't going to drop for a few days.  I told him I'd wait and call back in a few days.  They did drop the solo supplement for that week 3 days later.  It was a great deal, so I booked and had a wonderful time.  I know the situation is a tad different, but it does show they will tell you you could get a better deal if you wait.