Shadygap

On 11/27/2018 at 7:40 AM, zqvol said:

 

NCL free style is the most singles friendly dining experience at sea, at least in my opinion. I can't imagine traveling solo (which I do often for peace and quiet) and wanting to share a table with a bunch of strangers. Nothing is more unappealing.

 

If you want to eat with a bunch of strangers always go on a line that offers traditional fixed dining times, and hope that they don't put you at a table alone, or with people who you have nothing in common with. Nothing worse than having to make small talk with strangers for hours over dinner.

I haven't done a solo cruise yet and I am very close to doing my first one.  I've read about NCL having the nightly meetings in the studio lounge and inviting those that want to dine together to sign up and they will get let them dine together.  What if I cruise on one of the NCL ships that doesn't have solo cabins and the studio lounge?  Does Norwegian have anything set up for solo cruisers to meet on those ships?

I'm also considering my first solo cruise.  I'm a retired teacher.  I've gone on two other cruises with friends.  The second cruise I had a cabin to myself and paid the single supplement but I enjoyed doing what I wanted to do and then meeting up with my friends for dinner.  I'm planning to do one on Norwegian.  I was trying to budget this year and I was going to do a 5 day one in February on the Jade.  But I'm wondering if I should spend a bit more do a 7 day one on the Getaway with solo cabins.  Then I know there will be a solo lounge and get togethers for solo cruisers.  Are there anything special for solo cruisers on NCL on the ships that don't have the solo cabins?

Escape -11194 - sofa by balcony

1. Easy and quick embark if you get there early - 10:00 or before, later it is madness, not the ship's fault, just so many people.

2. Had a mini suite and expected it to be a little larger. 3 adult women shared it and it was tight. We originally had room with balcony and upgraded to mini suite, I think our biggest advantage was the bathroom which was big. It had a double sink and a huge shower. However no outlets in the bathroom. The provided hair dryer is under a shelf with a mirror in the main cabin. There were fair amount of outlets in the cabin but would have been nice to have some in the big bathroom.

3. Our room steward was great! Our room was 11194, it was mid- ship. Sheldon kept our room tidy and always got us anything we needed.

4. Probably the thing I heard most people complaining about was not pool area for over 4000 people. On deck 16, there was one small pool for adults and one for children and lounges were packed together like sardines. On deck 17, the Spice H2O, an adult only area, there was a more space between lounges, but no pool, only a water grotto. Everyone kept saying there should have a pool there. I was a first time cruiser and one person said there is never pool space on ships. I don't have anything to compare it to but this was probably the weakest area, the pool and lounge area around the pool.

5. The Garden Cafe buffet was just so so. It was better for breakfast, but not too good for lunch or dinner and I'm not a picky person about eating at all. I've heard all about the buffets in ships, this one was just ok.

6. The 3 main dining rooms, Manhattan, Taste, Savor, had fabulous food. They all had the same menus but the menus changed daily. Manhattan Room was a little larger and more elegant if you wanted that atmosphere although they all were a very nice setting with great service and friendly staff.

7. The entertainment was top-notch. The Brat Pack and the Million Dollar Quartet are must see shows. The comedians in the Headliners club were outstanding too. I was very impressed with talent they had onboard. The Howling at the Moon Dueling Pianos is great and fun.

8. The game shows they ran in the atrium on Deck 6 which involved audience participation got more and more people watching and involved every night. There was karaoke that we did not go to but there was something for everyone going on somewhere on the ship.

9. The ship was rocking side to side a lot the first two days. A lot of people were experiencing motion sickness. Experienced cruisers said they had never been on a ship that rocked like that and wondered if it was because it was so high and catching the wind. After our first stop in St. Thomas, we didn't feel the ship moving anymore. We found out there had been a stabilizer not working that they fixed while we were in port at St. Thomas. I'm happy to say that I did not get sick during the rocking days.

10. The spa is fabulous. I got a massage there and talked to other women who said they were going daily to the dr who was doing acupuncture and she was working miracles on them. It was pricey as you would expect on a ship but they ran a special every day. I used one of the specials to get my massage and it was worth it.

11.2 little things- the bathroom outside the garden cafe is small- only 2 stalls - really on a ship that large and it had no ventilation? On hot days it felt like a sauna. There really wasn't any TV worth watching in the cabins which was fine because we had good weather, but if you had a couple of rainy days????

12. Overall, the first day or two, I thought I had made a mistake by going on a ship with that many people but then I adjusted and I didn't mind it at all. However I did talk to people in the elevators, mostly those older than me, I'm 55, that said they would not do one again of that size. I loved my first experience and can't wait to do it again so they must have done something right!!! I'm already looking at all the Norwegian cruises and thinking which one will be my next. I had a great time! I was told I would get addicted and really didn't believe it, but I'm hooked!

13. I want to say the staff on the ship is outstanding! They work hard and long hours and they are always smiling and saying hello and good day etc. They are to be commended!

So the Vibe and Spice H2O are different? Do you have pay extra for passes to Spice H2O like the Vibe? I'm looking for a kid free zone. A teacher traveling with another teacher and a retired teacher. [emoji4]

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