SoloAlaska

Belle I was thinking of you all day, knew something had to be wrong. I hope you start feeling better quickly. Jan hopefully you’ll feel much better by the time your husband returns. I spent a weekend at my parents which usually means I put on weight especially since we went to the market and out for ice cream. Good news though is I still managed to loose 2.2lb. Now to keep this up till my cruise in 5 weeks. 11 more pounds would be amazing. Tonight I went on a date and had a great time. We talked for hours and really enjoyed each others company. Dating while loosing weight is hard. Attracting a partner who lives a healthy life when your overweight isn’t easy.

It’s down for me as well now. Thinking of upgrading our drink package as well. Mom plans on drinking her share of martinis on this crews.

B-I-N-G-O omg can’t wait to play on Milli in September. I’m a woman in her 30s and don’t care for the casino but am there for bingo in a heartbeat. Best Celebrity news I’ve heard so far for sure.

I am a former guide and tour company operator in Canada , so this is what I have to say about tipping guides. We never expected tips, but they were always very much appreciated. I will only tip a guide if they added value to the tour if it’s mediocre or below, I won’t tip at all. I’m pretty cheap when it comes to tip compared to a lot of Americans. I’ll usually tip 1 to 2 dollars an hour or 5% of the tours price, whichever is highest. If you are a difficult person for the guide to deal with then tip more. The one gentleman I ended up paddling around in a kayak for 2 hours tipped me 50% and honestly I earned it lol.

7 starters and 7 entrees… not a bad amount of options really.

EmeTerm is actually promoted for use against motion and sea sickness. I’m about to order mine for my next 2 cruises. The batter life of Fashion and Adventure are both 30+ hours but the new mini version is only 10. I assume you have one of the older models they don’t sell anymore. Dramamine, Bonine, and the patch’s are not available in Canada. They are approved but the companies stopped selling them here. My doctor said the only option is pills that will knock you out for the night or Gravol (did not help me one bit last time). I buy less drowsy Dramamine when I visit the US and am ordering EmeTerm Fashion to try on my Alaskan cruise before my big TA.

Thanks for clarifying that for me.

It’s also a question of customs depending on where your departing from etc. As already recommended it’s best in a sealed original packaging but also “personal quantities” aka don’t bring enough to supply a store. I haven’t sailed NCL yet but my comments are based on a lot of international travel. If you like loose leaf tea and want it onboard I recommend bringing the fillable teabags from David’s tea (the ones with the drawstring top). Once I’ve crossed customs I’ll open my loose leaf tea and fill a bunch of tea bags. I bring a Stasher bag to hold my filled tea bags in my purse. Also I’ll even have the barista make me a fog with my tea sometimes. I now have a powder which is choco-chai and am going to carry it mixed with water in a little bottle. In a cup of hot water or steamed milk or even cold milk it’s my new favorite drink.

Well this really depends on your destination. In Alaska there’s great excursions.

Any really nice restaurant on land wouldn’t have that many choices. Im happy with 6-8 options of each and think that is plenty even for a cruise line MDR.

Haven’t had an issue yet but I also don’t book the cruise line insurance. I travel quite a bit so I just have an annual multi trip policy which covers me.

No photos on basic. I primarily use WhatsApp when I travel but could only send and receive text with the basic plan.I waited till port to send and receive photos. This means also no Instagram while at sea.

I’ll see next month. I’ll be back on Milli in September one year after my last cruise on her and will be able to give a good comparison. Staffing levels seemed low last time so I am hoping for an overall improvement in service this time around.

Deals can be had for sure. Travelling solo makes costs even more prohibitive. Now that Celebrity seems to be back to charging full single supplements on everything I am trying out NCL because some itineraries aren’t. The airfare Ottawa to Rome and NYC to Ottawa I was able to find for only a little more than my upcoming trip to Houston. Don’t know why Houston has become so expensive to fly to over the last 12 months. I haven’t found a TA I like so I research and book everything on my own. The research pays off in a great vacation at a reasonable price.

Thanks for the heads up I saved 140$ by rebooking my excursion.

It depends on the meds. Some I have to take in the morning no matter the time zone changes. Before a big time start to shift it a few hours if I can and then move it once I’m in the new time zone. The actually cruising part at every 25 hours it won’t have an impact but it’s the big flight that’s harder.

My next solo cruise is with NCL for a TA. I was looking at two itineraries and the more expensive one didn’t have a single supplement so it was a better deal. My favorite thing is that NCL website lets you look at solo pricing easily.

They are finally targeting my demographic. Cruisers in their 30s who want a more luxurious travel experience without the stuffiness of the high end lines. Maybe Celebrity is realizing their clients are starting to no longer be able to travel due to age etc and they need a new generation. I just hope it continues to target towards adults and not a line filled with children.

Belle it’s my second Alaskan cruise. I went last year and loved it so much I booked to go back. I started finding gray hair at 23 but have never tried to cover it. I do get balayage highlights and a toner in my hair to give myself the red head hair since I already have to skin though. 2 years ago I started getting perms and for the first time truly loved my hair. I actually appreciate my hair thinning as I get older since I have insanely thick hair. When my hair is longer than shoulder length and not thinned I get massive headaches because it’s so heavy. Like my mother always says, hair grows back so if it’s too short it won’t be that way long.

I just looked in my app for an upcoming cruise on Gem and it was equal to $24 USD for 6L. Doesn’t seem like there is any deal for ordering ahead at least right now.

You are right it is expensive compared to what you use but I am also very picky on what sunscreen I put on my body. My comment wasn’t that the sunscreen was affordable or inexpensive but that the cruise line does not do an insane markup on it. As a woman in her 30s with sensitive skin and who reacts to the sun more than anyone else I know I choose my sunscreen differently than you probably do. I look at how it affects my skin (possible breakouts after use), how my skin looks with it on, will I have an allergic reaction to it, what chemicals are in it, how it feels, and most importantly will it protect my skin. I wish I could just buy cheap sunscreen and it be that easy.

I tested packing for a 15 day cruise in a carry on and could not make it work. The clothing isn’t an issue, it’s the flying with liquids that limited me. on cruises I enjoy doing my makeup for dinner and couldn’t fit my essentials in the little bag they limit you on.

With two cruises coming up I do worry about possible weight gain while on ship. I leave in 42 days for Alaska. It won’t be a problem fitting into my goal dress, I’m only a couple of pounds away. I so look forward to Thursday weigh ins, thank you Belle for this amazing corner of CC. This week I lost 3.6lb but have been feeling fatigued. I need to eat more to keep my energy levels up and slow down the weight loss a little so I don’t end up with skin issues.

Go to the bar when it’s quieter and talk to the bartender. Tell them the type of drink you’re looking for, the flavours you like, and that you want it non alcoholic. Then ask for their suggestion. This is one of the few times I’d have a little cash in my hand to tip for the personalized service. Before you leave ask them how you should order it for next time. Build a relationship with a bartender or two and your trip will be that much more enjoyable. My next cruise my favourite sommelier should be onboard and I can’t wait to see him. I’m a scotch drinker and went to the same bar regularly that he ran.

I have sensitive skin and react to the sun. Supergoop is my favourite sunscreen so I was ecstatic to see it on the ship.