Celandine

On 4/2/2024 at 3:19 PM, Seamus6 said:

 

There is such a variety of meatloaf recipes, some with very little flavor, some with a lot of onion and garlic, some with brown gravy, many with ketchup or bbq sauce (my least favorite) some with different meat like a combo with pork and/or veal.  

however, I know what you mean with texture.  I feel the same way about most seafood.

 

Bolognese!?! now you're talkin my language!

Yes, perhaps I should add that I have yet to find a recipe that I like! 
 

texture can make such a difference with food, I tend to avoid Jello as I always find the hard rubbery bit 🤢 just the thought of that can turn my stomach! Lol

15 hours ago, CHPURSER said:

Like you , I lived in China - but for 10 years.

So you must already know that the Japanese do not generally eat Shark Fin Soup.

That is very Chinese.

Your favorite Japanese Restaurant was probably Chinese-owned.

I never asked who owned it, and it closed a few years later when I was living in Egypt. I had actually never seen the dish on any menu anywhere during my travels around Asia, but only in this one restaurant in Canada and it did not always have it (like I never saw it the first couple of years I would go there) You may be right though, I also wasn’t meaning to sound insensitive towards anyone, I only mentioned it was a Japanese restaurant because it was marketed and presented as one. (Like literally part of the name). 

On 4/2/2024 at 6:20 PM, kelliebiz said:

Is it on a cruise? If not, might be a better fit for a different blog site?

 

No, sadly, just a resort by the lake. 
 

I have seen some land vacation reviews scattered around this site before (especially while cruising was shut down) and I’m not on any other sites but I don’t need to post it, just thought I’d see if anyone who wanders into this thread was interested. 

Not a gum chewer at all. 

0 times a year. 
 

my mum might make it once a year. 
 

I dislike meatloaf and I do 99% of the cooking, so it’s never in my menu planning. If I was at someone’s home and they served it, I would eat it with a polite smile.

I also do not care for meatballs and kofta and everything in between - it’s mostly a texture thing but also a flavour thing, could not tell you the last time I had spaghetti and meatballs, but a good bolognese I could have anytime! 

I would not eat the following:

1) liver (see liver and onions) I have tried it, the texture and flavour turn my stomach. Pate is a different story.

2) silkworms. I lived in China for a year, I dined at several restaurants that served them, unfortunately the odour and appearance deterred me every time I tried to muster the courage to try them. 
 

3) shark. Mostly ethical reasons, also they are my favourite animal. I stopped going to my one time favourite Japanese restaurant when I found out they served shark fin soup. 

Hello my fellow solo cruisers! I am officially on vacation until April 9th, unfortunately I do not have a cruise booked until May 2025, but I do have university course work to finish and I am going away to a mostly inclusive (all food and non alcoholic drinks) resort here in Ontario, Canada. 
 

I plan on taking pictures of food and menus (you know preparing for next May) any interest in seeing that? Plus I will include pictures of the lake. I am going for a scrapbooking retreat, so I won’t be spending much time outside (much needed creative time with other scrapbookers and a great view of the lake from our conference room). This has been my cruise replacement since 2022 twice a year, a weekend in the fall and spring, I love it, but am so ready for my next cruise! Only 420+ days left lol

Looking forward to following you along on your trip! The itinerary sounds amazing! 

Enjoyed reading your review! Gave me fond memories of my MSC cruises! And I agree they have some of the best pizza! 

On 3/24/2024 at 5:21 PM, rrraydon said:

I returned from my first solo cruise this past Friday. I sailed MSC Magnifica. It was also my first time sailing MSC. 
 

I had such a great time…so relaxing! It was a great ship too. I did a live review on this site. 
 

My next solo is on Liberty of the Seas next month, on the 22nd. I can’t wait!!

I am so glad you enjoyed yourself! I am going to go check out your review! 

6 minutes ago, that said:

May I suggest calling the CVP number at Princess

800-900-1172 and inquire

if the email person is an employee and go

from there. 
 

 

Perfect! Thank you I will do that tomorrow! 

I tried to search, but I am not sure how to even ask the search bar. 
 

I booked directly with Princess on their website, and I noticed a week later an email from someone saying they are a PVP with Princess (email looks legitimate but fell into my Spam box). I am just asking, does someone from the PVP contact you after booking? I used to book Princess with a local TA, so I’ve never booked online before and I try to be careful about emails and cyber security. 
 

thank you for any assistance. 

5 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

I got a flyer for a Panama on your own tour for $49. I'm considering it but I didn't think Colon was safe to wander around on your own in. I might look into it.

Yeah Colon, was not the nicest part. My dad lives in Panama City, but when I visited I had to include a cruise on Pulmantur which did r/t Colon, the area around the port when I was there in 2018 was very under construction, but they must have finished it as RCL had stopped sailings from there at the time. Panama City, beautiful and felt very friendly, the little I saw of Colon felt very congested and less “pretty” ( these statements are 6 years old, areas can change a lot in that time, I am aware, but my dad would say the same thing and he relocated to Panama several years before that!)

Yay following you live again! 
 

for your time in Panama, not sure how far it is as when I went for a few days my dad drove me around, but the Panama Canal museum was fantastic and I highly suggest it if it’s possible! 
 

On 3/9/2024 at 11:32 PM, rrraydon said:

I'm cruising for the first time solo next week...also on a cruise line I've never sailed before, MSC. I'm sailing on the Magnifica out of Miami.

 

I've sailed on over 40 cruises between Carnival (Platinum) and Royal (Diamond+). I usually sail with either my youngest daughter or one of my cruise buddy girlfriends. I've read so many wonderful solo reviews lately it's prompted me to want to start sailing solo myself.....no longer having to check with another regarding ships, cabins, ports, dinner times, excursions, etc...sounds great! I'm super excited to start this new way of cruising. 🙂 

 

I started a new job about 8 months ago that is perfect for my plan of taking short cruises once per month. I work 7p to 7a Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Yep, you guessed it...I plan on getting off of work on Monday morning, driving straight to the airport, flying to whatever my next destination is and climbing onboard ship! I suspect some of my cruises I may run into flight problems, but it'll be what it'll be. Hopefully I make it back on time to get to work on Friday evenings by 7p! lol

 

Next week, since it's my first booking cruising this way, I took off Sunday night (the night before the cruise) to get the gist everything. My flight leaves Monday morning at 8a to Miami, I should get there a bit after 11a. I plan to Uber to the Port of Miami, my check in isn't until 1:30p. (fingers crossed) 😆 All of the solos I've booked thus far over the last few weeks are under these same circumstances.

 

Here they are: 

March: MSC Magnifica (4 night)

April: Liberty of the Seas (4 night)

May: Celebrity reflection (4 night)

June: Liberty of the Seas (4 night)

 

Here, I had to take a break because I've had this Med cruise planned for over a year and I need to replenish funds.

 

September: Voyager of the Seas (7 nights Greece plus 9 days of visiting other countries while I'm there)

 

 October: I just made Prime last week in RC casino and I will get a free cruise certificate next month and I plan to use it here.

 

November: Oasis of the Seas (6 night...not a solo..cruising with my daughter)

January 2025: Celebrity Reflection (4 night)

February 2025: Rhapsody of the Seas 10 nights--not a solo-- (when I made Prime last week on RC I got a free 10 night)

September 2025: Symphony of the Seas 7 night with my son

 

I'm not going to start filling in the spots for next year until I see how I like all of the solo sailing and to see if I'm not too exhausted to cruise anymore!!! 😆 

 

 

 

I have done 3 MSC cruises (none solo) but I have loved my time with that line! 
 

love your schedule and am envious of your ability to cruise more! Keep sharing! 

On 3/6/2024 at 2:19 PM, New2SoloCruising said:

Hello Solo Cruisers, 

 

I have just booked my first Solo cruise on Liberty of the Seas (RCL) for this September. It is a 9-Night cruise out of NJ to New England & Canada. I am celebrating my 35th birthday, which is earlier in September, and decided to treat myself to the cruise! I am super exited, but a little bit nervous for my first solo cruise. I consider myself an introverted extrovert...so once I get the confidence to meet new people, I end up doing a great job at making new friends and having a good time. It is just that initial it that is nerve-racking. I have cruised before, twice, but always with friends and family. 

 

I have been planning/talking my friends and families ear off with everything cruise related! This is definitely a good forum to continue the discussion, without driving my friends insane. 

 

I would love any tips/tricks/etc. for making the most of a Solo cruise. I am hoping that I end up really enjoying it, and planning many more solo cruises in the future! 

 

~Nathan

Welcome! Thank you for sharing! 
 

I have seen a lot of good information in threads here, I haven’t sailed solo since 2010/2011 but can’t wait for my next two! 
 

please feel free to come in here and post/talk away to your hearts content! I love cruising, I am currently obsessively reading reviews. A few solo cruisers around the boards post quite a lot and cruise quite a lot! 
 

may your seas remain calm and your glass be full! 

1 hour ago, doghog said:

So what you are saying is you are getting all your ducks in a row. 😁

Exactly! 😂

I’ve been eagerly getting my ducks ready to hide on my cruise May 2025! I haven’t done this before but excited to be part of the fun!  

Same here! for days now! 
 

I am loving your review! Alaska is my favourite cruise destination! 

That is good to know! 

@OzSail I agree completely that it feels a safe way to travel and that cruising bug is easy to catch! 
 

your upcoming trips sound amazing! 

@TTEllis yeah the people factor is actually why I have hesitated to return to Carnival, I enjoyed many cruises with them and they have introduced things that I am interested in but all of my negative people encounters happened with them, and most on my last cruise with them because the crew were part of it. 
 

having been away from all cruises for 6 years I expect things are different, but I quite agree Alaska on Princess, I can’t lose! 

@stinkyharriet

Yes! That is exactly the case! I will be alone but not lonely - I love travelling with my mum and I lucked out that my BFF is 99% the same as me so travelling with him is super easy (though he is not likely to travel with my anytime soon, mostly his partner lol no worries there) but other than those 2 people my worst trips have involved “others”. 
 

I am looking forward to my solo Alaska cruise to spend time with good food, plentiful drink and sitting on my balcony looking for whales 🐳 🐋! None of that requires anyone else (unless you count whales). 
 

I like doing as much or as little as I please! 

@jimdee3636

thank you for your comments! 
 

I feel I should clarify about my mum (though she will never read here lol) she also enjoys cruising and is normally my cruise buddy- she took me on my first cruise when I was 15! But she’s not into the minute details and planning that I can be- once I have a cruise book ai like to read reviews, see pictures, menus experiences from any cruise from the same line! 
 

She is actually going solo on a Cunard cruise at the end of summer to Alaska this year- we both enjoy our own company, and decided that right now we would travel separately so I don’t have to board my cat! (Seems odd but we’ve both done solo trips before and enjoy them much more than trying to compromise with other people). 
 

I just could talk cruises 24/7 and I don’t want to bore her to tears! Lol

but very happy to have like minded cruises here and I will most definitely share my experiences! 🙂