Roz

Very short distance between FLL and Port Everglades. I've never had a problem finding transportation. There are plenty of places to sit in the terminal. No more walking required than at an airport. There are sometimes 6-7 ships in port so you may encounter crowds. Depending on when you arrive at your terminal, there may be a lot of passengers waiting but the lines keep moving in my experience.

Of all the embarkation ports I've been to, San Diego is my favorite. So easy, and so much to do within walking distance of the terminal. Worth the cross country flight.

I've not sailed Avalon, but most cruise lines will allow you to drop your bags so you can sightsee unimpeded.

Besides the horribly long flights in a sardine can (which can be a challenge at any age), to me the biggest issue with European travel is the lack of accessibility if one is unsteady on their feet, uses a cane, walker, or wheelchair, etc. I'm able bodied, but those big cobblestones can really tear up your feet and legs. They're something a lot of Americans aren't prepared for. To the OP, I say go for it, but be prepared for there to be some limitations.

As a solo cruiser, price is very much a consideration, as 100% single supplements can eat your wallet alive.

Initially I wasn't a fan of open seating when it first started, but once I tried it, the advantages outweigh any disadvantages.

Hi @rachiem. Those are both great itineraries, in my opinion. Since you're in England, getting to Amsterdam is a lot quicker than getting to Budapest, so that may be a consideration. On another line, when the cruise ended in Basel, we flew out of Basel. Does Scenic fly you out of Zurich? Keep in mind that Christmas cruises are very popular, so I'm not sure waiting to do a last minute booking next year is a good strategy. Also, there's a lot of pent up demand due to cancellations and deferrals from 2020 and 2021. I'm sure others will come along to offer their opinions and advice.

In retrospect I should have asked to be reassigned, but I kept holding out hope things would improve, and they didn't. I haven't abandoned fixed dining altogether, but once I tried open seating, I found out there were other advantages that work for me as a solo cruiser.

Yes, this line of questioning happened on HAL, on the Noordam. It was the weirdest assigned table I've ever had. It was that cruise that made me branch off into open seating.

I post in, and monitor, the River Cruising forum here at CC on a regular basis. No reports of "rampant" Covid from returning river cruisers. Don't know why Covid would be any more prevalent on a river cruise vs. an ocean cruise.

I love cats, so we'll have lots to talk about. 😺

As a solo female cruiser, I've had several very inappropriate questions directed at me. For example: Why are you by yourself? Don't you have any friends? Why aren't you married? Why didn't you have children? Do you not like children? Do you not like men? Need I say more?

As a solo cruiser, Viking's pricing never works for me. It's always double. I can book "aquarium class" on Uniworld or Tauck for no single supplement on a lot of their cruises, or a reduced supplement in other cabin classes. Always comes out cheaper than Viking's solo pricing. Plus, lines like Uniworld and Tauck are more inclusive. I usually book my river cruises 1-2 yrs. in advance, and don't want to tie up thousands of dollars with a cruise line earning no dividends or interest on my money.

Good, broken in walking shoes.

Viking's upfront full payment policy is a sticking point for a lot of river cruisers. One of the reasons some of us sail other lines.

@CPT Trips, Uniworld will definitely set up open jaw flights. Every one of my 3 river cruises with them involved open jaw economy flights. Don't know about a city that's not an embarkation or debarkation port.

I'm confused also.

@albingirl, I'm another fan of Gulf shrimp vs. farmed raised Asian shrimp. @rkacruiser, lots of people go ga ga over jumbo shrimp but I think they're only useful when you're going to stuff them. Small to medium sized are more tender and flavorful in my opinion.

@papa B me, I've done 3 cruises on Uniworld, but this December I'm doing a Yuletide cruise on Tauck thru The Netherlands and Belgium. I didn't realize Uniworld had a similar cruise. I'll have to check it out.

@meg1021, thanks for the info. Did you have to show your vaccination card? So no negative test required? I'm cruising in December thru the canals of The Netherlands and Belgium so I'm hoping water levels aren't an issue. P.S. Just got back from "the Burgh" and my 52nd HS reunion.

I've done two, and they were longer voyages and mostly adults.

Princess is the only line I've sailed that gave me double points as a solo.

Just be aware that the cabins on the Rotterdam are much smaller than on other ships.

Included excursions and not having to do a lot of planning, research, and booking on my own is one of the reasons I choose river cruising.

I didn't realize there were river cruise lines that offered GTY cabins. Is it worth whatever fare reduction you get? P.S. Just noticed you're from Elizabethton. Know it well. Been to Sycamore Shoals SP, Watauga Dam, the covered bridge, and Roan Mt. SP.