Solo cruising - social activities?

I will be travelling on Britannia - are there usually social activities planned for solo travellers, and if so how will I hear about them?

They have a coffee meeting for solo travellers, normally the first sea day. It's in the horizon paper, which is the paper you receive in your cabin, which tells you what is happening on the ship. You receive it in the evening, so you always know what's happening the next day. Anyone can join in the activities . The coffee morning is a way of introducing all solo travellers. It's very informal.

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As well as Coffee mornings, they usually have solo afternoon teas.

I have cruised solo on a number of occasions on P&O when my daughter could not come. It's surprising the type of solo travellers out there, many have left other family members at home for a multitude of reasons.

They normally have a solo meet up event of some sort first day but after that there is a daily solo coffee morning attended by regulars plus other less frequent attendees. Last time I was on board a small core palled up for various things including a walk ashore on an impromptu basis.

Best plan for solo cruising, in my opinion, is to do biggest table offered club dining ideally first sitting. This is because P&O usually have tables for solo cruisers. They can often join together in small informal groups for various events, shows etc.

Lots of events P&O put on are good for solo cruisers, quizzes, whist, bridge it depends on what you like doing. I am quite happy to give Black Jack a go in the casino or watch people doing roulette without playing.

Regards John

I will be travelling on Britannia - are there usually social activities planned for solo travellers, and if so how will I hear about them?

There is a hosted coffee mornings on sea days and an unhosted afternoon tea. Apart from that there is essentially no social programme. I did have a hosted lunch a couple of years ago on Oriana but nothing since.

P&O have a problem in that if you have say 30 solo cruisers how can you organise a hosted lunch or dinner? On the Oriana cruise there were only 6 of us.

I tried NCL epic and they had a solo lounge/bar and a dedicated host who arranged meals/theatre etc.

The best social programme was on TUI Discovery where there was a social hostess and we had coffee mornings, lunches, dinners and the best reserved seats in the theatre, all with free drinks, plus pre dinner cocktails. Of course TUI (Thomson) have a limited number of single cabins and some of them are occupied by people who are cruising with friends. If you want to book a double for single occupancy you pay 100% supplement :(

I have travelled Solo for the last 5 years since I lost my husband, but as I am still early 50's I have never been to any of the formal activities. I find most people are friendly enough and if I want company at any time it's easy enough to strike up a conversation. But at worst I always get preferential treatment in whichever becomes my favourite bar for the trip, they always look out for you and make sure I have a table. If you are happy to just go with it, great but if not go to the coffee morning and see who else is travelling solo.

I will be travelling on Britannia - are there usually social activities planned for solo travellers, and if so how will I hear about them?

When are you travelling on Britannia? I'm travelling solo on her in July

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Ah I'm going on 2nd March 2018. It's my first ever cruise. You will be able to give me some great tips!

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When are you travelling on Britannia? I'm travelling solo on her in July

 

 

 

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Hi Bronte - how did you find solo activities on Britannia when you went in July? Just 9 days to go for me! Any top tips? Lynn

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Thank you for reminding me. There were many coffee mornings for solo travellers but that was it. I got chatting to the the other travellers and seemed to join in with them to go off and see the ship. They had demonstrations which were good. I went to the shows. I use a scooter and got off the ship at ports to investigate. I find everyone so friendly. I’ve booked another 2 cruises on Britannia for October this year and August next year. I still get nervous every time I go, but once I’m on board, that seems to disappear. I’m one of the ones that likes Britannia. I tried the afternoon tea in the Epicurean restaurant and evening dinner in there. I know they cost, but I loved both. Will be trying others when I’m on there next time. There’s a lot to explore on board and to see. Hope you enjoy your cruise. Please let me know Lynninnotts how you get on.

Carol

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Solo travellers are always seated on same table as other solo travellers on club dining. There are the coffee mornings as mentioned above. The deck games (shuffleboard and quoits) are organised in favour of solo players in that each individual is paired up randomly with someone else at the beginning of each session. Established couples are separated, so solo travellers are not made to feel left out. This is in stark contrast to other cruise lines (in particular RCI and Celebrity) where I felt left out and had to wait to see if another loner would turn up to make a pair with.

All activities are in the daily newsletter which you will find in your cabin each evening.

One big advantage of travelling solo is seating in the buffet or theatre. It is amazing how easy it is to find single seats in prime positions.

Thank you for reminding me. There were many coffee mornings for solo travellers but that was it. I got chatting to the the other travellers and seemed to join in with them to go off and see the ship. They had demonstrations which were good. I went to the shows. I use a scooter and got off the ship at ports to investigate. I find everyone so friendly. I’ve booked another 2 cruises on Britannia for October this year and August next year. I still get nervous every time I go, but once I’m on board, that seems to disappear. I’m one of the ones that likes Britannia. I tried the afternoon tea in the Epicurean restaurant and evening dinner in there. I know they cost, but I loved both. Will be trying others when I’m on there next time. There’s a lot to explore on board and to see. Hope you enjoy your cruise. Please let me know Lynninnotts how you get on.

Carol

 

 

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Hi Carol - thanks for the reply and now I'm even more excited! Can't wait to get going!

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Hi, looks like I may be travelling solo in April on britannia (other half might not be able to make it/or join it late) so it's encouraging to see there is something out there.

Hi all solo travellers. I have done 3 cruises with P& O but didn’t realise they had a table for solo travellers. Have any of you been on Oceana and on a singles table? Thanks.

When I used to do Club dining as a solo, at first I always seemed to get a large table with other solos, which was fun. Then came the cruise where they put me with one solo lady and 3 couples, who were agitating from the first night to get the soos removed and have another couple on the table. After night 2 the other lady got moved as she was made to feel uncomfortable. I was also offered a move when the 3 couples all dined elsewhere leaving me alone. I accepted a move to Freedom Dining and have stuck with it ever since. If you are unlucky and get placed with someone rude and arrogant (and it's happened a couple of times) it's only for one meal.

Hi all solo travellers. I have done 3 cruises with P& O but didn’t realise they had a table for solo travellers. Have any of you been on Oceana and on a singles table? Thanks.

I did my first solo cruise on Oceana. I was seated on a solo’s table on first sitting. I met some lovely people who became friends, who I’m still in touch with 6 years on. We were always the last out after dinner, always laughing. Had a great time.

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