Celebration - first time cruising alone

[sandgroundergirl]

Just paid my balance for 'Highlights of the Aegean' for May 3rd - fab itinerary, all inclusive, outside cabin etc etc......but now frankly terrified! This will be my first cruise and although I'm a pretty experienced independent traveller, I'd be grateful for any observations on solo life onboard.

[its,only,me]

Just paid my balance for 'Highlights of the Aegean' for May 3rd - fab itinerary, all inclusive, outside cabin etc etc......but now frankly terrified! This will be my first cruise and although I'm a pretty experienced independent traveller, I'd be grateful for any observations on solo life onboard.

 

Hi there dont think that you will have to worry as they have meets for singles for lunch and dinner, they will announce that all single cruisers can meet if they wish so go with the flow and you will be fine ,,have a great cruise

mrs.c :)

[Flopsy]

Hi there

 

I think you will feel much safer as a solo traveller on board than you would on a hotel holiday in a resort.

 

I doubt if you will ever witness any rowdy behaviour, no drunken yobs etc, on Thomson ships!

 

I went one year with my cousin and we palled up with a solo traveller when we we waiting outside the dining room and we sat together.They were giving announcements for solo travellers to meet up and there was information in the Cruise News which is delivered to your cabin every day.My advice is to read Cruise News from cover to cover as soon as you get it otherwise you may well miss something that you would love to have gone to!

 

Celebration is a good ship for you as it has a lovely little cinema.When I went on the Celebration with my husband he preferred the bar to films so I would pop in and see a film on my own- I noticed quite a few others viewing alone- but the cinema was never more than 25% full.I also went in there to see the guy giving illustrated talks on 'the next port' which I found interesting.

 

The shows in the entertainment lounge are superb.I often went to see them on my own whilst hubby propped up the bar.It's great going in on your own as people often leave 'spare' seats- I always managed to get a lone seat on the front row- i was so lucky- and you will be too I guess.But get in there early!

 

If you chose to eat in the waiter service restaurant you will be given a set table where you will meet up with the same diners each night- a table of singles if you chose- or with others.There are lots of ladies travelling in pairs who will make you welcome at their table.

 

The Lido informal buffet restaurant has tables for two, four, etc and when we went in May there was always plenty of room.The waiters in there are a delight- the first night we took a seat in the area served by Jerome (dashingly good looking with a gold tooth) and he introduced himself and asked us to sit in this area each night and he would 'look after us'- he always remembered our names and brought iced water and alcoholic drinks as soon as we sat down! The food is self service but he often offered to fetch us desert from the icecream bar- my husband reluctantly agreed to this one night and Jerome produced an enormous banana split that my husband couldn't get through lol.

 

Please ask if you have any other concerns.

 

Flopsy

[perthorchid]

i am going alone on april 22 on the dream (i hope) i chose cruising for my first holiday since my husband died last november for a number of reasons.

 

Firstly we loved cruising together and have sailed with various lines. I chose thomsons because it is mainly british (unlike eg costa, which we sailed with last oct) and therefore would have lots of folk i could talk to.

 

Secondly it had proper dining arrangements (unlike ncl , who we also sailed with last year, and hated the open dining) I found that casual way of eating quite solitary even as a couple. You never met the same folk twice and the tables in the lido were a mess.

 

Thirdly , cruising gives me the opportunity to do things i would never do as a woman alone. Can you imagine , if you were in some land hotel in Spain, going out at night alone, eating dinner in a posh restaraunt alone, going to a show alone, visiting a bar alone, and ending up at the casino alone and then walking back to your accommodation alone at 1 in the morning. Unlikely for me at least. But i'll do it on board.

 

I cant wait, the 4 months since my husband died have been awful, a mixture of paperwork, lonliness and people avoiding you in the street. True friends and family shine thru of course but i need a little me time.

Im also in the midst of moving house and winding up my business. I shall be out of here on 1st April. So a wee holiday with nice people is just perfect after that.

Anyway im raving. you'll love it . I certainly intend to:)

[tenpin]

Well to both of you single Ladies I hope you have a fabulous cruise and meet some wonderful new friends.

 

Cruising to me is the easiest way to chat with folk you don't know, from young to old we have never had any bad experiences. A young girl recently divorced, sat at our table twenty years ago, and we are still in touch, the same with great people we met on a Trans-Atlantic over ten years ago.

 

Enjoy your cruise and it will be nice to read about your experience.

[kruzseeka]

i am going alone on april 22 on the dream (i hope) i chose cruising for my first holiday since my husband died last november for a number of reasons.

 

Firstly we loved cruising together and have sailed with various lines. I chose thomsons because it is mainly british (unlike eg costa, which we sailed with last oct) and therefore would have lots of folk i could talk to.

 

Secondly it had proper dining arrangements (unlike ncl , who we also sailed with last year, and hated the open dining) I found that casual way of eating quite solitary even as a couple. You never met the same folk twice and the tables in the lido were a mess.

 

Thirdly , cruising gives me the opportunity to do things i would never do as a woman alone. Can you imagine , if you were in some land hotel in Spain, going out at night alone, eating dinner in a posh restaraunt alone, going to a show alone, visiting a bar alone, and ending up at the casino alone and then walking back to your accommodation alone at 1 in the morning. Unlikely for me at least. But i'll do it on board.

 

I cant wait, the 4 months since my husband died have been awful, a mixture of paperwork, lonliness and people avoiding you in the street. True friends and family shine thru of course but i need a little me time.

Im also in the midst of moving house and winding up my business. I shall be out of here on 1st April. So a wee holiday with nice people is just perfect after that.

Anyway im raving. you'll love it . I certainly intend to:)

 

And I'm sure you're going with best wishes and positive thoughts from many of your 'friends' on here too. :) I admire your determination to have a good holiday (although this is bound to be tinged with sadness) and wish you all the very best - and lots of congenial company. I'm sure that's something you can confidently expect to find on a Thomson ship - nearly everyone you meet is chatty and friendly. I'd love to read of your experiences when you get back (and to hear all about the Dream) so please let us know. And happy sailing :)

[sandgroundergirl]

I would prefer to dine alone, is this possible?

[jodanuke]

We have been on this ship twice (Read Sea and Eastern Med) and will be happy to do so again. A very friendly ship as it is smaller and more "intimate" than those huge ones - where you say hello to someone the first night and don't ever see them again lol

A good thing about this ship, is that for dinner each evening, you are not put on the same table every night like some main dining rooms on other ships. Unless you ask and want for that of course.

 

So you get to meet different people each night. We have gained valuable ideas from people this way about different cruises and travel tips etc.

 

Plus of course if you don't like the people you are dining with, you can change tables tomorrow night without any fuss or problems.

[Flopsy]

Hi Sand girl

 

If you dine in the Lido self service restaurant you will be spoilt for choice as there are tables for two or four or more.You will have no difficulty sitting on your own as there is usually plenty of room in there.There is also fast food option on the open deck outside the Lido.

 

Flopsy

[sandgroundergirl]

Thanks for your help everyone....not long to go now. Any more advice?