Just booked my 1st solo

[LRY229]

Hi Everyone. My name is Lynn and I just booked my 1st solo cruise. I am one of those married women who's husband hates to travel - but never minds if I do. So, I finally bit the bullet and booked my 1st solo cruise. Tired of always wanting to go and family or friends cant go.

 

Leaving on 7/17 on the Grandeur of the Seas. Got a great rate of $476 total for 5 nights in an inside guarantee. Now deciding if I want to fly or drive to Ft Lauderdale. Its about a 4 1/2 hr drive but I can fly on SW for $233. With gas and parking I'd probably come out ahead to fly. Just hate worrying about luggage and what I can and can't pack.

 

Im nervous and excited at the same time. I don't think I'll have too much of a problem - even when I travel with family or girlfriends I go to shows, casino etc by myself. Or just find a nice shady spot to read or people watch. Dinner is the only thing that I'm a little nervous about but I will survive. There is only 1 person on the rollcall so thats not much help.

 

Only 10 days.............WooHoo

[yellowbird23]

Hi Everyone. My name is Lynn and I just booked my 1st solo cruise. I am one of those married women who's husband hates to travel - but never minds if I do. So, I finally bit the bullet and booked my 1st solo cruise. Tired of always wanting to go and family or friends cant go.

 

Leaving on 7/17 on the Grandeur of the Seas. Got a great rate of $476 total for 5 nights in an inside guarantee. Now deciding if I want to fly or drive to Ft Lauderdale. Its about a 4 1/2 hr drive but I can fly on SW for $233. With gas and parking I'd probably come out ahead to fly. Just hate worrying about luggage and what I can and can't pack.

 

Im nervous and excited at the same time. I don't think I'll have too much of a problem - even when I travel with family or girlfriends I go to shows, casino etc by myself. Or just find a nice shady spot to read or people watch. Dinner is the only thing that I'm a little nervous about but I will survive. There is only 1 person on the rollcall so thats not much help.

 

Only 10 days.............WooHoo

Here is just a suggestion. Instead of flying, leave the day before and spend one night pre-cruise in a nearby hotel with shuttle and free parking? That way, luggage isn't a problem. All you folks in Florida are so lucky not to have to rely on air to get to your cruise ports.

[Solo Cruiser]

Congratulations on your first solo cruise! I agree that driving in a day early and staying at a hotel with both free parking and a shuttle to the cruiseport is the way to go. What a relaxing way to spend your pre-cruise hours. Check out the port of call board for suggestions on your hotel. Pack whatever you want without worring about airline restrictions. Drive to your hotel and then let the vacation begin. My favorite thing to do the night before the cruise is to sit in the lobby and watch other cruisers check in all excited and catch their spirit of enthusiasm. (Ok so usually I'm the one who is all excited and don't need much help with that LOL)

 

Don't worry about dining, it will be a pleasuable experience whether making new friends or catching up on your reading, depending on where you are seated.

 

Have a super cruise.

[janetlm]

Congratulations,

 

I was really worried about solo dining too. It worked out great for me. I had company when I wanted it, in the MDR, and none when I wanted a quick bite in the cafeteria style dining area.

 

BTW, great price!

[Lois R]

Hi Lynn,:) we are neighbors;) hot enough out for you?:eek:

Congrats on the cruise! I have been sailing solo for 7 years

now and I LOVE IT:D

If you scan over the forum you will find lots of threads from those

of us who love cruising solo:)

[Pattakins]

Congratulations on your booking. I will be making my first solo sometime in August of next year. Hubby and son are going to Cooperstown and I have no interest in doing baseball all week, so have decided to let them go baseball crazy while I take a cruise alone. It will be a new experience for me as we have done our vacations together since we got married 19 years ago. So I will be interested in hearing from others on how they like their solo cruises.

[thescot123]

Congratulations on your 1st cruise. You will thoroughly enjoy being able to do your own things when you want. On Monday, I will be taking my 2nd solo cruise. Not too sure if you are nervous, but I had fears on my first cruise. Those soon went away after getting on the boat as you soon blend in with other cruisers. Met some really nice folks on the boat. I have a friend at work who goes on 2 plus cruises per year, more if she could afford it. Her husband will go on the cruises but is stating to get tired and only wants one per year. She has told him that she will go solo which she has done in the past. On my first solo cruise, I didn't meet any other singles.

 

You will have fun and plus you got a good rate. Like you I have to fly and trying to figure out what to take. It is a pain to not be able to carry certain items onboard, rather prefer driving as you can take anything. I live over 800 miles away from the cruise port I will be going out of so driving it out of the equation. If it was me, I would drive if it was only 4 1/2 hours. I am doing that just to get to Atlanta as that is where my flight is the cheapest.

[LRY229]

Thanks for all the well wishes and words of encouragement. Haven't been on the computer for a few days.

 

Looking forward to this trip. Yes, I am a little nervous but I'm sure that's natural - it wont last long I'm sure. Even when I cruise with others I do lots of things on my own. This trip it totally about relaxing - don't care if I even get off the ship. I've been to all 3 ports many times.

 

Forgot to say................I'll be spending my birthday on the ship. What more can you ask for. I spent my 50th in Alaska last year - best birthday ever.

 

Again, thanks for all the encouragement. I doubt this will be my last solo cruise.

[cruisegurl]

Hi Lynn,

I see that we both live in the oldest city! How great to be spending your birthday on a cruise. My husband and I cruised many times, but he passed away a little over two years ago. I have only cruised solo once and had a wonderful time. I was a little concerned about going by myself but every thing turned out fine. I hope to cruise a lot more in the future and solo is the way I want to go.

I would drive to Ft.Lauderdale and maybe spend the night before in a hotel as some of the others have said. I think it's more of a hassle to get to the airport and deal with the "issues" of flying than to drive. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful cruise and let us know how you like it.

Sandra

[yellowbird23]

Lynn>> hope you're getting packed and ready to go. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

[yellowbird23]

What did you decide? Flying or driving precruise?

[LRY229]

Lynn>> hope you're getting packed and ready to go. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

 

I wish :) - working all week. Will pack either Thurs night or Fri am. I never pack too far ahead of time. I'm gonna drive down on Friday. It's not that far and its all I-95. (besides I didn't book the air soon enough and not paying $300 to fly).

[AM2010]

Hi! I just booked my first solo cruise as well for next February.

 

I have always cruised with family or singles groups. I finally realized that if I was going to do the cruises I really want to do, I would have to go solo. I spent alot of time thinking about it and alot of changing my mind, before I finally settled on the one I am going on.

 

I am excited, but sometimes get nervous thinking about it. Usually I come here when I start getting nervous. All the posts from other solo travelers helps me get over the nerves.

 

Enjoy your cruise Lynn and I can't wait to hear about your good time:).

 

Annmarie

[yellowbird23]

Good for you Annmarie! PA here too and I love solo cruising. What part of PA are you from?

[LRY229]

Hi Lynn,:) we are neighbors;) hot enough out for you?:eek:

Congrats on the cruise! I have been sailing solo for 7 years

now and I LOVE IT:D

If you scan over the forum you will find lots of threads from those

of us who love cruising solo:)

 

Hi Lois - I have read some of your trip reports. You always seem to have a great time. I feel the same way - I've never had a bad cruise - just some that are better than others.:)

[LRY229]

Hi Lynn,

I see that we both live in the oldest city! How great to be spending your birthday on a cruise. My husband and I cruised many times, but he passed away a little over two years ago. I have only cruised solo once and had a wonderful time. I was a little concerned about going by myself but every thing turned out fine. I hope to cruise a lot more in the future and solo is the way I want to go.

I would drive to Ft.Lauderdale and maybe spend the night before in a hotel as some of the others have said. I think it's more of a hassle to get to the airport and deal with the "issues" of flying than to drive. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful cruise and let us know how you like it.

Sandra

 

Hi Sandra - glad to been another person from St Augustine. I usually travel with family or a girlfriend (my hubby every now and then) but I am just so tired to always trying to find someone to go with me. Hoping this trip is a good as I think it will be. Only problem will be I may like it so much I only want to go by myself:)

[AM2010]

Yellowbird23

 

Hi! I live about 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia. Do you live in PA? If so, where?

 

Annmarie

[yellowbird23]

Yellowbird23

 

Hi! I live about 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia. Do you live in PA? If so, where?

 

Annmarie

In Amish country, Lancaster County...

[cruisegurl]

Hi Sandra - glad to been another person from St Augustine. I usually travel with family or a girlfriend (my hubby every now and then) but I am just so tired to always trying to find someone to go with me. Hoping this trip is a good as I think it will be. Only problem will be I may like it so much I only want to go by myself

__________________

Lynn

 

 

Hi Lynn,

That can be a problem--It's hard to tell other people that they just can't come along, that you'd rather go by yourself. But I'm working on getting better at that. Hope you have a wonderful cruise. Please let us know when you get back.

Sandra

[lvrodmic]

My name is Mickie and I live in Las Vegas. I will be taking my first solo cruise this October. I am going on the Epic in one of their single cabins. I have always hesitated going solo because of the single supplement charge so I am anxious to see what this will be like. I am nervous but also excited.

[LRY229]

Hi Mickie - welcome to cruise critic. You will find LOADS of info on this website.

 

Thats how I feel nervous but excited. Hope you enjoy the Epic. I've been on one NCL cruise and enjoyed it. Food wasn't as good as CCL or RCL but otherwise we had a great time.

[AM2010]

Hi Mickie

 

I was looking at the Epic as well, so I will be interested to see what you think of the ship as well as the solo cabins.

 

Annmarie

[LasVegasSolo]

Mickie,

 

I have also booked on Epic in the Solo Studio. I have been reading everything I can find about these rooms and am looking forward to the trip. I am not going until December so please let us know what you think about the Studios after your trip.:)

[KruzPrincess]

Lynn, Mickie, AnnMarie.....Congrats on booking those cruises. I hope you'll all have a wonderful time. I have cruises several times, but my 3rd solo cruise is coming up in November. I'm really looking forward to having all that time to myself!! I was worried at first, too, but it really is a great experience.

[LRY229]

Thanks again or all the well wishes. Getting ready to head south. I will let you know how much fun I had when I get back.:D