cojorn Posted July 10, 2014 #1 Share Posted July 10, 2014 My Husband and I have are booked with another couple for the Paris to Normandy Viking Cruise in September. We just received bad news that the other couple has to cancel due to heart problems. For us to cancel will cost us $4900 (yes we can file an insurance claim but it's iffy), but we're trying to decide do we want to go by ourselves? Will it be awkward at dinner, etc. not being with people we know? We've done other cruises but the river cruise seems more intimate and we were thinking it would be more enjoyable with another couple but now here we are needing to make a decision in the next couple of days. Would appreciate any thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare marazul Posted July 10, 2014 #2 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Don't cancel. You will meet people you like. Be adventurous. The cruise is smaller than ocean cruisers, but it still carries around 200 people. You don't have to sit at the same table every night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nana541 Posted July 10, 2014 #3 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Oh my!!!! Why would you cancel.... Put your best foot forward and have a wonderful adventure! You will meet great fellow passengers and see sights you will never forget. You won't regret a decision to go but I am certain you will regret the one to stay home! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shebely Posted July 10, 2014 #4 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I am sorry that your friends cannot travel, but I am here to say that my husband and I have been on 3 river cruises in the last one year plus and we have met such wonderful and interesting people from all over the world. On our last cruise, there were only 116 on the ship. We enjoyed sitting with different people at meals and traveling on excursions with them. I am sure this trip has probably been in the works for dome time. Go, go, go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katie Morag Posted July 10, 2014 #5 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I agree with the other posts saying you should go - my DH and I have been on 2 river cruises and thoroughly enjoyed each one. Most people are very friendly and enjoy chatting to other cruisers. We are not gregarious people but do enjoy meeting other interesting people and we have found that most people are friendly and only to eager to talk and listen.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caviargal Posted July 10, 2014 #6 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I agree with everyone else. There is no reason to cancel if you are both able to travel. Go and have an amazing time! We have traveled both with others and as a couple on river cruises and had wonderful trips in all cases. We enjoy our couple time and tables for 2 at dinner most nights when traveling with just the 2 of us. We socialize when we wish and for us, that is perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare tml1230 Posted July 10, 2014 #7 Share Posted July 10, 2014 my wife and i had similar concerns before our first river cruise last March….we really like our time together and prefer a table for two for dinner which you usually won't find on a river cruise. But thats just us... we enjoy our privacy and don't seek out the "so whats your name and where are you from?" people. We found plenty of places to be by ourselves and at dinner we met some really nice folks….you are not locked into any group or table…. the entire experience was so good that 45 minutes after arriving back home from the cruise we booked another one for next year... Just as important, in my opinion…..If you don't go you will be missing Paris….. Not visiting Paris at least once in your life deprives you of incredible memories……if you have been there you probably already know what i mean….Also no matter where you are from, everyone should have the opportunity to visit Normandy. It is a very powerful, sacred place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canal archive Posted July 10, 2014 #8 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I whole heartedly agree with everyone we have been on two river cruises and in a week will be leaving on our third, Paris to Normondy and back. Just the two of us we have met some very interesting people, very friendly people and very interesting people. You can join in or do your own thing and no one worries. Enjoy your cruise going to Normondy especially this year is something not to be missed and to see Paris from the Seine priceless. Happy cruising I hope we have helped you make up your minds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caviargal Posted July 10, 2014 #9 Share Posted July 10, 2014 my wife and i had similar concerns before our first river cruise last March….we really like our time together and prefer a table for two for dinner which you usually won't find on a river cruise. But thats just us... we enjoy our privacy and don't seek out the "so whats your name and where are you from?" people. We found plenty of places to be by ourselves and at dinner we met some really nice folks….you are not locked into any group or table…. We have been fortunate with AMA in finding tables for 2. In April we had one every night we had dinner in the main dining room and only at breakfast and lunch did we occasionally have to share. We do prefer to choose whether or not to have dinner with others and most of the time, a table for 2 is our preference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPT Trips Posted July 10, 2014 #10 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Go on the cruise. We seldom travel with people we know, just us two. We always meet some great people. It doesn't take long to figure out who are good meal companions and it is also easy to not share meals with those (usually few) people that just aren't "our kind of people." We have also found that a good portion of the passengers are traveling "just them." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelfirst Posted July 10, 2014 #11 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I have gone on many trips by myself if I couldn't find someone to travel with. I have been on four Viking river cruises with friends but if they would have cancelled I would have gone alone. Go and have a wonderful cruise. People are very friendly on river cruises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexandra cruiser Posted July 10, 2014 #12 Share Posted July 10, 2014 My DH have been on 11 river cruises and never had any desire to go with another couple.So I say,GO, enjoy yourself ,make new friends. Also, your friends won t feel they messed up YOUR vacation too. NO REASON TO CANCEL...GO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moesmrs Posted July 10, 2014 #13 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Don't cancel! DH & I went solo on our first river cruise last summer and we LOVED it! We also travel regularly with friends but it was so nice to have the freedom to do exactly what we wanted to do without consulting travel companions. Nap in the afternoon? Bloody Mary's on the sundeck? Stay up late? go to bed early? eat off the ship in town? stay on the ship all day? it was heaven only being concerned with each other. We ate some meals with others, maybe 35% but the other 65% we were at a table for 2. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again-JMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnjrockette Posted July 10, 2014 #14 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Don't cancel! We travel all the time as a couple and we leave today (in fact in about 10 minutes... LOL) for the first time WITH people we know! We actually met these folks on a previous river cruise!! Go and enjoy yourselves. Au devoir (running out the door, suitcase in hand....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted July 10, 2014 #15 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Hello pbnjrockette, have a great time! Cojorn, don't cancel. I am sure you will love meeting like-minded people on your cruise. They could turn into life-long friends. And if you do not find any just enjoy exchanging your experiences of the day over dinner with the folks at your table. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrokitty Posted July 10, 2014 #16 Share Posted July 10, 2014 This is repetitive, I know, but DON'T CANCEL!!!!!!! We just came back from our 6th river cruise last Sunday. We've gone by ourselves and we've met people that we sometimes travel with. River cruisers are generally, IMHO, more laid back than big ship cruisers and because it's a smaller crowd you have much greater chances of meeting people. Some you will like and some you won't, that's life, but without assigned seating at dinner, you don't have to sit with anyone you don't get along with. Just be open to diversity and don't talk about religion or politics.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cojorn Posted July 10, 2014 Author #17 Share Posted July 10, 2014 You guys are awesome! We ARE NOT canceling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nomsayin Posted July 10, 2014 #18 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Go for it!! We've done river and ocean cruises, with and without friends, and have thoroughly enjoyed them all. Although we're not exactly extroverts (well, maybe DW is), it's never been a problem mixing with and meeting new people. On that note, we always seem to choose cruises on which there are lots of Canadians, and they are without exception the nicest and friendliest people. Probably something to do getting away away from the snow and cold in winter:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojocmcla Posted July 11, 2014 #19 Share Posted July 11, 2014 So glad to hear that you're not cancelling. We've been on 2 river cruises on our own. We enjoy meeting new people. If there is someone you just don't care for, you don't have to sit with them or be overly friendly. But, on our last cruise in May, we met 2 lovely couples; and the 6 of us just 'hit it off right.' We thoroughly enjoyed being with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratheden Posted July 11, 2014 #20 Share Posted July 11, 2014 DH and I always travel alone. We have met some lovely people and wouldn't have it any other way. I know others like to travel with friends and I am happy that it works for them. I know it wouldn't work for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted July 11, 2014 #21 Share Posted July 11, 2014 You should go... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacmom Posted July 11, 2014 #22 Share Posted July 11, 2014 We are going on our 20th river cruise in Dec. 17 of the cruises have been just the 2 of us. Please don't cancel--you will meet some very interesting people and see some wonderful places. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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