First time solo trip-NCL or RCI

[Golfer5280]

I have yet to take a cruise. Ever. Its something I have toyed with doing in the past and now am planning on pulling the trigger. That being said... I am hoping for some input on whether the Anthem of the Seas or Norwegian Escape would be a better fit. My dates are the first week of October and I have narrowed down these two. Taking money and ports out of the equation (I am fine with both for these two) what would be an experts opinion regarding the ships and companies in general for a solo cruiser?

 

Thank you in advance for any advice.

[cantwaitt]

I would never take NCL as a solo traveler. You will end of eating alone every evening because of their freestyle policy.

 

I would take a cruise on any other cruise line, but make sure YOU DO NOT GET Anytime Dining. That would be the same as NCL's policy.

 

I would ask for a large table at dinner and you will have people to dine with every evening.

 

After this consideration, I would then choose the itinerary that seems most interesting to you.

 

I would then take tours with people organizing them on Cruise Critic. Then you would meet more people from the ship.

 

Go to Trivia, demonstrations, etc. on the ship. People are very friendly on cruises.

 

Have fun!!!!!

[mtwingcpa]

I suppose you should carefully consider the dining options on the two ships. If you want to dine ALONE (that's my preference), you would likely prefer NCL where it is never a problem. However, if you want to dine WITH OTHERS, you will likely have better luck selecting a "traditional" dining option on RCL.

 

Although, NCL's newer ships (including the Escape, I believe) have a solo/studio lounge with a dedicated host who can help set up dining groups for solos if that's your preference.

 

You might also check out the "Solo Cruisers" section here on CC where this issue is endlessly discussed:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=373

[slidergirl]

I would prefer NCL over RCCL because I enjoy dining solo. I hate to be forced into eating with strangers where I either have to listen to their droning on about themselves or I am "treated" to 20 Questions about where I'm from, what do I do, how much money do I make, why am I alone, how "brave" I am to be traveling alone, why I would be "safer" or "have more fun" if I got on a tour bus with 50 others to some cheesy tourist trap rather than striking it out on my own to do what I want to do when I want to do it...

 

If RCCL offered something truly unique over any other cruise line, I suppose I'd give it a try, but I'd eat at the buffet or a specialty restaurant every night to avoid the MDR mess.

 

I'm not into the new stuff they offer on cruises now - the wave riders, high diving shows, ice skating. I go to relax and reset. Give me a lounge chair anywhere, my noise-cancelling headphones, and I'm good. At night, I will go to dinner, go to a quiet bar and have a cocktail, then retire to bed. So, big-group activities aren't on my radar.

 

Look at what each cruise offers and see if it is what you want, including dining options. No reason to pay for something just because it is new, it has to offer what YOU want to do…

[gilbster]

I have only cruised NCL, twice solo and once unfortunately with my mum, that basically reminded me all the reasons why I prefer to travel alone.

 

I love being able to sit alone on NCL and eat, especially in the specialty restaurants. I never normally have a problem as a solo grabbing a table, whether reserved or not, and love being able to sit with my book and relax while waiting for food.

 

I agree with slidergirl, if I have to have any more conversations on "how brave" it is to travel alone (I've been doing this for over 10 years, and I've heard the same comments every holiday).

 

I have no problem happily chatting to people during the rest of the cruise, in the lifts, in lounges, while waiting for shows etc... A lot depends on what you want from your holiday.

 

Just bare in mind on either line, a solo person in a buffet can be problematic, my food at lunch often is cold by the time I find a table. Never dare leave a bag on a table in the buffet, especially if the Escape buffet is as large as the Epic, which is huge, and easy to lose your bearings..and forget where you tried to reserve a seat!

 

I can't comment on RCCL as not used them yet, but although their large ships look amazing, I haven't yet seen an itinerary that suits me.

[SuiteTraveler]

Actually, on NCL the Studio Concierge arranges group diners every night for solo travelers who would like to eat with others. Some of these dinners are in free venues and others are in specialty restaurants - it's a different location every night. There is usually a good sized table with people from the studios. I don't know if a similar service is offered on RCCL or not since you can get assigned dining in the MDR. In terms of ships, Escape and Anthem are direct competitors. I would decide which cruise line based on the amenities offered onboard that mattered to me. For example, Escape has full scale water slides, Anthem has flow riders, Anthem has better shows, Escape has a better casino, Anthem has the all adults Solarium, Escape has the better thermal suite which includes a snow room and water circuit, steam rooms, dry sauna and saunarium and heated tile loungers. Anthem does not have the water circuit or snow room. In terms of specialty restaurants, both ships have good ones. In terms of buffets, the Escape's buffet is much larger and more comprehensive than Anthems. In terms of crowding, the main pool on Escape is more crowded. Escape has bowling, Anthem has bumper cars, roller skating and IFly. Anyway, pick and choose based on what types of things you want to do on your vacation and pick the ship that best matches that. You really cannot go wrong with either ship.

[Golfer5280]

Thanks for all the input! I had weighed the amenities that both ships offer and was honestly at a dead toss up. They both offer better versions of different things that are important to me.. like casino, shows, and spa. I am not one for the gimmicky things like bowling, bumper cars, and sky diving. That being said...I have no problem dining solo and it sounds like Escape may be the way to go.

[karenpstok]

i have done 3 solo NCL cruises on the getaway and escape and have two more booked. I love the studio cabins. There is the 6pm solo gatherings if you are looking for company for shows and dinners. I personally like that i don't have to be sat at a table of people i don't know and have no problem eating alone. Cant comment on other cruise lines as i have only done carnival with a friend and then my 3 solo NCL ones.

[Guest maddycat]

There have been some inaccuracies posted about the Anthem in this thread. The Anthem does not have traditional dining. It has dynamic dining which is similar to NCL's freestyle dining.

 

On the Anthem you can have either dynamic dining classic or dynamic dining choice. With classic you are assigned either early (5:30) or late (8:30) dining. You rotate among 4 complimentary restaurants with your table mates and your wait staff. In choice you choose your dining times, between 5:45 and 9:00 at 15 minute intervals. You can also choose from 5 complimentary restaurants. You can request a large table but most likely you will be seated by yourself.

 

On RCI, many solo travelers join the cruise critic meet and mingle roll call for their cruise. They get to know other cruisers by posting on the roll call before the cruise. They make arrangements to share excursions and some also plan to dine together.

 

You might like to post on the Anthem cruise critic board and get solo's cruisers' experiences. The link is below.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/royal-caribbean/anthem

[Quilting_Cruiser]

I would never take NCL as a solo traveler. You will end of eating alone every evening because of their freestyle policy.

 

This is absolutely not true. You can eat alone if you choose to and if you'd prefer to eat with others you can do that, too. There are dinners for solos arranged every evening and you can sign up for them if you want to eat with others.

 

I've cruised solo twice on NCL--once on a ship without studios and a lounge for the solos and once on the Epic which has studios. Both were great experiences and I have two more solo cruises booked on NCL. On ships that don't have studios, they do have a solo cruisers' meeting every evening, but it's not as well-attended as the get-togethers on the larger ships with studios.