Solo cruising tips for Royal?

[Eight_Paws]

I have taken many cruises across many lines but always with companions (spouse, family group, etc).  For 2022, I have extra time off built up and will be taking my first solo cruise (Navigator of the Seas).  What are the best onboard activities for solo travelers?  I'm not super outgoing but won't want to be in a cocoon for the cruise either.  I have traveled on Royal before but that was 20 years ago so I'm sure a LOT has changed.  Are there a lot of activities on port days as well, or only on sea days?

 

Thanks!

[neverbeenhere]

With Covid protocols “things” are limited. If you are sailing late in 2022, perhaps cruising will be closer to normal. 
 

bump up to the top. 

[Eight_Paws]

It's April -- I know things won't be fully back to 'normal' at that point, but hopefully will be heading in the right direction.

[Travelgrrl]

I have seen current Cruise Compasses that show a full slate on onboard entertainment, both on sea and port days. I've always wanted to take a solo cruise and would do so in a heartbeat on Royal Caribbean - you meet so many friendly people everywhere, you feel as if you have a lot of new 'friends' by the end of the week.  

 

Sometimes they have Singles Meet and Greets at the beginning of a cruise. If you sign up for cruise tours, you'll likely meet fun people on the same tour. Personally, I don't need a companion to enjoy a show or a movie - and my favorite thing to do onboard is to curl up with a book and a cup of cappuccino, with a view of the sea!

 

You'll have many options of things to do, as many or as few as you like.

[bhsolo]

I had a great time cruising Royal solo. I read a lot of books, met a bunch of people either by the pools or through excursions, ate in the Solarium for dinner, went to the shows, and overall had a really nice time. I didn't do the singles meet and greet thing as I wasn't very interested in that. I'm looking to book another solo cruise with Royal soon.

[Eight_Paws]

1 hour ago, bhsolo said:

I had a great time cruising Royal solo. I read a lot of books, met a bunch of people either by the pools or through excursions, ate in the Solarium for dinner, went to the shows, and overall had a really nice time. I didn't do the singles meet and greet thing as I wasn't very interested in that. I'm looking to book another solo cruise with Royal soon.

 

The Solarium looks lovely and I expect to spend a lot of quality time with my Kindle there!  Didn't know you could dine there though..

 

I'm a big fan of trivia and come Compass issues I found online look like Royal has a lot of trivia offerings.  Yay  😊

[Jingerwoppy]

I wanted to try solo cruising but the wife says no.

[brillohead]

2 hours ago, Eight_Paws said:

The Solarium looks lovely and I expect to spend a lot of quality time with my Kindle there!  Didn't know you could dine there though..

Navigator doesn't have a Solarium Bistro -- that's an Oasis-class thing.  

But the Solarium is on the same deck as the Windjammer, so you can get your food and bring it back to the Solarium, if you want!

(The Solarium is my happy place on non-Oasis-class ships.)

[crzndeb]

51 minutes ago, brillohead said:

Navigator doesn't have a Solarium Bistro -- that's an Oasis-class thing.  

And Quantum class…..I loved it recently on Ovation. While there was a huge line for breakfast at Windjammer, I walked right into Bistro. 

[Maitaivegas]

4 hours ago, Eight_Paws said:

 

The Solarium looks lovely and I expect to spend a lot of quality time with my Kindle there!  Didn't know you could dine there though..

 

I'm a big fan of trivia and come Compass issues I found online look like Royal has a lot of trivia offerings.  Yay  😊

I plan on spending some time in there with some “lite reading” Maybe I can find a waiter that I can give them a large enough Tip he can  supply me with cocktails on a regular basis

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Coralc]

11 hours ago, Eight_Paws said:

It's April -- I know things won't be fully back to 'normal' at that point, but hopefully will be heading in the right direction.

When are you going in April? We are on the 27th. There is no Roll Call because it is only 5 nights. But we like to meet other people. 

[marktwothousand]

I saw a solo cruisers meet and greet on day one of some November sailings on a ship. It was around 11 PM so you’d better be a night owl. But that’s the only thing on the schedule I could see. I’d love to hear from people out in the field on this 

[brillohead]

1 hour ago, marktwothousand said:

I’d love to hear from people out in the field on this 

You mean as far as events scheduled solely for solo travelers?  That's it. 

But solos are able to go to any event that non-solos are able to go to, so there are several events every single day.

 

[ONECRUISER]

Pre-Covid have seen Singles gatherings on most my Royal Sailings, Lunch and Lounge get together's. Funny thing is usually 1-3 Men and 8-10+ Woman. These were listed with times in Cruise Compass. Meet at these then we'd go to Shows and some on same Excursions together...

[Eight_Paws]

9 hours ago, Coralc said:

When are you going in April? We are on the 27th. There is no Roll Call because it is only 5 nights. But we like to meet other people. 

 

Coralc--  I'm actually doing B2B April 11 and April 15 sailings.  LA is a nice departure port from Phoenix as I can drive to LA rather than fly to Miami!

[marktwothousand]

Are these events meant for singles or solos? There’s a big difference. Not all solos may be single, some people just travel alone. NCL has made an effort of stressing their program is for “solo travelers”. Is the RCCL program actually more of a “singles” program?

[ampurp85]

2 hours ago, marktwothousand said:

Are these events meant for singles or solos? There’s a big difference. Not all solos may be single, some people just travel alone. NCL has made an effort of stressing their program is for “solo travelers”. Is the RCCL program actually more of a “singles” program?

On my last sailing there was a distinction. There was a group of 300+ singles and they wore lanyards to signify this. There were also meet and greets for solos, I saw them in the casino, and they were a totally different group. As far as I know RCG doesn't have a solo program like NCL, just people who link up on here, FB and other social media sites. The singles group booked a group rate and reserved things but it wasn't a RCG program.

[ScubaCat3]

In the Daily Planner on day 1 of two recent cruises (different ships) there was a listing under the heading "Things to Do" specifically for solo travelers.

 

"Solo Travelers' Get Together (self-led)" - with time and place noted.