HAL for Solo Traveler?

[phillygwm]

HAL Newbie here.  I know there's a pinned topic just for me but it's something like 194 pages, which was a bit daunting 🙂

 

For the past 10+ years, I've sailed on NCL exclusively, for a couple reasons:  1) Certain of their ships have areas tailored for solo travelers.  I actually used the studio cabin only once because 2) after that first cruise I got casino status which usually hooks me up, so I usually get a balcony cabin, minimum.  When I don't, I can pay a couple hundred bucks to upgrade to one.  Most importantly, because of my casino status, I can get these rooms WITHOUT paying a single supplement.  I have Platinum status and I'm not unhappy with NCL.

 

I recently got an offer from a land-based casino offering me a free cruise on selected HAL cruises.  Probably nothing better than I could get on NCL but I'm considering it just because I suppose it's good to have a history (and casino rating) on more than one line, plus I'm curious about the "compare and contrasts."

 

This is a long-winded way of asking whether I, as a solo traveler, would be comfortable or a third wheel on HAL (or, perhaps, whether I would find certain ships better than others for solos.)  I'm particularly interested/concerned with dining options.  

 

Any solos out there who might have some insight?  Thanks in advance!

[highscar]

Have sailed exclusively with HAL  since 2005.  Solo the last 5 years.  Love these ships. Also in balconies. This size of the ships make me comfortable   
I have no intentions lo try other lines. 

[phillygwm]

34 minutes ago, highscar said:

Have sailed exclusively with HAL  since 2005.  Solo the last 5 years.  Love these ships. Also in balconies. This size of the ships make me comfortable   
I have no intentions lo try other lines. 

Thanks for that!  How do you handle dining?  I have no problem playing blackjack alone or sitting at a bar but I get a bit weird dining at a table for 1. 

[NCTribeFan]

I'm mostly solo these days since DD got married.

 

I actually enjoy dining solo.  I like to sit and people watch.  I do go to afternoon tea just about every day if I can, and sit at communal tables.  That gives me enough interaction with others.  If there's a M&G, I always go to those. 

 

I play slots but also play Roulette.  On Eurodam a couple of weeks ago and there was always a couple of people who were there every night and we became a little "roulette family" by the end of the cruise.

 

I had a studio booked on Bliss for a TA.  I had cruise friends booked as well, so wouldn't have used any of the solo activities. 

 

I'm pretty introverted, although when I tell people that on a cruise, they don't believe me.  I'm rather more outgoing on a ship than at other times, but that doesn't mean I feel I have to be doing something with others.  I'm quite used to doing things on my own.  Hey, I got 15 out of 15 doing music trivia one day as a solo.  Take that you groups of four! 😜

 

I absolutely LOVE the large inside cabins on the Vista and Signature-class ships.  They're huge.  I rarely book balcony cabins because I end up spending more time in the cabin, which isn't really why I sail.  I just don't think I get my "money's worth" from the additional expense.  If the casino wants to give me a free inside, I'll take it and upgrade myself to my J-category cabin via Club Orange.

[SargassoPirate]

22 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

Thanks for that!  How do you handle dining?  I have no problem playing blackjack alone or sitting at a bar but I get a bit weird dining at a table for 1. 

 

I often sail solo when She Who Must Be Obeyed doesn't want to go.  I usually skip the MDR for dinner and use the buffet.  I find it frees up a lot of my time to enjoy other pursuits in the evening.  If I do decide to go to the MDR for dinner, I ask for a table for two.  The two tops are often jammed check-to-jowl so that I can either sit quietly and enjoy my dinner or I can converse with the folks at the adjoining tables if we are all so inclined.

[Red Haired Lady]

Like you, I prefer to dine with others and meet people. When you arrive at the MDR they ask you is you wish to share a table. Then you will be seated with others. And yes they still do this since covid.

[cruisemom42]

1 hour ago, phillygwm said:

Thanks for that!  How do you handle dining?  I have no problem playing blackjack alone or sitting at a bar but I get a bit weird dining at a table for 1. 

 

On HAL people are much more willing to share a table at dinner than on NCL.  If you don't want to pre-select a fixed dining time with a larger table, you can arrive at anytime and you will generally be asked if you want to share with others. 

 

As a solo I enjoy this flexibility. I'm not tied down to a specific time/location, and I can choose to share with others (which I do most of the time) or not, if I'm not feeling sociable.

 

On NCL if you don't show up as part of the solo travelers group, it seems to be a crapshoot whether you'll find anyone willing to share. Most seem to prefer to dine with their own party only. 

[sambamama]

I have been sailing solo on HAL for 6 or more years now.  I always get fixed dining at late seating (8pm), and ask for a table of 6 or 8.  I do fixed as I am a picky eater and do better with the same waiter who can deal with my quirks.  I like eating with the same people every night.  I love sailing on HAL as a solo, and I have no problem meeting people.  There aren't many solos, but couples are very amenable to talking to a solo, having them go along to shows or tours, talking to them at a bar, etc!  I was dreading my first solo cruise, and it was my best cruise ever!  I find the food a huge step up from NCL, and the cabins are way bigger!  The entertainment is  a step down, and HAL doesn't have lively party ships, but there are things to do.  Withe the smaller HAL ships, there usually aren't lines for everything, and you can get seats for the shows.  Lincoln Center now has a fantastic classical string quartet with a piano, and you usually have no issue getting a lounger by the pool.  I just came back from my first ever free casino cruise on HAL, and I think you'd fit in just fine.  

[highscar]

I always book late dining at a table for two.  Of course I am the only one there.  But I have found the people at the close tables are always very sociable.    I have been offered several times to share with couples.  

[lcand1923]

I’m a solo traveler who sometimes sails totally solo, other times as part of a larger group put together by my Travel Agent on other lines.  I find HAL is one of the easiest lines to handle the “dining issue”.  If you go to the MDR, they will ask if you are willing to join.  If you go to the buffet, there are a lot of two tops.  If you go to the Specialty Restaurants, there are a lot of two tops.  HAL is very solo friendly, both staff wise and other travelers wise.  When you sit at a bar or take a shore excursion, people will smile at you.  I don’t get casino offers, so the Single Supplement on HAL is a bit daunting, but the way the solo traveler is treated makes it worth the cost.

[rkacruiser]

As a solo cruiser for most of my HAL cruises, look at my signature as to the number of HAL cruises on which I have sailed.  

 

12 hours ago, phillygwm said:

HAL Newbie here. 

 

OP, do you think I have found it uncomfortable or difficult to be a solo cruiser on HAL?  

[travelnap]

12 hours ago, phillygwm said:

Thanks for that!  How do you handle dining?  I have no problem playing blackjack alone or sitting at a bar but I get a bit weird dining at a table for 1. 

I am also platinum on NCL and have had multiple sailings with HAL.  I enjoy both lines and I always sail solo so I can give you my opinion on both.  As far as dining with others I think HAL is much friendlier than NCL for solo diners.  As others have mentioned, you simply have to let them know when you enter the MDR that you would like to join others, where with NCL that just didn't happen as they just automatically seated me at a two top.  That was fine, but like you, I like to dine with others sometimes.  I know that NCL will have solo meet and greets where they will have groups of solos dine together if they wish, but I have never done that with them.

 

Entertainment is better on NCL but HAL has a more relaxed vibe to it.   Food is similar in my opinion as I have not gone hungry on either line.  HAL does seem to have more offers for casino players than NCL.  I have had multiple free trips on HAL and I have never been offered one on NCL with similar play on both lines.  Staff on both lines have been very friendly and do a great job.

 

I do like both lines and am comfortable on either one.  On my last 5 cruises 4 were with HAL and 1 was with NCL as obviously I like the free cruises better than the one I had to pay for.  I also like the size of HAL's ships as I am not a fan of the mega ships that are the new ships on NCL.  I like to relax when I cruise and don't need all the bells and whistles available on the big boys.  NCL does have more specialty restaurants than HAL, but those on HAL are usually good.

 

I would give HAL a try and if you don't enjoy the cruise, you can always go back to NCL for your next one.  Good Luck.

[phillygwm]

1 hour ago, travelnap said:

HAL does seem to have more offers for casino players than NCL.  I have had multiple free trips on HAL and I have never been offered one on NCL with similar play on both lines.  Staff on both lines have been very friendly and do a great job.

...

I would give HAL a try and if you don't enjoy the cruise, you can always go back to NCL for your next one.  Good Luck.

Thank you for the thoughtful feedback.  Really helpful.  I definitely want to try HAL based on the comments above; my current problem is to find a time in Q1 (when the offer is good for) where I could squeeze it in.  

 

I actually liked some of the entertainment (Lincoln Center) on HAL ships more than the big Broadway-style productions on NCL.  I've already seen most of those shows on Broadway, plus they tend to be cut down for time on the ship. And, as a middle-aged guy, the go kart racing on the newer NCL ships really isn't my speed.

 

I have a cruise on the Bliss the week of the 12th; I'll have time around the holidays to determine which itinerary/sailing works best for me.

 

Thanks again!

Edited December 5, 2021 by phillygwm

[Navybikermom]

I have traveled around the world by myself and have enjoyed every trip. I always have my TA book me early fixed seating at a large table. I have enjoyed meeting all the people and quite often have gone on shore trips with some of them. Quite often, many don’t show up for the gala nights so check with your tablemates to ensure that you aren’t sitting there all by yourself. I’ve done it a few times and while I have no problems eating by myself, it’s a tad awkward with people staring strangely at you, dressed to the nines at an empty table - lol. 
You can entertain yourself however you want, whenever you want, when you travel solo. 
The biggest thing I don’t like is having to pay for two people, since it’s really hard to get a solo room, especially on the older ships.