Alone But Not Lonely: My April 23 Escape Cruise!

[CruisnHallelujahs]

3 minutes ago, Travelgrrl said:

 

The lazy river was so new, I don't think many people knew about it. It was located near the far end of the  pool area where I was, to the right if you're facing the pool and the ship. At least the signs pointing it out were!

 

I love a lazy river but it slipped my mind, even though I had an inflatable noodle with me!

Thanks for the info! I’m always on the lookout for a good lazy river.  Saw videos of this one. Looks like they supply the tubes…will bring one just in case.  

[Travelgrrl]

2 hours ago, CruisnHallelujahs said:

Thanks for the info! I’m always on the lookout for a good lazy river.  Saw videos of this one. Looks like they supply the tubes…will bring one just in case.  

 

I always pack a flat inflatable noodle or two on trips and they work great when I'm snorkeling, too. I just lay the tube underneath my hips and it provides just enough support that I don't need to swim at all if I want, just float over the fish! Takes up next to no room in the suitcase, easy to blow up and smoosh down - I just love them.

 

If you're ever planning a stay at Universal Florida, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort has a really nice lazy river!  It's a fantastic 1950's-1960's themed resort and we love it there.

[CruisnHallelujahs]

Thanks so much!  I will definitely check out that resort.  I always bring a pool ring for ocean vacations…nice to float but more importantly they assure my exit from the ocean.  I’ve seen many people struggle getting out being whipped by waves.  Me included.  🫣  Soo embarrassing losing your top.  

[Monica887]

You make me want to travel alone! I love my husband and kids and relative who is my reliable travel buddy, but this all sounds pretty magical... Reading outside before breakfast! Staying at the port just because! 

[Ellis1138]

Did they ever fix the coffee machine in the Studio Lounge? o.o

[Travelgrrl]

7 hours ago, CruisnHallelujahs said:

Thanks so much!  I will definitely check out that resort.  I always bring a pool ring for ocean vacations…nice to float but more importantly they assure my exit from the ocean.  I’ve seen many people struggle getting out being whipped by waves.  Me included.  🫣  Soo embarrassing losing your top.  

 

Hahaha! That's the least of my worries. I'll never see those people I traumatized, ever again!  😁

[Travelgrrl]

1 hour ago, Monica887 said:

You make me want to travel alone! I love my husband and kids and relative who is my reliable travel buddy, but this all sounds pretty magical... Reading outside before breakfast! Staying at the port just because! 

 

I didn't know if I would like it, but I LOVED it! I take all kinds of people on trips: friends, my sisters, beaux, my adult kids - but I'm always very invested to make sure THEY have a good time. It was wonderful to just do whatever I wanted to, 24/7.

[Travelgrrl]

1 hour ago, Ellis1138 said:

Did they ever fix the coffee machine in the Studio Lounge? o.o

 

It was fixed later that same day! Got my coffee on!

[Goldenknight]

Thank you for your perspective.  So far, every cruise has been with my spouse, or with spouse and adult daughter.  Like you, always planning around what they prefer to do.  Sometimes that means sitting through a Deal or No Deal game in the Atrium (**sigh**).  No one buys game cards, but somehow it's "entertaining" to people watch. (*sigh*)  We will go to the art auction once every cruise for the humor, but the "humor" in the Deal games escapes me.

I need to try this solo cruising.

Edited June 9, 2023 by Goldenknight

[Travelgrrl]

30 minutes ago, Goldenknight said:

Thank you for your perspective.  So far, every cruise has been with my spouse, or with spouse and adult daughter.  Like you, always planning around what they prefer to do.  Sometimes that means sitting through a Deal or No Deal game in the Atrium (**sigh**).  No one buys game cards, but somehow it's "entertaining" to people watch. (*sigh*)  We will go to the art auction once every cruise for the humor, but the "humor" in the Deal games escapes me.

I need to try this solo cruising.

 

I think you might enjoy it! Also, from a safety standpoint, the fact that the Solo Cabin area is keycard entry only, and that NCL will basically take you to various beaches for free - it's a wonderful way for ladies to travel!

[Travelgrrl]

Tuesday, April 18th continued:

 

Dinner tonight was at Savor again, and this was the best meal I had all week, and one of the best in my life to date! My wonderful meal started with a Gongonzola Pear Salad that was ‘wrapped in cucumber’ and I really wondered how that could be. If you check out the photo below, you can see that it literally WAS a salad wrapped in a cucumber!, The best part was Ruby Red Trout stacked on green beans stacked on mashed potatoes, and that was some of the greatest fish I have ever had! Mmmmmm!

 

I skipped an appetizer so I had room for English trifle for dessert, which is something that I had read about in many a children’s book taking place in the UK, but have only had as an adult. And yes, it was as yummy as I had imagined as a child! 

 

I had plans to go to Syd Normans or the Escape Theater this night, but by the end of dinner I was too late for either, so it was back to the Solo Lounge for a giant cappuccino and up to Spice H20 for some hardcore reading, sipping and smoking! 

 

Then back to my cozy cabin to take a bunch of goofy selfies, and watch Downtown Abbey: A New Era.  I has seen it before so it was wonderful mindless entertainment to watch while I packed my beach bag for St. Thomas tomorrow! 

 

Photos:  Some cappuccino and wee pastries from some morning, the mystifying cucumber salad, the ruby red trout which really was red, and three selfies. That's what being in a frock with time on your hands will get you!

 

Next up: St Thomas - and a smokestack!

[YVRteacher]

When are you going to write a book?  You’re a fabulous author!

[Travelgrrl]

1 hour ago, YVRteacher said:

When are you going to write a book?  You’re a fabulous author!

 

Ha! I did!   https://www.amazon.com/Cloning-Jane-1-Ellen-Quinn/dp/1978083785/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22MNQ9MSSP14H&keywords=cloning+jane&qid=1686285589&sprefix=cloning+jane%2Caps%2C484&sr=8-1  (It's a middle readers book about teens cloning Jane Austen for their science project.)

 

Hope I'm not doxxing myself too bad.  And thanks so much for the nice words - that means a lot, coming from a teacher.

[YVRteacher]

Love it!!!

Edited June 9, 2023 by YVRteacher

[Linsuesue]

Thank you so much for posting this review with photos! I am booking a group to the Caribbean in 2025 and want to be able to show a tell about the ports. We will be hitting Great Stirrup Cay—Catalina Island, Dominican Republic—Willemstad, Curacao—Oranjestad, Aruba—Bridgetown, Barbados—St. John’s, Antigua—Basseterre, St. Kitts—St.Thomas, US Virgin Islands—Tortola, British Virgin Islands—& Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Anything you post about any of those you happen to visit will be welcomed tidbits for our group! 

[Travelgrrl]

Linsuesue, I'll do my best!  I can't speak for Curacau, Barbados, Antiqua and St. Kitts (Aruba once and didn't have fun but was with someone who was a big complainer 😏) Since I haven't been there, but this cruise hit on your other 4 ports.

 

That must be a heck of a cruise you're going on! You're so lucky!

[Travelgrrl]

Wednesday, April 19   St Thomas USVI     (Docked from 11-7) 

 

Because we were going to arrive so late to St. Thomas, it was a relaxing morning. I got up, put on a cute 2 pc frock, picked up a double cappuccino from the Studio Lounge, and went up to Spice H20 to read for awhile. 

 

I was chatting with another guest when it felt like it was raining. I looked down at my dress and the entire bodice and most of the skirt (that which was not covered by my book) was covered with oily black spots. The dreaded smokestack / soot issue had struck!  I had read about this issue on the Escape while I was researching the trip, and also read that they had ‘fixed’ the problem of their smokestack belching soot on that side of Spice H20. 

 

What a shame! Someone even gave me a Shout pretreating wipe, and I quickly used that and soaked the outfit in soapy water in my stateroom, hoping that it would wash away. 

 

After changing clothes, I still had time to have a lazy breakfast in the Garden Grill, to watch the beautiful sail in to St Thomas, and also to stop by the Library and drop off Cloud Cuckoo Land (yes, done with book #3!) and perhaps look for another. The NCL staff person pointed out the “Leave A Book, Take A Book” section and I happily exchanged “The War That Saved My Life” for John Irving’s new book “The Last Chairlift”. 

 

Now, I love me some John Irving, and own hardcover copies of almost all of his books. But this book was a tough one for me. For one thing, it’s an absolute doorstop of a book, longer than any of his others and that’s saying something. And it’s supposed to be his final book, so I really wanted to like it. I tried reading it back home when it first came out, only to give up on it halfway. SO REPETITIVE from earlier books, so repetitive within the book. So when offered a free hardbound copy I couldn’t resist taking it, and giving it another try. After all, I had only one book left to read and the week was still pretty young!  (Spoiler alert: I got 25% of the way further through it this time, and only that far because I was desperate to read something, anything.) 

 

By now it was time to grab my beach bag and meet on the dock for the Magens Bay Beach Break which was supposed to be 4 hours, from 1:00 – 5:00   This was a tour that was paid for via NCL’s Free at Sea $50 off each excursion.  The ride was wild, in open air buses as we quickly wended our way up the hills and down to get to the beach. Stunning views abounded! 

 

At the beach it was crowded. I mean, it was Coney-Island-on-the-4th-of-July CROWDED! I paid $20 for a chair and an umbrella, and bought a Coke, which was all I needed. The water was pristine, but although I had heard that there were often sea turtles and fish in the shallows on right far side of the beach, I saw little sea life when I tried snorkeling.  Maybe it was the other 10,000 people on the beach, scaring them away?  Regardless, I had a nice day although it was a quick visit, with less than 3 hours on the beach. 

 

On the way back, our driver stopped at Drake’s Seat for its famous photo op, and there were vendors with tables set up, and a steel drum band so it was quite festive. I didn’t need it, but I spied a pretty cute (no doubt Made In China) frog bracelet which was $10 and the guy tossed in a matching pair of earrings. I’m the only woman on the face of the Earth without pierced ears, so those will have to go in the gifts bin at home! 

 

I still had $20 left of the $60 I had brought with me that day, which was the case in every port – I randomly underspent by $20 each tour day, so came back with close to $100 extra. I could have shopped at the Havensight Mall near the ship, but instead I just ambled back to the ship. A lovely lady was dancing and taking photos near the pier. 

 

Up next - Wednesday evening, and the Fate of My Dress!

 

Photos: The cool paintings on our ship, the view of the beach from my lounge chair, the very crowded side view, me on a tree, the ship from on high, another pretty view, musicians at the scenic spot, the lovely lady at the port, and my froggy necklace and free froggy earrings.

 

[Travelgrrl]

Wednesday 4/19 continued:

 

Back in my cozy room, I got cleaned up, put on a dress, and checked my sooty dress – still stained all over! I called Guest Services and they said they would send someone to pick it up and try to clean it. Within a couple of minutes, an officer was at my door (such a lot of To-Do over soot!) retrieving the damp clothes.   

 

Up on board I had a snack and watched an episode or two of Derry Girls on my tablet. I watched our sailaway and then strolled to dinner at Taste. I had ravioli with lobster sauce for an appetizer and massive meat chunks with saffron rice (based on photographic evidence).  As usual, everything was delicious and service was attentive. 

 

Back to my room briefly, they had cleaned and delivered my outfit but it was still covered with spots, so I had a phone message to go to Guest Services to open a claim. For those of you keeping track at home, this was my 3rd trip there – the first time to ask if I truly needed my prepaid shuttle to the airport at the end of the trip, as I had a tour that would drop me off at the airport, and a second time with the paperwork that proved that I did have both booked. This is only of interest because of what happened as the week ended – still to come! 

 

The claim form was mercifully brief and asked the cost of the item. It cost $65 new but I had bought it 2nd hand with tags for $40 including shipping, so that's what I told them.

 

I had planned to catch the 9:00 comedy show but it was far too late, so I got a cappuccino (like a rat hitting a bar to get a food pellet!), grabbed my last book and went up to Spice H20.  I was reading book #5: “Behind The Scenes At The Museum” by Kate Atkinson – highly recommended!  One funny thing at Spice H20 was that a woman I had met earlier in the week had her 20-something son there. He was tipsy, Oh he was tipsy. So tipsy that when she left, he was valiantly trying to hit on me, though his eyes just wouldn’t focus and he asked me my name like 5 times in 10 minutes. Oh, son. You seriously need to cut yourself off before you can’t tell a lady in her 60’s from one in her 20’s!   

 

Back in my room, I charged my phone and packed my beach bag for our early arrival in Tortola in the morning!  Also goofed around taking selfies.

 

Photos: Oily soot on my dress and skirt, ravioli in lobster sauce, meat chunks and saffron rice, taking photos of myself because otherwise I'd have none from the trip! 🤪

 

Next up: Tortola and Merely A Flesh Wound!

 

[Travelgrrl]

Thursday, April 20   Tortola BVI        (Docked from 6 AM - 2 PM)    

   

As usual, I was up very early, and on the deck with a cappuccino by 7 AM. Plenty of time to read, relax and have breakfast before my tour meet time of 9 AM!              

          

When I returned to my room to grab my beach bag, I had a message from the front desk, offering me $40 for the ruined dress. Honestly, I would have rather it was able to be cleaned but since it wasn’t, it was good of NCL to make good. So be very careful on the starboard size of Spice H20 in case the smokestack is belching oily soot! 

 

Like yesterday, we met on the pier for NCL’s Island Beach Break at 9 AM. Our driver was very proud of his island and stressed the British nature of it, and stopped a few times to show off pretty views on our way to Cane Beach. We were again in an open air bus and I was on one end, and unfortunately as we zoomed around a corner, a bunch of vegetation whipped into the vehicle. Everyone yelped but me loudest of all because I got a deep gash on my arm! (Photo below, not for the squeamish.) 

 

When we got to the beach, I showed it to the driver and he said he’d notify the island’s government as they’re in charge of cutting back the plants alongside the roadway. That was the extent of his concern, and I was straight up shaky kneed and freaked out, but got a beach chair right away, sat down and calmed down. I also figured that salt water probably was good for it, so into the ocean I went!  Chairs and umbrellas here were half the price of St. Thomas ($10 instead of $20) and I had some Coke and later some chicken wings and those were reasonable too. Along with the tip for our driver, I only spent $32 of $60 I had budgeted for the day! 

 

Cane Beach was also MUCH less crowded than Magen’s Bay Beach, and other than my gashed arm, I had a nice time. I was back to reading “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" because I had saved the last half for the beach, and had left “Behind the Scenes at the Museum" onboard because I didn't want to get it damp by resting it on my boobshelf. I didn’t even try to snorkel as I saw little signs of reef or vegetation underwater, but the water was pristine and lovely to swim in.  

 

We were back to the ship at 1:00 PM as promised, and as I was walking up, I showed my arm to an officer and she told me to head straight to the medical center, where they were already waiting for me. The nurse asked if I needed to see a Dr and I assured him I just needed a little triple antibiotic ointment and a big bandaid, and he hooked me right up. I now have enough packets of mercurochrome, antibiotic ointment, cleansing pads and big bandaids to stand me through any trip! 

 

Photos:  A tree with cool pods on it, our driver, OUCH!, a pretty view, beautiful beach with yachts in the distance, my little sanctuary, lovely mountains and beach, and 'all better'. (It actually took the gash several weeks to heal!)

 

Next up: Cagneys and Glow Party!

 

[bobship]

I've enjoyed reading about your experience and seeing the photos. It sounds like you've had a great time! I too prefer to sail solo but have no cruises lined up. I keep checking for deals but I'm not seeing much. Looking forward to my next trip, whenever that may be.

[YVRteacher]

Oh your poor arm.  That’s a deep cut!

 

We had the same thing happen to us with the oily soot.  It happened on the Jade the day before we sailed into Malta.  We were sitting outside having lunch at the Great Outdoors and all of a sudden it felt like hot rain.  At first I thought it was the work of a dirty bird but then I looked at my clothes (I was wearing a white top!) and saw that I was splattered with soot from the smokestack. My dad’s hat, shirt and Tilley shorts were covered as well. There was a maître d out there and he saw it happen and he approached us to help. He contacted the laundry while we went back to the cabin to change.

 

The laundry could not get the soot out and shrank our clothes in trying.  NCL did an online search of the items and credited our account with the value of the items.  Since it was so hot they also let my dad choose a new hat from the gift shop so he wouldn’t get a sunburn in Malta.

 

Another time they painted our balcony with no prior notice and no wet paint sign.  This was on the Pride of America.  My dad went out and brushed up against the wet paint and of course that ship paint doesn’t come out of clothes.  NCL googled and found the cost and credited the value of the shirt.

[YVRteacher]

2 hours ago, bobship said:

I've enjoyed reading about your experience and seeing the photos. It sounds like you've had a great time! I too prefer to sail solo but have no cruises lined up. I keep checking for deals but I'm not seeing much. Looking forward to my next trip, whenever that may be.

Check out the Star for Iceland and Norway this summer.  I got a great deal as a solo with no solo supplement.

[Travelgrrl]

Thursday, April 20 continued:

 

I got tidied up, had lunch in the Garden Grill, and watched the sailaway at 2:00.  After, I went back and watched “The Fabelmans” in my room. I guess I was still a little shook up from the gash incident and needed a little quiet time to myself. Loved the movie!

 

I had dinner reservations at Cagney’s this evening, and LarCar from Cruise Critic joined me as he had a dining chit too. I was pretty hyped for this restaurant as I had heard so many great things, but my crabcake was just OK (I think I liked the shrimpcake in the dining room better!) and my bearnaise sauce was cold so that was odd. However, my lobster bisque soup was terrific, and I ordered my steak medium though I prefer medium rare, because I knew it would be thick and I didn’t want it still mooing. Raspberry crème brulee for dessert!  

 

 As always, I was too late to see “Rumours” at Syd Norman’s Pour House, or the 18+ comedy show at the Escape Theater. That’s my one bone to pick with NCL, that there weren’t two showing of performances as I’ve seen on other lines. One the other hand, perhaps my Right-In-The-Middle-Of-The-Evening 7:30 reservation times were to blame. But honestly, I didn’t really miss them!  

 

Instead, I went back to my room and grabbed 100 glow sticks in two tubes to give out at the Glow Party, which was starting at 10:30 PM in Spice H20. Usually kids aren’t allowed in that area, but they let them in for big parties like this, which was fun. Most everyone was in white!  

 

I hadn’t seen the cruise director all week, just heard him on announcements, so this was my first time to see him doing his thing. He reminded me of Bowen Yang from SNL, only not as butch. (!)  It was cool – he was in front of the crowd, face to the giant screen, and his motions seemed to affect what was happening onscreen. It was something like “Countdown! To The Greatest! Party! In the World!!! 10, 9, 8…” very exciting and way, way too loud for this old lady. But I milled around the crowd and gave away glow bracelets which was fun and people were delighted over such a small gesture. My very last one was for a wee lady in a wheelchair, and she was extra pleased.  

 

After that I gratefully headed back to the quiet of my room, to charge my phone and pack a small bag for tomorrow’s sea day. 

 

Photos: One last pic from Tortola, a random dessert, a selfie before dinner, and some pretty lights onboard ship. I had a photo of the "Irregularity Report" about my dress but it featured my name and address, so I deleted it. I loved the name of the form, though!

 

Up next: Sea Day and hitting a Food Wall. 

 

Edited June 12, 2023 by Travelgrrl

[Travelgrrl]

Friday, April 21   At Sea  

 

As usual, I was up on deck early, reading Kate Atkinson’s “Behind the Scenes of the Museum”. This author has two kinds of books: cheeky mysteries featuring Private Investigator Jackson Brodie, or extremely thought provoking and odd books like “Life After Life” and “Behind the Scenes…”  While I enjoy the former, the latter are just mind blowing – “Life” featuring a girl who is able to lead her life over and over again until she gets it right, and “Behind” starts right at the narrator’s conception.   

 

I had breakfast in the Garden Café, but soon hit a wall, food-wise. That is, I was fooded out. Too much food, too many chunks of meat – I couldn’t face another bite and I even skipped lunch. (Say it ain't so!)

 

One thing I wanted to mention is that I’ve always been a Coca Cola drinker, and now that I’ve gotten out of the habit of drinking alcohol, I love it even more! I looked into the cost of the soda package but I figured I would probably spend about the same amount one by one, and at least I could get a canned Coke and not a fountain one. (Oddly, Norwegian offered me the free alcohol package if I paid the 20% tip on it, but I could not substitute a pop package for it. There was no reduced price on that at all, though I was hoping I could just pay the tips on THAT package instead!) 

 

So all week, I ordered cans of Coke onboard when I wasn’t scarfing down the Studio Lounge cappuccinos. The funny thing was, I would offer my card when ordering, and stress: “I would like to BUY a can of Coke, please”. The waiters would confusedly look at my card (assuming I had the fountain pop deal), take my card, bring me a frosty can of Coke and a glass of ice, and then just hand my card back!  I always tip $1 for a drink, and had some nifty chocolate dollar coins with me as well, which the bartenders and waiters seemed to get a kick out of too. But it was odd how many times I got a free pop when I was trying to pay.  

 

Therefore, by this point in the cruise, I had very few charges on my account. I had prepaid my main tips, there were no Starbucks charges due to the free cappuccinos in the Studio Lounge, and I was getting free Cokes more often then I was paying for them. My onboard account was hovering at about $17!  

 

And the crazy part was, I had hella credits. For those keeping track, I had $25 refunded for my transportation back to the airport that I didn’t need since I had a tour on Sunday that would drop me off there, I had $20 because we apparently left a port early (?) and I had the $40 credit for my ruined dress. So: $85 credit and my bill was only $17 so far. I definitely did NOT want to stand in a line on departure day while Norwegian cut me a check for the balance (as I have heard happens – not sure why they can’t just refund monies to the credit card they have on file for your onboard account) so I decided to spend it. 

 

I spent an hour or so browsing the cheaper jewelry selections (think sterling, not gold) and the perfume shop. They did have my perfume (Miracle by Lancome – yummy!), but it was $85 for the smaller 1.7 ounce bottle which seemed no bargain at all. (Don’t ask me why I was being cheap. I had $80 to burn!)  Finally I doubled back to the perfume store, where a different clerk helped me and she said: “Hey! We have the same size perfume in a gift set!” so it came with lotion and a travel perfume for $5 less so that was great. So that took care of $80 of my credit, leading to my new balance being $12.  This story – and my accounting – is positively insane but I swear it’s of interest at the end of the cruise! 

 

Next up:  Hitting the food wall and cancelling things right and left!

 

Photos: None really, from this sea day. Apparently I was too lazy to even shoot any narcissistic selfies! Instead, here's a dumb photo of my money management tradition on trips. From experience, I generally know how much cash I'll spend each day, so I make up wee envelopes for that, as well as ones for travel expenses to and fro, extra tips, etc. Of course I have a debit card for unplanned expenses too! But I get a kick out of accidentally spending less in a port, then having more $ the next day and so on. This trip, I randomly underspent $20 in each port and had an extra $100 cash at the end of the trip, which I'm using for a girls' weekend this month. And of course I planned to spend $100+ on board and as we can see that wasn't happening either!

 

 

[Travelgrrl]

I also collect nice crisp dollar bills over the months before a cruise, and use those to tip when getting drinks, when a staff member cleans ashtrays or puts up a umbrella for me, etc. And I include a silver or gold chocolate coin too.  The good stuff - European chocolate!