Solo traveling on NCL Dawn - Advice Please?

[HLM29]

I am single and traveling solo on the Dawn 2/10/05. I was supposed to be with a friend but she canceled and I decided to go on my own. I am looking for any advice other solo travelers may have for me about meeting people, meals and anything they feel relevant. I am a single 34yr old, professional women just looking to have a fun relaxing time without feeling like a social outcast especially at dinner.

 

If anyone else is on this trip, please let me know. I would love to know a few people before getting onboard.

 

Happy Holidays

Helen

[seahorse]

There is a thread on your sailing on the roll call forum. They will welcome you with open arms:D

[EileenN]

When you enter the dining rooms for any meal, tell the matre d that you would enjoy sharing a table with others. Instead of eating breakfast and lunch at the buffet, go to the seated dinning room. Attend interactive games, "weakest link", and other games shows in Spinniker lounge. Go to Bingo and check out the card and game room on deck 12 to see if you can be included in a card game or dominos. It is ususally easy to meet people in the casino, if you enjoy playing. I hope you enjoy the cruise and make wonderful memories.

[gizfish]

I remember reading in the Freestyle Daily's that there were single meet and great groups. It seemed as if they were held quite often, maybe even every day, but not sure about that.

[uneamie]

I am single and traveling solo on the Dawn 2/10/05. I was supposed to be with a friend but she canceled and I decided to go on my own. I am looking for any advice other solo travelers may have for me about meeting people, meals and anything they feel relevant. I am a single 34yr old, professional women just looking to have a fun relaxing time without feeling like a social outcast especially at dinner.

 

If anyone else is on this trip, please let me know. I would love to know a few people before getting onboard.

 

Happy Holidays

Helen

Helen...sorry to hear your friend canceled on you. I am sure it would have been lots of fun to experience this trip with her. However, a solo cruise can be an experience in and of itself. How relaxing it will be to decide when and if you want to do something. How much fun it will be to just lay around and relax on deck without worry that someone expects you to limit your time to do something else. Lots of fun finding other singles and single women to hook up with and make a few plans with while your at a lounge or the pool.

 

At dinner...I suggest you ask to be seated with singles or a group. You will have more opportunity to find a few ship companions for other activities. Once you get to know a few people...you usually bump into them on board and things usually work out from there.

 

Have a wonderful cruise...this will be a unique experience...one I would love to have myself! :D

[CaptData]

Hi, I travel solo all the time. Read the daily when you get on board, there will be a meet and greet first night for singles. Do tell the Mait'd that you want a shared table, you will meet other this way too. Be friendly at the pool. Go with a mind set that you are going to have fun. Check out the dance areas and have fun.Go on ship excursions that have a party theme or a historical theme, depending on what you like. Play the games on board.

[crazy4cruzin]

Helen - Definitely go to the Roll Call for your sailing and join them and keep talking to them, and go to the Cruise Critic get togethers. This will guarantee that you will have friends immediately upon boarding. I did this on my Dawn cruise and it made it 100 times better, and I was with my family. I made friends through the Cruise Critic with whom I still keep in touch. You will then end up going to dinner with them some of the nights. We would meet up around the pool and chat, you could plan on joining them for some excursions. It's a great way to enjoy a cruise, especially if you are solo. Your particular Cruise date has a lot of people already talking and getting to know each other, definitely join them. And have fun most of all!

[HLM29]

Thank you for your posts. I really appreciate your advice. I have travelled solo before but never on a cruise before. I was worried about freestyle but I am feeling better about it now. I will definately be asking to share a table at all meals and join the activities.

 

Thanks

Helen

[lou_vnj]

I was on the Dawn 11/18-11/28 cruise and they did have a singles meet just about every day if I remember right, even the last days of the cruise. They were held in the Star bar at 6 pm, which seems like it would be great to meet a few new friends and then head off to dinner to continue the conversation.

 

I did see people dining alone, but I'm not sure if they were cruising alone or just had different plans that night than their partners.

[thebrat99]

If you want to hear about a very recent trip by a solo classy lady, see Coka's review of her Thanksgiving trip. She has more fun than most! Here is the link:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=105153

[ColoradoLad]

Hi!

 

I posted on another liner thread about same question:

 

I referred to a song on an old album called "Slides" by Richard Harris, the actor.

Where he talks rather than sings about traveling solo. There was also a book, again very "late 60's" about this. I have no idea after 35 years what it was.

 

In my peer group mostly retired some have always and some now do so: cruise without a friend. We are fewer now, "we" being my friends from my youth.

Hey, how you dress may be part of the fun: as in if a college type wear the school colors, if a farmer wear that "John Deere" t shirt?

 

No real advise: love to find that much it is on CD:

 

Will see if I can at least write out the words:

 

I have been married: so long :) Think US Grant was President!

 

She when we cruise and we do so several times a year: does SCUBA, snorkeling, shore excursions: I do not. We both meet people and always form some good bonds. I can not do much physically anymore, so we "go our own ways".

 

Colorado

 

PS

 

My divorced sister will not cruise with us: she should. Why?

 

Part of the reason people cruise is simply the "social" interaction.

Reminds us we are all family

[salty dingo]

It is comforting to be in a familiar group, but traveling alone has its rewards. You can do a lot more of what you want without waiting for someone else. You will probably have more time to relax too. Enjoy, and you will have plenty of oportunities to meet people. At dinner, especially, being seated at a large table is a great way to meet people. With the freestyle concept, many people will eat with people they have not met before every night. You will fit right in.

[shoreguy]

.

 

If anyone else is on this trip, please let me know. I would love to know a few people before getting onboard.

 

Happy Holidays

Helen

 

Helen

 

Join the rollcall and the other crazy adventures sailing on 2/10. Here is a link. At minimum the group will meet the first day at sea to put faces with names, It always nice to "know" a few folks onboard. Here is the link:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=2494575#post2494575

 

I may be cruising solo as well and looking forward to it :)