I Just Booked My First Cruise!

The Scandinavians are always ahead of the curve when it comes to personal rights. I bet they saw how many were about to book a cruise but when they said they were single and saw the price double? they said no thanks. And they may have had half empty cruises and did something smart! I'm so glad. It is the 21st century. Not everybody is married And has children.

You had to pay almost double if you were a single going on a cruise. You had to pay for two people because prices were based on double occupancy. It is known as the single supplement. It kept a lot of people from cruising. Some cruise lines fixed you up with a cabin mate but I do not want a cabin mate. I happen to like being alone and who knows who your cabin mate is going to be. Norwegian broke with the norm two years ago and built a ship that had smaller cabins for those who travel alone allowing them to pay just for themselves. Way to go, Norwegian. These smaller cabins for the solo traveler are doing so well that other cruise lines are following what Norwegian are doing, not all, but some.

Also, a lot of people enjoy being alone. I am a friendly and social person but I love my solitude and privacy.

I promise to take a lot of pictures and would love to share them. I will also write about my experience after the cruise.

I can imagine you are very excited and you very much deserve this lovely cruise. I know my friend from Chile visited St Maarten and she really liked it there. I usually travel by plane to my gateway destination then on local trains and buses. Only if necessary do I go on a ferry because I tend to get seasick. I have been on overnight ferries and a training vessel when I was at further education college. I haven't ever traveled on a cruise liner. I know about the single person's price and it is great you have avoided it. You have some wonderful destinations to look forward to.

I can not begin to tell you how excited I am. I have been wanting to go on a cruise for the longest time and finally, I was able to book one. I chose the Norwegian Epic because of the solo cabins that do not require the dreaded single supplement. I plan to take one small rolling suitcase with mix and match items except for a white dress because on the second night, there is a party and everyone is encouraged to dress in white. This ship is casual which I like. It is a new concept in cruising, very experimental. It gets mostly good reviews. The ship is larger than I would like. It apparently can get crowded and hectic. The Epic is very appealing to families with children but there should be more space and quiet in February during the school year. I imagine that being the world traveler you are, you have gone on many cruises. What are your favorite lines and ships? Believe me, I will have my camera. I pack all my technology first and days early. My memory is that I will be visiting St. Thomas, Marteen or St. Marteen, and one other that begins with a "B'. I need to go refresh my memory for when people ask.

We were just talking about internet use on the cruise ship. One manager said something about "that's how they get you". I have my iPad with AT&T 3G service but I am not certain I can get coverage on a cruise ship. I would also have to buy an international plan. If worse comes to worse, I will have to live without the internet for a week. Don't be jealous because this is my first cruise and I am 67 years old. You have many more years ahead of you to take your first cruise.

They are not cheap but, if you think about it, $1,000 is not bad for an entire week. That includes everything. Of course, I have to add in round trip air fare to and from Miami plus hotels in Miami before and after the cruise. It is a splurge fore me but I have wanted to cruise for a very long time and I am going to do it.

Not bad! The cruises offered here are roughly $4,000 - $5,000. And they're just Asian cruises, just among our neighbor countries. I hope I can splurge on a cruise sometime in the future, too.

I hope for a memorable cruise. It is not until February. I hope that it will not be my first and last cruise but I am 67 so who knows.

I plan on having a lot of fun and I plan on taking lots of pictures. I will be going to New Orleans for AARP in September.

On this ship, I do not have to pay anything extra because I am traveling alone but this is new to the industry. This ship has small cabins for the person traveling alone but on other ships, you have to pay extra money if you travel alone. Norwegian has done something almost radical by providing small cabins for solo passengers. I like being alone and I enjoy my solitude. I do not want a cabin roommate.

I am not going until February so I will have some time to learn about the cruise experience. Norwegian's solo cabins are very popular and successful. They are selling out first and fast. Other cruise ships are now following what Norwegian has done. It's about time. I really enjoy being alone and traveling by myself but I feel discriminated against. In fact, I and other solo travelers, are discriminated against. In many situations, we have to pay what a couple would pay. I love the water. Some might say that it is because I am a Pisces. I live in Central Texas and we have lakes and rivers but it's not the ocean. I have lived in Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. I took the ocean for granted and did not fully appreciate it like I now do.

You can always do a search on cruises. It might be that some are much less than you would expect. Also, remember, the ship is your hotel. You get meals, entertainment and transportation. The price includes everything. Before the trip is over, it will probably cost me between $2 and $3 thousand because I have to fly to and from Miami. I will probably want a hotel in Miami before and after. Shore excursions will also cost.

You can do research on Norwegian Cruises. A lot of the cruises are less than $1,000. But do not stop wityh Norweigian. Do a search on all cruise lines and compare. The cruise that I am going on is seven days. Some are less time and some are longer. I can not give you any details yet because I have never been on a cruise. I do not have the information. I know that there are 40 small cabins for single persons. There is only one person allowed in each cabin. All 40 cabins are in the same area of the ship and there is a common area for just these 40 called a "living room" which is really a lounge.