Programs: UA Plat, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Plat, HH Gold, Former CO Presidential Plat (for a day!)
Posts: 200
Greek Isles Cruise for single passenger
Hi,
I'm looking at taking a cruise trip to the Greek Isles in late August and I'm a single traveler in my mid-30's...
I'm currently wondering what option to take since I've seen a few decently priced single-supplement deals, but not sure about the ships personality (people's age, activity levels, mix, etc) and food.
I'm currently looking at:
- Royal Caribbean's Splendour of the Seas
- NCL Jade
In the past I've cruised and enjoyed other RCCL ships and haven't tried NCL yet, some friends have said NCL is so much more casual (especially about dining options), that it wasn't their best cruising experience.
I'm going on the Jade in a couple of months, but on a different route (Croatia, Greece and Turkey from Venice).
I've never travelled on rccl but see them as very similar target demographics.
I'm a little picky as a consumer, but have no real complaints about ncl and have sailed them 3 times in the past year or so. Furthermore I'll be stuffing my face in port with the local food and likely picking up wine etc when I see it so the onboard experience from that perspective will be similar between both.
Have you checked out the Epic single studio cabins? That might be cool for a single cruiser in the future.
Programs: UA Plat, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Plat, HH Gold, Former CO Presidential Plat (for a day!)
Posts: 200
Thanks Matt,
I was looking at the Epic for awhile, but I'm torn between doing the "single experience" described there, and visiting the Greek Isles (the week I can go the trip is from Spain to Italy, and as much as I love Italy, I've been there a couple times already and never to Greece)...
The Epic is a blast, did it for New Years, but certainly a very different cruise experience from the Greek Islands with them typically in the standard Caribbean ports.
I'd like to do the Islands too, but have thought it might be better on a small ship experience, simply due to access (imagine all those overweight tourists swarming on the small island..) and that small ships can stop where big ships cannot.
I did a Windstar cruise of the Caribbean - I have to say the crowd was older and the ship didn't have a lot happening on it, but the port experience was SO different (we would sail at say 5pm and land at the next island at 9pm rather than be out all night to make money like a big ship) then they would tender us to port for a late night drink on the beach, stay the night on or off the ship and sail the next day in the afternoon.
I think they would do the Greek Islands really well as they are basically a giant yacht..
I also like the idea of joining a bare boat group (with a captain) for a run like this.
Programs: UA Plat, AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Plat, HH Gold, Former CO Presidential Plat (for a day!)
Posts: 200
Greek Isles Cruise for single passenger
Thanks Matt
You did give me a lot to think about and I think I agree with your comment. The Epic might be a better choice for a fun vacation, and the Barcelona departure might let me check out a fun place in Spain too.
I cruise solo and did Greek isles/turkey last year out of Istanbul on celebrity constellation. As a solo, I get adopted by lots of people and have met fantastic people on cruise critic where I join private guide trips for each port.
I've found that RCCL has a younger demographic (people at the disco!) and recommend this to friends who are cruising. I was not a fan of NCL when I sailed them awhile ago, may give the Epic single rooms a go when they sail somewhere I haven't been to yet.
I did RCL Splendour out of Venice to Athens, Mykonos, Corfu, Split, (and Crete replacing Katokolon, which was on fire during our cruise -- that summer much of Greece was on fire). I went as a couple, and we enjoyed it. For the money, the service was excellent. If you sail out of Venice to the islands, be sure to book a balcony on the Port side -- that side faces Venice during the sail out, which is one of the best sail outs in the world. Actually, we wanted the privacy of our balcony for the romantic sail out... you might prefer the crowd topside to socialize unless you find a friend very quickly....
Obvious plus -- with Greece on fire, the ship couldn't port in Katakolon (which I hear is a bust anyway). By the contract, they could just sail slowly up the coast, and give us an extra sea day. They sailed dead south to Crete and gave us a fast shore day there, which meant they really had to haul to get to Corfu in time for the scheduled stop the next day. They went out of their way, ad certain extra expense, when they could have just kept us n the ship and collected drink sales. Good service. Imagine if an airline handled IRROPS that well.
IIf you sail out of Venice to the islands, be sure to book a balcony on the Port side -- that side faces Venice during the sail out, which is one of the best sail outs in the world. Actually, we wanted the privacy of our balcony for the romantic sail out... you might prefer the crowd topside to socialize unless you find a friend very quickly....
Expect that sail out experience to be going away. Not sure when it's stopping, but Venice is looking at banning cruise ships from taking the route they've been doing. (I think a date is already set for the ban, but I can't remember when it is, and I'm too lazy to look for it now . I know there's been some discussion on some of the boards at cruise critic.)
I sail Seabourn exclusively and usually as a single. Wonderful experiences, more so on the smaller 'sisters'. the Pride, Legend, Spirit. More ambiance in my opinion. 206 v. 450.
