Guide To Solo Cruising- Part II
Part II-
-PREPARING FOR YOUR SOLO CRUISE TRIP
Planning the Logistics: So, you have your solo adventure booked? It’s such a great feeling of freedom and empowerment! But you may be wondering, what do I do now? I am a planner. For me the planning is nearly as enjoyable as the cruise itself. Probably one of the first things to consider is getting to and from the departure port. How will you get there? What time of day can you get there? Do you need to get there the night before and/or stay there the night following your return to the port? Can you drive there? Do you need to fly there? Remember that the cruise line is expecting you to be onboard by 3pm for a 5pm departure time. If you are driving, how long is it from your home to the departure port? Can you get to the port in enough time and accounting for possible traffic delays in enough time to park and board? If it is cutting it close, do yourself a favor and go the day before. It is so much less stressful than panicking when you are stuck in a massive traffic jam on the interstate. It would be horrible to pull up to the port as the ship is sailing away. Oh, I shudder at the thought! Additionally, if you are flying to the port, you need to account for airline delays, luggage pick up, and drive time via Uber or taxi to the port. Allow yourself plenty of time to keep from fraying your nerves! If this is your first solo adventure, check out Vacayou’s 12 great tips for first time solo travel.
Departure Ports Are Fun Too!: I would give strong consideration to arriving the night before, regardless of your logistics. The departure port city can be a lot of fun to explore as an extension of your cruise vacation. Most recently, I sailed out of Ft Lauderdale, Florida. A gorgeous beach town with tons of shopping, bars and restaurants for just about any taste from laid back beachside café to high end (and expensive) waterfront restaurants. The sky is the limit as far as cuisine! I will be doing an upcoming post on details regarding this port. Follow Prideful Life on Instagram so you don’t miss it!
There can also be excursions you can tack on to your cruise at the port of embarkation. However, I have only seen these offered post-cruise. Of course, you can always do a private tour. Just research and make sure there are plenty of positive reviews. A good place to read reviews is Trip Advisor. Many people book private excursions through Viator, but if you just Google the name of the city and the word “excursion” you will see a bunch of possibilities. I would also add that if you are flying to/from your departure port city and you have a late departure on debarkation day, a ship run post-cruise excursion is a good way to spend your time. Plus, they often include drop off at the airport. It’s a win/win in my book!
Should you drive from your home to and from the departure port, you need to consider where your car will be parked while you are enjoying your cruise adventure. Some hotels do offer the option to leave your car parked at the hotel. There may or may not be a fee so be sure to call the hotel and find our beforehand. I usually park at the port parking garage. I find this to be most convenient and as such, I am willing to pay premium for this option. For example, for my recent cruise from Ft Lauderdale I parked at the port and payed $20 per day. A fellow solo traveler who also drove, paid only $12 at an offsite parking lot that offered shuttle to and from the port
A Word on Excursions: Start looking at excursions as soon as possible. Many people shy away from booking with vendors outside the cruise line. No one wants to be a “pier-runner”! However, with some good common sense you can have an amazing experience with a private company with less crowds and for less moolah. First, I recommend looking at reviews. What have other people had to say? Has anyone reported any issues at all with getting back to the ship on time? A good place to start is www.cruisecritic.com. I would also consider the ship arrival/departure time vs excursion start/stop time. The more time you have between excursion end and ship departure, the better. This ensures timely return and allows time for some shopping near the pier. Some excursions will offer to drop you in the town/shopping area and then you will be responsible to get back to the ship either by walking or taxi. Again, don’t be a pier-runner! Allow plenty of time to get back on board. I strongly recommend setting multiple alarms, so you are certain not to miss the ship. If you do, it will cost you. I heard recently that a man paid upwards of $1500 in payment and fees just to hitch a ride out with the pilot boat. Basically, if you miss the departure you will have to pay to get back to the ship, likely by paying to get to the next port of call. Do not be fooled. If they tell you that anchors up is at 4pm and you think they will wait, they won’t. That is the time they are leaving…with or without you. Unless you were with a ship sponsored excursion, they are going to be sailing into the sunset as you run down the pier, waving and begging for the ship to come back. Hence the term, pier-runner!
Final preparations: About 60- 90 days prior to your cruise will be final payment depending on the length of your solo vacation. At 45 days you can start check-in. I set my alarm for about 2am for that day to make sure I am among the first to check in. The earliest check-in’s equate to being in the earliest arrival times for embarkation day. At day 30 you receive your cruise documents including luggage tags. You don’t need to print them in color. Booking between 45 days and 60 days is prime time to search for deals. People will be backing out/cancelling and rooms will open up. This is also the point where I am finalizing reservations for excursions. However, depending on the popularity of the excursion, you may need to finalize much sooner.
Packing: As you prepare to pack for your cruise, consider the expected weather for your destination, where you will be dining (main dining is no shorts, jeans or t-shirts), what you will need to go ashore..i.e beach bag, backpack, snorkeling gear, money belt, sunscreen (you will probably need reef safe if going to a beach), etc… You should also be sure not to forget medications (make sure you will have enough for the entirety of your vacation, you should also bring Immodium and Dramamine just in case), first aid kit, toiletries (the ships provide shampoo, conditioner and body wash), charging cables, a portable cell phone charger, a good book to read, a travel journal, pen/highlighter, and don’t forget your swimwear (no need to bring a beach towel, it just wastes precious luggage space). As a solo traveler, I suggest a waterproof wallet that hangs around your neck to take your cash with you into the pool or ocean. These are inexpensive and work great. They also come in larger sizes to hold cell phones and passports. Also, don’t forget to bring along the reservation information for any excursions or pre-post hotel stays, parking reservations, etc… I usually save this information to my cell phone but pack a copy just in case. The Soloist shares some packing hacks for packing light for your solo journey. Check it out here.
Travel Insurance: Opinions vary greatly on this subject, but for me it is a no-brainer. Get the travel insurance. It provides peace of mind that if something should go wrong, you will be covered. Two of my last three cruises I witnessed medical emergencies on board, so it is not as uncommon as you might think. Also, if something happens and you need to cancel for a qualifying reason, i.e. illness, you won’t lose all your hard earned cash.
Final Pre- Cruise Words: By now the excitement is building and you are almost ready to head out on your amazing solo cruise adventure! Other things you may want to consider is joining the cruise ship’s page on Facebook. Often someone will also start a page for your specific sailing. This is a great way to collect additional information and possibly connect with other solos beforehand. Cruise Critic has loads of information on ship details, entertainment, excursions, food, etc… It is my go-to for this type of information. Additionally, read up on Travelista’s 12 tips for solo cruise travel.
PART III- All Aboard!
“COMING SOON!”