Sailing Solo Questions: Rhapsody 5/22/09

[sanuk4u]

I was curious how cruising works for solos or singletons. I'm going with my sister and am curious if those cruising this line/ship are couples, singles, families, etc. Also to mention, this is both of our first ever cruise.

Do they do anything for solo folks? Activities? Mingle events? Sis and I are into different thing so we most likely will be partaking in diff. things. No, I am not looking for other singles specifically, I just want to make friends and not intrude on those who are on intimate/alone time, or family trips either. I've made some friends on cruise critics (most folks seem to be families cruising) but its not a very lively board.

Also, how does seating for dinner work? I am on the late seating (8:30p), do they group you with like locations? ages? or, ramdomly?

Another stupid question...what time zone do we set watches for? I'm sure they'll tell us all this when we are there, but I like to get as prepped as much as possible.

[blueliner]

There are events for singles. Check your daily Cruise Compass for the schedule.

Just keep the ships time, set your watch to whatever the local time is when you board, and don't change it unless you are notified. If there is a time zone change, that also will be in the Cruise Compass and announced quite often. You can check the ship's closed circuit TV channel in your stateroom and it will always have the current ship's time.

You will be seated at a table with others, unless you and your sister get a table for 2. RCI will usually try to seat you with people near your age and "social status" so to speak. That is why if you filled out the online forms at the RCI website for your set sail pass, one of the questions is your employment catagory. They are by no means perfect in this, so if you are seated with people you don't like, you can request a different table assignment from the head waiter.

[sanuk4u]

Thank you, Scott.

Your response is much appreciated. Now I get why they asked for my profession, I thought that was the strangest thing and was wondering why. Well, if they seat you by jobs, then me and my sis. may not make it together at the same table. . We both are in complete opposite ends of the profession pool. .

Thanks also for the time info, and info about the ships memo and TV's. I didn't know we actually get the TV in our room, I thought it was just a general picture that was used.

Now I'm curious if the beds and the room in general is super tiny or the actual size pictured in the photo on their site. What else should I know? .

Thanks anyway!

Tiya

[blueliner]

The beds are standard twin size, if you put them together you get a standard queen size bed.

The TVs will have some satelitte TV stations, like CNN International and ESPN. Also a couple closed circuit TV channels with a bridge cam, and one with the ship's route and progress of the cruise, and one where they replay some of the CD's games shows and other theater shows like the comedians and production shows.

Seating arraingements are by no means an exact science. They try to put "like" people together. People on the same booking and in the same cabin will always be seated together, so don't worry about that. What they are trying to avoid are things like putting an elderly couple that are say lawyers or accountants with a young family in their mid 20s with small kids and dad is a truck driver. You can always request a different seating assignment if you don't like whom you are seated with.

Enjoy your cruise.

[Matelot]

Do you know that for a fact? I wasn't aware Royal Caribbean was into social engineering.
I have had a mix of white/blue collar dining companions on every cruise.

[blueliner]

Yes, that is why they ask for your employment catagory in the pre-cruise online check-in. It's not social engineering, it's trying to put people at a dining table with other people they would more likely have things in common with, and thus a better dining experience. It's not trying to keep blue and white collar seperated, it's just trying to match like people up.

[gx94111]

Hi Sanku4u,

We crossed paths on another thread, I'm sailing on Rhapsody the week before you. ;-))

This will be my fourth cruise on RCI (the previous 3 on Explorer) and my experience is there isn't any social engineering going on with regard to seating in the main dining room. I've been at tables with families, couples from all walks of life. Interestingly enough, I've always been the only solo at the table. The closest thing to social engineering at dinner was when I was invited to the Captain's table (twice), there they try to have more of a mix of new/seasoned cruisers.

Also, on my first RCI cruise I did show up for the single get together and there was nothing there. No RCI folks organizing or doing anything. There were a couple of folks who looked like they might have been there for the singles get together but since we were in one of the bars and it was filled with people, they could have just been having a drink. The HD told me that these things frequently are "dropped" at the last minute.

As a woman who has traveled solo for 30+ years I would offer the following suggestions: Just get out and do what you are interested in, you'll meet people. When you sit down, ask the person next to you how they are enjoying their cruise, they'll be happy to tell you. Laugh. I'm not kidding, relax, enjoy yourself and laugh. People like being around and are attracted to people who are having a good time. Above all, leave all the little stuff behind and go with the flow.

Have a great time.

[sanuk4u]

Originally Posted by gx94111

Hi Sanku4u,

We crossed paths on another thread, I'm sailing on Rhapsody the week before you. ;-))

This will be my fourth cruise on RCI (the previous 3 on Explorer) and my experience is there isn't any social engineering going on with regard to seating in the main dining room. I've been at tables with families, couples from all walks of life. Interestingly enough, I've always been the only solo at the table. The closest thing to social engineering at dinner was when I was invited to the Captain's table (twice), there they try to have more of a mix of new/seasoned cruisers.

Also, on my first RCI cruise I did show up for the single get together and there was nothing there. No RCI folks organizing or doing anything. There were a couple of folks who looked like they might have been there for the singles get together but since we were in one of the bars and it was filled with people, they could have just been having a drink. The HD told me that these things frequently are "dropped" at the last minute.

As a woman who has traveled solo for 30+ years I would offer the following suggestions: Just get out and do what you are interested in, you'll meet people. When you sit down, ask the person next to you how they are enjoying their cruise, they'll be happy to tell you. Laugh. I'm not kidding, relax, enjoy yourself and laugh. People like being around and are attracted to people who are having a good time. Above all, leave all the little stuff behind and go with the flow.

Have a great time.

Thank you for your help on this topic. It's much appreciated! Good, this way I don't anticipate for something "exciting" and it doesn't pan out. I will definitely not hold my breath and just have fun on my first cruise!

[Matelot]

Join a team for one of the games- Trivia competition for example. Then you will have a few people to chat to right away...

[ToddDH]

I don't know what is done today, but I can confirm that in the hey-day of the Trans Atlantic liners "Social Engineering" (to use Matelot's term) for not only First Class dining but also when passengers often shared their cabins with strangers (of the same sex of course) in possibly in some Second and many Third Class cabins; booking agents would go to the nth degree to match passengers at both table and in cabin to help insure everyone would be comfortable with his/her dining/traveling companions. This was accomplished based upon the information provided at the time of each passenger's booking. While of course not always successful in which case adjustments were immediately made by the Purser (now known as "Guest Relations"), the booking agents were nevertheless quite successful. And this was in the days before computers, "...were even a figment!" as they say today

I wouldn't be surprised were I to learn that some attempt, if not certainly to the aforementioned degree, is still made in the main dining room seating. I also wouldn't be surprised were I to learn that this might often involve groups from different countries, regardless of professions, being seated together to enhance conversation, expand the knowledge of all parties as to the different countries represented, etc.

In any event and has been mentioned, if you don't feel comfortable with your dining partners, you need only mention it to your Maitre D'

Todd

[sanuk4u]

Thank you for your input guys, I will try the trivia and I will be sure to look out for new people to meet. Even if they are from other countries, and any other walks of life. I'm happy to just go out and meet people and have good refreshing conversations about sailing and vacations!

[gx94111]

Hi Sanuk4u,

I hope you enjoyed your first cruise. The entertainer, Derek, in the Schooner Bar was too funny, I hope you caught his show. If so, I hope you were a SUPERSTAR!

[tymzaflyin]

Originally Posted by sanuk4u

I was curious how cruising works for solos or singletons. I'm going with my sister and am curious if those cruising this line/ship are couples, singles, families, etc. Also to mention, this is both of our first ever cruise.

Do they do anything for solo folks? Activities? Mingle events? Sis and I are into different thing so we most likely will be partaking in diff. things. No, I am not looking for other singles specifically, I just want to make friends and not intrude on those who are on intimate/alone time, or family trips either. I've made some friends on cruise critics (most folks seem to be families cruising) but its not a very lively board.

Also, how does seating for dinner work? I am on the late seating (8:30p), do they group you with like locations? ages? or, ramdomly?

Another stupid question...what time zone do we set watches for? I'm sure they'll tell us all this when we are there, but I like to get as prepped as much as possible.

I will let others answer your questions. So, I will share something that MOST Rhapdosy cruiser DO NOT know exists:
DO NOT miss the echo chamber going into the casino. It is located in the narrower hallway in front of the "coin push over the edge" machine!!! Try talking loudly or hollering and it reverbirates!!!!

[sanuk4u]

Originally Posted by gx94111

Hi Sanuk4u,

I hope you enjoyed your first cruise. The entertainer, Derek, in the Schooner Bar was too funny, I hope you caught his show. If so, I hope you were a SUPERSTAR!

I did catch Derek three nights during the cruise. He was the so fun and hilarious!

I was a SUPERSTAR along w/ my three girl friends. On the last night, he chose us to do Dancing Queen! I'm just excited I got a "del sol color changing ring, a recording contract!" . I loved it when he says the price of it is far less than $1000! .

I will definitely be back on this ship and be sure to bug the crap out of Derek next cruise!

Were you on the same cruise too?

[gx94111]

I'm so glad you had a great time. After seeing Derek's show I knew you would be a SUPERSTAR! I was on the cruise before yours. There was a group of us that hung out at the Schooner bar nightly and then moved to the casino. It was great fun. On the last night "the bar people" finally fielded a potential SUPERSTAR. Of course, he was a hit and got the Del Sol ring and recording contract, too! He sang Wild Thing.

When I got home the first thing I did was start looking for another cruise. I booked a Med cruise on Voyager for early July. Can't wait!