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Making the most of your cruise
 Message Boards
The message board is your best friend before your cruise. Two excellent uses of the cruise message board:
1) To find fellow cruisemates.
Usually called "Roll Calls" you can find them by looking under your cruiseline, ship and date. My preference is CruiseCritic Roll Call
As a solo cruiser, meeting people online before we even board the ship makes me feel that I'm NOT traveling alone. I've made lifelong friends on these message boards. You can arrange to dine together, plan excursions for days in port, even set up your "Quest" team in advance! Often the cruise line (I know Royal Caribbean does this) will have a CruiseCritic get-together on the ship for this group.
When Hurricane Ivan hit in September 2004, it wiped out my pre-cruise hotel (Ron Jon's). A couple from our CC group that lived in Melbourne, opened their home to me. They were terrific; Barb even had a chilled champagne bucket with my fav (Miller Lite) and chocolates on the bed!
; and
2) To learn 99.9% of everything you need to know.
You'll find answers to questions you would have never thought of, in the form of excellent tips, packing lists, little known facts, secret helpers and much more. My favorite tip is the over-the-door plastic shoe-hanger: perfect for a family to use to store small items and cruise cards, etc. Having 24 easy-to-see compartments to organize everything is perfect and amazing at reducing clutter!
You can research your specific ship and find:  secret locations; best cabins; best food, drink, bartender, waiter, show, etc.....
Excursions
Should I book excursion before the cruise?
Should I go thru the cruise ship or an independent supplier?
Fact: cruise line excursions are more expensive. Fact: cruise line will not leave you behind if your excursion runs late. Fact: Excursion usually begins and ends at the ship/port.
Fact: Independent excursions cost less. Fact: You may need to 'get there' on your own. Fact: cruise ship will not wait necessarily wait for you if excursion runs late. Fact: you may get more personalized attention or smaller group.
Often the cruiseline will tell you to book early because excursions fill up fast. This is normally true only for the most popular excursions, such as the Dolphin Swim. Book with a reputable independent company and you will get your money back with no problem whatsoever. My favorite independent excursion host is: Shoretrips. Captain Marvin's for Stingray City (Grand Cayman) is another reputable shore excursion guide.
As solo cruisers, we must always keep our SAFETY forefront. Try to go with a buddy, or hook up with one when the excursion begins. If nobody is available, hang out with the guide!
Getting Around pre- and post-cruise
Another difficulty for solo travelers is "getting there / getting around" (my least favorite part of any vacation). Forgive me independent solo travelers, but I have to admit that there are times I really wish I had a guy with me... particularly when it comes to my luggage. I swear 'the best laid plans' often do not work....
I believe I've tried every option available, short of shipping luggage ahead of time. I've rented one of those carts; I've hired porters; etc. One sorry story after another. When I rented a cart (after losing $ the first two tries) and managed to get my luggage on it, then found out my shuttle bus was on the other side of the airport (and it's HOT in FL!). I've paid a porter to put my luggage where the shuttle was to pick me up; only to find out that wasn't the spot and had to lug my luggage anyway after paying someone else! After 9 cruises, I still don't have a good answer for you.
Also, keep in mind, when traveling alone, there isn't anybody to watch your luggage when you need to use the Ladies room.
Odds 'n ends: make copies of your passport, prescriptions and IDs. Keep set with you and leave a set at home as well.
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