Why This Cruise Ship Is Good for Solo Holidays

Earlier this 12 months, life was feeling fast-paced, and I made a decision a giant break was so as. Searching for a solution to decelerate and reset, I remembered the phrases of my father, who handed in 2015. He was within the Navy as a younger man, and had at all times informed me I ought to cross an ocean at the least as soon as. So, taking that as my inspiration, I booked a solo journey to sail throughout the Atlantic, aboard the Norwegian Getaway.

The itinerary would take me from New York to Southampton, England, over the course of two weeks in late April and early Might. As a one-way journey, the journey is what insiders name a repositioning cruise, when a ship strikes from one a part of the world to a different, normally to comply with the seasons. (I deliberate to fly residence as soon as I reached the U.Ok.)

This is able to not be a type of old style, no-stopping crossings, although: After leaving New York, our 3,903-passenger ship visited Canada earlier than touring 5 consecutive days within the North Atlantic. On the European leg, we additionally visited Eire, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France earlier than our remaining cease in Southampton. I used to be intrigued by the attention-grabbing itinerary, for certain, but additionally by Norwegian Cruise Line’s dedication to solo vacationers. The road gives solo pricing, cabins constructed particularly for singles, and grants all unbiased vacationers entry to a non-public lounge meant only for them. Seems, this solos-only house has the easiest cup of complimentary espresso on board.

One other discovery was simply how simple it was to maintain up with work whereas at sea, due to the Starlink system on Getaway. I splurged on the upgraded Wi-Fi bundle and located the sign robust and constant, even throughout barely inclement climate. It additionally labored splendidly from my inside cabin. This was, I’ll admit, stunning, contemplating the ship was comparatively full: On sea days — and given the comparatively chilly spring climate — many company have been indoors lots and more likely to be on their gadgets.

I savored the lengthy stretches at sea, once I may very well be as lively or as relaxed as I wished. There have been quite a few leisure choices day and night time; a state-of-the-art spa and health middle; loads of scorching tubs; and an outside working monitor with great views on Deck 16. Once in a while, I ventured out for some recent air and whale watching, binoculars in hand, on the Waterfront, a quarter-mile promenade on Deck 8 with out of doors bars and comfy seating. Different occasions, I’d duck into one of many specialty eating eating places, akin to Ocean Blue or La Cucina, which don’t function throughout mid-day hours however however supply a quiet place to sit down: window tables with stunning views of the ocean.

Personally, I discovered crusing for days with no land in sight each enjoyable and thrilling. And, fortunately, we solely skilled sooner or later with excessive seas; in our case, it was 15-foot swells. For me, the over-the-counter medicines I packed have been fully efficient. Phew!

Whereas Getaway isn’t one of many latest Norwegian ships, I discovered it by-and-large to be comfy and modern. I did miss having a big “remark lounge” like these discovered on different Norwegian ships, such because the Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Pleasure. Nevertheless, different latest updates to this vessel that was first launched in 2014 have improved the expertise on board. Throughout one latest beauty overhaul, Norwegian made adjustments to the on line casino structure on Getaway to raised comprise the smoking space, which had beforehand been adjoining to a close-by restaurant, and in addition spruced up the primary eating venue, now known as the Manhattan Room.

One factor I did be taught the onerous method is that I ought to have began my journey in Europe and sailed towards the U.S. Going the opposite method would’ve let me acquire slightly than lose an hour of sleep most nights. I’ll should preserve that in thoughts for my subsequent repositioning cruise.

Now, right here’s a more in-depth take a look at the staterooms, facilities, meals, and different options on Norwegian Getaway.

The Staterooms

With 2,014 staterooms, Getaway has a cabin and value level to swimsuit nearly any journey model. Company on the lookout for an elevated expertise can select from 80 suites within the Haven, what Norwegian calls its unique “ship-within-a-ship” space, full with a non-public restaurant, lounge, and pool. (One factor to notice: Solely 28 suites on Getaway are really throughout the Haven, with the remaining 52 elsewhere on the ship — although they do have entry to the entire facilities.)

As a solo traveler, I went the opposite route, reserving an inside cabin. Sadly, by the point I booked my journey, all of the cabins on the ship which are particularly for solo vacationers have been offered out. (Getaway has 59 studio staterooms and 20 solo balcony cabins for single vacationers.) As a substitute, I used to be provided solo pricing on a barely bigger inside cabin. Not one to move up a deal, I reserved regardless of the actual fact the room didn’t have a balcony — or perhaps a window. Adorned in heat brown hues with pops of blue, Cabin 12455 was cozy and cozy, with a enjoyable, midcentury fashionable carpet. It was well appointed and effectively designed with a number of storage nooks to maintain organized; the lavatory was bigger than I anticipated.

Bars and Eating places

With almost 20 completely different eating choices on Getaway, I at all times felt like I had loads of selections, even on a 14-day journey. Complimentary for all company are three important eating rooms, in addition to the American Diner; Backyard Cafe, because the buffet is understood; Shanghai’s Noodle Bar; and O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, the ship’s 24-hour eatery providing conventional tavern fare.

I used to be personally extra excited by the eight specialty eating places, entry to which is both à la carte or accessible with an upgraded eating bundle. Getaway is among the few Norwegian ships with Wasabi, a sushi spot, and the Uncooked Bar, a fantastic place to have a couple of oysters and a few bubbly earlier than a present. There are additionally Italian, Brazilian, and French eating places on board. Two standout dishes for me have been the poached pear dessert at Le Bistro and the roasted beets with goat cheese and truffle dressing at Ocean Blue.

The ship has about 20 completely different bars, give or take, contemplating some, akin to Sugarcane Mojito Bar and Syd Norman’s Pour Home, have each indoor and out of doors bars and numerous leisure venues additionally combine and serve drinks. If the favored Atrium Bar or Mixx Bar have been too busy for my style, I’d enterprise to the stylish Prime Meridian Bar, which at all times felt like a clandestine spot for a nightcap.

The place Norwegian Getaway Sails

For summer season dates in 2024, the ship will cruise the Greek islands out of Athens, with itineraries that additionally embrace Turkey, Malta, Spain, and Portugal. The subsequent transatlantic crossing, a 12-day voyage in early October, departs Lisbon for Miami, with visits to Nova Scotia, Canada; the Azores, Portugal; and New York. Then, Getaway returns to Caribbean waters with fall and winter cruises from New Orleans to Mexico, Belize, and Honduras.

In 2025, Getaway will sail Caribbean locations, with visits to locations akin to Curaçao, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, and Grand Cayman. Spring and summer season itineraries embrace numerous New York to Bermuda journeys, and late 2025 voyages take the Getaway to Canada and the Bahamas.

Shore Excursions

I opted for excursions in Zeebrugge, Belgium and Le Havre, France, each ports that required a little bit of journey to get to what I wished to see. The “Bruges and Belgian Goodies” tour included a well-paced stroll via the medieval metropolis middle and a go to to the Chocolate Museum. Whereas in France, I loved a full-day tour on the “Monet’s Giverny & Rouen” expertise, together with a go to to Claude Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny. (Subsequent time, I’d not go on a busy vacation weekend!). The beautiful journey was rounded out by an included lunch at a captivating countryside villa, and a cease in Rouen, the capital of Normandy.

One thing to remember is that these excursions have been all giant teams, with a mean of 40 individuals per tour. Typically, the times have been properly organized and transport ran easily. The one main hiccup appeared to be in Dún Laoghaire, Eire. Moderately than be at a dock, the ship was at anchor, which meant that company needed to get ashore by tender. Norwegian allowed passengers to order a time slot for tenders — however many people nonetheless needed to wait so long as 90 minutes to get ashore.

Facilities and Leisure

On a ship of this dimension, there’s at all times one thing to do. Virtually everybody on board raved in regards to the Tony Award–successful musical “Million Greenback Quartet,” in addition to the imaginative “Broadway Unplugged” present. Elsewhere, Headliners Comedy Membership had stand-up acts in addition to an upbeat dueling pianos present. Bliss Extremely Lounge was the place to bounce into the wee hours; the ship additionally had a on line casino and cigar lounge.

For extra relaxed vibes, there’s the Mandara Spa, with its therapy rooms and a Thermal Suite, which had heated tile loungers, saunas, a whirlpool, and a salt room. It was extremely busy on sea days; I heard the general expertise was higher on days the ship was in port.

Given the season, there have been just a few courageous souls in the primary swimming pools on my journey, however Getaway does have two, plus a kids-oriented water park and 5 waterslides. (Whereas I didn’t see anybody having fun with the enjoyable “moist lounge” within the adults-only Spice H2O, it was the place to seize a piña colada when the solar was out.) Ten out of doors scorching tubs — 4 situated close to the primary swimming pools, two in Spice H2O, and 4 extra within the unique areas of Vibe Seaside Membership and the Haven — have been actually put to good use. There’s a Ropes Course hovering excessive above Deck 17, for a little bit of adrenaline-pumping journey; giving it a go is included within the cruise far.

Household-friendly Choices

Provided that I used to be touring for 2 weeks, and throughout the college 12 months, I wasn’t stunned that there have been few youngsters aboard. However, on different journeys, Getaway may very well be a super possibility for households. The ship has a complimentary Splash Academy youth program, and older youngsters could make new mates on the Entourage teenagers’ membership. There’s additionally a kid-specific “aqua park,” and a sequence of 5 multistory waterslides. Further facilities for households together with an arcade, a small bowling alley, and a well-equipped sports activities space full with an outside basketball court docket which, by standard request on my cruise, was became a makeshift pickleball court docket.

Accessibility

Getaway has roughly 40 accessible rooms in several stateroom classes, together with within the Haven, that includes wider doorways, roll-in showers, seize bars, and sufficient house to show mobility gadgets. The ship can accommodate most wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and all eating and bar venues are accessible. There are accessible public restrooms, leisure venues with lodging, and ADA pool lifts may be present in the primary pool and scorching tub space, in addition to within the Thermal Suite. Excluding Decks 17 and 18, all have visitor elevator entry. Gangways for embarking and disembarking are large sufficient to accommodate most mobility scooters and wheelchairs.