First Commercial Cruise – Italy & Greek Islands

My first ever commercial cruise experience, booked last minute, madly as a singleton (cruise company’s lepers!). Booked direct & was all very swift, helpful (of course as taking the pennies) & paid the obligatory double occupancy fee (despite empty cabins in the Haven).

Staff in the Haven, the Spa, and Sugarcane Bar were amazing, tolerant, and a real delight – totally in ore and in general throughout the ship (with exception of one unknown male bod in finance/credit control).

Lovely it was only 50% capacity max, as couldn’t imagine the thing with much more people on board. Thankfully didn’t book a Studio (single lepers cells – but did nose – horrendous tiny sunless vibrating boxes).

Food in Haven, Le Bistro & Teppanyaki restaurants just absolutely a pleasure, as also the staff & service.

Single dining is rather an uncomfortable experience (and there currently isn’t anything to aid or encourage meeting out with other outcasts).

Excursions well organized & fun, but it was difficult to drag myself away from the Spa and Thermal Suite which served as much need maintenance and repair from the day before’s indulgence & shamefully middle age wobbling under the stars to brilliant DJ in H2O (back of ship open venue).

Didn’t do the shows partly as I wasn’t that planned each day (other than spa or excursions) but the one I did see band in Syd Normans – bloody wicked ricking bunch and other passengers raved about the Million dollar Quartet Show. Ah and musical duo in Comedy Club also a good giggle.

Their own brand of “spring” water in these blue cartoons (chargeable) is not much better than London tap water, but okay for the coffee machine thingy in the room. $7.20 (including tax) for a bottle of San Pelli is a bit steep, but necessary alternative.

Careful about hanging around in the Gallery after a few bubbles – easier to spend a kidney or ageing aunt. Interesting & overall decent door into grabbing a few pretty pics, without having to be a boffin or know all the pretentious spiel.

Overall Haven was lovely and staff adorable, but felt a bit of mug having paid double, and being the only single, probably not the right place (dining mostly). For couple or small groups, just idea indulgence & you will be well cared for & pampered.

Transfer, from Rome, okay bit chaotic at airport and rather had private transfer than non-air condition old coach on arrival, but hey, survived it.

It was the first post covid cruise for Getaway, so we were kind of experimental, but on the most they handled this exceptionally well, although some found the initial in port queuing in the heat for covid tests rather a tedium (equally gave a time of observation on fellow passengers).

Definitely do register a Debt Card (Mastercard or Visa) for onboard payment as I am learning to my ongoing peril! Totally a must-use a card with $ provision or check transaction charges as NCL have an addiction to repeated authorizations & block onboard card without warning willy-nilly (kind of a personal kick I gather for the individual concerned).

Can’t wait to cruise again – in fact gagging already to leave London, but up the game (brand). I definitely think the cruise industry needs to rethink to anti-single lark, (as there are good pennies to spend in this demographic), and if you have empty cabins charging double occupancy (over possible onboard spend) is rather deterring.

I wish all the staff on Getaway would kindly aided, and served me through my taster break sincere and best wishes – I am in ore of your tolerance, patience, hard work and tireless dedication. Likewise, I also meet some amazing and wonderful fellow passengers, to whom I wish them many more happy and safe travels.