Sunflower

Summer is my favorite season in Vermont. People plunk themselves down after work at umbrella tables at sidewalk cafes or find a spot near the lake until long after the sun sets. They line up at creemee stands, play frisbee in the park with their dogs, and bundle their kids into the car to go to see drive-in movies, marveling that the experience still exists.  Every weekend seems to bring a new parade or event or festival (jazz! beer! get it all here!), as we try to cram a year’s worth of living into just a few short months.  We walk and hike and bike and swim and hate the sweat of it and love the sweat of it, because it reminds us it isn’t winter.  We relish the smell of fresh cut grass wafting in through open windows, the tangy, charred smell of meat grilling in the neighbor’s yard, and the greasy sweetness of fried dough at the county fair.  We sit on porches and in front of screened windows at night, listening to frogs and crickets and passing cars and inhaling the cool, green, earthy air. If only it were like this all year long.

Dog at Perkins Pier

Kayak season!

Sailboat on Lake Champlain

Breakdancer on Church Street

Burlington Lighthouse

Swings

Flowers grow wild everywhere

The Pod Hotel

It is very rare in the U.S. to find a hotel that has single rooms–that is, rooms that are sized and priced for people traveling alone. Almost all hotel rooms in this country are priced “per person based on double occupancy,” meaning they are intended for two people to share. The message this sends the solo traveler is “You are an abnormality”.  It’s like being left-handed in a world where everything is created for right-handed people.  Thank God there are a few hotels out there, blazing the trail with single rooms for solo travelers.  At the end of June, when I was in New York City for TBEX, the Travel Blog Exchange conference, I was able to stay in such a hotel, The Pod on East 51st Street.

I’d been reading positive reviews about the Pod for the past year or so, especially in regards to its single rooms and tech-savvy–it has free wifi, iPod docking stations in every room, and lights in the rooms to show which of the shared baths are occupied.  But a couple of coworkers who have stayed there gave it mixed reviews.  So I braced myself for the worst.  Imagine how pleased I was to find I really loved this hotel.

What I loved about the Pod:

Art in The Pod Hotel Lobby

The staff.  Every staff member I came in contact with was pleasant, and some were outstanding. The front desk staff didn’t blink when I checked in early at 10am, one of the bell desk staff directed me to the nearest ATM and a Fed Ex store where I could get on a computer, and I was blown away by the work of the housekeepers. Which leads me to. . . .

Pod Single Bed

The cleanliness.  My room, my entire floor, the shared bathrooms, and all the public areas were impeccably clean during my stay.  The only time the bathroom was a mess was at one am one night, after a guest had taken a shower and let water run all over the floor without cleaning up after him- or herself.  That’s not housekeeping’s fault, it’s the guest’s.  Otherwise, those bathrooms were spotless.  I’ve stayed in four star hotels that weren’t this clean.  I stopped the housekeeper in the hallway one day to rave about what a great job she was doing, it was that impressive.

Pod Shared Bathroom Shower

The location:  This hotel is within walking distance of Rockefeller Plaza and just a couple of blocks from the Lexington and 51st subway station on the 6 line.  I used the 6 line frequently during my stay, since almost everywhere I wanted to go (the conference, an after party, the Brooklyn Bridge, Chinatown, Grand Central Station, Central Park, etc.) was off that line.  I was never nervous walking home after dark from the subway station, either, because the 17th Precinct police station is on the block between the subway station and the Pod.  I figured it wasn’t too likely anyone would mug me there.

The Pod is located in a great neighborhood with restaurants and bars all around.  I didn’t have much time to sample them, but I did have dinner one night at a very good Thai restaurant that was a couple of doors down and I had a good and cheap breakfast at the Morning Star Cafe around the corner.

Pod Hotel Courtyard

The public spaces: There is a lovely courtyard here where you can grab a bite to eat or a drink and sit in quiet contemplation without the city noises drowning out your thoughts.  There is a space in the lobby with a (very) small bar set up in the evening that also has tables where you can set up your laptop if you want, and there is a rooftop deck where you can sit and enjoy the cool evening air and the sight of New York City’s skyscrapers all lit up at night. (To get to the rooftop deck, take the elevator to the 14th floor, then take stairwell B up a flight.)

Pod Single Room

The rooms: I didn’t plan it this way, but I got to stay in both a single room with shared bath (for 3 nights) and a double room with private bath (for 1 night).  The single room was perfectly sized for the solo traveler.  It was pretty much the size of a prison cell, but much more appealing (really). I had room 1410, at the end of the hall, and it had windows on two walls, so it was plenty sunny.  Beneath the bed are drawers for your clothing, there is a desk, hooks and hangers on the wall for your hanging clothing, and a small sink/vanity area.  All in all, a comfortable and reasonably attractive room for a budget hotel.

Pod Double Room

I will say, though, that as much as sharing a bathroom didn’t bother me, I was pleased to have the double with the private bath on the last night.  The room was only slightly larger than the single, with a double bed taking up most of the space, but being able to get up to pee in the middle of the night without having to remember to bring my room key with me was a relief.  (The whole time I was in the single, I was so afraid I was going to lock myself out of my room in the middle of the night whenever I had to use the bathroom.)  The double room also had a room safe, which the single did not, and its own toiletries (all you get in the single room is soap).

Pod Hotel rain shower head

The rain shower heads.  I’ve stayed in four star hotels that had minimal water pressure.  The water pressure here was terrific, and the rain shower head very, very nice.

The system of room lights to indicate when shared bathrooms were occupied. I loved this concept, and I think all hostels and B&Bs should take note of this technology. Above the door in every room that shares a bath is a little wall mount that shows a red light when one of the shared baths is occupied. This way, you don’t have to trudge down the hall and stand outside the door waiting for it to be free. You know when it’s free while you’re still in your room. Brilliant!

As you can see, bathroom 1 is occupied, while bathroom 2 is empty

The Price. By New York City standards, $200/night is considered “cheap”.  I cut my teeth on Vegas hotel prices, though, so it was depressing to realize how few hotel options I had for New York City on my budget. The Pod is very reasonably priced.  You can often get a single or a double for $159/night.

The art and decor.  The Pod has gone to great effort to decorate with bright colors and a youthful vibe (I loved the mural on the wall in the lobby and the brightly painted wall in the courtyard). It stands out from most hotels for that reason, and I liked it.

Pod Courtyard Wall

The international vibe. In the elevator, the cafe, and lobby, I heard all sorts of languages being spoken–Russian, Spanish, French, and some I couldn’t identify.  At times, I thought I might be the only American staying at the Pod.  Obviously, the Pod is a popular option for international visitors to New York.  In addition, much of the staff is Hispanic.

Pod Single Room Desk

What I didn’t love about the Pod:

Telephone service. Whoever answers their phones needs an attitude adjustment.  Both times I called the hotel prior to my trip, the woman on the other end of the line was very unfriendly and acted like I was bothering her.  In addition, when I tried to call the 800 number, all I got was the screeching of a fax line.  I had to call the regular line to reach a human being.

No ATM in the lobby.  I had to walk to a nearby bank to get cash.  It’s not the end of the world, but a luxury I’m used to.

The Cafe.  The Cafe will do in a pinch if you’re hungry, but the menu selection is small and pricey.  You’d do better to eat elsewhere in the neighborhood.

Shared Bathroom Sink Area

The towel hook in the shared bathroom. I believe the reason the guest made a puddle on the floor that night was because the towel hook in the bathroom was located on the wall next to the toilet–on the other side of the room from the shower.  Wouldn’t it make more sense to have the hook right next to the shower?

The Hidden A/C controls. It took me awhile to figure out how to control the air conditioning in my room, because the controls were hidden deep within the room’s heating/cooling system.

Pod Room Temperature Controls

No Best Rate Guarantee.  This one is as much for their benefit as for mine.  When I was comparison shopping online, I saw that Expedia and Hotels.com had $127/night rates for the Pod, while the Pod’s own website had $159/night rates for the single room with shared bath. Because I prefer booking directly with a hotel over booking through an online agency, I called the hotel to ask them if they would honor the $127/night rate.  I explained where I found it.  They said they didn’t have a Best Rate Guarantee, and they couldn’t give me the $127/night rate.  Wow.  How incredibly short-sighted is that?

So naturally, I canceled my reservation with the hotel and booked it via Expedia instead, which meant that not only did the Pod get less money per night for my room on those nights, but they also had to pay a fee to Expedia for booking me. (Ultimately, any money I saved on those three nights was lost when my Monday night flight home was canceled, leading me to have to book one more night at the Pod at the $159 rate. But at least I got to try out the double room with a private bath.)

But in my opinion, the positives far outweigh the negatives here. I highly recommend the Pod Hotel for solo travelers headed to New York City on a budget.  I enjoyed my stay here immensely, and will probably stay here again on future trips to the city.

Some more photos of the Pod:

Pod Single Room Sink Area

Pod Double Room, Sink and Closet

Private shower in double room

Pod Double Room Private Bath

Toiletries in Pod room with private bath

Where you hang your clothes, Pod single room

Pod Hotel, view from room 1410

Pod Shared Bathroom was always clean

Flat panel TVs in the rooms

Shiny bottles

Having just spent a couple of hours last Sunday recording some video in downtown Burlington, most of which was complete crap, I have a new sense of admiration for well-made travel videos. So I was excited this week to discover the videos of  Travel Bug Robert.  He has more recent videos than this one, but my favorite so far has got to be his video of Malibu.  Check it out.

Nellie Huang of WildJunket is running a series called “Your Wildest Adventure”.  This is a series where those of us travelers who are kind of chickenshit can live vicariously through the thrills, spills and chills of other travelers.  This week’s installment, Running Into a Landslide, was written by guest blogger Ben Colclough of Tourdust Adventure, and is about a wild bus ride he and his travel partner had in rural China.

Sally Kay of Adventuressetravels has been writing about her trip in the Deep South of the US, a major component of which was seeking out and eating Southern specialty foods.  I found myself drooling over her recent post Shrimp with an Attitude, about her quest for crawfish.  I especially loved her descriptions of people’s reactions to her being a vegetarian.

Oldest backpacker in the world?  You decide:  Suzy Guese posted an article about Ötzi, the Iceman, a 5,000 year-old mummy perfectly preserved in ice discovered in 1991 by two hikers in the Alps.  Suzy was able to see Ötzi in person and pay homage to him with Travel Lessons from a 5,000 Year Old Iceman.

Have you ever noticed that when you ignore some aspect of your life, the imbalance makes you sick or causes great stress in your life?  People need balance in our lives:  A balance of work, sleep, and play.  Trouble is, many of us, once we become adults, short-change ourselves in the “play” department.  Andy Hayes shares with us his thoughts on the benefits in Travel is Play at Sharing Travel Experiences. Yet another great argument for you to start planning your next trip.

Blue Man Group

I swear Norwegian Cruise Line knew exactly what they were doing when they named their newest ship the Epic.  They knew travel writers wouldn’t be able to resist riffing on the name in our headlines.  But honestly, with a ship of this size, with this many restaurants and entertainment options, who can blame us for a little lack of originality?

Maltings Whiskey Bar

In my last post about the Epic, I noted the many daytime entertainment options aboard the ship that solo travelers could indulge in during those days at sea between ports. Today, I’m going to cover the bars/lounges and shows available (minus the kid-focused, family-friendly Nickelodeon options, which I figure most adult travelers cruising solo would not be all that interested in).

O'Sheehans Bar and Grill

There are numerous bars and lounges available to you in your quest for the ultimate relaxing vacation beverage.  There’s Maltings Whiskey Bar, which has dozens of varieties of whiskey available; The Humidor Cigar Lounge, if you like a smoke with your drink; the Waves Pool Bar, for those frozen beverages that go so well with sitting poolside in a lounge chair; a Sake Bar on deck 7; O’Sheehans Bar and Grill (a pub experience featuring games like pool, air hockey and  a dart board, not to mention bowling lanes); the Atrium Bar, and more.  I didn’t do a lot of drinking during this trip, despite the open bars. (As a reminder, I–and pretty much everyone else aboard–was hosted by Norwegian for this inaugural cruise.)

Big Screen at Spice H2O

Spice H2O is a day beach club and deckside nightclub.  I only saw it during the day when it wasn’t even serving as a beach club (I believe they were setting up for the 4th of July fireworks at the time).  The NCL website describes its intentions for Spice H2O:  “As the sun sets, Spice H2O transforms into an adults-only, sultry, steamy, Ibiza-inspired beach club. The entertainment is non-stop as the pool floor rises to become a dance floor. A giant screen projects hypnotic visuals under a starry sky. Aerial performers mix dance moves with acrobatic choreography. And you find yourself in the center of it all, delighted that you’re old enough not to have a curfew.” If this turns out to reflect reality, I’d certainly go check it out.  It sounds lively.

Seating at Posh

Posh is a bar/club you can only access if you’re staying within the Villas Complex, a private access complex aboard ship (meaning I’ll probably never see it again!).  It’s supposed to have bottle service (which will obviously cost you extra for the booze) and a DJ. It’s a lovely setting up on Deck 18, overlooking the ocean.  There is  comfy overstuffed furniture set up in cozy seating areas around the deck, as well as bar seating.  I had a rum and Coke there. It was fine.  How solo-friendly is it?  Hard to tell. I was there for a press mixer, which was kind of an odd, cliquey affair.  I stuck like glue to one friendly cruise writer I met at the bar, who wound up being one of the most interesting people I’ve met recently and a pleasure to talk with.

Cosmo at Shakers Martini Bar

Shaker’s Martini Bar is located on Deck 7, very near Maltings. I asked the bartender what the most popular drink at this particular bar was, and he told me a Cosmo. So I tried one.  Whoo-eee. I am such a lightweight. It was so strong, I could only take a few sips.   These bars on Deck 7 were pretty packed every night.  I have no idea if they still will be when it’s not an open bar.

Bliss UltraLounge

Bliss Ultralounge on Deck 7 is actually open during the day, because it has three of those bowling alleys I told you about previously.  But at night, it turns into a music venue with DJ.  The decor is awesome.  It’s a really attractive (though dark) space.  Because it’s so dark, your eyes are drawn to the bar, which is all lit up in the center of the room.   Not much was happening there on a Saturday night at 10:30 during my cruise, which seemed very odd to me. There were two large groups seated in two sections of the lounge, talking, but no music yet, and absolutely no other solos that I could see. I didn’t stay.  But again, this was not a normal cruise.  And I’m also thinking that 10:30 might be a little early for an Ultralounge to start hopping.  It probably doesn’t kick into high gear until midnight. Which makes me way too old for that shit.

Svedka Ice Bar

My favorite bar, though, was the Svedka Ice Bar, the first ice bar at sea.  This bar, sponsored by (you guessed it) Svedka Vodka, is entirely made of ice–the bar, the walls, the benches, the stools, even the glasses are made of ice. The bar uses LED lighting to simulate the Northern Lights on the walls.  There are even ice sculptures of a polar bear and a viking, which make for great photo opps.

Photo opp, taken by NCL photographer

Yes, it’s a bit gimmicky, but you have to try it, because it’s great fun.  It carries an extra fee of $20 for a 45-minute appointment. For the $20 entrance fee, you will receive two drinks.  We, however, were allowed to sample as many as we wanted.

Ice Bar Parkas

When you arrive for your appointment, you will be given a pullover hooded parka and a pair of gloves, and even these won’t keep you warm enough. Good luck lasting 45 minutes in here. The bar is kept at 17 degrees Fahrenheit.  Now, I’m from Vermont, and I’m used to winters where the temperatures can get as low as 50 below with the wind chill factor.  But I was shivering uncontrollably as soon as I walked into the bar. Why? Because underneath that parka, I was wearing capris and flip-flop sandals!

Svedka Ice Bar

17 degrees is longjohn weather.  Have you ever packed longjohns for a Caribbean cruise?  I didn’t think so.  But the cold is really part of the fun and helps you bond with everyone else in the bar as you grin at each other through chattering teeth and huddle together for warmth. (Just kidding, there’s no huddling.  But feel free to start that trend.)

Bartender in Svedka Ice Bar

I felt so sorry for the bartenders.  Our bartender told us for every hour they work, they get a 10-minute break to go outside and warm up. But still. That’s a cold job.

Svedka Ice Bar

The drinks in the bar are mixed with (you guessed it again!) Svedka Vodka, as well as Inniskillin ice wine. They very wisely blend them with colored mixers to add a splash of extra color to the otherwise stark landscape. There are about six choices of drinks you can order, as well as two nonalcoholic drinks. They have fun, themed names like Polaris, Northern Lights, and Nordic Apple Juice.  I tried two–maybe three–of the drinks (they were in small sampling sizes), and they were all quite good.  But I had to leave after ten minutes. I was freezing.

If you are going to spend extra money on anything aboard Norwegian Epic, let it be this.  It’s a one-of-a-kind experience.  TIP:  Make a reservation as early in your cruise as possible, or beforehand, if you can.  This place books up fast. If they tell you it’s totally booked, see if they’ll let you be a “stand-by” in case someone with a reservation doesn’t show up.

Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Club

Now, on to the shows.  Epic boasts Las Vegas-caliber entertainment, and has some very creative offerings.  I’ve already mentioned that I didn’t care for Cirque Dreams and Dinner, so let’s move on.  Two prominent acts featured on this ship are Legends in Concert (celebrity singer impersonators) and the Second City comedy troupe. The only time I saw either of these was during the Christening Ceremony, when we got a brief glimpse of the talent.  I wish I had had time to see both perform in person.  Second City’s Christening Ceremony skit about the hand sanitizers aboard the ship had me cracking up, and the performers portraying Madonna and Elvis from Legends in Concert seemed pretty good.  There is no extra charge for either of these shows.  There is also a Murder Mystery lunch featuring a mystery written by author Scott Turow that carries an extra $15 charge. I did not attend this, either, so I can’t tell you anything about it, except I think it’s a neat idea, if executed properly. (No pun intended.)

The shows I did sample were:

Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group: I’ve seen Blue Man Group before, in Las Vegas, and love them.  So naturally, I was thrilled to go to this show. Blue Man Group plays in the Epic Theater, which seats 681. It’s a difficult show to explain to people who haven’t seen it before, except to say it’s a little experimental, very funny, and a little odd, with great music and visuals.  Two “volunteers” are pulled out of the audience to assist with a couple of the sketches, and my show was lucky enough to have a female volunteer who pretty much brought the house down by going above and beyond.  Blue Man Group does not carry an extra charge, so why not go see it?  The worst that will happen is that you won’t like it.  But I bet you will.

Howl at the Moon Piano Bar

Howl at the Moon:  This is the ship’s piano bar.  If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you know I’m a huge fan of going to piano bars when I am traveling solo.  If the show is done right, it can be so much fun, and you’ll feel like you’re surrounded by a hundred or so of your new best friends.  This show wasn’t quite like that during the hour or so I sat in on it.  The pianists are very talented, to be sure, but the singalong aspect of a piano show wasn’t happening at full force with this crowd. (I’ve seen video of another sailing where people were up dancing around during the show, so it was clearly this particular audience that was more sedate.)  Bring some dollar bills to this show so you can request songs.

Slam Allen at Fat Cats

But the real surprise hit for me was Fat Cats Jazz and Blues Club.  When I say it was a surprise, I don’t mean it surprised me that I loved it, because I love blues and jazz.  What I didn’t anticipate was how enormously popular it would be with everyone else aboard the ship.  The venue featured Slam Allen playing the blues during my cruise, and damn, that dude is fantastic!  The venue is way too small for this band.  The place was standing room only the night I went, and more people kept trying to crowd in.  This band drew people of all ages.  I saw young 20-somethings all the way up to senior citizens, and everyone was tapping their toes and clapping and having a great time.  I felt sorry for the waitstaff who were trying to go back and forth with people’s drink orders, because people kept getting in their way.  Norwegian needs to seriously create a bigger venue for this show, stat, because they’ve got a monster hit on their hands.

My recommendation to you is that you make show reservations before you even arrive onboard the ship if you really care about what you see and when.

The Epic Plunge

Norwegian Epic reminded me a lot of Las Vegas:  It has a huge variety of activities to appeal to different tastes and different age groups, whether you are traveling with a group or traveling solo.  It’s like a playground for kids and adults alike. Since this was a press trip for me (read: free), and I was only aboard less than 48 hours, I didn’t have time to partake of very many of the offerings, but I took mental  and literal note of them for a future trip.

One of the questions a reader sent me prior to the cruise was: What sorts of activities does the ship offer and which ones carry an extra cost? Good questions!  There is a lot to do on this ship, regardless of your interests. Those of you who have never taken a cruise before (as I hadn’t) might not know this, but every day, your cabin steward will deliver a little newsletter to your room containing a list of the day’s events, activities, and entertainment, as well as times they are available.  This helps you sort through your options and map out your day.  Let’s take a look at what kind of options you have.

If you want to stay active

For those of you who don’t relish the idea of going home with an extra ten pounds from all the extra calories you will consume aboard ship, never fear: Epic offers plenty of opportunities for fitness.  There is a Sports Complex on Deck 17 with a basketball court, a skating rink, and batting cage. As long as you’re a decent player, I imagine you’d be able to get in on a pick-up basketball game, even if the other players don’t know you.

On Deck 16, there is a rock climbing wall and a rappelling wall.  On Deck 7, there’s a jogging/walking track.  (No partner necessary for those activities.)  Pulse Fitness Center is located on Deck 14, next to the spa.

During my cruise, Pulse was offering sessions on total body conditioning, a morning stretch, yoga ($12), and spinning ($20), among other things.  You can get fit by playing Wii golf on the two-story Atrium screen. Or you can go bowling in one of the three lanes located in O’Sheehans Pub (Deck 6) or one of the three located in Bliss Ultralounge (Deck 7).

Bowling carries an extra fee of $5 per person per game. (I don’t know about you, but I’d feel a little funny bowling alone.  This might be the perfect opportunity to pull together some other solo cruisers for a game!)

Personally, I got all the exercise I wanted by just walking around the ship.

If you want to relax

You can, of course, engage in that age-old cruising activity of “sitting on deck” in one of the many lounge chairs, soaking up the sun’s rays and a cool ocean breeze, and taking an occasional dip in one of the pools.  I could have actually listed the Aqua Park (Deck 15) under your active options too, because when you get sick of relaxing in your lounge chair, you can go on one of the pool slides, including the Epic Plunge, which sends you into what looks like a giant toilet bowl.  No, I didn’t try it. I never even made it into my swimsuit this trip.  Sad, I know.

If you feel like there are too many kids and families at the Aqua Park, check out Spice H20, which is adults only, or Posh, if you’re booked into one of the pricier staterooms with private access to it. (Not much was happening at Spice H2O when I went by to check it out, but someone said they were setting up for the fourth of July fireworks celebration. Typically, I believe it’s quite the happening place.) Both of these areas turn into deck-side nightclubs at night.

Press reception at Posh

If you want a more passive form of entertainment, you can sit in the Atrium or O’Sheehans and watch a movie (The Blind Side was playing during my cruise), a sporting event (ala the Germany vs. Argentina World Cup game) or a concert (we saw Beyonce and Janet Jackson) on the two-story LCD screen.

Atrium Deck 5

If you’re a shopper, you’ll want to head to Deck 15, where the Marketplace is located.  (Although the tax and duty-free shops are on Deck 7.)  Men who want an old-fashioned barber shop experience can find that on Deck 7.

Art Gallery, Deck 5

If you’re an art lover, check out the Art Gallery on Deck 5. They have some really attractive works of art.

There is an internet cafe on deck 5, but I don’t recommend using it. The prices are high and the connection is slow.  Besides, you’re on vacation!  Unplug.

The one thing that is missing from this ship is a library. But you can bring your own reading materials, and there are plenty of cozy lounging areas inside and out on deck, so if you’re looking for a place to read, you’re sure to find one somewhere, even if it’s in your room.  Or you can try my favorite vacation activity: Take a nap in the middle of the day. Nothing says “vacation” like a mid-day nap.  Besides, you’ll need that extra sleep if you want to sit up at night and enjoy all the great nighttime entertainment options.

If you want to rejuvenate

Head to Mandara Spa (Deck 14) – This is a full-service spa, and when they say “full service,” they really mean it. I’ve never been to a spa that offered teeth whitening ($199), acupuncture ($150 for first session), botox treatments ($350+), and cellulite reduction ($159) before. They also offer Dysport injections (350+) to eliminate frown lines between your brows, and Restylene ($700+) to fill in deep wrinkles, such as those around your mouth.  This is the spa for people who aren’t happy with the way they look and aren’t afraid to spend huge gobs of money fixing it, apparently.  To be honest, this is a whole other world for me, and I was fascinated by it.  (Not enough to want to do it, but enough to want to learn more about it.) I had a nice long chat with the doctor who performs these treatments.

Naturally, Mandara Spa offers more traditional services, too:

• facials ($119-325)

• massages ($119-265)

• manicures (starting at $29)

• pedicures (starting at $45)

• waxing (starting at $19)

• hair care and makeup applications (at a wide range of prices)

Heated seats in the spa

It’s a lovely, relaxing facility with men’s and women’s locker rooms, saunas, and jacuzzis, as well as these wonderful heated seats made of tile that look like they would be hard and uncomfortable, but were in fact very, very comfy. The sauna has large windows looking out to sea for fantastic views. I could spend a lot of time at this spa being pampered during a cruise.

And then there’s always gambling

I told you this ship reminded me of Las Vegas!  There’s a very large casino that takes up quite a lot of space on Deck 6.  It has both table games and machines, and a small video poker bar.  Unfortunately, like Vegas, they do allow smoking in the casino.  It looked to me like there was a decent selection of machines.  The lowest table limit I saw during one of my many pass-throughs was $10, but I don’t know if they offer anything lower than that.  I was too busy to gamble this trip.

One of the other questions I received from a reader was: How easy is it for solo travelers to meet other solos during activities? Because this wasn’t a normal cruise, and I didn’t really participate in any of the above activities, I unfortunately can’t answer that question as it stands.  I didn’t have trouble meeting people in various settings (during dinner, at the bar, standing in line, in the elevator); but I didn’t pursue additional plans with any of them.  Had this been a week-long cruise, I might have done that.  But remember that if you’re staying in a Studio Stateroom, you’ll have access to the Studio Lounge, where you can hang out, read, watch TV, chat with other solo travelers or crew members, have a drink and a snack–and pull together groups for activities like bowling, pickup basketball, etc.  Now I hope you see why I’ve been saying it would be very difficult for a solo traveler to truly be bored on this ship.

In my next blog post, I’ll cover the shows and nighttime entertainment options available aboard ship (with my reviews), along with more information about your bar options, including the oh-so-cool Svedka Ice Bar.

Happy middle of July, everyone!  I hope your summers are going swimmingly.  Personally, I feel like summer is zooming by way too fast.   Before I get to my weekly recommendations, I wanted to share a piece of discount travel news with you:  If you’re thinking about a last-minute summer getaway, Hostelbookers is having its Summer of Love sale, with lodging discounts of 20%-60% off regular prices at 200 properties in 28 destinations.  Must be booked by July 31 and travel must take place before September 30. Head on over to Hostelbookers.com to check it out.

Are you ready for the Shiny?  Here goes:

Riddle me this:  When is a tourist trap not a tourist trap?  When the quality of the entertainment rises above its form.  Corey Taratuta of Irish Fireside describes his trepidation in attending An Evening at the Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet and how the experience wasn’t at all what he expected.  I think this bears keeping in mind as we travel.  Sometimes, we shun things we expect to be cheesy tourist traps, but they wind up being really worth the effort and price to see.  You never know.

I recently met Jason Cochran of WalletPop (and AOL) on board the Norwegian Epic and have become a big fan of his videos.   When I saw his video interview with two brothers who work at Epcot (at Disney World), I was enchanted.  I’ve seen those brothers in Epcot, because I love the Mexico musicians.  They even answer my (unasked) question of how performers at Disney stay motivated when they have to repeat performances all day long. Good stuff.

Suzy Guese tells a personal story to illustrate the instincts solo female travelers need to cultivate in order to determine the motivations of people we meet on the road in Next stop…Bangladesh? Knowing the Sincere from the Sketchy as a Solo Female Traveler.

When we talk about The Gifts of Solo Travel, most of us generally talk about the intangibles we draw from the experience, the things we learn about ourselves, the people we meet, the life lessons learned. Sabina Lohr of Solo Female Traveler wrote this piece  to describe the mementos she has from past trips that remind her of the gift of friendship she has received from people she has met during her journeys.  Any of us might walk into her house and see these items and not at all understand the meaning behind them, but there’s a story to every one.  I liked thinking about that.  I bet we all have items in our lives like this.

This article from Gadling affected me deeply.  Interesting that it wasn’t the words of the travel writer, Jon Bowermaster, that had the impact on me, but the words of the fisherman whose letter he quotes.  But thank you, Jon, for bringing Michael Roberts’ words to us:  From the Shores of Louisiana: A letter from a Louisiana Fisherman. I complain a lot about the long, cold winters in Vermont, and about the lack of datable men here, and the lack of high-paying jobs for liberal arts majors.  But there is something very special about the landscape of Vermont, about the way the air smells here, and the cleanliness of our rivers and streams compared to most states.  If something happened to Vermont like what has happened in the Gulf, I know a lot of people who would be devastated, including me.  Something special is being lost now in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast that can never be replaced.  And while the BP oil spill is huge in the media right now, we shouldn’t forget that “something special” is being lost every year from somewhere in the world–we just don’t always see it on the evening news, and maybe it happened more slowly than is happening right now because of the oil spill.

Burlington City Arts Cow

There used to be a saying that there were more cows than people in Vermont.  I’m not sure that’s true any more; but we still do have quite a lot of cows.  Even more this summer, as Burlington is hosting its own unofficial version of a cow parade.  In case you’re unaware of this phenomenon, the Cow Parade is a public art event hosted in various cities featuring life-sized fiberglass cows that have been painted by local artists. The artists use them as a unique canvas.  Often, the artwork reflects something about the culture in the region in which they’re being exhibited.  (As is noted in the comments below, Burlington’s event is not a sanctioned event by the official Cow Parade organization.)

I saw the Cow Parade several years ago in Las Vegas, where there were cows painted to look like a magician, and Elvis, and even a Las Vegas showgirl (that was hilarious!).  Vermont’s cows look understandably different.  They’ve been on display for the past month or so around downtown Burlington, and will remain on display until they’re auctioned off in October.  I’d say you had until then to come see them in person, but you might want to come sooner rather than later, since 6 of the cows so far have been vandalized.  Shameful, I know. The lack of respect for public works of art is a black eye on this city.

Here are a few shots I took of the cow art.  Pretty creative stuff.

Edu-Cow (this is a college town)

The Leunigs Waiter Cow (see his broken left foreleg? Vandals.)

The Cabot Cheese Cow, decked out in Vermont plaid

Thunder Cow, named after the local racetrack, Thunder Road

Sugarbush Cow, highlighting outdoor sports in Vermont

I like to call this one Veggie Cow

This cow has a cityscape of Burlington overlooking Lake Champlain

One of my favorites, the Airport Cow!

The other side of the Airport Cow

My favorite: Winter Landscape Cow (ironic, since I hate winter!)

Close up of the Winter Landscape Cow

One of the things that I’ve always found unappealing about the cruise ship experience is the formal dining room scene. I don’t like the idea of being forced to eat at a certain time or at a certain table.  For a solo traveler, there’s the additional anxiety of wondering whether your tablemates will be friendly and welcoming. . . or not.  (And I’ve certainly heard some horror stories on the “not” front.)  So one of the things that appeals to me the most about Norwegian Cruise Lines is its Freestyle Dining concept.  No more schedules, no more assigned tables, no more formality.  You dine when and where you want and dress up or down as you want.

During the not-quite-48 hours that I was hosted by Norwegian Cruise Line aboard the Epic last weekend, I tried to eat at as many different restaurants as I could, but I barely scratched the surface. I was able to peek into Le Bistro, the French restaurant; it was beautiful, but I wasn’t sure I’d feel comfortable there as a solo diner.  I never even got a glimpse of La Cucina (the Italian restaurant), Cagney’s Steakhouse, or Moderno Churrascaria, so I can’t report on them.  I walked past Wasabi Sushi Bar and the Atrium Cafe several times (lots of counter seating at both of these places).  Because my cruise was a preview trip for media and travel agents, all of the costs for the extra fee restaurants were waived for this sailing. I tried not to let that influence my choices but instead went to the restaurants I would have gone to had I been paying for it. 

Plenty of counter seating at Wasabi

One of the questions I received about dining aboard Epic was: Which restaurants are included, and which have an extra fee? I’ve actually already written a blog post about that from a few months ago, which you can  find here.  I was also asked about the room service, and unfortunately, it wasn’t open during the preview weekend cruise, so I can’t tell you about that.  So which restaurants was I able to try, and how solo-friendly were they?

Garden Cafe Lunch

Every ship has a buffet, and Epic’s is the Garden Cafe, located on Deck 15.  If you’ve read any of my articles about dining solo in Las Vegas, you’ll know I’m a big fan of buffets for solo diners.  There’s no awkward wait time between when you sit down and order your food, and when it arrives.  The Garden Cafe is a lovely space that seats up to 728 people.  There was a decent selection of food choices in the usual categories (salads, sandwich fixings, and hot dishes), at stations around the room rather than one long buffet line (meaning the flow of people through the stations was efficient). I was impressed with the creativity of some of the dishes (such as the scalloped tilapia and the broccoli mornay), and I enjoyed everything I sampled.  You can get food prepared to order at the action stations, and  I saw two self-serve, soft ice cream machines.  The dessert selection wasn’t extensive but looked quite tempting. I’m not sure how seating works in the buffet, because it was a beautiful, sunny day, and I chose to bring my plate outside to the outdoor cafe (the Great Outdoors).  While I ate, I listened to live music from the deck band and enjoyed the slight breeze blowing off the water.

Friday night dinner was Cirque Dreams and Dinner, Epic’s dinner show, which begins at 8:30 and lasts about two hours. One of the questions I received from a reader prior to my trip was about cost and seating for this show. Premium seating costs $20, and standard seating (meaning you may have an impaired sight line for the show) costs $15.  Because it is a show, and they can only seat so many people, solos are seated with other guests.  My table mates were friendly and interesting and we got along pretty well.  This show has a pre-set menu to facilitate speedy delivery of meals to everyone in the audience. I have no problem with that, but the menu lacked a vegetarian option (we had a choice of filet mignon or chicken florentine) and the salad was served with shrimp in it, which could pose a problem for people with seafood allergies. I have since communicated with NCL’s PR department about this and was assured that they will be offering a vegetarian option at this dinner show in the future.  If you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, you should let your travel agent know and/or mention those restrictions when you’re booking reservations at the NCL website, so the chefs can accommodate your needs.

Overall, I cannot recommend this dinner show.  Don’t let the big top setting fool you: This show is not like Cirque du Soleil.  Some acrobatics are involved, but not nearly enough, and if you have one of the standard seats, you might not be able to see it anyway.  The majority of the show consists of a sort of vaudeville schtick that was supposed to be funny, but wasn’t. Several people got up and left after the entrees had been served, but before the show was done (including everyone at my table).  But in all fairness, I’ve read other reviews that raved about how great it was.  So clearly, it’s a matter of personal taste.  I’d be much more willing to return to this show if they got rid of the so-called humor and focused on the acrobatics, but for now, my opinion is that there are far better dining and entertainment options aboard the ship than this one.

O'Sheehan's Bar and Grill

O’Sheehans Bar and Grill is the Epic’s 24/7 restaurant aboard ship. This restaurant is a good choice for the solo diner. In addition to the actual bar, there are many bartop seats around a railing overlooking the two-story LCD screen in the Atrium (down on Deck 5).  From here, you can watch concerts (we saw Beyonce and Janet Jackson) and major sporting events like the World Cup, or simply gaze upon relaxing images such as the Bellagio fountain show or a random beach view.  As you might expect, O’Sheehan’s is decorated as a traditional Irish Pub, with lots of polished wood, and plenty of games including a three-lane bowling alley, darts, pool, and air hockey.  The menu is extensive, with beers from around the world and lots of comfort food.  I ventured into the Pub for breakfast at nine a.m. Saturday, when there were plenty of empty tables.  Service was very slow (it took them 20 minutes to even take my breakfast order), but friendly.

O'Sheehan's English Breakfast

I ordered the English breakfast.  It came with bacon and (spicy) sausage links, grilled tomato and sauted button mushrooms, eggs, a small cup of baked beans, and three small hash brown patties (that tasted a lot like McDonalds). For a unique breakfast I would not have expected aboard a cruise ship, this one gets a thumbs up from me.

Seating at Taste

The two main dining rooms aboard the ship are the Manhattan Room and Taste.  I ate at both and would do so again, giving a slight edge to Taste because of the large number of two-top tables and the fact that they make a great iced coffee.  I asked the hostess how solo diners are normally seated, and she told me they are given the choice of sitting by themselves or with another party.  I chose to dine alone at a two-top.  The seats are very comfortable, with thick padding and red upholstery. The windows have colorful stained glass shutters that can be opened for a sea view or closed.  The center of the restaurant is open and people up on Deck 6 can look over the railing at you while you dine.  I had a caesar salad and very sushi-like, spicy spring rolls.  I didn’t care for the spring rolls, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.  Overall, I liked the vibe here and would make it a regular stop if I were on an Epic sailing.

Breakfast Buffet at the Manhattan Room

I had breakfast on Sunday at the Manhattan Room which has floor-to-ceiling windows for a terrific view.  I wish I had skipped Cirque Dreams and Dinner for dinner in the Manhattan Room.  The performers from Legends in Concert perform here in a cabaret-style show, and I overheard some other passengers raving about how good they were.  From the brief glimpse I got of them at the Christening Ceremony, I’m inclined to believe those reviews. Like Taste, the hostess here asked if I wanted to be seated alone or with others. I chose to dine alone.  To show you how large this room is, the tables were numbered, and even the waiter couldn’t find the table he was supposed to seat me at, so he finally sat me at a table for six.  That might have been awkward had the restaurant been busy. Breakfast was buffet style (except for hot items like eggs, if you wanted them, which I did not).  There was plenty of fresh fruit, sandwich meats, a small selection of pastries, cereal, and milk.  It was perfectly fine for breakfast.

Shanghai's Noodle Bar

The other two restaurants I experienced were Shanghai’s and Teppenyaki. Shanghais has a noodle bar where you can sit and watch the chefs cook (which I did), or, if you prefer, they also have a large number of two-tops.  At the bar, the menu is a checklist at your place setting.  You check off the boxes next to the items you want, and place the paper in a holder at your place setting so the waitress can see it.  I had dumplings and Singapore noodles and decided not to ask for regular silverware, because I really wanted to remember how to eat with chopsticks.  I’m no expert, but I did get the food in my mouth (the dumplings were much easier than the noodles). I could have tried chatting with others at the counter here, but I was feeling queasy.  (I thought I was just experiencing low blood sugar; I hadn’t figured out yet that I was seasick.)

Shanghai's Dumplings

Both restaurants are slightly loud–Shanghai’s because it is open to passers-by and Teppenyaki because of the sizzling grills and clanging of knives and spatulas by four chefs in the same room.  I’d recommend both restaurants, which provide very different experiences and very good food.  If you’ve never been to a teppenyaki restaurant before, here’s how it works: A group of people are seated around a hibachi as the chef takes their orders and cooks the meals in front of them. I liked Teppenyaki.  If you’re starting to feel a little lonely during your solo cruise, give this a try.  It makes for a much more social dining experience.  Best case scenario: You’ll have friendly and interesting tablemates with whom you can chat. Worst case scenario, your fellow diners aren’t friendly, but since the focus is on the “show” the chef puts on, you shouldn’t feel too awkward.  It was a fun experience.

And that was it for my adventures in solo dining aboard Norwegian Epic.  I have no horror stories to report, and was able to be as social or anti-social as I was inclined to be at any given time. I think there are plenty of options for solo diners aboard this ship.  Probably more than I was able to experience.

Did I answer all your Epic dining questions?  If not, feel free to post below, and I’ll answer if I can.

The first post I read after I got back from my cruise was a gorgeously-written, intensely personal piece by Jeannie Mark of NomadicChick on Why I Travel.  There’s not much more I can say, except Read It.

My friend Jason Hussong of Jasons-Travels.com recently visited Rwanda on a press trip and had an experience most of us won’t ever have:  Despite his reservations about the ethics of it, he went on a gorilla trek and got to see gorillas in their native habitat.  His article on this experience, Gorilla Trekking in the Virungas, is just terrific.

Loved this suggestion from Joel at the Freedonia Post about why the Travel Channel should pick up the rights for the Tour De France.  As Joel argues,”there is an opportunity to pull in people who aren’t currently watching by taking advantage of all of the event’s other compelling qualities: travel, food, drama, human interest and competition.”  Yes!  I mean, really, if the Travel Channel can spend countless hours showing the World Series of Poker (which never travels anywhere, except from one poker hand to another), why can’t they show something more relevant to traveling like this?

Thanks to Barbara Wiebel at Hole in the Donut Travels for sharing the new Mexico Tourism Campaign video, which is breathtaking.  If there are awards (and there probably are) for best tourism videos, this one has got to win. The music and cinematography are a perfect blend to inspire the urge to travel.  If anything can overcome the negative publicity Mexico has gotten over the past year, this might just be it.

During TBEX10, the travel bloggers’ conference I attended in New York City at the end of June, I met and spent time with a lovely young woman named Cherie who writes a travel blog called Flight of the Deaf Travelbee, wherein she writes about traveling as a deaf person.  Meeting and speaking with her, as well as reading through her blog has made me stop and think about all the ways in which the travel industry could be more accommodating to deaf people but isn’t.  For instance: Wouldn’t it be nice if, in addition to audio announcements about flights taking off at airports (or which stop a train is arriving at), they ran a text  ticker with the same announcement all over the airport (or in each train car) for deaf travelers?  How hard would that be?  (And to be honest with you, as garbled as those announcements tend to be, I think a text announcement would be helpful for most of us, not just the deaf.)  Deaf Travelbee Takes Flight Pre-TBEX demonstrates all the ways in which a deaf traveler has to take extra steps when traveling via air that most of us don’t have to take.  Thanks, Cherie, for educating the rest of us.

Photo credit:  Tall Shiny Buildings by bensonkua.

NCL Epic

Have you ever wanted to take a cruise alone, but found yourself frustrated by the hefty single supplements for solo travelers?  Me too.  Well, read on, because our time to cruise solo has come.  Norwegian Cruise Lines’ new ship, The Epic, has created a new category of staterooms called the Studios, that are priced and sized for solo travelers. There are 128 Studio Staterooms aboard the Epic, spread between decks 11 and 12. They come with access to the Studio Lounge, located on deck 11.  I’ve written about these staterooms before, but now I’ve seen them in person.

I was fortunate enough to be hosted by Norwegian on its two-night inaugural cruise aboard the Epic out of New York City this past weekend.  While I certainly tried to see and experience as much as possible aboard the ship while I was there, my primary goal was to see those Studios in person and assess whether Epic is, indeed, a solo-friendly ship.  This will be the first of several blog posts about Epic in coming weeks, but my short answer is: Yes, I believe it is.

Corridor for the Studio Staterooms

As you probably know by now, I’m a fan of shiny things. This ship is very shiny.  It is also huge (at 153,000 gross tonnage, it is the world’s 5th largest cruise ship).  As this was my first cruise, I have no basis for comparison, but I spoke with cruise veterans who were equally impressed with the vastness of the ship. There is so much to see and do here, I can’t imagine any solo traveler ever getting bored–especially when you consider that you’ll be in a different port of call just about every day.  There are more than 20 restaurants, several nighttime entertainment options including the Blue Man Group and Legends in Concert, ten bars and lounges (including the gimmicky but way cool Svedka Ice Bar), an amazing Aqua Park, a full-service spa, a sports complex, a casino that takes up much of deck 6, and more.

My only disappointment with this trip was that I could “look, but not touch” when it came to the Studio Staterooms. No one was booked into the Studios during this trip, including me.  So I can’t tell you how comfy the bed is, or whether noise filters into the room from the hallways, or whether there are enough hangers for all the clothes you brought.  I had a deluxe balcony stateroom, designed in the new Wave style (the room curves like a wave). It was spacious and nice and I’ll blog more about it some other time.

En route to the Studios, I got off the elevator on deck 11, and walked down a hallway tinted with purple light, giving it a high-tech, futuristic feel. Very hip.  I felt like I had beamed up to the Starship Enterprise. Then, there it was, the solo traveler’s Holy Grail of cruising, marked by balloons and a crew member standing watch outside.   At 100 square feet, you would think this would feel like a tiny room, but I had just come off a stay at the Pod Hotel in New York City the previous weekend, where my room was approximately the size of a prison cell, so the Studio Stateroom felt spacious by comparison.  Some of the Studios are connecting rooms, so if you’re traveling with a friend, sibling, parent, etc. but don’t want to share the same cabin, you could get connecting rooms.

It was hard to really get a feel for the place under the watchful eye of the crew member stationed just outside the door.  I don’t know if he thought I might stuff the room glasses in my bag or start jumping up and down on the bed. I was giddy about these rooms, but not that giddy. I was tempted, though, to stretch out on the bed to see if it was as short as the one in my deluxe balcony room.  I restrained myself.

Still, I spent some time in the room scrutinizing it, trying to see if anything seemed awkwardly positioned or inconvenient or if anything was missing that I normally find in a hotel room.  I couldn’t come up with a thing “in the moment”, but I should have had a checklist with me.  According to Paul Motter of CruiseMates.com, these rooms do not come with hairdryer or coffee maker.  (Paul was one of the lucky devils who got to stay in one of these rooms during the ship’s transatlantic crossing/shakedown cruise.)  The lack of a coffee maker is insignificant when you can walk down to the Lounge for a free espresso or cappuccino any time you want. The hairdryer is more of an issue for me, though Paul says these are available upon request.

The double bed spans almost the width of the room, with a narrow space on one side to accommodate the closets, desk, and storage space.  I think this would be a bit of a tight squeeze for a large person. The sink, shower and toilet all occupy separate spaces within the room.  The shower stall and toilet enclosure seemed plenty roomy to me, though I’m a bit on the small side (I’m 5′ 5″ and 120 pounds).

Window in Studio Stateroom

The TV is on the wall beside the bed. I pictured myself piling my pillows in the opposite corner of the bed and sprawling out to watch some TV at night.  Very doable.  There was sufficient closet space for your clothes.   I liked the inclusion of a porthole window in the room so it doesn’t feel too claustrophobic, even though the window only looks out onto the hallway (don’t worry, it’s one-way; nobody can see in).  Sliding shades can be closed to block hallway light at night.  To me, the room felt like a cozy cocoon, one I would be happy to retreat to at the end of a busy day in port and a sanctuary from the sensory stimulation of the public areas of the ship.

The biggest perk, aside from price, of staying in a Studio Stateroom is access to the Studio Lounge, located on Deck 11. (The Lounge  is supposed to be exclusive to the Studios, with keycard access.  Because this was a fam trip, it was open to anyone when I was on the ship.)  Imagine: A place aboard ship where you can easily meet others who are traveling alone just like you.  It is spacious, with lots of sitting areas, and easy staircase access from the Deck 12 Studio Staterooms.  Based on the decor alone, I’m not sure it will be to everyone’s taste.  For instance, I’m trying to picture my grandmother staying in one of the Studios and hanging out in the Lounge, and . . . nope. Just can’t picture it.

There are two big-screen TVs, a bar with bartender staffing it, and a coffee machine where you can help yourself to espresso, cappuccino, and other coffee drinks throughout the day.  I enjoyed a fresh cookie and iced coffee at the bar prepared for me by bartender Coco. Both were quite good, as was Coco’s company.

Studio lounge seating aboard NCL Epic

As I earlier alluded to, I had been following Paul Motter’s posts and Q&A about his TransAtlantic journey on the Epic staying in the Studio Stateroom. He noted that people on his cruise had suggested a whiteboard in the Lounge so solos could invite others to join them for dinner or other activities aboard ship: Let’s say you want company for dinner, you could write “If anyone wants to join me, I’ll be having dinner in the Manhattan Room at 6pm” and leave your name and room number. Or if you want company at Fat Cats, you could write “Anyone up for Fat Cats tonight? I’m headed there at 10.”

I didn’t see the whiteboard, so I asked Coco about it and he said they took it down for the weekend, since no one was staying in the Studios. But presumably, it will go back up again.  (If it doesn’t, ask them to put one up. I found the Epic crew to be incredibly responsive to requests–especially when it comes to the Studios. They want these to be a success.)

Studio Lounge Bar area

I know what some of you are wondering:  Are these rooms really priced for solo travelers?  So I sampled some prices from NCL’s website to share with you:  You can get a Studio cabin for as low as $749 for  a 4-day Western Mediterranean cruise (the only 4-day itinerary for this ship) and $849 for a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise (depending on the date, of course; some dates are more expensive).  The Inside Cabin (the next cheapest type of cabin) on those same cruises would cost you $1,018 for the 4-day cruise and $1,318 for the 7-day cruise as a solo traveler (if you see a lower price on the web, multiply times 2, because they are priced per person double occupancy),  So no, you’re not paying 50% of what a couple pays for a stateroom (more like 75%), but it’s a whole lot better than what you’ll get elsewhere, and I think the access to the Studio Lounge makes it worth the price.

The good news is, prices for these rooms may go down even further.  For more on this, see this video on the Studio Staterooms by Jason Cochran of WalletPop:

I also got a little taste of what it’s like to be a solo traveler aboard a cruise ship full of couples and families this weekend.  Even though this was a fam trip for media types, travel agents, and NCL sales partners, many brought their significant others (the “plus ones”, as they called themselves) and some brought their children.  At times, it seemed like everyone was there with someone else except for me.  Most of the time, I was too busy to care, but I did have the occasional pang of loneliness.  That’s why I think the Studio Lounge will become such an important space on the ship: A place where solos can find each other and be around others like themselves, instead of one solo in a sea of couples and families.  Partner this “solo traveler neighborhood” aboard the ship with a plethora of dining options, activities, and entertainment (many of which are included in the cost of your cruise), and I can’t help but believe that the Epic might just be the most solo-friendly cruise ship in operation today.  If I were to take a solo cruise, this is the ship I would choose.

Here are some more photos of the Studio Stateroom and Lounge:

Bar with big screen TVs

More seating in the Studio Lounge aboard NCL Epic

Espresso Machine in Studio Lounge

Studio Stateroom Shower

Studio Stateroom Sink

Cabin toilet

One of 2 closets plus TV and desk area (partially hidden by sliding door)