[chachacha]

Would there be any interest in forming a Single Travelers group for residents of the villages and their friends? With a good sized group we could probably get reduced rates on tours, cruises, day trips, etc... Any suggestions or experiences with such an endeavor would be appreciated.

[korman45]

I think that is a great idea!!! I can think of quite a few people who might be interested.

[taylor111947]

I'm not there yet (hopefully by June), but count me in! The single supplement is a killer! Also, there are a lot of websites devoted to women travelers and offer all kinds of adventures. I've travelled a lot by myself and would love to have a group to share the fun with.

[Tom Hannon]

Once we get to the Villages I'd like to do group tours to Disney, Cape Kennedy, The beaches, Universal, and other places to see in Florida. Perhaps even a short cruise to nowhere. And yes, Chacha, I'm sure a group tour would be less expensive.

[2BNTV]

Still a wannabee but I would love to be part of this singles travel group.

Tavelling alone is nowhere as much fun as having like minded people you know with you.

Great idea that needs to be implemented.

Best Wishes.

[chachacha]

although i am not a cruise afficianado, i went to the international travel expo at spanish springs today and learned that the Norwegian Epic is the only cruise ship with 1600 rooms only for singles, with no single supplement, and a complete area reserved for singles only....that sounded good to me...they have a western carribean cruise starting at $713 for seven nights jan-april and they are affiliated with triple A. can also extend with pre and post hotel stays. they depart from miami....the gentleman to whom i spoke from pleasant holidays said a group of 20 would receive additional discounts....just for your information.

[swrinfla]

chachacha:

I always travel as a single and enjoy that status! It's true, though, that I also try to avoid excessive surcharges for being a single.

Most cruises will charge a single at least 150% of the quoted per-person-double-occupancy rate. I figure that that works for me, because if I were still married [my late wife died some 11 years ago] I'd have to pay 200%!

I'm always open to suggestions for cruises, as that is my favorite way to travel. However, I adamantly stick with only a couple of lines.

SWR

[EdV]

Chacha, good post. Sounds like you got the cruising bug again at the Spanish Springs Travel Fair today.

Just a correction, there are a total of 128 single/solo cabins on the Epic.

Here�s a link to someone at cruisemates that has cruised on the Epic as a solo. It�s a good objective review, though a maiden cruise for the ship.

This concept has a lot of potential.

[manaboutown]

Chachacha has a great idea. If as few as ten people book a trip together many times one goes free. This of course can be used as a discount for everyone. It is also a great way to get to know other single Villagers, make new friends and feel safe when traveling abroad, knowing if something happens others with you can help out. Over here where I currently reside in Orange County, CA, a couple of the local entrepreneurs who sponsor singles dances and other singles events have successfully put together a few cruises and international tours. If one goes the first good news is you may already know some of the single participants. The second good news is you will meet and get to know new single people. It is a win, win, win situation since the "promoter" may get enough people on board to get a free trip (the third good news)!

Over the past eleven years I have traveled as a single probably on about 40 trips on both land and cruises all around the world including China, Russia, Egypt (glad I went a couple of years ago), Scandinavia, Eastern and Western Europe, Central America, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and more. Since if I am not traveling with someone of the opposite sex I am dating I prefer a cabin or hotel room to myself a single supplement is almost always a cost. Cruise ship lines typically charge large single supplements since they are essentially renting a stateroom. Carnival's single supplement almost brings the cost for a single to what it would cost a couple. Frankly, I no longer cruise with them since their food is like Denny's except for a couple nights and their ships cater to a demographic promising many undersupervised children running all over the ship at all hours. The cost of the food for two to a cruise line is not all that much more than for one yet if they book a single traveler to a stateroom they will probably only sell half the adult beverages, have one person gambling in the casino rather than two and sell only one shore excursion at each port rather than two, all of which lowers their profits on the room. On most trips and cruises I use a couple of companies that cater to singles and am very happy with one of them and satisfied with the other. The company I like the most, allsinglestravel.com, has a cruise lined up on NCL's Epic for seniors (60 and over) for December 10-17. If you want to check this out call Eric at the company and tell him you heard about this cruise from Bob in Newport Beach. Eric is a great guy and knows me pretty well after all the trips I have taken with him. Although I find the trips for singles especially enjoyable I also book some trips with general tour companies if I want to visit a particular place. Usually I end up being invited to join others on such trips. I have made some pretty good long standing friends from these trips, particularly the singles trips, and have visited and even stayed with people I have met on them.

[chachacha]

the info is all very good...allsinglestravel sounds like what we need here! thanks for that lead...i will check out the revew of the Epic cruise with the link sent...keep the suggestions coming...i personally am most interested in group european travel. have traveled with Go Ahead vacations often and i know they offer one free tour with a group of ten which saves each person a few hundred dollars...cost is getting much higher with the low value of the dollar, however. they are a no frills company. would love to do a tour with smithsonian or something really high quality once before i croak!!

[ConeyIsBabe]

Hiya Chacha ~~ Great idea Please count me IN and don't forget me ! Still the Wannabee and Gonnabee

[ricthemic]

Originally Posted by chachacha

although i am not a cruise afficianado, i went to the international travel expo at spanish springs today and learned that the Norwegian Epic is the only cruise ship with 1600 rooms only for singles, with no single supplement, and a complete area reserved for singles only....that sounded good to me...they have a western carribean cruise starting at $713 for seven nights jan-april and they are affiliated with triple A. can also extend with pre and post hotel stays. they depart from miami....the gentleman to whom i spoke from pleasant holidays said a group of 20 would receive additional discounts....just for your information.

FYI:Hv cruised many times. When you book as a group. Every seven cabins (not passengers) creates a FREE cabin. This is true with every cruise line and travel agency. Make sure you ASK. Everyone can get a shared reduced rate on group bookings