Even though I am really an "ambivert" and can be quite sociable, on the
Disney Cruise I did 2 years ago from "London" to NYC, I embraced my inner introvert. And I loved it. I did a guarantee cabin and ended up on Deck 1. I know, Deck 1 (on the Magic)? But there are very few cabins down there and it's very quiet. The elevators are always empty by the time they get to that floor. My cabin had two port holes but the lighting was great and it never felt gloomy. The weather for the 11 day crossing was always sort of overcast so a balcony would have been a waste.
I gave my cabin steward $50 and asked him NOT to do the evening service. I didn't need a towel animal or even chocolates on my pillow. If I decided not to go out in the evening I didn't want to be bothered.
I also went to the dining room people upon embarking and told them I would not be up for dinner so not to worry about setting a table. One tried to aruge with me to tell me I would be missing so much, the Baked Alaska, etc. but the more senior officer said "She obviously knows what she wants." and made note of it. They did offer to make sure I had my own table but for me, it just takes SO long to eat in the main dining room . . an hour and a half?
I never ordered room service. At 11 I would go up for the lunch buffet (and pig out) and I'd grab a couple of rolls and butter and/or cheese to bring back to the room and that would be dinner - although sometimes I'd get something like pizza or a hot dog from the pool deck in the afternoon - but it was usually sort of blustery and the food didn't stay warm for too long. I also made some 'coke floats' filling up a cup with ice cream, and another cup with some soda, and taking them back to my room.
One night I did go up to the 'buffet' which as has been mentioned, is a part of that area opened up for menu service. It was fine but the server was very chatty and was talking to me and the table next to me and . . . . I really just wanted to eat my meal and not be entertained. I KNOW, I sound like a curmudgeon but I get my energy from my alone time and that's what I needed on that cruise.
I brought 7 books. There is no longer a library on the ship (there used to be). There were a few paperbacks and magazines in the coffee place but that was it. One book I brought I could NOT get into and it quickly moved to that little shelf. I read all 6 books. I watched " The Parent Trap" maybe 3 times. I had some movies on my iPad. My favorite activity were the cooking classes when I became very social. I think there were at least 5, maybe more?
I did get off the ship at each port, by myself, with varying degrees of enjoyment.
But I loved my little cabin and my solitude. I would for sure do it again. You sort of
have to 'unplug' due to the price of wifi, and there wasn't much news available. Pretty smooth crossing, for the most part.
Where else can you go and be pretty much alone and not worry about pretty much anything???
Once when I was walking one of the decks, I saw Goofy, and he gave me a thumbs up. And I smiled the rest of the day. Who needs conversation when you can get a thumbs up from Goofy!!
)
