Why This Cruise Ship Is Perfect for Solo Vacations

Earlier this year, life was feeling fast-paced, and I decided a big break was in order. Looking for a way to slow down and reset, I remembered the words of my father, who passed in 2015. He was in the Navy as a young man, and had always told me I should cross an ocean at least once. So, taking that as my inspiration, I booked a solo trip to sail across 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 May. As a one-way trip, the journey is what insiders call a repositioning cruise, when a ship moves from one part of the world to another, usually to follow the seasons. (I planned to fly home once I reached the U.K.)

This would not be one of those old-fashioned, no-stopping crossings, though: After leaving New York, our 3,903-passenger ship visited Canada before traveling five consecutive days in the North Atlantic. On the European leg, we also visited Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France before our final stop in Southampton. I was intrigued by the interesting itinerary, for sure, but also by Norwegian Cruise Line’s commitment to solo travelers. The line offers solo pricing, cabins built specifically for singles, and grants all independent travelers access to a private lounge meant just for them. Turns out, this solos-only space has the very best cup of complimentary coffee on board.

Another discovery was just how easy it was to keep up with work while at sea, thanks to the Starlink system on Getaway. I splurged on the upgraded Wi-Fi package and found the signal strong and consistent, even during slightly inclement weather. It also worked wonderfully from my inside cabin. This was, I’ll admit, surprising, considering the ship was relatively full: On sea days — and given the relatively chilly spring weather — many guests were indoors a lot and likely to be on their devices.

I savored the long stretches at sea, when I could be as active or as relaxed as I wanted. There were numerous entertainment offerings day and night; a state-of-the-art spa and fitness center; plenty of hot tubs; and an outdoor running track with wonderful views on Deck 16. Every now and then, I ventured out for some fresh air and whale watching, binoculars in hand, on the Waterfront, a quarter-mile promenade on Deck 8 with outdoor bars and cozy seating. Other times, I would duck into one of the specialty dining restaurants, such as Ocean Blue or La Cucina, which don’t operate during mid-day hours but nevertheless offer a quiet place to sit: window tables with beautiful views of the ocean.

Personally, I found sailing for days with no land in sight both relaxing and thrilling. And, thankfully, we only experienced one day with high seas; in our case, it was 15-foot swells. For me, the over-the-counter medicines I packed were completely effective. Phew!

While Getaway isn’t one of the newest Norwegian ships, I found it by-and-large to be comfortable and contemporary. I did miss having a large “observation lounge” like those found on other Norwegian ships, such as the Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Joy. However, other recent updates to this vessel that was first launched in 2014 have improved the experience on board. During one recent cosmetic overhaul, Norwegian made changes to the casino layout on Getaway to better contain the smoking area, which had previously been adjacent to a nearby restaurant, and also spruced up the main dining venue, now called the Manhattan Room.

One thing I did learn the hard way is that I should have started my adventure in Europe and sailed toward the U.S. Going the other way would’ve let me gain rather than lose an hour of sleep most nights. I’ll have to keep that in mind for my next repositioning cruise.

Now, here’s a closer look at the staterooms, amenities, food, and other features on Norwegian Getaway.

The Staterooms

With 2,014 staterooms, Getaway has a cabin and price point to suit almost any travel style. Guests looking for an elevated experience can choose from 80 suites in the Haven, what Norwegian calls its exclusive “ship-within-a-ship” area, complete with a private restaurant, lounge, and pool. (One thing to note: Only 28 suites on Getaway are truly within the Haven, with the remaining 52 elsewhere on the ship — though they do have access to all of the amenities.)

As a solo traveler, I went the other direction, reserving an inside cabin. Unfortunately, by the time I booked my trip, all the cabins on the ship that are specifically for solo travelers were sold out. (Getaway has 59 studio staterooms and 20 solo balcony cabins for single travelers.) Instead, I was offered solo pricing on a slightly larger interior cabin. Not one to pass up a deal, I reserved despite the fact the room didn’t have a balcony — or even a window. Decorated in warm brown hues with pops of blue, Cabin 12455 was cozy and comfortable, with a fun, midcentury modern carpet. It was smartly appointed and efficiently designed with several storage nooks to keep organized; the bathroom was larger than I expected.

Bars and Restaurants

With nearly 20 different dining options on Getaway, I always felt like I had plenty of choices, even on a 14-day trip. Complimentary for all guests are three main dining rooms, as well as the American Diner; Garden Cafe, as the buffet is known; Shanghai’s Noodle Bar; and O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, the ship’s 24-hour eatery offering traditional tavern fare.

I was personally more excited by the eight specialty restaurants, access to which is either à la carte or available with an upgraded dining package. Getaway is one of the few Norwegian ships with Wasabi, a sushi spot, and the Raw Bar, a great place to have a few oysters and some bubbly before a show. There are also Italian, Brazilian, and French restaurants on board. Two standout dishes for me were 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 different bars, give or take, considering some, such as Sugarcane Mojito Bar and Syd Norman’s Pour House, have both indoor and outdoor bars and various entertainment venues also mix and serve drinks. If the popular Atrium Bar or Mixx Bar were too busy for my taste, I would venture to the classy Prime Meridian Bar, which always felt like a clandestine spot for a nightcap.

Where Norwegian Getaway Sails

For summer dates in 2024, the ship will cruise the Greek islands out of Athens, with itineraries that also include Turkey, Malta, Spain, and Portugal. The next 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 destinations, with visits to places such as Curaçao, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, and Grand Cayman. Spring and summer itineraries include various New York to Bermuda trips, 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, both ports that required a bit of travel to get to what I wanted to see. The “Bruges and Belgian Chocolates” excursion included a well-paced stroll through the medieval city center and a visit to the Chocolate Museum. While in France, I enjoyed a full-day tour on the “Monet’s Giverny & Rouen” experience, including a visit to Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny. (Next time, I would not go on a busy holiday weekend!). The lovely trip was rounded out by an included lunch at a charming countryside villa, and a stop in Rouen, the capital of Normandy.

Something to keep in mind is that these excursions were all large groups, with an average of 40 people per tour. Generally, the days were well organized and transport ran smoothly. The only major hiccup seemed to be in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. Rather than be at a dock, the ship was at anchor, which meant that guests had to get ashore by tender. Norwegian allowed passengers to reserve a time slot for tenders — but many of us still had to wait as long as 90 minutes to get ashore.

Amenities and Entertainment

On a ship of this size, there’s always something to do. Almost everyone on board raved about the Tony Award–winning musical “Million Dollar Quartet,” as well as the imaginative “Broadway Unplugged” show. Elsewhere, Headliners Comedy Club had stand-up acts as well as an upbeat dueling pianos show. Bliss Ultra Lounge was the place to dance into the wee hours; the ship also had a casino and cigar lounge.

For more relaxed vibes, there’s the Mandara Spa, with its treatment rooms and a Thermal Suite, which had heated tile loungers, saunas, a whirlpool, and a salt room. It was incredibly busy on sea days; I heard the overall experience was better on days the ship was in port.

Given the season, there were only a few brave souls in the main pools on my trip, but Getaway does have two, plus a kids-oriented water park and five waterslides. (While I didn’t see anyone enjoying the relaxing “wet lounge” in the adults-only Spice H2O, it was the place to grab a piña colada when the sun was out.) Ten outdoor hot tubs — four located near the main pools, two in Spice H2O, and four more in the exclusive areas of Vibe Beach Club and the Haven — were certainly put to good use. There’s a Ropes Course soaring high above Deck 17, for a bit of adrenaline-pumping adventure; giving it a go is included in the cruise far.

Family-friendly Offerings

Given that I was traveling for two weeks, and during the school year, I wasn’t surprised that there were few children aboard. But, on other trips, Getaway could be an ideal option for families. The ship has a complimentary Splash Academy youth program, and older kids can make new friends at the Entourage teens’ club. There’s also a kid-specific “aqua park,” and a series of five multistory waterslides. Additional amenities for families including an arcade, a small bowling alley, and a well-equipped sports area complete with an outdoor basketball court which, by popular request on my cruise, was turned into a makeshift pickleball court.

Accessibility

Getaway has approximately 40 accessible rooms in different stateroom categories, including in the Haven, featuring wider doors, roll-in showers, grab bars, and enough space to turn mobility devices. The ship can accommodate most wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and all dining and bar venues are accessible. There are accessible public restrooms, entertainment venues with accommodations, and ADA pool lifts can be found in the main pool and hot tub area, as well as in the Thermal Suite. With the exception of Decks 17 and 18, all have guest elevator access. Gangways for embarking and disembarking are wide enough to accommodate most mobility scooters and wheelchairs.