Hey Ladies! This is awesome information. Thank you so much. This will be my first Olivia cruise, and I'm going solo!

I can't wait to meet some new friends and share some new experiences~Will March ever get here??

Hey chapzzNtapzz!

You don't need "shortcuts".... and this is coming from a cruise addict!!  (I've been on all kinds... and this is going to be my 4th Olivia cruise)  The greatest start to our cruise is the terminal for customs.... I am not kidding!!  Last year we started this thing where while we were weaving through the line to board the ship... we started shaking hands and introducing ourselves... and it started catching on through the line.  We not only had a blast, and made new acquantances that we were going to spend a week with.... but it made the time FLY!!!!  So just enjoy looking out through the terminal and seeing a SEA of lesbians!!! It is quite amazing!!  And quite a beautiful experience.

Hello, this is our fifth Olivia trip. We are hooked. there is nothing like "Lesbian Land" or should I say floating city for a week!

Bring...all the first aid you can think of. Any medical needs supplied on/from the ship are outragelessly expensive. Band-aids, insect repellent, after-sun lotion, LOTS of sunscreen, anti-diarreha, constipation, sinus, pain reliever like Advil, heartburn medication, Benadryl and any other medication you can think of. They really don't take up that much space as compared to the overpacking of clothes you are probably going to bring.

We also bring duct tape...just in case the luggage breaks or in one case, my wife's strapless bra hooks broke, so we used the tape. It truly is a fix all. We also bring a small flashlight, travel alarm clock, small backpack for shopping at port. We bring a small amount of thin rope or sting and some clothes pins in case we want to do a little laundry. There is a small clothesline in the shower, but the extra has come in handy.

If you want to wear a tux on formal night, but don't want the hassle of packing one, you can rent one from Holland America. Just order it on their website and they will have it waiting for you in your room when you arrive. After you are done with it, your cabin steward will pick it up the day before we get home. They also have evening gown you can rent, but they are very generic, so if your a fem you probably want to bring your own.

As for everyday wear, bring what you are most comfortable in. We usually buy a lot of t-shirts in port so we don't bring too many and we still end up coming home with more shirts than we went with.

Anyway, I'm babbling now. Just know that you are about to experience something that can't be put into words. The OLIVIA experience! Just be ready to have fun and enjoy "lesbian land" or should I say floating city for a week. It is the best.

Jacqueline and Becky

Hi Denise,

My wife and I were on the Mexican Riviera Cruise in October and our favorite part of the trip was the Solo group!!!  Olivia does an amazing job of taking care of the Solos.  There will be special meals, events and show seating for you... and all solos are given something (necklace, name tag, etc.) so that you can pick each other out on the ship!  Aside from the great things Olivia does for Solos, we found the group to be SO MUCH FUN!  Even though we were married (and on our honeymoon!), we hung out with them all the time!  They were very welcoming and we have gained some very awesome friends :)

So, no need to worry or be nervous... not even a tad... you are going to have the time of your life!!

-Laurie

ok all you experienced cruisers(hee,hee-not that way) how's it work on cruise day? Any shortcuts on checking in,baggage,etc... ?  What should us Newbies know to make our first cruise easier/more enjoyable???

Hello again,

I saw your post about "sea sickness"  fresh ginger root works wonderfully.

The medication unless it is a scopolomine  patch, will make you drowsy and you will miss half the trip :)

Just load up on the ginger root and you will have a blast........

Denise 

Hi :)

This is my first Olivia Cruise and I also am traveling SOLO !!

Feels a bit strange I suppose to think that there are so many "coupled women" on board, however they all seem to be very responsive and helpful with the SOLOS .. LOL

Having been single now for over a year, it's time to get out and join the fun, laughter, women and song that is out there for us all to find.

I will also be on the cruise in March, a bit apprehensive still but it is worth taking the "fear risk" and enjoy.

Nice to see another Solo Post.

Denise 

Fortunately I don't get sea sick, but I know several people that do. It really depends on you what works for you. I have heard those magnetic bands work great, also the patch works and dramine for some. If you take a pill they say to take it a day or two before the cruise to let your body get used to it. Heck you may not get sea sick at all. Trust me if you make out of port without feeling woosy, you're good to go.  If you like roller coasters and sitting in the back seat you maybe ok, lol

Connie

Thanks for all the funny and great suggestions ladiez. Hopefully alcohol will work and I won't stumble off the ship, lol. See you on the cruise. ^.~

Angel.

As an ED Resident Physician:

On the record - Zofran, if you can get a hold of a prescription, will not make your drowsy, like most antiemetics.

Off the record -  If you don't fight the "motion of the ocean" alcohol (works wonders for this, if not in excess), will keep you from getting sea sick. My drug of choice on vacation.

I've been on 2 cruises in my life (1 Carnival, 1 Olivia).  It was suggested by a friend to take Bonine which is a motion sickness pill.  I brought it with me on both cruises and never had a need for it.  If it's your first time on a cruise, I would suggest bringing some sort of motion sickness remedy (such as Bonine or ginger root pills as others have suggested) and if you need it, take it.

The "motion of the ocean" might take a little getting used to but I've found that if you have a few tropical drinks, you won't even notice it!  We actually had a little running joke with some friends we met on our last cruise (Olivia Cruise for our Cause).  After we had all consumed a "few" drinks, one of us would stumble a bit and we'd say "Was that me or the boat?"  Can't wait to relive those memories!!!

Never been on a cruise does everyone get seasick on these things? lol. So ginger root is good? I'm stocking up. Are pills better?

Angel.