latebuyer

Oh no! I didn't realize it was hurricane season! Maybe i should push to December?

Thanks. I guess there is a reason they make these spring pacific coastals cheap! I assume weather is ok in mexico in november?

Thanks for the reply.The pacific coastal i am looking at is in may and i am looking at a mexican riviera in november 

I'm debating between a mexican riviera vs. pacific coastal cruise. I do have concerns that the pacific coastal cruise will be rough which is my hesitation regarding that cruise. For mexican riviera i mainly want to go to puerta vallarta and not sure about taking the whole cruise for that reason. I'm not so interested in Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan. I'm thinking for both cruises i could do land vacations instead but san diego and san francisco both have expensive hotel prices. The cruise i'm looking at the cruise is in port in san diego and san francisco 8-10pm so could see quite a bit. Anyways just thinking out loud here. Are there other considerations?

Its great to see singles scrutinizing their choices and i think thats what singles should do. I just want to add celebrity is being very shortsighted as right now the market is good but it may not be in the future and they may want solo cruisers again. By that time they may have moved on.

I have something that will counteract that last post. A travel agent in my city runs a solo travel group and one event she is featuring is someone from celebrity! I told her about what celebrity is doing and she didn't seem to care. I think they may go after cruisers who book through travel agents who don't know or don't care about celebritys pricing.

48 minutes ago, katmu said:

I can understand that Celebrity is looking at it from a perspective that on average, a cabin with a solo cruiser may have spend less total over the course of a cruise than a cabin with 2 adults but there are other factors.  I tend to book more cruise line excursions when sailing solo than I do when sailing with friends or my family.  I also tend to spend more money at the spa on things like massages or thermal suite passes, as my solo cruises can be time to relax.

 

For me my biggest issue with Celebrity’s policy is that many solo cruisers don’t always cruise solo.  I sometimes cruise solo, and sometimes cruise with friends or family.  I am generally the planner of the trips with my friends and family, and I can tell you I will not be looking at Celebrity if they are not going to welcome my solo business as well.

Good for you! And thats a good point that solos may spend more at the spa.

So what percent are people seeing over 200%? Is it 250% or more?

I booked a princess cruise (no princess plus) for a pacific coastal 7 day for 1300 canadian (about 1000 US). The 7 night celebrity cruise pacific coastal cost 1500 US (2000 canadian) I was quite shocked by the price difference even though in this instance celebrity only priced the cruise 200% more. Granted you really do have to look at things on a per cruise basis because different cruise lines have good deals on different cruises. Happy cruise hunting!

Wow! The prices being quoted on celebrity are just disgusting and i hope no solo is paying for it.

Princess introduced negative changes as well. I believe it was something about turning free restaurants into specialty restaurants and charging. You really can't escape it.

Thats good to know you didn't have to book a guarantee on holland america. I'm actually thinking of this celebrity thing a little differently now. If you consider it that they are just biding their time until they charge more than 200% on all their rooms, then maybe you should enjoy the rooms at 200% when you still can. For me, i don't feel a need to book them, but others seem to really like it.

For me, i just don't want to support celebritys business practices and it seems some do. If that means i miss out on the celebrity experience and have to make some sacrifices, so be it.

Personally i just think celebrity is biding their time before they introduce more more than double pricing. Souknowme shows demand is still there so they'll think they can get away with it  The forbes article was an unexpected setback.

I’m sure some do, but not all. Its actually strange celebrity is doing a solo travel event for a travel agent in vancouver.

3 hours ago, RHudson1825 said:

I have talked to the ta's (mine and two friends who are ta) and they all knew and are upset about it. One was on the icon naming and said many were talking about it. 

The TAs i’ve talked to haven’t even known about it so people really are doomed.

It doesn't sound like celebrity has much to offer singles if they are only offering a solo event the first or second day. From what i've seen celebrity pricing is higher then any other main stream cruise line except holland america perhaps and its gotten worse.

I feel like i should throw my support behind norwegian which is the only cruise line that has incorporated solos in its business model. As it is i have a princess cruise booked and we'll see how that goes. I'm done with Holland america too. I feel like they force solos to book guarantee rooms though someone said not all sailings are like that it seems like a lot. Bye bye Celebrity and Holland America.

i don't plan to book celebrity period. Even 25% of cabins at more than 200% is too much in my opinion. I just don't want to support them.

On 1/22/2024 at 7:06 AM, lexmiller said:

I don't think this has been posted, sorry if it already has - but here's a link to a terrific article in Forbes about the single supplement, but specifically how Celebrity is blowing it big time, charging more than any of the other lines - damaging their brand and discouraging loyalty.  This was published Jan 7, before the letter posted from LHB.  

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerdooley/2024/01/07/solo-penalty-cruise-line-charges-single-travelers-much-more-than-double/?sh=e8285815a3a5

Unfortunately, as solos continue to desperately book celebrity cruises, celebrity will continue their behaviour of putting elevated single supplements. Why wouldn’t they when solos are still flocking to them?

Good article on possibility of small ships

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/discovery-class-smaller-cruise-ship

Thanks. I still think 2024 is more as jade is sailing. I didn't notice august sailings so it may be a display problem.

It seems there are an awful lot of canada new england cruises this year yet 2025 there is barely anything. Will there be more ships posted for 2025?

I’m wondering if other people who sailed on princess had better luck reserving a table for sharing or just showing up and requesting it. It doesn’t sound like the solo meetup works out for everyone.

I am referring to princess cruise protection but unfortunately i don't believe cancel for any reason is available through bc through bcaa.