Single Supplement

[cruz chic]

I have quite a few friends who would love to cruise with me. But I prefer to travel solo.

I'm SO with you on this. It bugs the heck out of me when people offer me helpful suggestions on finding someone to sail with. I just can't understand why some folks don't get that some of us don't want someone around 24/7.

[Bill B]

I like my friends... but not enough to share a room with (MAYBE a two-bedroom suite).

[ariawoman]

I wonder when/if HAL will ever have single rooms like Oasis (or maybe it's the Epic). I remember one of the mega ships actually has single rooms, which I think is a great idea. It's unfair (but i understand that logic) that folks have to feel pushed into finding someone to go, due to the high cost of flyin' solo so to speak.

 

I'd love to see single rooms make their way to HAL, just so that more people have the opportunity to sail on them for a good price.

[cruz chic]

I wonder when/if HAL will ever have single rooms like Oasis (or maybe it's the Epic). I remember one of the mega ships actually has single rooms, which I think is a great idea. It's unfair (but i understand that logic) that folks have to feel pushed into finding someone to go, due to the high cost of flyin' solo so to speak.

 

I'd love to see single rooms make their way to HAL, just so that more people have the opportunity to sail on them for a good price.

I think it's the Epic that has the single rooms. I think I recall that reading on CC that those rooms were a design flaw. I think they were originally supposed to be double occ. but they were just too small. I do like the idea of a single room however.

[DutchByAssociation]

I just priced some cruises this morning, and it appears the single supplement of 1.4x-1.6x has now become 2.0x. In effect you are paying for a second person.

 

When did this start?

 

It's not a set percentage. It depends on the sailing, the category, the promotion you're booking under.

 

There are numerous factors but in most cases you can expect to see at least 1.5x... or at least that's what I usually see on my end of things

[ariawoman]

I think it's the Epic that has the single rooms. I think I recall that reading on CC that those rooms were a design flaw. I think they were originally supposed to be double occ. but they were just too small. I do like the idea of a single room however.

 

Well, if those sell well, that design flaw could turn into a new industry trend ;-) Guess we'll have to see.

[Roz]

As a matter of fact, I DO have trouble finding a suitable cruise companion. First of all, it has to be someone I WANT to share a small space with for 7 or more days, and then they have to have the interest, money, time off from work, etc.

 

I've found that when I ask them to put down the deposit, I get a lot of hesitation and lack of commitment. Plus, as others have pointed out, once you've cruised solo, you're reluctant to give up the privacy and freedom.

 

Roz

[heidik]

I choose to live alone and travel solo because I want to get away from people .....You could not pay me to share a cabin with someone - I don't care what the cost is, the solitude is worth it.

[Stevesan]

I think it's the Epic that has the single rooms. I think I recall that reading on CC that those rooms were a design flaw. I think they were originally supposed to be double occ. but they were just too small. I do like the idea of a single room however.

 

Ya think? :p

[bcd2010]

I'd love to see single rooms make their way to HAL, just so that more people have the opportunity to sail on them for a good price.

 

I'd travel more often - thus HAL would make more money from me - and I'd expect they'd end up sailing with fewer empty cabins and/or needing to have extreme sales. The notion of double occupancy rates for everything when so much of the population is single is archaic.

[Stevesan]

When I was a small boy I had an imaginary friend. I've sailed solo for the last three years. He's baaaack! :)

 

I don't like the sgl supp either, (surprise, surprise) but I understand the necessity.

Cruise lines rely on on-board spending for 25% of revenue. That's not insignificant.

Frankly, I've learned to ignore the percentage and simply shop price.

 

I once booked Princess at 200% for less money than HAL's 165%. Both were identical dates and itineraries.

BTW - The Princess cabin was larger than HAL's There are six super secret oversized inside cabins on Grand Class ships.

I'd tell you where they're at, but then I'd have to.....!

 

[I just watch the bottom line. I compensate by replacing OVs and Balconies with inside cabins.

I no longer need the additional space, and I spend very little time there.

A night light in the head and a back lighted alarm clock, and I'm a happy guy.

 

P.S. HAL's sgl supp for inside or ov is usually ~165%, Princess often near 200%. Higher categories are 200% on both.

[Max2003]

What is your assumption as to the price of a single room. I doubt that they would be priced at the per person rate shown for double occupancy and therefor may not be that much less expensive than the current supplemented rate.

 

Remember that there still will be a private bath and other overheads associated with the design of a single room.

[RuthC]

Back in the "Good old days" when HAL ships did have single occupancy cabins, they were limited in category and location. They were not the most desirable cabins.

Funny thing, too, was that when you compared the price to a similar, but better located cabin, with a single supplement---the price was about the same.

[dot73]

I spoke with someone who was on the EPIC recently and saw the single cabins. She said that for a 7-day cruise, they are perfect for one person as long as you don't bring two suitcases full of clothes. The cabins are very well laid out and as long as you don't spend all your time in them, they enough room for a solo. Apparently, the living room that solo passengers have access to is very nice. However, she wasn't thrilled with the ship. There were long line ups for just about everything.

 

As for me, after 7 solo cruises, my last two cruises have been with my mother. We had a nice verandah that I could never afford as a solo. Although I love my mother dearly and will cruise with her again, I would still rather cruise in a tiny inside room by myself. After 11 years of solo cruising, I am not one to compromise with anyone sharing my cabins, except maybe for good old mom. I am booked on a 14-day Nieuw Amsterdam cruise in early December and I cannot wait. The price was excellent for an oustide guarantee and I have splurged on one of the retreat cabanas. With the cabana, I can come and go as I please and not have to worry about being a chair hog or someone stealing my lounge chair while I'm in the pool. I think HAL makes plenty of money from this solo. I don't smuggle alcohol but enjoy the HAL drinks by the pool or the bars; I dont bring my own wine but always order same with dinner; I always try the alternative restaurants; I always buy a trinket or two at the HAL shops; I sometimes leave a small deposit at the casino; and I always leave the automatic tip on and still add an additional tip for the fabulous waiters and stewards.

 

I have a feeling that HAL will still have deals for solos in their cheap cabins at various times of the year. I have never paid more than 150% when cruising in November, December, or early January. If they start charging 200% for all cabins and I can no longer afford to cruise, I will have to go back to all-inclusive vacations where one can always find a good bargain.

[gebo]

Does Princindam still have the single cabins?

[RuthC]

Does Princindam still have the single cabins?

Yes. There is one inside single, and two outside singles on the Prinsendam.

I have stayed in the inside single. It's the same size as the doubles along the same passageway, but has just the one bed. That opens up a great deal of extra space.

As a single, the room is spacious. As a double, it's tight indeed.

[sailorbill]

For 10 years I have been spending way too much time doing lots and lots of research on the internet looking for bargain prices for solo cruises because that is the way I prefer to sail. Holland America gets most of my business because their single suppliment is consistantly the best for the itineraries that interest me the most. In general I have found that a single suppliment of 150% to 160% of the per person price for double occupancy only applies to inside and outside staterooms. For balcony staterooms and suites the price for single occupancy is universally 200% of the per person price for double occupancy. That is for the stateroom price only and does not include port fees and taxes that are collected on a per person basis. Lower single suppliments of 110% to 125% can sometimes be found for the luxury cruise lines. But their basic price of $500 and more per day is beyond my budget even if there were no single suppliment. Princess is particularly unkind to singles for their popular itineraries. In the past I have found single prices to be more than twice the per person price for a double. My interpretation is that Princess doesn't want singles unless the cruise is not selling well. The most confusing cruise line is Oceania with their 2 for 1 pricing plus free air. As a single I can never figure out what my total cost would be without calling them. And those times when I did call, the price has always been too high for my bargain seeking brain.

[iamirish]

I have over 100 days on HAL - all paying the single supplement usually between 140 to 165% and occasionally less :) :) But I draw the line on this new policy of 200%.:(

Most solo traveler, or at least me, spend a lot of money in the casinos and bars – two very high profit areas for the cruise lines.

I call HAL about their new policy and was told by one of their reps that the 200% was the new norm and they were limiting how many "cabins" they would sell to those of us that travel solo - even at the 200%.

I am now looking for a new favorite cruise line that will treat me right!!

[luvcruisn']

I just checked the price for my 17 day Hawaii cruise next year and no price change noted for single occupancy - it's still coming in at 160%. Is it only HAL raising the single rate to 200%? Bad HAL:mad:

 

Most of the other cruise lines always charge 200%. HAL is one of the few that gives us singles a break.

[luvcruisn']

I booked April 2010 for a 17 day cruise on the Veendam to Antarctica, and I am paying somewhere between 150-160% for the single supplement. I wanted to take the Voyage of the Vikings on the Maasdam, but that is coming in at 200% for 2011. I was told by a HAL rep that if the sailings are very popular, they will apply the 200% rather than the 150% or so. I have checked some cruises to Australia and New Zealand for 2012, and they are still at 150%.

[cruz chic]

I have over 100 days on HAL - all paying the single supplement usually between 140 to 165% and occasionally less :) :) But I draw the line on this new policy of 200%.:(

 

Most solo traveler, or at least me, spend a lot of money in the casinos and bars – two very high profit areas for the cruise lines.

 

I call HAL about their new policy and was told by one of their reps that the 200% was the new norm and they were limiting how many "cabins" they would sell to those of us that travel solo - even at the 200%.

 

I am now looking for a new favorite cruise line that will treat me right!!

I like Princess quite a bit. You might want to give them a try. They do charge 200% but look at the total price because sometimes they are cheaper, even at 200%.

[dot73]

What bothers me the most about this new 200% solo pricing is the fact that there are now a "limited" number of rooms available to solos at this price. If I am willing to pay 200% for a room, I should be able to book any available room without restrictions. This is pure discrimination. I guess if you want a cruise bad enough, you can always book it for two by using a relative or friend's name, and then show up at the pier alone. Can they not let you on the ship just because the other person doesn't show up as long as everything is paid for, including all port charges and taxes? Of course, they will probably come up with some kind of restriction in their contract to cover this. I am very disappointed with HAL and the other cruiselines who have adopted this discriminatory position.

[tcook052]

I like Princess quite a bit. You might want to give them a try. They do charge 200% but look at the total price because sometimes they are cheaper, even at 200%.

 

Yes, Princess is cheaper in many ways.

[serendipity1499]

What bothers me the most about this new 200% solo pricing is the fact that there are now a "limited" number of rooms available to solos at this price. If I am willing to pay 200% for a room, I should be able to book any available room without restrictions. This is pure discrimination. <SNIP >

 

I understand your problem & I'm not making light of it, however I often wonder why so many accusations of "Pure discrimination" are kicked around..:confused:

Why are so many accusing companies of discrimination, if they do not consider a practice to be fair..I once had to appear in court to explain why we did not put a more senior part-timer into a full time position, so she could have full time benefits such as paid sick leave & paid vacations every year..We spent 6 weeks training her & as a part-timer she was not paid for sick leave..Unfortunately she would frequently call in sick, when we were the busiest..Therefore, we promoted those with less seniority, who were rarely out, into the full time positions..The young woman claimed discrimination, & filed a complaint with EEOC.. When her sick time records were presented to the judge, he looked at her & said "Young lady if you worked for me, I would have fired you long ago, Case dismissed!"...

 

Now lets say someone drives to work in their own car on a major Highway...On that same highway, if two or more people are in the car, they can use a special fast "Car Pool" lane..Therefore their commute time could be cut in half if they car pooled..However, since they choose not to car pool & drive as single drivers they are now relegated to the slower lanes & it takes twice as long to get to work...Wouldn't this too be "pure discrimination" ?

Your interpretation of discrimination abounds in every walk of life & there is nothing anyone can do about it..

JMO...In the meantime I hope you all get to cruise as often as you want on the itineries that are exciting to you at the fare you can live with....

Cheers....:)Betty

[casamariposa]

I have lots of friends with whom I've traveled extensively over the years. None of them wants to cruise because they think all cruises are like what the Carnival ads show. (Nothing wrong with that style of cruising, but it's not mine or theirs.) I'm at the point in life when I no longer want to move from city to city on land tours, packing and unpacking, having the luggage outside the door at 7:00 a.m., etc., etc. Regarding the single supplement, one of my friends tried to organize a four-day trip to Washington, DC with our group. I live in SW Florida, so I would have had to fly to DC which would have cost a couple of hundred bucks plus cab fare back and forth to the airport. Even with her planning on our staying in a modest Red Roof Inn, and taking the Metro into the city to see the sights, when the cost of lunches and dinners was added in, I informed her that I could have have sailed on a 10-day HAL cruise in an inside cabin WITH the single supplement for the same price or less. Not to mention the entertainment on board, the lectures...and the bread pudding in the Lido! Even with the single supplement, you get a lot for the price.