More cruises having 200% supplement for solos

[luvcruisn']

I received an e-mail from HAL with a great price for a 23 night South American cruise in 2013, in Canadian funds. However, when I put in 1 person instead of 2, the price almost doubled.

I took two South American cruises in the last two years, and both of them were about 160% single supplement. I'm pretty disappointed, as the cruise is now too expensive.

[GeriatricNurse]

I received an e-mail from HAL with a great price for a 23 night South American cruise in 2013' date=' in Canadian funds. However, when I put in 1 person instead of 2, the price almost doubled.

I took two South American cruises in the last two years, and both of them were about 160% single supplement. I'm pretty disappointed, as the cruise is now too expensive.[/quote']

 

My next cruise with HAL, as a solo, may very well be my last as it is too expensive to cruise with them as a solo!:(

Bus tours would become more of an economical option!

[CtheW0rld]

on a lot of cruises, you can't book solo no matter what the cost. hal (and other lines) is restricting the number of solo pax, even if they pay double. the only way to get around this is to book a 'friend' who turns into a no-show.

[kcscrapper]

Some time ago, on a cruise line that shall not be named, I booked a "single share" sort of arrangement -- I paid for a single and was assigned a same gender roommate.

It worked out okay -- but I only did it once.

 

Is that sort of arrangement no longer available?

[cruz chic]

Some time ago, on a cruise line that shall not be named, I booked a "single share" sort of arrangement -- I paid for a single and was assigned a same gender roommate.

It worked out okay -- but I only did it once.

 

Is that sort of arrangement no longer available?

I think they may still do it. Generally there are only a couple of catagories of staterooms that they do that with. Just speaking for myself, I'd rather poke my eyes out then do that.

[jimbri]

I think they may still do it. Generally there are only a couple of catagories of staterooms that they do that with. Just speaking for myself, I'd rather poke my eyes out then do that.

 

 

You made me laugh and I agree with you 100% :D

[HokiePoq]

In January someone on the Rotterdam told about their experiences with single matching. Sometimes it works out okay and others not so well. To me it would be a big gamble.

May not be what you are interested in or where you'd like to go, but the NCL Epic has studio cabins that are made just for one person. There is a private lounge just for the studios with a gathering each evening. They had a cabin crawl on a sea day and I thought it was funny that we could go all over the expensive suite area but a staff person wouldn't let us in the studio lounge!

[George C]

I do not like NCL but they seem to have good single rate, sometimes RCCL has good rates if you are over 55 but it depends on voyage

[Roz]

I'm noticing the same thing. Starting with 2012, HAL's Alaskan sailings are all 200% for solos. The cruises where a single can pay 130%-175% are getting to be few and far between.

 

Roz

[swedish weave]

Keep your eyes open !!! NCL has single cabins at single rates on the Epic, and other lines are contemplating doing the same thing. I believe the Breakaway (New NCL ship) will also have single cabins.

 

If that proves to be popular, the other lines will soon follow. Single cruisers are becoming a larger segment of market, and are being recognized.

[PathfinderEss]

I understand why the cruise lines charge what they do for single supplements but think it is unfair. There are so many single people who love to cruise and thru no fault of their own have to travel that way. I know the cruise lines want to fill every cabin with two people because all those people means money is being spent in the bars, casino, spa, etc.. where they make their money. There should be some room made for the single supplement passengers.

[allanv]

Totally agree pathfinderess, there should be no discrimination against solo travelers. Should be no problem if you book a double on your own, but I guess they're missing out on money spent on the ship then..

[dakrewser]

No one is being discriminated against, it's just that cruise ships - like most hotels - base their charge "per room" rather than "per person". Especially when the bulk of the profit is mde on other than cabin charges they need to make up the cost of that "empty" space.

 

There are lines which offer single cabins, there are lines with a "matching service" and most people can find like-minded folks to share with them. It's not that hard.

[InTheWASide]

I received an e-mail from HAL with a great price for a 23 night South American cruise in 2013' date=' in Canadian funds. However, when I put in 1 person instead of 2, the price almost doubled.

I took two South American cruises in the last two years, and both of them were about 160% single supplement. I'm pretty disappointed, as the cruise is now too expensive.[/quote']

 

Many special promotions are automatically 200% but there may be a more generic promo available that is a lower than 200% single supplement that could be a little cheaper... it depends on the specifics of the given promotion.

[rafinmd]

How about something like Crystal was doing (with everybody) before they went all inclusive early this year. The single supplement was (and still is) quite reasonable and the fare effectively included an "As You Wish" credit with a large OBC built into the fare structure. Assured that everybody "spent" a reasonable amount.

 

Roy

[PeaceLoveCruise]

I think they may still do it. Generally there are only a couple of catagories of staterooms that they do that with. Just speaking for myself, I'd rather poke my eyes out then do that.

 

I just spit on my computer screen!!! :D

 

I did this on my first cruise, but I was with a group for a conference. I traveled with a really nice lady that I had never met, can't remember her name, and have never spoken to again! :p What I do remember is that she threw up all over the cabin for the first 2 nights of the cruise! :eek: I got used to sleeping up top!

[cruz chic]

No one is being discriminated against, it's just that cruise ships - like most hotels - base their charge "per room" rather than "per person". Especially when the bulk of the profit is mde on other than cabin charges they need to make up the cost of that "empty" space.

 

There are lines which offer single cabins, there are lines with a "matching service" and most people can find like-minded folks to share with them. It's not that hard.

No, it's not that difficult. I'm not expecting that they give it away but I don't think it would be a huge deal to say charge 160 -175%. Some of us choose to sail this way and don't really care to go on another line. You may end up in the same situation today so just remember that. They also don't have to almost give away cruises to 3rd and 4 pax. There isn't that much revenue to be gained there. How about also charging a surtax on cheap couples that don't spend a dime onboard? Would you be ok with that?

[cruz chic]

I just spit on my computer screen!!! :D

 

I did this on my first cruise, but I was with a group for a conference. I traveled with a really nice lady that I had never met, can't remember her name, and have never spoken to again! :p What I do remember is that she threw up all over the cabin for the first 2 nights of the cruise! :eek: I got used to sleeping up top!

Yikes, good reason not to share again.

[catl331]

There's three solo cabins on the Prinsendam (one Inside, two Outside)- but they cost more than a double plus single supplement of the same type.

[SwissMyst]

MV Discovery and Voyages to Antiquity have solo-friendly rates and even some solo cabins.

 

How about changing all the smaller HAL lanai cabins into special-fare solo cabins?

 

A solo passenger could just step outside their cabin and feel part of the larger world onboard the people friendly promenade deck and the smaller size of the useful space after the lanai door additions makes it more compact for two people, where a special price solo cabin might really make this space work and be a desirable draw.

 

I do think HAL could do well attending to the needs of solo passengers with special dedicated cabins and pricing. So if the lanai cabins don't work out as well as hoped, this might be a way to make them work in a different direction.

 

(NB: I have no idea if lanai cabins are getting fully booked or not. Just speculating after recent comments here that found them less than desirable for two.)

[RuthC]

...most people can find like-minded folks to share with them. It's not that hard.

Gonna have to disagree with you on this one, Dave.

At least for those of us who take something more than the basic 7-day Caribbean cruise once a year, it's not easy to find a compatible friend who can get away for the same length of time, at the same time of year, and spend the same amount for fare, who also wants to go.

Too many variables that make it hard to find a share.

[SwissMyst]

Look at it this way, they should charge for a solo fare first for the first passenger per cabin.

 

Then start adding on per passenger fees to as many as someone wants to fit into the cabin.

 

A second person in the cabin does not necessarily add 100% more cost either, yet this is how the cabin is conventionally priced out as a "double-sharing".

[dakrewser]

Gonna have to disagree with you on this one, Dave.

At least for those of us who take something more than the basic 7-day Caribbean cruise once a year, it's not easy to find a compatible friend who can get away for the same length of time, at the same time of year, and spend the same amount for fare, who also wants to go.

Too many variables that make it hard to find a share.

I'd share with you, Ruth - if my DW would let me! ;)

[twodogmom]

 

At least for those of us who take something more than the basic 7-day Caribbean cruise once a year, it's not easy to find a compatible friend who can get away for the same length of time, at the same time of year, and spend the same amount for fare, who also wants to go.

Too many variables that make it hard to find a share.

 

I agree with you. My problem is now that I have gone solo for quite a few cruises, I'm not sure if I want to share. I have all the cabin, storage etc. I can have breakfast delivered when I want it, go to bed and wake up when I want to. I am really getting to love traveling solo.

 

donna

[Northshorecruisers]

My dad is a widower and loves to cruise. His first on HAL was through his church group and he paid 150% to go solo. He didn't mind because he really didn't want to share an inside cabin with someone he barely knew.

 

Unfortunately, the fares have gotten too high for him to be able to sail solo. So, here's what he's been doing and it seems to work out well.

 

He spends 3 months each winter in Tampa. Luckily he can drive the trip by himself from Toronto to Tampa (he's a very active 87 y/o). Sometime during that 3 months, my brother and his wife will fly down for a 1 week cruise out of FL and they book a Superior or Deluxe Suite and my dad goes at the special 3rd person rate. It's an economical way for him to cruise and he doesn't even have to worry about airfare.