Cruise Deals for Solo Travellers?

[Miamora]

Hi Guys

 

I would love to go on a Caribbean cruise December/January and was wondering if it's possible to find a cruise at a discounted rate as a solo traveller?  I realise that at that time of year prices are usually inflated in the run-up to Christmas but if it's possible to get a deal then I'd appreciate some pointers about where to look, etc.

 

Also, is it possible to find a deal at short notice?  I'm self employed so have the freedom to travel anytime throughout the year but I do love a bargain (like everyone else!).  Or maybe someone could tell me when is the best time to find a deal.

 

 

 

[LHT28]

you could  check out the Solo Cruisers  forum

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/279-solo-cruisers/

[Roz]

Cruises are less expensive between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  There are few deals for solo cruisers.  I've booked inside or outside cabins on Holland America in the Caribbean for less than 200%.

 

Roz

[Miamora]

Thank you everyone for the helpful information.  I shall check them out.

 

[KmomChicago]

Some of the slowest weeks are the first 2 weeks of December and the last 3 weeks of January and often they are discounted steeply, so even having to pay the full single supplement can still be somewhat reasonable at these times, if you happen to hit a deal.  Sometimes at the last minute they completely drop single supplements on unsold cabins, but of course you can't plan ahead and need to be ready to decide on very short notice, and you never know what choice of cruise line, cabin category, or itinerary will be doing this, if any.  And neither do the cruise lines.  If they have rooms they will try to unload them, but if they meet a certain occupancy threshold by a certain date, they won't. It's a total gamble.

Edited February 19, 2019 by KmomChicago

[Miamora]

Thank Chicago

[hallux]

If you don't need a balcony, some ships offer single-occupancy cabins.  Royal's Quantum-class ships have interior solo cabins (2 per deck on most "hotel" decks) and apparently also have solo balcony cabins.  I found Royal's solo interior cabin plenty roomy for one person.

 

Norwegian also has some ships that have solo interior cabins - the Bliss is one of those.  I'll be trying one on the Bliss in April.

 

Both of those options allow solo cruisers to sail without paying the single supplement, but some of the extras are also reduced.

[Texas Tillie]

49 minutes ago, hallux said:

If you don't need a balcony, some ships offer single-occupancy cabins.  Royal's Quantum-class ships have interior solo cabins (2 per deck on most "hotel" decks) and apparently also have solo balcony cabins.  I found Royal's solo interior cabin plenty roomy for one person.

 

Norwegian also has some ships that have solo interior cabins - the Bliss is one of those.  I'll be trying one on the Bliss in April.

 

Both of those options allow solo cruisers to sail without paying the single supplement, but some of the extras are also reduced.

 

Be aware that sometimes an interior full size room on the same ship, even at 200%, is just a cheap as the solo cabins.

[hallux]

1 hour ago, Texas Tillie said:

 

Be aware that sometimes an interior full size room on the same ship, even at 200%, is just a cheap as the solo cabins.

 

I think some of that depends on the perks being included in the higher-rate rooms.

 

As an example - I'm sailing in a solo/studio cabin on the NCL Bliss in April, I get one on-board perk.  Other room categories include as many as 6 perks (drink package for which you still have to pay service fee, free/discounted air, free internet, specialty dining, free additional guests [beyond 2?], $50 OBC per port for excursions taken).  In my case - the air fare was no bargain (I booked my own for less INCLUDING a hotel night), I don't drink, I can live for a day without internet (only 2 at-sea days and my cell service should work in all ports), I'm using the OBC from the excursions to pay for specialty dining and some of the gratuity at the end of the cruise.  Oh yeah, the next 2 state room tiers get the same number of offers as I get (ONE), and the lowest balcony price gets all offers but costs $300 more and I KNOW I won't get $300 worth of value from the higher cabin cost.

 

While I don't doubt that there may be instances of people paying less for a different class cabin, I think for the most part it's the overall cost/value they're looking at and that just isn't there for me.

[calliopecruiser]

4 hours ago, hallux said:

Both of those options allow solo cruisers to sail without paying the single supplement,

 

But they do sometimes result in solo cruisers paying more.  Even though it's not called a "single supplement", they are priced higher than a standard stateroom's per person rate, so there is a price bump to cruising in those tiny cabins.....And in some cases a solo passenger can sail in a regular cabin and pay the singles' supplement for less than the cost of a "solo cabin", so be sure to do your homework.  They market them as "no supplement" as a ploy to make solos think they're getting a better deal, when sometimes they're getting a smaller cabin at a higher cost. 

[Miamora]

Thank you everyone! I appreciate all your replies.  It's good to know that some cruise liners are accommodating solo travellers without penalising us.

 

[navybankerteacher]

21 minutes ago, Miamora said:

Thank you everyone! I appreciate all your replies.  It's good to know that some cruise liners are accommodating solo travellers without penalising us.

 

It is unfortunate to think that a cruise line wanting to get the almost full fare for a two person cabin —-just because someone wants to have it all for himself- is “penalising” anyone. The lines know that two people in a two person cabin will spend more than one person — and the roughly $10 per person in food costs they might save will not make up for the lost on-board spending.  And, frankly, if you do not want to spend anything on board, you are not the sort of passenger they really want.

 

Many lines in fact do not charge the full rate.

 

Back on topic: if you can be flexible and shop around for last minute bookings on itineraries which have not sold out, you might get a very low single supplement.

[hallux]

When I was looking to book my trip for this year, one thing I did see was that Royal Caribbean extended the 60% off second guest or 30% off each guest promotions to also apply to the single supplement so a single on those cruises was only paying 140% on a 2-person cabin.  Those trips were not on ships with solo cabins so I can't compare those rates but they were still higher than I'm paying for a solo cabin on a different line and itinerary (yeah, apples/oranges comparing Caribbean and PNW trips).

[calliopecruiser]

3 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

It is unfortunate to think that a cruise line wanting to get the almost full fare for a two person cabin —-just because someone wants to have it all for himself- is “penalising” anyone.

I think they are too, however I think marketing to sell dinky interior cabins to solos at a proportionally higher price is also penalizing them, in a worse way. 

[Mike_DeA]

15 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

It is unfortunate to think that a cruise line wanting to get the almost full fare for a two person cabin —-just because someone wants to have it all for himself- is “penalising” anyone. The lines know that two people in a two person cabin will spend more than one person — and the roughly $10 per person in food costs they might save will not make up for the lost on-board spending.  And, frankly, if you do not want to spend anything on board, you are not the sort of passenger they really want.

 

Many lines in fact do not charge the full rate.

 

Back on topic: if you can be flexible and shop around for last minute bookings on itineraries which have not sold out, you might get a very low single supplement.

Do the cruise lines charge based on the number of beds/berths?  Should they charge for four if the cabin sleeps four but only two people book it?  No they do not.

 

And you do realize that based on "averages", two people will spend on average more than one.... but in reality doesn't necessarily happen.  The cruise lines charges solos for two because they can.  Deals can be found but many times they are last minute deals where the solo supplement is only 150% or is waived.

[crzndeb]

I look at the daily rate, not the single supplement. If it is in the ballpark of what I’m willing to pay, then I book it. And I will gladly pay that rate to have the cabin all to myself.

 

If I can go on the same itinerary, paying $200 a day, as opposed to $400 a day, I will choose the $200, even if the $400  has a smaller single supplement. I don’t book those solo cabins, since several cruise lines will give you double points as a solo cruiser, and I find those solo cabins are sometimes more than just booking a regular interior cabin.

[cruisemom42]

21 minutes ago, Mike_DeA said:

 

And you do realize that based on "averages", two people will spend on average more than one.... but in reality doesn't necessarily happen.  The cruise lines charges solos for two because they can.  Deals can be found but many times they are last minute deals where the solo supplement is only 150% or is waived.

 

Averages ARE reality. What you are talking about is not 'reality' but the difference between an average of spending behavior over time versus individual exceptions. Yes, exceptions may occur but they do not negate the fact that 'on average' the cruise line will have higher profitability with 2 persons per cabin. That is their break-even model. If they can have 3 or 4 passengers per cabin, that's gravy to them....

 

The cruise lines track spending in many different ways and they are best placed to determine this. As a solo traveler I may not like it, but if I want to cruise I have to 'game the system'. One way is what crzndeb suggests: looking at overall cost per day versus how much supplement you're paying.  Cruise lines offer some solo specials, but more often they will offer major fare reductions and sales if you are willing to put in the time and look for them.

 

(P.S.  for every story of a solo who reports spending MORE than a couple, there are solos like me who rarely take ship excursions, never buy photos, hardly ever dine in specialty restaurants, don't use the spa or casino, and drink only modestly. There is no way I am very profitable for them -- yet I am a cruiser year-on-year and they haven't kicked me off yet... )

[navybankerteacher]

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

...

 

The cruise lines track spending in many different ways and they are best placed to determine this. As a solo traveler I may not like it, but if I want to cruise I have to 'game the system'...

 

(P.S.  for every story of a solo who reports spending MORE than a couple, there are solos like me who rarely take ship excursions, never buy photos, hardly ever dine in specialty restaurants, don't use the spa or casino, and drink only modestly. There is no way I am very profitable for them -- yet I am a cruiser year-on-year and they haven't kicked me off yet... )

Refreshing to hear from a realist.  I cruised solo for a number of years - I never liked having to pay more than I wanted to. Even to this day I do not like having to pay for the Bordeau I like to roll on my palate —- but I do not complain about being victimized by those greedy French vintners.  

[Saint Greg]

On 2/18/2019 at 6:19 PM, Roz said:

Cruises are less expensive between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  There are few deals for solo cruisers.  I've booked inside or outside cabins on Holland America in the Caribbean for less than 200%.

 

Roz

 

That’s what they say...but my 1st week of December Dream Cruise was just as expensive as my last week of August Dream Cruise.

[jocap]

The trouble with wanting the Caribbean is that there's not much of a less popular time in Dec/Jan, as that's when so many people want to escape the cold weather.

As for less expensive times- here in the UK, ships have a bleaker time in Nov/early Dec; ships which are home ported have to keep sailing but not many people wish to sail local waters, except to the Canaries, so that's when we've picked up real bargains...

Find a Travel Agent who understands ships, and ask for last minute deals to the Caribbean; join TA sites on the internet and look for the special offers.  🙂

[calliopecruiser]

6 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

I never liked having to pay more than I wanted to.

 

No one likes spending more than they want to, LOL.   However, it does make me angry to see a company either dismiss or financially discourage (i.e charge far more to) such a large segment of people who - except for an arbitrary factor - are otherwise the expected target of their product.  That includes people who want to cruise solo, but it also includes people over size [whatever], or people who dress in a particular way, for example.  So, it makes me mad to be charged double for traveling solo, even though it is their right to do so.  There's no inconsistency in that - they can do what they choose (within legal limits), and I can be mad about it if I choose.  What good does getting mad do?  It just reminds me not to patronize their company and reminds me why I make those choices.  And reminds me not to be that discriminatory in my own life. 

[navybankerteacher]

27 minutes ago, calliopecruiser said:

 

.  That includes people who want to cruise solo, but it also includes people over size [whatever], or people who dress in a particular way, for example.  So, it makes me mad to be charged double for traveling solo, even though it is their right to do so. 

 

...

 

 And reminds me not to be that discriminatory in my own life. 

“people over size”???

 What line have you experienced that does not sell passage to the overweight?

 

“dress in a particular way” ???

What dress code code on what ship do you find unjust?  And do you deny the host (the line) the right to set the tone in their dining room? Remember that many of their customers want a tone to be set.

 

”charged double for sailing single”???

So a line should sell a two person cabin for half price just because a person wants to have a two person cabin for himself?

 

The only thing  “discrimatory” in cruise line pricing is their preference to sell cabins to customers who will contribute to their profitability, rather than sell them to singles who will not so contribute.

[calliopecruiser]

33 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

What line have you experienced that does not sell passage to the overweight?

 

33 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

on what ship

I said I felt that way about companies who act that way, not just cruise ships. 

 

 

33 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

So a line should sell a two person cabin for half price just because a person wants to have a two person cabin for himself?

No, it's not selling it for "half price"........not charging a 100% single supplement is selling it to a solo passenger for 50% less than what they choose to charge for two adults.  That may or may not be half price; those two things are not the same.  And, by the way, I never said I thought a solo supplement was discriminatory, I said I thought charging double the per-person fare was discriminatory.  It's legal discrimination, of course, and solos (like overweight people) are routinely discriminated against.  They're perfectly entitled to charge what the market will bear, but I certainly am not going to say that they're right for doing so, or that I will choose to support a company who treats me with such disinterest simply because I am traveling solo. 

[navybankerteacher]

32 minutes ago, calliopecruiser said:

 

I said I felt that way about companies who act that way, not just cruise ships. 

...

 I said I thought charging double the per-person fare was discriminatory. 

 

“”... companies who act that way...?

What way? And, what  companies “act that way” - presumably towards the overweight?

 

The cruise lines generally do not charge a per person fare - but when they sell a two person cabin they state what the fare is per person.  When they sell a one person cabin, they also state what the fare is per person.  The fact that cruise line do not have that many one person cabins simply means they do not think that one person cabins are great for their business model.  

 

They are in business to operate profitably;  if you ran a business wouldn’t you try to run it profitably?  If, perhaps you had a car, or a house, to sell, wouldn’t you seek the best price for it  — and not sell it at a discount just because a potential buyer did not want to pay you the price other buyers would?  Is selling it to the person who is willing to pay the higher price discrimatory against a person who, for whatever reason, would not match that higher price?

 

Throwing around terms like “discrimatory” because you do not like they way they do business is being just a bit self-absorbed.   

[Roz]

To the OP, I've gotten some good solo prices on European river cruises.  Their pricing is completely different than most ocean cruises because there are a lot of inclusions, especially on the higher end lines such as AMA and Uniworld.  They don't rely as much on onboard spending for revenue, so there is more elasticity in how much they can reduce the fares.  

 

Roz