Celebrity Pricing for a Solo Traveler?

[edspec]

I understand Celebrity bundles their pricing, and that for the summer cruises out of St. Martin the airfare is included in the quoted price.  I'm a solo traveler, and understand and accept that I would need to pay the normal price for the cabin, but would the $1999/pp/per cabin be discounted at all since there won't be a second person for the drink package, tips, or airfare?  Thanks in advance for any help on this.

[1025cruise]

Until the cruises are posted, I don't think anyone can answer that.

[jelayne]

It seems that there has been some confusion on the pricing of the St Maarten cruises.  Initially the announcement/article I saw led me to believe that the $1,999

included air.  Others saw announcements that indicate air was not included

Someone on CC  emailed X and got a reply that air fare was not included.  I guess we will know for sure when bookings open on Thursday.

Edited March 23, 2021 by jelayne
Typo

[edspec]

Ok, that helps.  If air isn't included in that price I may go w/ Adventure of the Seas out of Nassau, but ...no prices yet and those cruises go on sale at midnight EST.

[TFree]

21 minutes ago, jelayne said:

It seems that there has been some confusion on the pricing of the St Maarten cruises.  Initially the announcement/article I saw led me to believe that the $1,999

included air.  Others saw announcements that indicate air was not included

Someone on CC  emailed X and got a reply that air fare was not included.  I guess we will know for sure when bookings open on Thursday.

That is interesting.  Our travel agent reported to me last night that airfare is included.  Maybe she is making an assumption based on the printed materials, and maybe that assumption is wrong.  I don't think we are going to book one of these cruises, so I have not been following it that closely.

 

Tom & Judy

Edited March 23, 2021 by TFree

[TFree]

6 minutes ago, TFree said:

That is interesting.  Our travel agent reported to me last night that airfare is included.  Maybe she is making an assumption based on the printed materials, and maybe that assumption is wrong.  I don't think we are going to book one of these cruises, so I have not been following it that closely.

 

Tom

On the other hand, hasn't it been reported somewhere here that there are insufficient commercial flights to St. Maarten, so the implication was that Celebrity must be chartering flights from somewhere to make this work?  Not my issue, but I suppose this will be sorted out when the cruises get listed.

 

Tom & Judy

[coastcat]

2 hours ago, jelayne said:

It seems that there has been some confusion on the pricing of the St Maarten cruises.  Initially the announcement/article I saw led me to believe that the $1,999

included air.  Others saw announcements that indicate air was not included

Someone on CC  emailed X and got a reply that air fare was not included.  I guess we will know for sure when bookings open on Thursday.

FWIW, this is from Celebrity’s press release, available in their media center:

 

Guests can take advantage of special air and sea pricing offering exceptional savings on all Summer 2021 St. Maarten sailings starting at $1,999* per person for a veranda stateroom. The offer applies to new bookings and flights must be booked through Flights By Celebrity and prices include airfare and taxes. No promotional code is needed.

 

It wouldn’t be the first time that marketing info hasn’t been communicated to customer service... But yes, we won’t know for sure until bookings open. 
 

As a solo cruiser I’m already not pleased with Celebrity’s pricing model. They’re already basically charging us double gratuities, drink packages, and internet packages (and the upgrade packages are not great deals for solos). If the air-sea packages don’t have a reduced price for solos who only need one airplane seat...  

 

Well, we’ll see. The ABC island itinerary is so darned tempting. 

Edited March 23, 2021 by coastcat

[gerelmx]

I would like to know if the flights will also be available for foreigners since normally Celebrity flights are not.

[jules27556]

On 3/23/2021 at 8:47 AM, edspec said:

I understand Celebrity bundles their pricing, and that for the summer cruises out of St. Martin the airfare is included in the quoted price.  I'm a solo traveler, and understand and accept that I would need to pay the normal price for the cabin, but would the $1999/pp/per cabin be discounted at all since there won't be a second person for the drink package, tips, or airfare?  Thanks in advance for any help on this.

There is a possibility that I will be solo on a TA Reflection April 2022. I would have to pay double, no discount on cabin, even though no 2nd person would be there for tips, drinks. The only discount is you don't have to pay the port charged/taxes for 2.  That is according to my Celebrity advisor.☹️

[KWW88]

9 minutes ago, jules27556 said:

There is a possibility that I will be solo on a TA Reflection April 2022. I would have to pay double, no discount on cabin, even though no 2nd person would be there for tips, drinks. The only discount is you don't have to pay the port charged/taxes for 2.  That is according to my Celebrity advisor.☹️

Your Celebrity advisor is correct.  Taxes and port fees are pp, everything else on board is double, room, drink package, tips, if just one or two, same cost.

[JsMom2]

I’m so disappointed in the current pricing.  I love sailing solo on Celebrity, and usually don’t mind paying the 200% to have a room to myself.  But I’m not willing to pay double on amenities.  I’m hoping they have some single supplement specials.  If not, I will cruise Princess for my solo trips.  

[tfred]

its obvious that X (and most other lines) really don't want single cruisers.  Revenue is measured per pax, per day.  Less pax, less revenue.  Revenue is not the actual cruise fare, but add ons - spa, photo, excursions, casino. It the extras where the lines make their profit.  

 

They also aren't going to cut the price of amenities for singles (All inclusive) any meaningful amount since the double occupancy pax would then work the numbers backwards and figure out what they are being charged for AI.  That would be the start of the discussion of "I don't really drink, so take that off" rant.  That extra AI for solo cruisers is probably the same amount that would be spent by the extra person in the room, so they view that as the lost profit.  

[morechances]

18 hours ago, jules27556 said:

There is a possibility that I will be solo on a TA Reflection April 2022. I would have to pay double, no discount on cabin, even though no 2nd person would be there for tips, drinks. The only discount is you don't have to pay the port charged/taxes for 2.  That is according to my Celebrity advisor.☹️

I have sailed several times solo, and it gets expensive. 

I have found that one can possibly get a few perks on board if one asks nicely. I did get a premium beverage upgrade once. And a better internet package.

Also got some dining perks for the specialty restaurants.

But, in general, nothing more than only paying less port fees.

Oh, and only gratuities for one. 

[HskrCrsr]

Solo travelers also get socked if they upgrade from standard AI to Elevate or Indulge. Per the Celebrity site, "Single guests will be charged double the per day amount for either the Elevate or Indulge package.  Single guests will receive double the amount of corresponding Onboard Credit; however, the Beverage and Wi-Fi packages will not be doubled as these amenities are provided per person. There will not be a refund for the unused packages."

 

I would hope that a solo traveler can just pay the upgrade fee of $12 per person per day for just one drink package.

[JsMom2]

On my previous solo trips on Celebrity I was able to get the 150% supplement.  I will keep an eye out for that. 

[jules27556]

21 hours ago, KWW88 said:

Your Celebrity advisor is correct.  Taxes and port fees are pp, everything else on board is double, room, drink package, tips, if just one or two, same cost.

Demand probably dictates. I know Oceania advertises a reduced "single supplement" on select cruises.  Hmmm. Perhaps it is time to start finding an adult beverage I like beyond a  mimosa and pina colada.  

Hope they are in the "always included classic beverage package"!🤣

[jules27556]

3 hours ago, morechances said:

I have sailed several times solo, and it gets expensive. 

I have found that one can possibly get a few perks on board if one asks nicely. I did get a premium beverage upgrade once. And a better internet package.

Also got some dining perks for the specialty restaurants.

But, in general, nothing more than only paying less port fees.

Oh, and only gratuities for one. 

Since this is my postponed (2 years) birthday cruise,  the trip is my treat.  I have 2 possibilities and probably one friend will be able to go.  If not, only 1 airfare home!!!  😊

[jules27556]

1 hour ago, JsMom2 said:

On my previous solo trips on Celebrity I was able to get the 150% supplement.  I will keep an eye out for that. 

👍

[KWW88]

9 hours ago, tfred said:

its obvious that X (and most other lines) really don't want single cruisers.  Revenue is measured per pax, per day.  Less pax, less revenue.  Revenue is not the actual cruise fare, but add ons - spa, photo, excursions, casino. It the extras where the lines make their profit.  

 

They also aren't going to cut the price of amenities for singles (All inclusive) any meaningful amount since the double occupancy pax would then work the numbers backwards and figure out what they are being charged for AI.  That would be the start of the discussion of "I don't really drink, so take that off" rant.  That extra AI for solo cruisers is probably the same amount that would be spent by the extra person in the room, so they view that as the lost profit.  

I agree they will probably not cut the price for solos, not sure I agree with the rest though.  A solo cruiser has already paid for the suite as if there were two, same for drinks and tips and wifi and as a solo you still get the $800 on board credit to spend, Celebrity knows what they are doing, IMO.  

[tfred]

1 hour ago, KWW88 said:

I agree they will probably not cut the price for solos, not sure I agree with the rest though.  A solo cruiser has already paid for the suite as if there were two, same for drinks and tips and wifi and as a solo you still get the $800 on board credit to spend, Celebrity knows what they are doing, IMO.  

X cant make money without bodies on board buying extra services   The business model is based on double occupancy and the spending  from that .  No matter how its sliced, solo travelers can't generate enough

[KWW88]

13 minutes ago, tfred said:

X cant make money without bodies on board buying extra services   The business model is based on double occupancy and the spending  from that .  No matter how its sliced, solo travelers can't generate enough

Well I disagree, I believe just pulling out from port, with me as a solo traveler, they have already made a profit.

[ChucktownSteve]

Boy you've really gotta want to stick with XX if a solo traveler is willing to pay double everything except for port charges.  At that super charged supplement, I'd start looking at the premium or real luxury lines that only charge a 25% or 50% surcharge. 

[KWW88]

3 minutes ago, ChucktownSteve said:

Boy you've really gotta want to stick with XX if a solo traveler is willing to pay double everything except for port charges.  At that super charged supplement, I'd start looking at the premium or real luxury lines that only charge a 25% or 50% surcharge. 

I totally get what you, and others say, but I really just take one cruise per year.  I really do enjoy the Celebrity experience.  I suppose if I did 3-4...cruises per year, I might expand my horizons, but right now, the way I cruise is working for me.  Yes yes, they are expensive.   

[jules27556]

11 minutes ago, KWW88 said:

I totally get what you, and others say, but I really just take one cruise per year.  I really do enjoy the Celebrity experience.  I suppose if I did 3-4...cruises per year, I might expand my horizons, but right now, the way I cruise is working for me.  Yes yes, they are expensive.   

👍

[ChucktownSteve]

I understand. I used to enjoy the Celebrity experience more too.  But I remember the first five years after the transfer from Chandris to Royal Caribbean Group.  Makes it not as enjoyable now for me.  However every cruise line evolves with the times and so do I.

Edited April 6, 2021 by ChucktownSteve