New Forum - Enjoy!

[LauraS]

I've cruised alone many times....since hubby's work is Oh So Important (tongue in cheek remark ).....have you?

[tumeroll]

a wee bit confused between single and solo cruiser. Are single cruisers those people who are actually single with no significant other hiding off shore and Solo cruisers are those that have left the significant other at home and are simply riding alone but not really alone?

[BurBunny]

If I had to make a distinction, I'd say solo cruisers are those, married or not, who travel alone - no roommate. Single cruisers are unmarried, often looking for group cruises with other singles, often travel with roommates, though may also want a solo cabin.

[Everydaymatters]

I would think a solo cruiser would be one who for one reason or another is not interested in partying or meeting singles. In my case, I have a spouse who doesn't like to travel, so while I'd like to meet other people, I'm not looking for romance and wouldn't go to "singles" gatherings.

[maryr65]

Laura,

 

This is a great idea. My hubbie too isn't always available to cruise, but I love too.

[jaxon41]

While I am not a solo cruiser, I am planning a family cruise and we have a recent widower in the family, and as yet, no roomy for him. Does the single supplement vary by line? by cruise? Could you roughly say it is half again as much, 70% ???? How about the reservation amount -- same as required for a double or less? Thanks in advance.

[Roz]

The single supplement varies by cruise line, ship, itinerary, and availability of cabins. It generally runs 140-200% of the regular fare, which means if it's 200%, you pay double. The deposit will be the same or more.

 

What line(s) are you considering?

 

Hope this helps.

 

Roz

[jaxon41]

The single supplement varies by cruise line, ship, itinerary, and availability of cabins. It generally runs 140-200% of the regular fare, which means if it's 200%, you pay double. The deposit will be the same or more.

 

What line(s) are you considering?

 

Hope this helps.

 

Roz

 

thanks -- 5 couples have booked, so far, on Celebrity's Century in March 2007. We sure want our bro with us, but he's kind of tight. Would I be correct in thinking that the less expensive cabins -- like an inside or lowest priced outside -- would have a lower supplement?

[BurBunny]

thanks -- 5 couples have booked, so far, on Celebrity's Century in March 2007. We sure want our bro with us, but he's kind of tight. Would I be correct in thinking that the less expensive cabins -- like an inside or lowest priced outside -- would have a lower supplement?

 

While that's true on some lines (Holland America and Princess for example), unfortunately with very few exceptions, Celebrity is 200% supplement for all cabins. There are no reduced supplement specials on their sailings that far out, though one could be added later.

[keela1eva2]

I have cruised on my own on occassion and have just found a solo price with Celebrity Galaxy 6/5/2006 I live in the UK

It is 16n out of Galvaston to Rome.

For all flights domestic and T/A plus flight back from Rome

1 night hotel at Houston and a grade 9 inside for a total price of £1125 this is an excellent price and I think the supplement is just £200 or about it. I am not sure how I found it possibly the Teletext plus looking on line. I then price around and then go to my usual T/A who will match any price I find.

I am not sure how expensive it is at your end but this is an excellent price for a 16n cruise. I see now that they are saying that no inside cabins are available but if pricing for 2 they have a few left.

 

Hope that you find a bargain!

[Roz]

BurBunny is correct. With few exceptions, Celebrity, RCCL, and NCL won't budge on their single supplement, which is one of the main reasons I sail HAL and Carnival.

 

On HAL and Carnival, the lower priced cabins tend to have lower supplements. I usually book and inside or outside guarantee.

 

Roz

[jaxon41]

thanks everyone

[cruzegirl]

Well I have no cruised both ways.... With gal friends and as a solo..... Both have good/bad points.... Main thing with solo is the price and not having anyone to do things with, i.e. excursions or shows. But being solo you learn to open up and meet new people.... Very fun....... :D And I'll be doing it again ..... My schedule is so flexible but most of my friends aren't.... :rolleyes:

[kryos]

While I am not a solo cruiser, I am planning a family cruise and we have a recent widower in the family, and as yet, no roomy for him. Does the single supplement vary by line? by cruise? Could you roughly say it is half again as much, 70% ???? How about the reservation amount -- same as required for a double or less? Thanks in advance.

Holland America Line has pretty reasonable single supplements ... generally not more than 150% of the double occupancy price. Of course, if you choose to sail during peak times, it may go higher.

 

Another thing Holland America Line has is a guaranteed share program. Your single family member can sign up for that ... and the line will guarantee to match him with a same sex roommate, in a non-smoking cabin arrangement, and he just pays one-half of the double occupancy price. If the line can't match him up for some reason (say no other male solo travelers) then he gets that double occupancy cabin to himself with no increase in the price.

 

Pretty good deal ... especially for men ... because there aren't that many male single cruisers and there is a good chance he can wind up with the cabin to himself. With female solo cruisers, however, I've rarely heard of that happening.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[greyblueseas]

a wee bit confused between single and solo cruiser. Are single cruisers those people who are actually single with no significant other hiding off shore and Solo cruisers are those that have left the significant other at home and are simply riding alone but not really alone?

 

The description "single", for me, means those who are neither married nor in a relationship (marriage isn't for everyone, and gay people don't have the option in many countries). "Singles" events are for those looking to change that status, or maybe for something more short-term. Solos are just people who are travelling by themselves (if someone is travelling with family or friends I would not define them as solo, whether they are sharing a cabin or not). I describe myself as solo because I am simply a person alone on holiday. I have no interest in looking for a partner or in being hit upon simply because I am by myself. I would avoid singles cruises or events on board like the plague!:)

[Cazz]

I have no interest in looking for a partner or in being hit upon simply because I am by myself. I would avoid singles cruises or events on board like the plague!:)

 

I am due to take my first cruise in July on my own, but I am a bit concerned now that if I turn up at events on my own I am asking to be hit upon? Surely that can't be right? I thought cruising would be sociable for me on my own, lots of people to talk to about the places visited etc especially at dinner at the end of a busy day. I am a sensible woman and have travelled a little on my own before, but now I'm wondering if I'm doing the right thing, or maybe I'm just having pre-cruise nerves? :confused:

 

Carol.

[greyblueseas]

I am due to take my first cruise in July on my own, but I am a bit concerned now that if I turn up at events on my own I am asking to be hit upon? Surely that can't be right? I thought cruising would be sociable for me on my own, lots of people to talk to about the places visited etc especially at dinner at the end of a busy day. I am a sensible woman and have travelled a little on my own before, but now I'm wondering if I'm doing the right thing, or maybe I'm just having pre-cruise nerves? :confused:

 

Carol.

 

Don't worry, Carol. I joined the roll call here before my last cruise and made lots of friends onboard - if you haven't done that already, then I do recommend it!

 

Sadly, there are people around whose attitudes to women alone are not exactly enlightened, and I have encountered that. It is one of the reasons why the distinction between single and solo is so important to me. But the truth is that you will encounter these attitudes on land too. Please don't be put off; cruising is ideal for people by themselves, and is the only kind of holiday I really feel happy about taking by myself. I've only done two, and there are people here far more experienced that me, but all I can say is that the more of us do it, the more we are telling the idiots how wrong they are!!:D

[mikesteg]

Carol,

 

If you go to the singles mixers, you'd be asking to be hit on. Otherwise, if you don't announce that you are single nobody is really going to know. Your dinner mates will, but they probably won't hit on you. :p Beyond that, it is not uncommon for related people to be doing their own thing around the ship all day. It is not entirely typical for people traveling together to go to the shows or tours on their own, but it does happen. If someone takes that as an OK to hit on you, just turn them down as you would anywhere else.

 

If you're really worried about it, buy an low-priced wedding band and wear it. :D Of course, that is no guarantee some men won't hit on you. :rolleyes:

 

Mike

[KarenR_UK]

Carol,

 

If you go to the singles mixers, you'd be asking to be hit on.

Mike

 

Carol, don't be completely put off from attending a meeting - it can depend what the definition of the meeting is.

On P&O they have single / solo traveller get togethers that are purely to allow you to see you are not alone (in travelling alone) and to possibly make some friends to lunch, tour or just spend time with. It was not a 'singles mixer' (In fact only about 3 men turned up / admitted to travelling alone)

It gave us someone to say hello to when walking the decks etc.

 

Karen

[Roz]

On my last HAL cruise, there was a lunch table for singles/solos in the dining room on sea days. I went the first day, and there were 11 women and 1 man. There was not a sexual intent behind the get together, just a chance for folks to meet each other, and not have to eat alone if they preferred not to do that.

 

If it's a singles mixer in the disco at midnight, that might be a different atmosphere. I don't think you can make a blanket statement that going to a singles/solo event means you're "available".

 

Roz

 

P.S. The man at the lunch table proposed to one of the women he met that first day, and it was announced by the Cruise Director. Maybe the oyster appetizer had an aphrodisiac effect. :D

[mikesteg]

Yeah, perhaps I stated that a bit too strongly.

 

Still, there is no problem meeting people for socializing at lunch, dinner, events, etc. In fact, it is difficult to avoid unless you are antisocial and/or skip every group/social event. I suppose you do have to read the description in the daily paper, and try to figure out what it means. I suspect that many singles mixers don't yield romantic results, but I would be hard pressed to believe the line puts together a specific singles event without that as the primary purpose. Maybe it is different on HAL or P&O, but "people are people" so I doubt it. :D

[mikesteg]

On my last HAL cruise, there was a lunch table for singles/solos in the dining room on sea days. I went the first day, and there were 11 women and 1 man. There was not a sexual intent behind the get together, just a chance for folks to meet each other, and not have to eat alone if they preferred not to do that.

 

If it's a singles mixer in the disco at midnight, that might be a different atmosphere. I don't think you can make a blanket statement that going to a singles/solo event means you're "available".

 

Roz

 

P.S. The man at the lunch table proposed to one of the women he met that first day, and it was announced by the Cruise Director. Maybe the oyster appetizer had an aphrodisiac effect. :D

 

 

So there was no intention, but the one man at the table wound up marrying (or at least proposing to :p) one of the women? I rest my case! :D

 

(Note: I'm not distinguishing between romance and sex. Obviously there is a difference, but I'd suggest it doesn't matter for this thread since nobody at a mixer wears a sign as to what they really want.)

[Cazz]

So there was no intention, but the one man at the table wound up marrying (or at least proposing to :p) one of the women? I rest my case! :D

 

Thank you all for your reassurance, it is much appreciated. Mike, yours made me laugh out loud!!

 

I think I will risk going to a singles meet, at least once anway but maybe not the midnight disco!, as I expect there will be others there like me who just want to socialise and chat about the cruise, food, and life in general :D