Single cost more than double

[vjmatty]

9 hours ago, drakes2 said:

Perhaps they are testing the waters. 

I see what you did there 😉

[RHudson1825]

7 hours ago, vjmatty said:

I see what you did there 😉

😂 Hopefully, but losing loyal customers trying out negative things isn't good business. Start with a focus group at least. 

[Oceansails]

I took this issue up twice with the executive office, received written responses, and telephone calls confirming that the promotion of buy one , 2nd person 75% off for a non refundable rate, or 50% off 2nd person refundable rate will not apply to solos. Corporate knows that solos would effectively be paying over 200% for any solo cabin as compared to someone who is using the bogo discount. Sometimes I have 2 in the cabin, sometimes I cruise solo. They lost 4 suite bookings that are now on other lines for 2024. 
We are currently on Eclipse and I have met several people cruising on this trip who are solos who are not booking. I usually sail in suites whether as a solo or when traveling 2 in a cabin.
Celebrity has the right to set their policies, and we each have the right to book or not book under these changes at inflated pricing for solos. 
The future cruise sales teams onboard our Beyond sailings in November and December 2023, wanted people traveling as a solo to just put a name for the 2nd person in the cabin, and then just no show the person on the day of departure, to get the promotional pricing rate. 
The Executive office team is aware of this, and it could get your entire trip repriced if they catch it.

I personally will not pay more than 200% of the fare for a cabin booked as a solo. After almost 30 years, 60 cruises on Celebrity and as  stockholders, it is a short sighted response by management in my opinion.

We are all enjoying a wonderful time on Eclipse, the crew is great as always, but have no new bookings for the 2025-2026 sailings. 
 

[Oceansaway17]

boy this is getting attention of two well known men on You Tube as well.

Hardly anyone likes the idea of addl money beyond the 200%

 

Never understand the concept of worrying about money not being spent by 2nd passenger.

A lot of solos go to speciality dining and go on excursions and shop and drink.  Couples can be quite cheap and thrifty too.

[tjunmin]

I find this pricing practice frustrating and outright greedy.

My spouse is no longer interested in traveling, so moving forward I'll be traveling solo.

I've been desperately trying to book solo cruises on Celebrity, looking for different destinations and ships, always being deterred by the outrageous solo pricing.

So unfortunately Celebrity has forced me to move onto a different cruise line. After 16 years of traveling Celebrity exclusively, all my most recent sailings being on suites, I'll be on my first Cunard cruise in 2.5 months.

Looking forward to Celebrity coming to their senses and coming back to my beloved cruise line.

[zgscl]

5 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

Never understand the concept of worrying about money not being spent by 2nd passenger.

A lot of solos go to speciality dining and go on excursions and shop and drink.  Couples can be quite cheap and thrifty too.

This is a great point. I actually spend way more on specialty, etc. when I am on my own then I do when travelling with family. I also do way more in the spa. Perhaps they have data to back up that solos spend less, but I totally agree. 

 

6 hours ago, Oceansails said:

I took this issue up twice with the executive office, received written responses, and telephone calls confirming that the promotion of buy one , 2nd person 75% off for a non refundable rate, or 50% off 2nd person refundable rate will not apply to solos. Corporate knows that solos would effectively be paying over 200% for any solo cabin as compared to someone who is using the bogo discount. Sometimes I have 2 in the cabin, sometimes I cruise solo. They lost 4 suite bookings that are now on other lines for 2024. 
We are currently on Eclipse and I have met several people cruising on this trip who are solos who are not booking. I usually sail in suites whether as a solo or when traveling 2 in a cabin.
Celebrity has the right to set their policies, and we each have the right to book or not book under these changes at inflated pricing for solos. 
The future cruise sales teams onboard our Beyond sailings in November and December 2023, wanted people traveling as a solo to just put a name for the 2nd person in the cabin, and then just no show the person on the day of departure, to get the promotional pricing rate. 
The Executive office team is aware of this, and it could get your entire trip repriced if they catch it.

I personally will not pay more than 200% of the fare for a cabin booked as a solo. After almost 30 years, 60 cruises on Celebrity and as  stockholders, it is a short sighted response by management in my opinion.

We are all enjoying a wonderful time on Eclipse, the crew is great as always, but have no new bookings for the 2025-2026 sailings. 
 

This is really disappointing. I have actually cancelled 4 retreat bookings in upper suites with X and have nothing booked with them. As much as I like the onboard experience, I will absolutely not support a company that penalizes solos in this way. Additionally their pricing is just so out of line with comparable or better products. I guess they have enough demand that they just don't care how many people leave for other cruise lines. 

[luv2kroooz]

6 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

A lot of solos go to speciality dining and go on excursions and shop and drink.  Couples can be quite cheap and thrifty too.

Yep, that is where they lost me. I can understand to a degree the fare supplement of 200%, but when they try to ascribe an additional supplement based on an unknown (spending habits), it makes no sense.

 

This, too, will probably pass. Times are good for the lines right now. High passenger demand, high pricing. It won't always be that way.

Edited January 10 by luv2kroooz

[DSJ28]

I cruise frequently with Celebrity - typically with friends, and I don't spend very much when I do so because most of my time is spent enjoying my friends.  But, I'm embarking on my first solo cruise soon and I've planned to spend far more than I normally would, especially in the casino, since my friends don't gamble much.  I've booked specialty dining as well, and I'll get a few massages that I don't typically get to enjoy. I have a premium drink package, but i'm certain I'll drink less on my own.  

 

All that is to say - 200% + pricing is an excessive surcharge. If I find I enjoy the solo cruise - I'll definitely try NCL or other solo friendly lines, or consider an all inclusive resort in future.  I don't want to be somewhere I'm not wanted - which is what this pricing communicates. 

 

I'll certainly be sending Celebrity my feedback following the cruise. 

[zgscl]

2 hours ago, luv2kroooz said:

Yep, that is where they lost me. I can understand to a degree the fare supplement of 200%, but when they try to ascribe an additional supplement based on an unknown (spending habits), it makes no sense.

 

This, too, will probably pass. Times are good for the lines right now. High passenger demand, high pricing. It won't always be that way.

100% Agree with you. It was not long ago that they were not charging solos a supplement at all due to desperation to fill cabins. I doubt that they will go back to that, but going back to standard solos pay 200% may be in the cards. I guess time will tell. 

[Mississippian]

On 1/6/2024 at 9:17 AM, PTC DAWG said:

Generally, two people will spend more than one. 

One person will eat less than two.

[Pushka]

I randomly priced one today. Single was $10,000 approx aud and the double - $7200 aud (this was the total price not pp) for exactly the same cabin, same cruise, same inclusions. Its being discussed on an Australian Travel forum and has been noticed. 

Edited January 10 by Pushka

[drakes2]

6 hours ago, zgscl said:

100% Agree with you. It was not long ago that they were not charging solos a supplement at all due to desperation to fill cabins. I doubt that they will go back to that, but going back to standard solos pay 200% may be in the cards. I guess time will tell. 

I would not be surprised if they do as Celebrity has quite a few seniors who sail many are solo and being retired watch their dollars. I sail by myself quite often and join solo groups on the first night there are more of us than people realize. A couple cruises ago I met two men who were traveling alone they had both recently lost their wives but decided to go ahead and take the cruise. Most likely no loss of revenue to Celebrity as the cabin would already be paid at double occupancy.  I'll be looking at other lines; already booked on a Princess cruise later this month. 10 nights Southern  Caribbean at half Celebrity's price. 

[drakes2]

10 hours ago, luv2kroooz said:

This, too, will probably pass. Times are good for the lines right now. High passenger demand, high pricing. It won't always be that way.

I agree. Some people are still using their FCCs from covid but that will end soon.  Prices are sure to drop when they find themselves with a lot of unsold cabins.  I know for myself I took advantage of cheap prices and low passenger capacity in 2021 and 2022.  Our Edge sailing in January 2022 had 670 onboard. 

[chemmo]

As a relatively new solo I am on a real learning curve. I have been following lots of posts and simply decided not to cruise solo! If immediate family cruise with me we will book a higher suite with two rooms. If I decide to pay double rate for a cruise I will treat a friend rather than let a cruise line pocket the difference!

 

Regarding other holidays there are some odd practices too.

 

For example, many UK hotels offer single rooms at lower rates but they are tiny and usually overlooking a car park. If you try to book a sea front luxury room for one it won’t let you do it on the website. If you phone you are told to put in two people by some hotels (regardless of the fact it is just for one) or told that solos can only book solo rooms by others. Coach tours have similar restrictions. Some will only book doubles, or only have limited tours with solo options. One tour company offered to take my name and they would offer me a room two weeks prior to the tour if there were seats available then (note, still at double price)…

 

Seems the hospitality industry generally doesn’t like solos!

 

 

 

 

Edited January 10 by chemmo

[basenji56]

On another group, someone said they were told that second passenger noshows would be charged for the extra person at the dock. 

[RHudson1825]

1 hour ago, chemmo said:

As a relatively new solo I am on a real learning curve. I have been following lots of posts and simply decided not to cruise solo! If immediate family cruise with me we will book a higher suite with two rooms. If I decide to pay double rate for a cruise I will treat a friend rather than let a cruise line pocket the difference!

 

Regarding other holidays there are some odd practices too.

 

For example, many UK hotels offer single rooms at lower rates but they are tiny and usually overlooking a car park. If you try to book a sea front luxury room for one it won’t let you do it on the website. If you phone you are told to put in two people by some hotels (regardless of the fact it is just for one) or told that solos can only book solo rooms by others. Coach tours have similar restrictions. Some will only book doubles, or only have limited tours with solo options. One tour company offered to take my name and they would offer me a room two weeks prior to the tour if there were seats available then (note, still at double price)…

 

Seems the hospitality industry generally doesn’t like solos!

 

 

 

 

I get the hotel room price. In the US rooms are booked by the room, not the number of people. As a solo I am fine paying what the room cost would be for two. Not more as they want. I enjoy cruises with other solos on it to meet new people and have fun. I usually go in Jan/Feb and book my next year's on board. Will not do that this year. 

[horseymike]

10 hours ago, zgscl said:

100% Agree with you. It was not long ago that they were not charging solos a supplement at all due to desperation to fill cabins. I doubt that they will go back to that, but going back to standard solos pay 200% may be in the cards. I guess time will tell. 

It’s all about supply and demand.

[tjunmin]

10 minutes ago, horseymike said:

It’s all about supply and demand.

It is shortsighted.

Loyal cruisers who have sailed Celebrity exclusively will now be exposed to other cruise lines.

When the tide turns and conditions change, and cruise lines have difficulty filling their ships, the cruisers who used to be loyal and only sail on Celebrity, will then have an array of cruise lines that they've sailed - and are comfortable with - to choose from.

What Celebrity is doing is short-term gain, long-term pain.

[Honolulu Blue]

2 hours ago, chemmo said:

many UK hotels offer single rooms at lower rates but they are tiny and usually overlooking a car park. If you try to book a sea front luxury room for one it won’t let you do it on the website. If you phone you are told to put in two people by some hotels (regardless of the fact it is just for one) or told that solos can only book solo rooms by others. Coach tours have similar restrictions. Some will only book doubles, or only have limited tours with solo options. One tour company offered to take my name and they would offer me a room two weeks prior to the tour if there were seats available then (note, still at double price)…

 

Seems the hospitality industry generally doesn’t like solos!

I think it's more like the hospitality industry doesn't understand solos and what they really want.

 

I know in the U.S. that single rooms in hotels/motels are scarce and I've never had a problem booking a regular room solo.  The one nice thing about excursions with the cruise line is that there's (almost) always room for one at a single person price.

[basenji56]

53 minutes ago, tjunmin said:

It is shortsighted.

Loyal cruisers who have sailed Celebrity exclusively will now be exposed to other cruise lines.

When the tide turns and conditions change, and cruise lines have difficulty filling their ships, the cruisers who used to be loyal and only sail on Celebrity, will then have an array of cruise lines that they've sailed - and are comfortable with - to choose from.

What Celebrity is doing is short-term gain, long-term pain.

True. I am an Elite Plus solo currently trying Oceania Vista. Far superior to Celebrity. More expensive? Yes. But not that much more expensive than paying for three on Celebrity. 

[Oceansaway17]

On 1/9/2024 at 9:37 PM, luv2kroooz said:

Yep, that is where they lost me. I can understand to a degree the fare supplement of 200%, but when they try to ascribe an additional supplement based on an unknown (spending habits), it makes no sense.

 

This, too, will probably pass. Times are good for the lines right now. High passenger demand, high pricing. It won't always be that way.

Agree and right now every cruise line is competitive and watching each other.

after-all travel came back in 2022 from pandemic and soon folks will not tolerate price gauging unless they can afford it.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

17 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

Agree and right now every cruise line is competitive and watching each other.

after-all travel came back in 2022 from pandemic and soon folks will not tolerate price gauging unless they can afford it.

 

Even if I could afford it, I wouldn't tolerate it.

[basenji56]

38 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

Even if I could afford it, I wouldn't tolerate it.

Too many other options. Forget about “loyalty” to a cruise line. 

[SouKnoMe]

I'm looking at a booking on Princess. The prices are relatively the same for the regular balcony, or mini-suite. It's based on per person double occupancy. The cabin is still over $4K.

 

Does anyone know if their cove balcony is the same as a single cabin?

[RHudson1825]

Some other lines will match loyalty to their program. Looking at Princess