Solo Cruiser

[fishn4sun]

I’ve been on 34 cruises and a diamond member with MSC. I just tried to book on the Seashore and was told no more solo cruisers for the date I wanted.  I even was willing to pay the normal 

cruise line 100% up charge. I was told there must be two people in the room.  What is wrong with this world or am I just missing something. 

[Mezqal]

yes, if there are two passengers, they're hoping for more revenues.....

[JT1962]

1 hour ago, fishn4sun said:

I’ve been on 34 cruises and a diamond member with MSC. I just tried to book on the Seashore and was told no more solo cruisers for the date I wanted.  I even was willing to pay the normal 

cruise line 100% up charge. I was told there must be two people in the room.  What is wrong with this world or am I just missing something. 

MSC has been limiting the number of solo cruisers on sailings in the past year or so. Some have reported booking a second person (real or fictitious) and having them be a no show at check in as an option. 
 

You can still find solo options, but you usually have to book well in advance. The longer cruises / Grand Voyages also seem to have more openings for solos. 

Edited March 4 by JT1962

[Essiesmom]

I have run into the same problem, but it seems to be inconsistent.  Sometimes they slam the door, others no problem.  EM

[CarolnLarry]

This happens to me all the time. Wanted to cruise last September and nothing was available until first of December. More work for my travel agent as she has to work week by week until she can get a room.

[Nikita4]

I never had a problem to book a solo cruise. Sometimes a year ago or two weeks before the cruise. But mostly for 180% price…

YC or Non-YC, never had to wait or look for a solo cabin.

[Jamie7777]

My first cruise with MSC was in June 2023 as a solo cruiser.  I was part of a group so I don't know if that made a difference.  My TA (also my friend who was part of the group) did everything so I didn't know about any of this.

Edited March 5 by Jamie7777

[debenson0723]

I am new to MSC and was looking for cruises last night.  I found one I liked but the booking automatically defaults to 2. When I changed the passengers to one, it came back that the cruise was sold out. I had heard this was happening but found it hard to believe. I guess MSC does not want solo cruisers so I will look elsewhere. 

[Nikita4]

1 hour ago, debenson0723 said:

I am new to MSC and was looking for cruises last night.  I found one I liked but the booking automatically defaults to 2. When I changed the passengers to one, it came back that the cruise was sold out. I had heard this was happening but found it hard to believe. I guess MSC does not want solo cruisers so I will look elsewhere. 

I never saw this on the german and swiss MSC Website. That's really special!  On the never and bigger ships there are some solo studio cabins (only inside and ocean view) but not a lot, you have to book a year in advance to find one. So also the price ist better :-).

[Morgsmom]

3 hours ago, debenson0723 said:

I am new to MSC and was looking for cruises last night.  I found one I liked but the booking automatically defaults to 2. When I changed the passengers to one, it came back that the cruise was sold out. I had heard this was happening but found it hard to believe. I guess MSC does not want solo cruisers so I will look elsewhere. 

MSC really doesn't want solos recently.  It's sad, but a money grab.

[JamieLogical]

As much as it sucks for those of us that want to sail solo, businesses are in the business of making money and the fact is that two people onboard are going to spend more money in the shops, specialty restaurants, excursions, spa, casino, etc. than one person. There are still good solo deals to be had on MSC, unfortunately they aren't available for every sailing.

[caribsun]

I have booked two solo cruises through a travel agent, I think that may be the answer. 

[itstime]

It really just depends who you are talking to at MSC.  We are on a 3 day Seashore leaving March 28th.  My travel agent was told there were no solo cabins available for my son. 

 

I called into MSC and the agent I spoke to said it wasn't a problem and he could put my son's name in as both passenger 1 & 2 to over ride the system; which needed 2 names for him to complete the booking.  We did pay the price of a cabin for 2 (but will get the taxes and port charges back).  He was able to adjust the pre paid gratuities to just passenger 1 (after speaking to a supervisor).  The MSC agent indicated he would put in the notes that it was just 1 person in the cabin.

 

When I called in to add internet and a drink package for only the "first passenger", the person I talked to did confirmed with a supervisor that it was ok to do a drink package for only 1.  I needed to confirm what package he wanted and said I would call back.  The person I got when I called back was not very friendly and insisted this was against the rules and not possible to do in the system regardless. I explained that I had already done gratuities for 1 and if she checked with a supervisor they could explain how to put it in the system. She refused to check and said it was against their policy.  I luckily had the name of the first agent I talked to a couple of hours earlier and she said "Then you can deal with her.  Give me your number and she can call you."  I did not receive a call back from her so I called back in again.

 

The next MSC agent (the 3rd) said she had never seen a booking with the same name in twice.  I explained the situation to her and she put me on hold to talk to a supervisor.  Came back right away and said it was no problem we could add the drinks and internet for just 1 person.  She then went on to thank me for the learning experience and now she would know what to do in the future.  She was lovely.

 

So it looks like it just depends who you end up with when you call.  Fingers crossed we don't run into any problems on the ship during embarkment. In my eyes it was all done through the proper channels so we should be good but who knows?

[awatt]

I uave also been able to book with MSC phone agent by putting my name as the first and second passenger. It was the agent's idea, not mine.

[Mark_T]

With the terms MSC introduced around 'no shows' on embarkation day and their right to forfeit the 2nd passengers fare and still charge a supplement on the remaining passenger, I would be careful about using a 'ghost' passenger to get around the limitation.

 

Not much sign of them actually using those rights yet, but the risk is there, so no cause for complaint if it actually happens...

[awatt]

If booking yourself as the 2nd person in the cabin you pay double the fare, minus port taxes. Different than a ghost booking which I dont recommend for above feason. 

[fishn4sun]

It is sad that us solo cruisers have to conive to sail. Others cruise lines don’t seem to have problems with single cruisers. They just charge double and that’s it. I would do that on MSC but I definitely won’t do a ghost passenger. If you ever have had to deal with their customers service you would understand.  You may get one to refund the second port charges and taxes and another will tell you they can’t do that.  FYI. Refunds are done 45-60 days after the sailing after numerous phone calls. It’s a shame MSC treats us like this.  I really wanted to sail on the Seashore but I can’t book months in advance. 

[Mark_T]

32 minutes ago, fishn4sun said:

 I really wanted to sail on the Seashore but I can’t book months in advance. 

Then check again in the period between final payment and sailing as the restrictions will sometimes get removed, especially as you get closer to sailing.

 

I do understand that this feels 'unfair' but it is following very real revenue maximisation principles.