SINGLE SAILING
rdkng97
sweetie and I parted ways. I called my TA and ask about single
sailing and she discouraged it highly. She said the cost would be app.
the same with the e xception of gratuities and fuel charges. Is this
true or did she just want me to cancel. I have until Nov.15 to cancel
and get my deposits back. Can some TA tell me realisticly how much
more a single pays than if it is a double occupancy.
Thanks
R.
Tom K
"rdkng97" <rbr...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:a81fb040-2fc0-4235...@q35g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
Your travel agent will know for sure... but generally the rule is that you
pay 2x, less one set of port charges, taxes, fuel charges, etc. There are
some exceptions, such as on the more expensive lines. And some ships/cruise
lines do offer single rates... like on the QE2 which has cabins for
singles... and on some Carnival ships they let you take the lowest priced
cabins at a reduced rate.
Having said that... the total economics really depends on the sailing. A
February sailing is most likely an off week For example you'd probably pay
3-4x that much per person for an XMAS sailing. So even if you paid double,
it's probably less than you'd pay per person for a holiday sailing. You
might have such an inexpensive week that it's still very reasonable.
Which ship are you going on? And what's the itinerary?
If you do decide to go solo, ask for a large table in the dining room (to
help make friends). Book a few shore excursions through the ship (again to
make friends).
--Tom
rdkng97
> "rdkng97" <rbra...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
Doing the voyager on RCCL western carribean. There are about twenty of
us that sail once or twice a year.
Sue Mullen
rdkng97 wrote:
> Doing the voyager on RCCL western carribean. There are about twenty of
> us that sail once or twice a year.
Since you are going with a large group, is there anyone who is booked 3
to a cabin and might want to switch to your cabin with you?
sue
George Leppla
"rdkng97" <rbr...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:a81fb040-2fc0-4235...@q35g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
That is pretty much the story. One person pays for two people... minus one
person's tax and fees.
The single supplement charge has been a sore spot in the industry for a long
time.
The best advice is to fine a room mate.
--
George Leppla http://www.CruiseMaster.com
Feb. 8, 2009 Solstice Valentine http://www.cruisemaster.com/solstice.htm
May 10, 2009 ALASKA http://www.cruisemaster.com/moagc4.htm
October 16, 2010 OASIS http://www.motherofallgroupcruises.com
Tom K
"George Leppla" <geo...@cruisemaster.com> wrote in message
news:gckq...@enews1.newsguy.com...
>
> "rdkng97" <rbr...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:a81fb040-2fc0-4235...@q35g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>>I have a deposit on a cabin for two in Feb. 09. Sorry to say my
>> sweetie and I parted ways. I called my TA and ask about single
>> sailing and she discouraged it highly. She said the cost would be app.
>> the same with the e xception of gratuities and fuel charges. Is this
>> true or did she just want me to cancel. I have until Nov.15 to cancel
>> and get my deposits back. Can some TA tell me realisticly how much
>> more a single pays than if it is a double occupancy.
>
> That is pretty much the story. One person pays for two people... minus
> one person's tax and fees.
>
> The single supplement charge has been a sore spot in the industry for a
> long time.
>
In fareness to them, if the price was the same for a single, and if a couple
wanted more room, they could book 2 adjacent cabins. That wouldn't be very
cost effective for the cruise line. While I may not like it, I can see
their point.
--Tom
George Leppla
"Tom K" <tkan...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:48ee0578$0$4892$607e...@cv.net...
I agree with you and have posted something similar many times. I think the
cruise lines are missing an opportunity by not designing some "single"
cabins that they could sell at more than the regular double occupancy rate
but less than 200%. Carnival does a great job with this selling 1A cabins
at 150%. I figure if they were to put 10 to 20 cabins per ship (smaller
cabins) and sell them at 150% of the fare, they would sell out easily and
give the line a good reputation as being "single-friendly".
I think it could be done in a cost effective way... but no one at the cruise
lines seems to agree with me.
Tobie Gerbrandt
>
> I agree with you and have posted something similar many times. I think
> the cruise lines are missing an opportunity by not designing some "single"
> cabins that they could sell at more than the regular double occupancy rate
> but less than 200%. Carnival does a great job with this selling 1A cabins
> at 150%. I figure if they were to put 10 to 20 cabins per ship (smaller
> cabins) and sell them at 150% of the fare, they would sell out easily and
> give the line a good reputation as being "single-friendly".
>
> I think it could be done in a cost effective way... but no one at the
> cruise lines seems to agree with me.
>
>
> --
> George Leppla http://www.CruiseMaster.com
>
I think they would also be wise to have more Handicap cabins available with
a third, and/or fourth berths.
Most HA cabins are definitely large enough to accomodate four, and they
would probably sell them out quickly. They would get more income from fares
and onboard spending, without increasing the size of the cabins.
Tobie>>>>on an Island in the Pacific
Susette
> "Tom K" <tkani...@optonline.net> wrote in message
>
> news:48ee0578$0$4892$607e...@cv.net...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > "George Leppla" <geo...@cruisemaster.com> wrote in message
> >news:gckq...@enews1.newsguy.com...
>
I agree too and on th Oasis when there is soooo many spots to eb
filled their Category Q is a smaller room, They should use them for
singles.
What some people do not realize is that when a hotel sells a room say
at $200 a night, Its for 2 people.... when a cruise line markets
their ships they market it different yet similar, so one can say
Hotel $100 a night based on Double, ITs the same thing...
RCCL at least only charges you one set of taxes NCF but some others
charge you double NCF's too
I just went through this with a client who is 84 he was a single I
told him the pricing is based on Double 1 set of taxes he now
decides to add a woman to his room since he was not sure which
girlfriend he was bringing. Never heard from him until yesterday now
he wants to add someone but When i said i need his credit card he said
WHY? I said for the taxes. he said BUT it was based on a double... I
said yes BUT there was no name other then yours so we need to pay her
Fuel and taxes...
he could not understand that or why the hotel we are staying in Is
sold out and he did not want me to hold it for him of course UNTIL NOw
when everything is firmed up...
Some people just do not listen and think I can make a plane turn into
a non stop as well as get a room that is just not there. HEY I am
worry they are oversold, we all know how that one goes!
I did find him another hotel but he don't want to pay Miami Prices, I
suggested to stay near the Airport it is less Expensive but he wants
to be near us.... WHAT can ya do!
another day in the office... HAHAHAHHAHA George I know you understand!
Nonnymus
Tobie, I wonder if us folk who need handicapped cabins for family
members are the first choice of passengers for cruise lines. I wonder
if the handicapped cabins are there by marketing choice or because they
fear an uproar by eliminating them entirely. While only once we've felt
the least bit unwanted by a cruise line (other than because of something
I did), I could speculate that handicapped people might not be viewed as
the most profitable passengers- possibly due to a lack of additional
revenue from alcohol sales, and/or tours. In addition, we handicapped
cabin users are possibly viewed as needing additional personal services,
such as taking wheelchairs/scooters ashore, slowing down the flow at
egress time or even bothering other passengers by slowing lines, running
over toes (well, that's fun to some <grin>) and possibly damaging the
ship with scrapes and scuffs.
On one ship, the Stella Solaris, you might recall that Mrs. Nonny and I
had a problem when we were refused the right to bring or use a scooter
aboard the ship. The reason cited was that previous scooter users had
damaged paneling in the corridors, door casings and cabin interiors.
That happened at a time when Mrs. Nonny was able to generally get around
still just using canes and holding on, so we compromised and they agreed
to store and deliver the scooter ashore for her and reluctantly allowed
her to use a ship-provided pushed wheelchair aboard the ship, if one was
available.
We know from what George and others have said before, that single
supplements are not to punish single people, but to make up for the
missed additional revenue a second cabin passenger would pay. Perhaps
the lack of handicapped cabins reflects on the same issue. George and
others, correct me on this if you think I'm wrong.
--
Nonnymus-
We have reached a time in our nations history
where the grasshopper is slowly consuming
the ant. Whatever happened that made thrift, hard
work and family the target of liberal rage?
Tobie Gerbrandt
have an extra bed, for Jake, or Barb's Mum, and I'm sure you feel the same
way.
We made do with a regular cabin on the Zaandam, with Barb's Mum. It worked
out OK, but a HA would have been better. I think we have a HA, balcony
cabin booked on the Oasis, and George says it HAS a bunk and a sleeper
couch. Maybe they are starting to smarten up.
Tobie>>>>on an Island in the Pacific
Nonnymus
> I think maybe you're right, Nonny, but sometimes, I just wish they would
> have an extra bed, for Jake, or Barb's Mum, and I'm sure you feel the same
> way.
>
> We made do with a regular cabin on the Zaandam, with Barb's Mum. It worked
> out OK, but a HA would have been better. I think we have a HA, balcony
> cabin booked on the Oasis, and George says it HAS a bunk and a sleeper
> couch. Maybe they are starting to smarten up.
>
> Tobie>>>>on an Island in the Pacific
>
We'd booked a cabin during a previous cruise, with a written notation
it'd be wheelchair accessible. However, when we embarked, we learned
that an "upgrade" they'd given us placed us higher on the ship, but in a
cabin with a 22" door, barely any room to turn around in and with no
handicapped facilities in the bath. We could have lived with it, except
that Mrs. Nonny's 3-wheeler back then needed 23+" to make it through a
door. Parking outside the cabin was impossible, due to a narrow
corridor and the elevator area had only 220v 50Hz for recharging.
My initial discussions with the purser gained us the offer of an
extension cord we could run from our cabin to the elevator area. Yup,
that's what it was for, and we couldn't close our cabin door when using
it. Needless to say, we were distraught. My complaints to the nice
young lad on the Purser's desk gained me the opportunity to be put
ashore immediately, along with Mrs. Nonny and her scooter if I disturbed
the others in line.
I finally went upstream far enough to the Purser himself and he
recognized our problem. He put out an offer to the 4 or so handicapped
cabin occupants offering them $ and a change to our "more premium" cabin
if they'd let us have their handicapped one.
We had the opportunity to meet the young couple that gave up their
handicapped cabin for us. They were in the 25-30 year old range and
sure appeared to be in perfect health. The young lady giggled to me
that, she'd been told to always request a handicapped cabin, since they
have a lot more room for the same money.
As you can expect, I reported this to the Purser's desk, but never heard
further. I suspect that if it had been you instead of me, that we might
have read about it in the newspaper. <grin>
From this experience, I also wonder if the handicapped cabins are
always utilized by the people who actually need them.
Rosalie B.
>Tobie Gerbrandt wrote:
>> I think maybe you're right, Nonny, but sometimes, I just wish they would
>> have an extra bed, for Jake, or Barb's Mum, and I'm sure you feel the same
>> way.
>>
>> We made do with a regular cabin on the Zaandam, with Barb's Mum. It worked
>> out OK, but a HA would have been better. I think we have a HA, balcony
>> cabin booked on the Oasis, and George says it HAS a bunk and a sleeper
>> couch. Maybe they are starting to smarten up.
>>
>> Tobie>>>>on an Island in the Pacific
>>
>The time I almost became irate was on an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle.
> We'd booked a cabin during a previous cruise, with a written notation
>it'd be wheelchair accessible. However, when we embarked, we learned
>that an "upgrade" they'd given us placed us higher on the ship, but in a
I've gotten 'upgrades' twice and neither time did they tell me and neither time
did we want them. Neither time were we successful at getting 'un-upgraded'. It
didn't matter in the first instance although since we were higher up and the
trip was quite rough I think we would have been more comfortable in our original
cabin. We REALLY didn't want it in the second case where we had booked a
specific cabin so we wouldn't have to move on back-to-back cruises and I tried
my best, starting at embarkation - no dice.
I was given a handicapped cabin on Jade, but I didn't ask for it. I do use a
cane sometimes, but I don't use a wheelchair. Remembering your story, I felt a
little bad about it, but I didn't ask for it, and I don't know why they gave it
to me.
I think the cabin had a sleep sofa in it.
George Leppla
"Nonnymus" <x...@yyy.cox.net> wrote
> I finally went upstream far enough to the Purser himself and he recognized
> our problem. He put out an offer to the 4 or so handicapped cabin
> occupants offering them $ and a change to our "more premium" cabin if
> they'd let us have their handicapped one.
>
> We had the opportunity to meet the young couple that gave up their
> handicapped cabin for us. They were in the 25-30 year old range and sure
> appeared to be in perfect health. The young lady giggled to me that,
> she'd been told to always request a handicapped cabin, since they have a
> lot more room for the same money.
This happens from time to time... someone will ask for an HA cabin because
they are larger. Back a few years ago, people had to prove that they needed
a room like this... with a form filled out by a doctor. That is a thing of
the past and I have no way of knowing if someone really needs a HA cabin or
they are just blowing smoke.
FWIW... it is a fine line the cruise lines walk. On many sailings, the HA
cabins sell out quickly. On others, they are the last ones sold because no
one else needed them. On occasion, when one is sold like this it is with
the caveat that if the cruise line needs an HA cabin, you will be willing to
move. I was once upgraded to an HA cabin right before sailing.
Since the ships aren't registered in the US, there is some legal question
whether they have to be ADA compliant. As I recall, NCL got sued over
something like this a few years ago because one of their older ships
(Norwegian Sea?) wasn't fully ADA compliant. I think the upshot was that
while the cruise lines do not have any requirement to be up to ADA
standards, most ships built after the mid 90's are compliant... so the point
is moot. There is no regulation as to how many HA cabins a ship must have
but the cruise lines figure it is easier to be compliant from the design
stage than to possibly have to retro-fit.
--
George Leppla http://www.CruiseMaster.com
Feb. 8, 2009 Solstice Valentine http://www.cruisemaster.com/solstice.htm
May 10, 2009 ALASKA http://www.cruisemaster.com/moagc4.htm
October 16, 2010 OASIS http://www.motherofallgroupcruises.com .
Jeff
There are a bunch of lines where you can get a 150% rate rather than
200%. I have done it many a time.
Jeff
Warren
> And some ships/cruise
> lines do offer single rates... like on the QE2 which has cabins for
> singles
QE2 is about to go to her new owners in Dubai.
Sometimes HAL has reasonable single fares. I'm on Maasdam in January.
Warren
Tobie Gerbrandt
"Nonnymus" <x...@yyy.cox.net> wrote in message
news:25wHk.4842$3E4....@newsfe13.iad...
I think they might be smartening up some. When we booked a HA cabin on the
Carnival Spirit (Feb 16, 2009) with Cal, they sent us a form to fill out
listing special requirements. He said that they might not give us the HA if
we didn't send it back.
I'll probably bring it along on our Europe trip and give it to Cal, along
with our brokerage statement for our shipboard credits.
Hope that's OK with you, Cal.
George Leppla
"Jeff" <jeff-no-...@no-spam-yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:0EyHk.1988$P5....@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...
Carnival does this on 1A cabins. Other cruise lines may offer lower single
fares on select sailings.... usually within 6 weeks of sail date if the ship
isn't selling well. For the most part, these offers are part of a cruise
line's last minute effort to "fill the boat". There are always
exceptions... but this is how it generally works.
scabbardgirl
Susette,
I agree with you about the hotel room comparison to a point. Where it
doesn't transfer to cruise cabins is in the extras. At a hotel, I'm
paying for just the room, whether it is single or quad occupancy. At
the hotel, I don't have to shell out for the meals and extras that the
non-existent person would need as part of the fare. I could live with a
150% fare as a single for any cabin, any cruise. That seems equitable.
I'm paying for the cabin and my share of the rest of the items that
the cruise line includes in the package.
As far as Carnival and those 1A cabins, well, if you don't mind being
stuck in an inside cabin, I guess it's OK. But, why should a solo
traveler only have an inside cabin as the 150% choice?
I've taken 2 cruises now (yes, George, I took another one!). I enjoyed
my cruises, but, at the price points I had to pay to get a balcony
room (I get claustrophobic and I need access to fresh air - getting up
in the middle of the night and heading outside to the promenade
doesn't work), it just isn't cost effective.
Yes, there are cruises where they offer a low or no supplement. But,
they are usually not available until the last minute. If your employer
needs to know your vacation plans a quarter in advance (mine did, for
vacations of a week or more), it isn't practical for a large percentage
of solos. Like the experiment with the non-smoking Paradise, it would
be nice if one mass market cruise line tried the 150% rate for any room
for a period of time. Sure, some of the upscale lines offer a better
single rate (Crystal, Seabourn), but that single rate is out of my
financial ballpark. One of the reasons they may have that rate is that
their age and economic demographics probably contain more solos.
Until I can convince one of my friends to go with me, I don't think I'll
be cruising much more until economics change. I do have a 14 day
Egypt/Nile/Jordan trip planned for next October, but that is with a
group. Other than that one, it's going to be land vacations. Too bad,
I did really enjoy my cruises :-( This is just one of those areas that
we'll all have to agree to disagree on.
Kitty
Jean O'Boyle
"Tobie Gerbrandt" <chez...@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:sJCHk.3231$jZ3....@newsfe03.iad...
> Hey Nonny
>
> I think they might be smartening up some. When we booked a HA cabin on
> the Carnival Spirit (Feb 16, 2009) with Cal, they sent us a form to fill
> out listing special requirements. He said that they might not give us the
> HA if we didn't send it back.
>
> I'll probably bring it along on our Europe trip and give it to Cal, along
> with our brokerage statement for our shipboard credits.
>
> Hope that's OK with you, Cal.
Hey Tobie...I thought you and Barb were going on George's Solstice cruise on
Feb.8th. Are you taking a back to back afterwards? You rascal you! You
two are on the sea more than land!
--Jean
Jean O'Boyle
"Susette" <cruise...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:9533e64b-f7f6-4995-8c63-> >> "rdkng97" >
LOL Susie! You are SUPERWOMAN..you'll figure it out!
--Jean
Becca
Jean, I was thinking the same thing about you and Ed. :-)
Becca
Jean O'Boyle
"Becca" <becca...@hal-pc.organ> wrote in message
news:6lcvm3F...@mid.individual.net...
LOL, Becca...I think Tobie and Barb have surpassed us and have the record!
We now only have four booked...two more this year and so far two next year..
;-)
--Jean
Tobie Gerbrandt
We have one night in San Diego that we still need to book a hotel for. We
fly from FLL (after disembarkation from the Solstice) to SAN (eta 5:35 PM)
and on the next morning we head for the Carnival Spirit for Cal's Group
Cruise.
Tobie>>>>on an Island in the Pacific
"Jean O'Boyle" <j.ob...@removefudged.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:3n5Ik.4953$Ws1...@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com...
Tobie Gerbrandt
>
>>
>> Jean, I was thinking the same thing about you and Ed. :-)
>> Becca
>
> LOL, Becca...I think Tobie and Barb have surpassed us and have the
> record! We now only have four booked...two more this year and so far two
> next year.. ;-)
>
> --Jean
>
We have two more this year (Navigator and Regatta), three next year
(Solstice, Carnival Spirit and Star Princess) and the Oasis OTS in 2010.
That's the first time we've been forced to look forward to six cruises. :-)
We hope our finances survive this downturn, and our health holds out, so we
can make all of them.
Brian K
writings:
>
> "rdkng97" <rbr...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:a81fb040-2fc0-4235...@q35g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>> I have a deposit on a cabin for two in Feb. 09. Sorry to say my
>> sweetie and I parted ways. I called my TA and ask about single
>> sailing and she discouraged it highly. She said the cost would be app.
>> the same with the e xception of gratuities and fuel charges. Is this
>> true or did she just want me to cancel. I have until Nov.15 to cancel
>> and get my deposits back. Can some TA tell me realisticly how much
>> more a single pays than if it is a double occupancy.
>
> That is pretty much the story. One person pays for two people...
> minus one person's tax and fees.
>
> The single supplement charge has been a sore spot in the industry for
> a long time.
>
> The best advice is to fine a room mate.
>
>
his roommate / ex girlfriend for her part of the fare. It's worth a try.
--
________
To email me, Edit "blog" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"The poor dog is the firmest friend, the first to welcome the foremost to defend" - Lord Byron
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951