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best way to afford solo


funnyfarm9988
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I haven't seen any solo discounts on Carnival in a long time. See if there's the option of a guarantee cabin or upper/lower (twin bed with either pullman or sofa bed) inside cabin on that sailing.

 

If you're open to other cruise lines, NCL has some really good solo discounts for last minute cruises (couple of months before sail date). They also have studio cabins which are usually, but not always, cheaper than an inside cabin.

 

Check out the solo cruisers message board on this site. It may be helpful. I'm sure MIL will be grateful to have her own cabin too!

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If you want your own room you have to pay double for it because Carnival has two beds in those rooms and expects two fares for them. Guarantee Inside upper/lower is going to be the cheapest room. Pay a little more to pick your own room. If you want to go a regular inside where you can have a king bed that will usually cost an additional $5-20/day depending on the cruise. If you want to upgrade to a better deck that's another $5-20/day depending on the deck/cruise.

 

As mentioned above using discounted gift cards can help. I bought $500 gift cards at $450 each to pay for my upcoming cruises.

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Why don't you and your husband pay the difference as a gift? Or find a relative who can cruise with her.

 

 

I think that is what we are going to do. I told him to split it 3 ways and we each will pay the same. She doesn't drink, so that would be on him (as I don't drink enough to buy the endless alcohol).

 

thanks for the responses. I do like the discounted cards too. I think I will go that route as well.

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Purchase discounted gift cards (see other links on here for how to do this). Saves 10% off your entire vacation for both rooms. :D

 

Research this to the Nth degree. There are MANY posts about how these discounted gift cards are applied by the cruise line, then the cards come up fraudulent, and then there's a whole pile of other problems after that happens. Just advising, RESEARCH it and it may not be the best way to go.

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I think that is what we are going to do. I told him to split it 3 ways and we each will pay the same. She doesn't drink, so that would be on him (as I don't drink enough to buy the endless alcohol).

 

 

 

thanks for the responses. I do like the discounted cards too. I think I will go that route as well.

 

 

 

If he wants the Cheers package, have him booked as a solo. The ship doesn't care who sleeps where. Just make sure the room stewards get tipped appropriately.

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Research this to the Nth degree. There are MANY posts about how these discounted gift cards are applied by the cruise line, then the cards come up fraudulent, and then there's a whole pile of other problems after that happens. Just advising, RESEARCH it and it may not be the best way to go.

 

The extensive post of late that I have seen with fraudulent issues are because people bought from shady sites, and should have RESEARCHED it before they bought. AARP and Citi Cards for 10% off gift card purchases have been used by tons of people with no issues. My family has personally spent $10,000 easily in gift cards over the last couple years through these sites without a single issue.

 

On a single cruise for two rooms that easily could be $2000 or more for room, taxes, gratuity, etc.... this would save $200. That is a lot of money to consider saving.

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I think that is what we are going to do. I told him to split it 3 ways and we each will pay the same. She doesn't drink, so that would be on him (as I don't drink enough to buy the endless alcohol).

 

thanks for the responses. I do like the discounted cards too. I think I will go that route as well.

 

Sounds like a good decision. Truth be told, there are very few ways to avoid Carnival's solo fare which=2x the regular fare, especially if you're not flexible with ship/sail date. And really under that circumstance, your best bet is to use discounted gift cards. With more flexibility, planning, and strategy, casino rates are the best bet for exemption from Carnival's single supplement.

 

Privacy can be priceless. Hope you have a great cruise!

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The extensive post of late that I have seen with fraudulent issues are because people bought from shady sites, and should have RESEARCHED it before they bought. AARP and Citi Cards for 10% off gift card purchases have been used by tons of people with no issues. My family has personally spent $10,000 easily in gift cards over the last couple years through these sites without a single issue.

 

On a single cruise for two rooms that easily could be $2000 or more for room, taxes, gratuity, etc.... this would save $200. That is a lot of money to consider saving.

Verizon also offers the Carnival gift cards (both physical cards and e-gift cards) and we've never had any issues with them. However, they are ending their current rewards program on 11/1/2017 so if the OP is a Verizon customer and has points to burn, use them before 11/1. :)

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Okay, delima...... we are planning a cruise and my husband does not want to share room with mother in law. She will be coming alone. What is the best way to make it more economical feasible for her and any suggestions.

 

Over 55 gets the senior discount.

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Verizon also offers the Carnival gift cards (both physical cards and e-gift cards) and we've never had any issues with them. However, they are ending their current rewards program on 11/1/2017 so if the OP is a Verizon customer and has points to burn, use them before 11/1. :)

 

 

I agree on the discounted gift cards. I just purchased two 500. Gift cards for 450 each. Yes the rewards through ends November, so buy now. Also I bought the email version and five minutes later, applied both cards to my balance. I have been doing the gift cards savings, amex 100 off 500 cruise payment and kroger gift cards for several years now and the savings are excellent. I would agree that you could get inside cabin for mom or connecting. I would also split the cost with her so she is not paying so much and you can offset a lot of that expense by using these discounts. AARP discount cards are another way but I don't have experience with those.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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Carnival hasn't had any good 55 and over discounted fares for a while either.

 

In my experience, senior rates aren't offered until a couple months before the cruise.

 

On 11/22/15, I booked the senior rate for 2/7/16. I was able to choose the room. Whenever I see the senior rate now, it is only available as a guarantee rate.

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Carnival use to have solo rate. Those are gone. Try to score a 1A cabin for the cheapest rate. You will still pay double but it is the best rate. I have always cruised Carnival, 12 cruises in total. But now I have my first cruise as a solo booked with Royal Caribbean. They have some great solo rates out of the NYC (Bayonne, NJ port). I hate to not cruise with Carnival but Carnival is forcing me to cruise on Royal Caribbean for the first time for Carnival's lack of solo rates. I'll see how I like Royal.

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Goccl.com, a website for travel agents, used to list those few cruises that offered solo rates, not much to choose from a small # of ships. I haven't seen a senior rate on Carnival in years. NCL has solo rates for studio cabins if you want to sail them.

 

I thought it stunk when Carnival discontinued solo fares, but then I branched out to other lines and broadened my cruise experience. I didn't know what I was missing when I stuck to just Carnival.

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...But now I have my first cruise as a solo booked with Royal Caribbean. They have some great solo rates out of the NYC (Bayonne, NJ port). I hate to not cruise with Carnival but Carnival is forcing me to cruise on Royal Caribbean for the first time for Carnival's lack of solo rates. I'll see how I like Royal.

 

Yeah, I booked a solo on NCL for the same reason. I keep on checking the Carnival rates for the cruises I'm interested in, hoping something will give a bit, but it hasn't. Who knows, I may end up thinking that Carnival is worth the extra cost? I appreciate that NCL has specifically designed staterooms and activities for solos, so I figure I'll give them a try. I don't hold it against Carnival--it's just not the business they're seeking. That's fair. Not every company can be all things to all people. If I had a family and was looking for a vacation, Carnival is right there.

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I wanted to go to Belize out of Galveston,just booked within the last week. I clicked on some rates, and then clicked on singles rates. Believe it or not the VIPF rate X 2 is cheaper than any solo rate i found. The singles rates were higher on every sailing i clicked on.

 

I am pretty sure I could get gift cards for Carnival from SW, but it would have been a pain, plus my final payment was due friday, so all i could have used them for was onboard credit by the time I booked.

 

I paid the VIPF X 2 and shrugged it off. Ive paid double enough times, I guess I figure its just the price of the cabin, its how the advertise that maybe makes it harder, if hotels advertised a lower rate but said ok, but thats for one and you have to pay for 2, same thing.

 

my advise is to just check the prices both ways. In my case there were no singles rates that were cheaper than booking whatever the VIPF fare is. But i wanated only Belize and only out of Galveston, you might have better luck out of florida where there is more competition.

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Here is a example, solo prices make no sense to me. I havent booked for a while, so maybe Im missing something.

 

per a site that gives pricing.

 

inside 55+ rate is 419, above that regular rate is 429, i click on solo rate and its 479 X 2. shows inside as 479 and below that solo rate as 958.

 

almost every rate i clicked on solo rate, it was more than the reguar rate X 2.

 

solo rates i looked at were not just regular rate X 2, they were actually higher than paying double the regular rate.

 

wierd, i just randomly pulled up the freedom on 1/13 and thats what i got when i click on solo rate. ... more than double. and also on other dates.

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