Going RCI because of single supplement

[Cruisegirl6]

We crusing on RC because the single rates are much better than Carnivals single rates. We need one double and one single adult and one single senior adult, so between not caring for the food on carnival on our last cruise last year and went on RC after that, we staying with RC for the better single person prices, better food/selection/variety and I finding the price of my double cabin either the same or cheaper than RC ships depending upon which ship on RC.

[Sargent_Schultz]

I believe most people think the food is better on Carnival.

 

on single cabins, John summed it up on FB:

 

John Heald Vivienne. I know how the current system does not allow much leway for single travellers and unfortunatley there are no plans for any changes in this regard. I am sorry and hope that you will still be able to cruise with Carnival. Thanks

[jpg1747]

I booked the October 16 Carnival Magic Mediterranean cruise just before the 150% 1A rates went away. On my roll call, a lot of folks doing a B2B with the TA back to the states moved over to RCCL because the price is so much less.

 

Right now I'm pricing a TA for 2012 and looking at Princess and RCCL. The price difference is almost half. From my personal cruising experience, there isn't all that much difference between Princess, Carnival and RCCL, so I don't understand how RCCL can charge so much less. Although I have noticed that while Carnival and Princess start with much higher prices, they often drop to the same level as RCCL as time goes on and cabins don't sell. So perhaps RCCL's strategy is just to start with a lower number to get more cabins booked early and then raise prices as demand increases.

[GaNavy]

Iv also seen 0% on RCL cruises for solo supplements... I dont think the poster meant you can pick one at random and they are all 150%, some are higher and some are lower. The tuesday specials usually run about 170%.

 

I think most are looking at what is the bottom line.

 

To KK who said its my fault for booking 1As for 2 people ...I only booked them on Conquest, never a bunk bed cabin. Im not big on upper bunks!!! Now that Im solo I would book them too.

 

Here is a summer cruise picked at random ...as you can see the supplement also changes depending on which category you book. People just wish Carnival had this as a option, thats all they are saying.

 

3 nights departing August 12, 2011 on

Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas

 

Double Occupancy Inside $219

Single Occupancy Inside $310

Single Supplement 42%

 

Double Occupancy Oceanview $249

Single Occupancy Oceanview $361

Single Supplement 45%

 

Double Occupancy Balcony $679

Single Occupancy Balcony $1,269

Single Supplement 87%

 

Double Occupancy Suite $679

Single Occupancy Suite $1,269

Single Supplement 87%

 

These are prices from an online TA (those who get this agency's e-mails will recognize it) - they didn't come from the cruise line.

 

This same agency offers Carnival cruises and 'adjusts' the dbl occupancy price to make the supplement look like it's less - they are offering a single occupancy balcony cabin on a Miracle cruise to Bermuda for $1298, listing the double occupancy rate at $889, but the ES rate for this cabin is $649 - making the single supp 200%. You won't find that $889 price on the Carnival site.

 

You can always find someone purporting to undercut the single supp, but whether it's a real discount isn't always clear.

 

Count me with those who decide where/when we want to go, look at our budgets, then book. The supplement, whatever it might be, is not a consideration for me - if it's going somewhere I want to go and I can afford it, that's all that matters.

[firefly333]

These are prices from an online TA (those who get this agency's e-mails will recognize it) - they didn't come from the cruise line.

 

FYI RCL and Carnival do not allow TAs to advertise lower prices. Any price you see in public is the same price you can get by booking direct. Sounds like you need to dig a little deeper for info?

 

Every price I have seen on this TA site or others, I have been able to call the cruiseline direct and get the exact same price ...sometimes not every price shows up on the carnival site ...doesnt mean its not a valid rate, sometimes you need to call to find some rates with Carnival. Call if you cant find the rate on the carnival site.... its unlikely to be a typo.

[PictureChris]

I have done about a dozen solo cruises. IN GENERAL: 3-5 day cruises, Royal and Celebrity have the best rates. 7 days-Carnival and Princess have the best rates.

 

Like someone above said, I don't look at the percentage of the supplement any more, just the total.

[cdamion]

I'm not interested at all in what the single supplement percentage is. Doesn't matter if it's 125%, 150% or 200%. The only thing I look at is the price I'm going to pay. How it's computed doesn't matter to me. So when I price future cruises, I go all the way through the online booking process to find out my real price before I make my choice.

 

I am comparing out of pocket costs. If Canival comes in less at 200% than somebody else at 100%, I would book Carnival.

 

It would be silly to pay more on RCI just because the supplement was a smaller percentage.

 

Like I said in my original post, RCI came out cheaper than Carnival's casino offer. If things change before the final payment date, I will switch.

[Cruisegirl6]

Of course people here on carnival board will say carnival's food is better than RC, I for one been on both cruise lines and others and honestly RC is the best, then comes Princess.

 

Travel agents cannot discount cruises any longer or are they provided money to boost up sales that was taken away from travel agents a few years ago.

 

RC does have better single person rates in fact, their newest ships Allure and Oasis have single studio rooms also for a much better rate.

[maxxedout2]

I can confirm Royal offered a low mid-January deal on 5 day. Solo, I

jumped on it. My first RCI cruise. Had such a great time that my wife

and I then repeated the same 5 day cruise a couple of months later when

it fit into her school schedule.

 

They may have given a few dollars away on my first trip...trust me...

they more than made it back when we sailed the second time. Wine,

shore excursions and both specialty restaurants.

 

Crazy like a fox, as they say. Carnival doesn't get it.

 

:cool::cool:

[jessemon]

For those of you that might like a little tradition in cruising HAL also offers reduced rates for solos....

[firefly333]

And some TA sites make it much easier to see which cruises offer reduced supplements.