Future solo/single passengers might want to read:

[halos]

I don't cruise solo, but one thing I do is book WAY in advance. I cannot imagine, giving CCL (or anyone) 200%, 24-28 months in advance of my cruise.

 

BULL%^#@.

 

This just pisses me off!!! COME ON, CARNIVAL!!!! I've been cruising CCL since the Mardi Gras and a LOT of the cruises were solo....... Sometimes us single folks just want to go and don't have anyone to cruise with... It was bad enough when they took away the 150% cruise prices........but I lived with it....... and all the controversy over the past guest program. I am Diamond but I still didn't like the changes!!! Then they said my TA of over 10 years can't give me a cabin credit anymore!!!

 

 

 

AND NOW THIS!! It does make a gal think that Carnival doesn't want my business so much anymore....... and honestly after the 3 cruises that I have booked for 2013.......that might be end of my carnival cruising...........

 

 

 

Barb

 

 

 

Everyone has a breaking point and you hung in there pretty well up until now. You get big points for patience and loyalty.

 

I do imagine that this insanity still will be touted as brilliant by some.....

[iowagirl411]

I plan a solo cruise for Jan of 2013. I don't plan to travel with anyone else. That's what is Solo.

 

Why are they planning on me changing my mind? Are they psychics now?

 

No, I think the word you are looking for is "psychotic".

[barbatkins]

I don't cruise solo, but one thing I do is book WAY in advance. I cannot imagine, giving CCL (or anyone) 200%, 24-28 months in advance of my cruise.

 

BULL%^#@.

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone has a breaking point and you hung in there pretty well up until now. You get big points for patience and loyalty.

 

I do imagine that this insanity still will be touted as brilliant by some.....

 

It just makes Carnival look like a cheap ass cruise line.......only looking at their bottom line and I DID hang in there a long time........and I HAVE forgiven them for a lot of changes that were not good for the consumer. I guess this could be the last straw

[TrqoisWtrs]

Will definitely make people re-think that early saver price if they have to pay a double nonrefundable deposit. yikes.

[dear23]

Hmmm...I've only cruised solo 3 times (4th coming up in October), all since 2009...but it seems like I've *always* been charged the double deposit. Could that be due to booking online?

[barbatkins]

Will definitely make people re-think that early saver price if they have to pay a double nonrefundable deposit. yikes.

 

does this mean a single cruiser would have a $100 penalty with the ES fare if they had to cancel? sounds like discrimination to me..........

[Chigirlcruzin]

I don't understand the big deal. You have to pay the money eventuality. Celebrity required a $500 deposit for my December cruise in which I'm in a cabin by myself. Their business model is based off of double occupancy. While I would prefer to not pay 200%, why should they offer me a break? My cabin could be sold to 2 people that will drink, gamble, shop, etc. I don't look at the percentage...I look at the overall price, and if I think it's fair (not necessarily the cheapest). I don't like it, but solos/singles are NOT the target market.

[dznymom]

Dear Carnival,

 

In any relationship there comes a time to evaluate whether or not one's needs are being met. It is clear that I have been doing my part, but you are just asking too much and giving too little. You have been taking me for granted and I just can't live with your empty promises anymore.

 

As a young girl my mother always told me there are lots of fish in the sea. As a mature woman, I know there are lots of ships on the sea.

 

Don't bother to call or write. We are officially through.

[RuthlessBoss]

And while NCL's solo cabins are good for some, not all solo cruisers want small cubicles or only insides.... Great option for some, but not all.

I would not book one , to me, it's still expensive.. Some say it's for singles, and has a lounge etc. But, it will all depend on who is on your cruise. It might be full of solo married cruisers, which I have read this has happened.

[DKNYC]

Just yesterday I booked my first CCL cruise. I am a solo traveler in a balcony cabin for a Hawaii cruise on Miracle in Jan 2014. All I can say is that I am glad I booked now and not waited till later. As it is I was a bit taken aback to see that full payment is the default when booking online. Any other line that I have ever booked more than 90 days out has been for the deposit. I thought I clicked the button for the deposit amount of $400, but obviously I didn't because it charged the whole cruise to my card. :eek: I had to call reservations immediately to get a refund issued for all but the deposit (which could take 10 days). I was not going to allow CCL to keep $3000+ of my money for over a year. By the way Cunard (another Carnival owned line) used to have a 175% single supplement...now within the last 18 mos or so it has gone up to 200% as well. They had single cabins (in all categories) on QE2, but their 3 current ships do not.

[petesweet]

I just wrote John Heald and asked him to address this. I was polite. While my first thought was scathing, I didn't want to jump all over some employee (after all that is what he is) without their having a chance to address this.

 

I did express that if true, it feels like Carnival does not want us, and that would mean my first Carnival cruise will be my last. But I did ask him if he would publicly address this and hopefully it isn't going to actually happen.

 

We'll see....

Solo cruising may be in my future, so I'll keep an eye on developments. Please come back and report on JH's response.

 

Kathy

[RuthlessBoss]

I don't understand the big deal. You have to pay the money eventuality. Celebrity required a $500 deposit for my December cruise in which I'm in a cabin by myself. Their business model is based off of double occupancy. While I would prefer to not pay 200%, why should they offer me a break? My cabin could be sold to 2 people that will drink, gamble, shop, etc. I don't look at the percentage...I look at the overall price, and if I think it's fair (not necessarily the cheapest). I don't like it, but solos/singles are NOT the target market.

For those of us who are single, older and on a fixed income...It IS a big deal. We can now book a cruise and pay on it. I just booked a cruise I've been waiting for, it went on special for 1 day, was able to meet the deposit. Could I do it with double deposit? NO. I know the balance is due and will plan accordingly to pay it off.

[Doug910]

I don't understand the big deal. You have to pay the money eventuality. Celebrity required a $500 deposit for my December cruise in which I'm in a cabin by myself. Their business model is based off of double occupancy. While I would prefer to not pay 200%, why should they offer me a break? My cabin could be sold to 2 people that will drink, gamble, shop, etc. I don't look at the percentage...I look at the overall price, and if I think it's fair (not necessarily the cheapest). I don't like it, but solos/singles are NOT the target market.

 

...I'm obviously in the minority, but I also don't see the "earth shattering" difference. The total fare is going to be due anyway. If the total fare for the cabin is, for example, $1500, and now you have to give $500 instead of $250, you'll just owe less later on.

 

...For the poster above who like to pay their balance monthly, if you book 12 months out, you'll owe approximately $84 per month instead of $105 per month. In the end, it's going to work out the same.

 

...But I do agree with another poster who mentioned that they should leave the Cat. 1A cabins for the solo cruisers at the rate of 150%. While it is true they can generate more revenue now by putting more bodies in those cabins, Carnival is losing a certain amount of goodwill, as those solo cruisers may one day find a friend/mate and look for a "regular" cabin.

[cruisercrazy69]

Solo cruising may be in my future, so I'll keep an eye on developments. Please come back and report on JH's response.

 

Kathy

Brilliant Cheers Mate LOL

[Chigirlcruzin]

For those of us who are single, older and on a fixed income...It IS a big deal. We can now book a cruise and pay on it. I just booked a cruise I've been waiting for, it went on special for 1 day, was able to meet the deposit. Could I do it with double deposit? NO. I know the balance is due and will plan accordingly to pay it off.

 

I am single, but I'm not older, and have a good job. However, I don't see the difference. Amount owed doesn't change. You just have to save your deposit money and maybe book a month or two later. Where is the difference?

[barbatkins]

...I'm obviously in the minority, but I also don't see the "earth shattering" difference. The total fare is going to be due anyway. If the total fare for the cabin is, for example, $1500, and now you have to give $500 instead of $250, you'll just owe less later on.

 

...For the poster above who like to pay their balance monthly, if you book 12 months out, you'll owe approximately $84 per month instead of $105 per month. In the end, it's going to work out the same.

 

...But I do agree with another poster who mentioned that they should leave the Cat. 1A cabins for the solo cruisers at the rate of 150%. While it is true they can generate more revenue now by putting more bodies in those cabins, Carnival is losing a certain amount of goodwill, as those solo cruisers may one day find a friend/mate and look for a "regular" cabin.

 

 

totally agree that the small amount it would cost Carnival to set aside maybe 6 1A cabins on each ship...would be so worth it in the goodwill it would generate in customer satisfaction. If they only had six cabins per ship and they happened to be sold out on a particular sailing.....then I would just look for another sailing....... They really can't lose that much by doing that.....

[cruzn buckeye]

&$*#%

agreed!

[halos]

I don't understand the big deal. You have to pay the money eventuality. .

 

I agree with that to a point. Like I said, for someone who books like me, WAY in advance, it's just not right for Carnival to have the entire cost of the cruise 2 years or more before you even set foot on the ship.

If you book 2,3 even 6 months out it isn't that big a deal. But them having someone's money for more than 2 years????????? NO way.

 

The single cruiser got plenty screwed before this little change. This just makes it worse.

 

 

 

I am single, but I'm not older, and have a good job. However, I don't see the difference. Amount owed doesn't change. You just have to save your deposit money and maybe book a month or two later. Where is the difference?

 

Difference can be quite a bit if the ship sells well and you go to book a couple months later and the fare is drastically higher.

This is why I book way out. I have (EVERY TIME) when booking 2+ years in advance, seen the cost of my cruise skyrocket and sit there smiling, knowing I booked early and got a great deal.

But again, if you book only a couple months out, this is no big deal.

[Shipbound]

they need to start making some single sized cabins (like on NCL) so solo passengers have an option not to have to pay double.

 

Years ago there was a single supplement of 150 % over the cruise fare if you booked a cat. 3 or less but that was one of the reason I cruised with CCL, but all good things cant last forever.

 

 

Gary

[firefly333]

Carnival proves once more they really would rather solos take their business elsewhere.

 

They are all about shoving as many into one cabin as they can to spend onboard.

[ATL2LAS]

Carnival proves once more they really would rather solos take their business elsewhere.

 

They are all about shoving as many into one cabin as they can to spend onboard.

Slowly coming around to your way of thinking. Its really sad, its time for me to start looking at other cruiselines:(

[Chigirlcruzin]

I agree with that to a point. Like I said, for someone who books like me, WAY in advance, it's just not right for Carnival to have the entire cost of the cruise 2 years or more before you even set foot on the ship.

If you book 2,3 even 6 months out it isn't that big a deal. But them having someone's money for more than 2 years????????? NO way.

 

The single cruiser got plenty screwed before this little change. This just makes it worse.

 

 

 

 

 

Difference can be quite a bit if the ship sells well and you go to book a couple months later and the fare is drastically higher.

This is why I book way out. I have (EVERY TIME) when booking 2+ years in advance, seen the cost of my cruise skyrocket and sit there smiling, knowing I booked early and got a great deal.

But again, if you book only a couple months out, this is no big deal.

 

I think that's the difference and why I don't see it as a big deal. The furthest ahead I've booked is 8 months. It's usually around 3-5 months out. I guess if I booked WAY out, I could see the issue, BUT, I still have to pay it. So, I have to come up with more up front or more at final payment. It's not like that $250 is earning a lot of interest :)

[Shipbound]

Slowly coming around to your way of thinking. Its really sad, its time for me to start looking at other cruiselines:(

 

Since I'm Platinum I have to cruise with CCL a least one more time to get the one shot up grade and a free steak house for two meal than I may look at other cruise lines.

 

Gary

[Chigirlcruzin]

Carnival proves once more they really would rather solos take their business elsewhere.

 

They are all about shoving as many into one cabin as they can to spend onboard.

 

Yup, you're right. It's not a single's world out there. My parents are cool, but their friends make me feel like there's something severely wrong with me since I'm not married (it's hard to sustain a relationship when I'm continually traveling overseas for weeks at a time). I try to ignore that ignorance. However, from a business standpoint, we aren't their target market (on any line; I had to pay 2x the deposit on X). We take up the space of another person that could be buying drinks and such. Almost all of the travel industry operates like this. It sucks, but it makes sense from a business standpoint.

[firefly333]

Yup, you're right. It's not a single's world out there. My parents are cool, but their friends make me feel like there's something severely wrong with me since I'm not married (it's hard to sustain a relationship when I'm continually traveling overseas for weeks at a time). I try to ignore that ignorance. However, from a business standpoint, we aren't their target market (on any line; I had to pay 2x the deposit on X). We take up the space of another person that could be buying drinks and such. Almost all of the travel industry operates like this. It sucks, but it makes sense from a business standpoint.

 

If you watched that cruise special on CNBC it said the cabins themselves are sold at somewhat of a loss .. the difference has to be made up in drinks sold, casino, shops etc.