Future solo/single passengers might want to read:

[firefly333]

I looked this morning, almost fell over!! Carnival had a sailing in the solo section. But, I discovered an OV at $319, then with supplement came to $418. Looked good. Then went to my discount section, OV $219 PP. What does that add up to? $438. My point is...The single start rate was $100 more to start. I guess some saving is there if there is only 1 tax.

So, not sure if it's just a Carnival mark up or other lines doing the same tactic?

 

No, that TA site is a waste for Carnival as they cheat and show double the ES price then compare it to a higher rate and say.. see what you saved??

 

So, dont bother for Carnival as its kind of sneaky .. but it does work better for other cruiselines.

 

There are no special solo rates for Carnival .. even though that site will put up one here or there that looks ok, until you do the math and its twice the ES rate. .. (and they never mention the ES terms when they show it, thats why I said a bit sneaky).

[jpg1747]

Just for kicks and giggles, I did comparison bookings on Carnival, RCCL, NCL and Princess for the same cruise - September 2013 Canada/New England - for a solo cruiser. The deposit for Carnival and RCCL is $250; for NCL it's $125 and for Princess it's $136. This is cruise only - no insurance, no prepaid gratuities.

 

There are many factors that I use to decide which to book, but right now the deposit amount isn't one of them. If I went by ports I would pick Princess (5 instead of 4). If I went by length I would pick RCCL - 8 days instead of 7 (one additional sea day). If I went by price I would pick Carnival. If I went by departure port I would again pick RCCL (Baltimore rather than NYC).

[Shipbound]

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.

 

Why do you think CCL introduced the 2.0 program, they(CCL) want to sell more drinks,which is where they make all the money. Believe me they know what they are doing don't forget Gerry Cahill was an accountant before he became CEO and you thank him for all the cuts.

 

Gary

[firefly333]

Why do you think CCL introduced the 2.0 program, they(CCL) want to sell more drinks,which is where they make all the money. Believe me they know what they are doing don't forget Gerry Cahill was an accountant before he became CEO and you thank him for all the cuts.

 

Gary

 

Oh I noticed all the new bars. I think it still hasnt sunk in for many that the new Red Frog Lounge, is not the same as the Red Frog Pub that Magic and Breeze have. the 2.0 version is minus the food... just drinks.

[barbatkins]

Until now we are paying tips per person and not per cabin:D.

 

Yeah, kinda makes one worry that next thing will be making us solo cruisers pay double tips since only one in cabin........

[barbatkins]

Not sure if this has been addressed but does anyone know how early saver rates would work with this new policy? If you book solo using the ES rate - you pay double deposit - what happens if you need to cancel/switch? Do you get charged the regular $50 fee? 9wht $450 left on account?) Or will it now be $100? (and they keep $400 on account for you)...that certainly doesn't seem fair to me? Anyone know? (or maybe Carnival hasn't thought this one thru yet?)

 

My TA SAID it was still only a $50 penalty but Carnival keeps the other $450 for a future cruise to be booked within one year..........

[Quilting_Cruiser]

My TA SAID it was still only a $50 penalty but Carnival keeps the other $450 for a future cruise to be booked within one year..........

 

 

I hope you TA is wrong and they aren't changing it to one year! It's currently two years...

[RuthlessBoss]

Why do you think CCL introduced the 2.0 program, they(CCL) want to sell more drinks,which is where they make all the money. Believe me they know what they are doing don't forget Gerry Cahill was an accountant before he became CEO and you thank him for all the cuts.

 

Gary

And boy did they BITE!!! So many said 2.0, 2.0, 2.0 can't wait to see upgrades. I saw Liberty...it mostly consisted of places to sell drinks.

[RuthlessBoss]

My TA SAID it was still only a $50 penalty but Carnival keeps the other $450 for a future cruise to be booked within one year..........

I believe that. Cut it to one year, you'll book sooner!!

[barbatkins]

I hope you TA is wrong and they aren't changing it to one year! It's currently two years...

 

I thought the same thing.......but he has been my TA for over 10 years and I'm pretty sure he would have it right....... he also suggested I might want to start considering other lines more seriously.......ha!!

[firefly333]

I thought the same thing.......but he has been my TA for over 10 years and I'm pretty sure he would have it right....... he also suggested I might want to start considering other lines more seriously.......ha!!

 

Im 98% sure that this has not changed.. your TA probably just wasnt thinking and mistyped it.

 

Its now actually 2 years to book and 3 years to take the actual cruise.

 

I cant imagine them cutting to you have to book within 12 months. sorry, but I bet your TA just made a typo.

[barbatkins]

Im 98% sure that this has not changed.. your TA probably just wasnt thinking and mistyped it.

 

Its now actually 2 years to book and 3 years to take the actual cruise.

 

I cant imagine them cutting to you have to book within 12 months. sorry, but I bet your TA just made a typo.

 

OK.....I'll email him back and ask him

[Quilting_Cruiser]

I thought the same thing.......but he has been my TA for over 10 years and I'm pretty sure he would have it right....... he also suggested I might want to start considering other lines more seriously.......ha!!

 

 

Wow. That's disappointing. I've been pretty annoyed with all the complaining here the last several weeks, but I'm ready to jump on the bandwagon! No, it's looking more and more like I'll be following your TA's advice and looking at other lines.

[DGP1111]

Not sure if this has been addressed but does anyone know how early saver rates would work with this new policy? If you book solo using the ES rate - you pay double deposit - what happens if you need to cancel/switch? Do you get charged the regular $50 fee? 9wht $450 left on account?) Or will it now be $100? (and they keep $400 on account for you)...that certainly doesn't seem fair to me? Anyone know? (or maybe Carnival hasn't thought this one thru yet?)

 

My source for Post #1 says Carnival advised it would become $50 X 2

 

.

My TA SAID it was still only a $50 penalty but Carnival keeps the other $450 for a future cruise to be booked within one year..........

 

I'm not at all surprised that multiple travel planners are getting multiple answers from the same vendor. :rolleyes: Seems this will be a question for additional research.

 

.

[barbatkins]

OK.....I'll email him back and ask him

 

OK......here is his reply

 

"You are right it’s 24 months from cancellation"

[NCTribeFan]

It's just as even to pay 1/2 deposit and pay slightly higher monthly payments until paid. Why don't you just pay for the entire cruise when you book? You'll pay anyway. That's just ignorant to me.

 

Why thank you! I love you, too! :rolleyes:

 

Now, we all need a good rant once in a while. It just seems to be way too common on these boards these days.

 

But this really has no impact on the cost of your cruise! Not one little bit.

 

If someone doesn't have the funds for the deposit when they book, perhaps they just need to change how they budget for their vacation.

 

I simply put everything on a credit card and earn points. Just mailed a $200 certificate to apply to my B2B. So it doesn't really matter to me if it's now or later.

 

Simply because someone refuses to have a meltdown every time Carnival makes a change doesn't make them ignorant. :rolleyes:

 

You all continue to enjoy cruising at prices that are very nearly the same as they were five years ago. Imagine the hell you'd all raise if Carnival implemented a huge across-the-board fare increase thanks to greatly increased costs. And in case you haven't noticed, costs continue to rise even when our salaries are not.

 

But let's blame the accountants for keeping the company afloat. Literally. Here, let me roll my eyes one more time then I'm butting out. :rolleyes:

[crusinpsychRN]

Believe me they know what they are doing don't forget Gerry Cahill was an accountant before he became CEO and you thank him for all the cuts.

 

Gary

 

I said that at the Purser's desk on the last cruise and staff member grinned like there's no tomorrow.

[pulledporky]

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.

 

Carnival does not want you to take your business elsewhere. What they want is to maximize their cash flow. (the result may be that YOU want to take your business elsewhere)

 

All they need to do is change their pricing terms: Price per cabin, double occupancy with surcharge for 3rd and 4th person (kind of like hotels do and no one expects a discount there if they are staying as a single).

 

But marketing says $759pp looks less expensive than $1518 per cabin.

 

You can always vote with your $$.

[cruisepal67]

This is the way I will look at it now. I will take advantage of past guests rates (I know more $$ then ES rates) They usually come with upgrades and I can stay in the cabin/location I want for less then if I book it on ES rate. They also offer 50% deposits occasionally with past guest rates. Which I just took advantage of to book my cruise on Conquest. :thumbup:

[crusinpsychRN]

Why thank you! I love you, too! :rolleyes:

 

Now, we all need a good rant once in a while. It just seems to be way too common on these boards these days.

 

But this really has no impact on the cost of your cruise! Not one little bit.

 

If someone doesn't have the funds for the deposit when they book, perhaps they just need to change how they budget for their vacation.

 

I simply put everything on a credit card and earn points. Just mailed a $200 certificate to apply to my B2B. So it doesn't really matter to me if it's now or later.

 

Simply because someone refuses to have a meltdown every time Carnival makes a change doesn't make them ignorant. :rolleyes:

 

You all continue to enjoy cruising at prices that are very nearly the same as they were five years ago. Imagine the hell you'd all raise if Carnival implemented a huge across-the-board fare increase thanks to greatly increased costs. And in case you haven't noticed, costs continue to rise even when our salaries are not.

 

But let's blame the accountants for keeping the company afloat. Literally. Here, let me roll my eyes one more time then I'm butting out. :rolleyes:

 

Geesh! It doesn't affect you since you put it on a credit card. I pay cash for the deposit. That makes a difference.

:rolleyes:

[firefly333]

Geesh! It doesn't affect you since you put it on a credit card. I pay cash for the deposit. That makes a difference.

:rolleyes:

 

Its interesting that so many people want to tell others how to FEEL about this. Its one thing to say you dont care .. but telling someone else since you dont care, they should not care is entirely different.

 

I wish people would quite lecturing others how to feel and keep comments to "this is how I feel" .. not "this is how YOU should feel"

 

Let comments roll off your back like that, its not you.. I think you have the right to feel however you want about this.

[SarahQ]

Carnival does not want you to take your business elsewhere. What they want is to maximize their cash flow. (the result may be that YOU want to take your business elsewhere)

 

All they need to do is change their pricing terms: Price per cabin, double occupancy with surcharge for 3rd and 4th person (kind of like hotels do and no one expects a discount there if they are staying as a single).

 

But marketing says $759pp looks less expensive than $1518 per cabin.

 

You can always vote with your $$.

 

Agreed...it really isn't priced per person, unless there are two or more passengers. It would be easier in one sense if they did price is similarly to hotel rooms; however, it doesn't seem as attractive that way.

 

Land-based all-inclusive resorts do the same. My son (who will be 7 at the time) and I are going to Mexico for my Aunt's wedding, and although he is a child (who at 7 clearly isn't eating as much, or drinking alcohol etc. etc.) I have to pay the full adult rate for him, because there are only 2 of us in the room.

 

But it's much easier for the resort to say that children are half price, and then mention that it's only when they are sharing a room with two adults. I wasn't upset by it - I fully expected it, but it's just another example of the same sort of thing in the travel industry.

 

That said, this is really about deposits, and not pricing.

 

The one question I would pose to those who are upset (again, I'm asking out of curiosity, not judgement) is whether the issue is simply that Carnival has changed something that you were benefitting from, or that you really don't believe that it's fair for you to pay the same percentage of your fare as a deposit simply because there is only one of you sailing?

 

Would it make more sense if Carnival simply stated the pricing is $XXXX for the cabin, and the deposit is $XXX (for 2 pax or less)?

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Agreed...it really isn't priced per person, unless there are two or more passengers. It would be easier in one sense if they did price is similarly to hotel rooms; however, it doesn't seem as attractive that way.

 

Land-based all-inclusive resorts do the same. My son (who will be 7 at the time) and I are going to Mexico for my Aunt's wedding, and although he is a child (who at 7 clearly isn't eating as much, or drinking alcohol etc. etc.) I have to pay the full adult rate for him, because there are only 2 of us in the room.

 

But it's much easier for the resort to say that children are half price, and then mention that it's only when they are sharing a room with two adults. I wasn't upset by it - I fully expected it, but it's just another example of the same sort of thing in the travel industry.

 

That said, this is really about deposits, and not pricing.

 

The one question I would pose to those who are upset (again, I'm asking out of curiosity, not judgement) is whether the issue is simply that Carnival has changed something that you were benefitting from, or that you really don't believe that it's fair for you to pay the same percentage of your fare as a deposit simply because there is only one of you sailing?

 

Would it make more sense if Carnival simply stated the pricing is $XXXX for the cabin, and the deposit is $XXX (for 2 pax or less)?

 

 

If they charged the deposit as a percentage of the fare, that would be fine. But, they don't. They charge the deposit PER PERSON. They've increased that 100% for solos.

[Chigirlcruzin]

For those of you asking why Carnival should give solos a break, I really don't see that they give us any kind of break. We pay 200% fare and double port charges. If you're booking well in advance, which I sometimes do, having to pay a double deposit ties up my money that much longer. Yes, I pay the same amount in the end, but I'd rather not have my money tied up for a year or more unless I choose.

 

And, saying we shouldn't look at as "per person" doesn't work for me since that's how they price it. If they priced it "per cabin" and everyone paid the same deposit then I'd look at it that way. But currently, they price it per person and charge a per person deposit.

 

 

I didn't say we DO get breaks. I said we're not entitled to them. Many here take this as a personal "screw you" and feel entitled to cheaper rates.

[Chigirlcruzin]

Geesh! It doesn't affect you since you put it on a credit card. I pay cash for the deposit. That makes a difference.

:rolleyes:

 

How does that make a difference? I put in on my CC but pay the balance in full each month. I don't see how that's different than cash.