MSC prejudice against solo travellers - morally repugnant

[Skipper Tim]

Over the last year there has been a severe hike in prices and tightening in availability for solo travellers. Supplements have drastically increased but in many cases solo travellers are not able to book at any price as MSC won't offer availability for sole-occupancy no matter what the availability is for couples and families. This is the case short-notice as much as two years in advance, for regular itineraries as well as the less-popular repositioning cruises.

 

I am starting to feel that this is born not just out of revenue concerns - more people per cabin means more onboard spend - but a deep-seated prejudice at the very heart of MSC.

 

The Mediterranean way is large and extended families. Much of the Mediterranean countries, and especially Italy, are established Catholic. The Catholic approach to marriage and birth control is well known. I am feeling that this privately-owned Italian cruise line is prejudiced against solo travellers for religious/cultural reasons and has implemented policies against solos which would be illegal if it were any other minority - the mentally or physically disabled, a religious minority, gay people etc.. There is as yet no EU directive to prevent the discrimination against single people.

 

The irony is that in the UK, solos are not a minority. The majority of households became single-person some years ago and the trend continues. MSC is totally missing the mark here. Why if we live alone should we want to share a bedroom and a toilet when on a cruise?????

 

MSC current practice of preventing solos from booking at any price is clearly prejudist. Charge more, yes, but to not to accept the booking of someone who happens to be single, at any price, to me, is unfair, wrong and morally repugnant.

 

Your thoughts and views?

Edited August 18, 2014 by Skipper Tim

[alexkrn46]

I have never heard of singles being turn away on any cruise line. In fact two American cruise ships ( RCCL and NCL) now have single rooms available while other cruise lines have a 200% for singles.

 

 

Do I think the cruise line is prejudice ? No I think they made a business decision to increase profits.

[MsTabbyKats]

Wow....I just tried a mock booking for my upcoming cruise, where I know there is availability for couples.

 

But, as a solo...nothing!

 

If my husband did not exist...I would never consider sharing a cabin with a female friend or my adult son.

 

Maybe it's just the website that cannot accommodate solo passengers. It's really hard to believe this...because Miami....where the Divina sails out of...is fill of widows.

 

If this is true...I find it unacceptable.

 

I guess one could book as a couple....and then have the second passenger be a "no show".....if they really want the cruise.

[MsTabbyKats]

I have never heard of singles being turn away on any cruise line. In fact two American cruise ships ( RCCL and NCL) now have single rooms available while other cruise lines have a 200% for singles.

 

 

Do I think the cruise line is prejudice ? No I think they made a business decision to increase profits.

 

But, if they charged double for a solo passenger...they aren't losing anything.

 

Carnival dropped the solo supplement on select cruises also.

[pwow]

A few weeks ago I couldn't book as a solo traveller over the (german) MSC website as well, so I called their hotline where I got the offer to book for nearly 200% of the price.

 

Luckily I found an online travel agency where I could book it for just around 120%, so there is still the possibilty to get a good price as a solo traveller ;)

[alexkrn46]

I was told on another cruise line, solo travelers even paying 200% it is a loss, since they loose money on drinks, excursions, gambling, etc.

[alexkrn46]

I was able to make a solo booking on the Divina, but not able to make a booking on European Cruises, I got not available.

[anniegb]

Over the last year there has been a severe hike in prices and tightening in availability for solo travellers. Supplements have drastically increased but in many cases solo travellers are not able to book at any price as MSC won't offer availability for sole-occupancy no matter what the availability is for couples and families. This is the case short-notice as much as two years in advance, for regular itineraries as well as the less-popular repositioning cruises.

 

I am starting to feel that this is born not just out of revenue concerns - more people per cabin means more onboard spend - but a deep-seated prejudice at the very heart of MSC.

 

The Mediterranean way is large and extended families. Much of the Mediterranean countries, and especially Italy, are established Catholic. The Catholic approach to marriage and birth control is well known. I am feeling that this privately-owned Italian cruise line is prejudiced against solo travellers for religious/cultural reasons and has implemented policies against solos which would be illegal if it were any other minority - the mentally or physically disabled, a religious minority, gay people etc.. There is as yet no EU directive to prevent the discrimination against single people.

 

The irony is that in the UK, solos are not a minority. The majority of households became single-person some years ago and the trend continues. MSC is totally missing the mark here. Why if we live alone should we want to share a bedroom and a toilet when on a cruise?????

 

MSC current practice of preventing solos from booking at any price is clearly prejudist. Charge more, yes, but to not to accept the booking of someone who happens to be single, at any price, to me, is unfair, wrong and morally repugnant.

 

Your thoughts and views?

 

I was annoyed at the change in pricing policy but I have moved on.

 

JMO - even if a solo could obtain a booking at 200% the price point does not represent good value to me.

 

Solution: I place my vacation business elsewhere. Cruises are simply one vacation option.

 

I do occasionally check in on the boards but even if they suddenly offered a star deal for solos, I am unsure if I would book with them.

 

Annie

[The_Big_M]

If it were prejudice, why would they have discounted the prices before? And why would it still be possible?

 

Sounds like they just limit numbers, as is often the case with other categories as well.

[sidari]

I was told on another cruise line, solo travelers even paying 200% it is a loss, since they loose money on drinks, excursions, gambling, etc.

 

Alex ... that assumes quite wrongly that two people in a cabin will be drinkers, want to book excursions and are gamblers! we sometimes book a drink package and other times do not bother with drinks at all, never book ship excursions and are not gamblers so how does that make the cruiseline money other than the original booking.

 

A totally Blinkered approach certainly by MSC.

[alexkrn46]

On other cruise lines, they charge 100% for an infant, which I think is crazy, since an infant does not eat food or use any services on board. I have been told that an infant does not run up a bar bill, go to the casino, etc. and it is their way of discouraging bringing infants.

 

Also on other threads, on CC, the discussion of frequent cruisers not being desirable cruisers , it seems as a person becomes a more seasoned cruiser, their onboard spend goes down, after all how many photos do you need? You tend not to buy excursions and know that you will not win in the Casino.

 

I know all cruiselines have bean counters who decide prices and who are going to be the most profitable cruisers. Singles probably have been deemed to be less desirable. Of course this is just my opinion.

[anniegb]

A member of another forum (Topdeck) did some interesting analysis on RCI Q2 numbers which showed that a cruise nets income of $170 pppd and costs $125 pppd.

 

I know these are not MSC numbers but interestingly the increase in profitability of RCI arose from increased ticket sales and not from increased on board spend.

 

BTW I have sailed RCI and never paid 200% rate.

 

Maybe there is good reason why MSC UK solo rates have changed ?

 

Anyway we can all vote with our wallet.

 

Annie

[Skipper Tim]

If it were prejudice, why would they have discounted the prices before? And why would it still be possible?

 

Sounds like they just limit numbers, as is often the case with other categories as well.

 

MSC never discounted for solos. Sometimes, on less popular, under-sold, itineraries they would not charge a supplement. Those days have gone.

 

A member of another forum (Topdeck) did some interesting analysis on RCI Q2 numbers which showed that a cruise nets income of $170 pppd and costs $125 pppd.

 

I know these are not MSC numbers but interestingly the increase in profitability of RCI arose from increased ticket sales and not from increased on board spend.

 

BTW I have sailed RCI and never paid 200% rate.

 

Maybe there is good reason why MSC UK solo rates have changed ?

 

Anyway we can all vote with our wallet.

 

Annie

 

Yes, and I am doing! Sanity will have to return at some point even if it involves replacing all the senior MSC management. It may take some time.

[Elmartellama]

We are gay and so far not discriminated by anyone at MSC, that goes against the catholic theory.

 

I'm sorry but I don't agree, 2 single people can book a double occupancy room an no one checks whether they are a couple or not.

 

Do you get a 50% rate when you book a standard hotel room for just one person? You might sometimes, but that is certainly not the norm.

 

How can you prove such discrimination, when it can just be a business decision? You just can't force them to sell you something at half the price.

 

That being said, I think that it would be ok to have special inside smaller cabins for singles, like NCL does, at a much cheaper price. But again, you could always accuse them of not giving you a balcony. MSC might be missing the potential of a big market, I agree, and it looks like it's not appealing to them, but in the end it will be their loss.

 

And by the way, who can be against single people? Everyone has been single at some point!!! That sounds really weird., Tim.

[anniegb]

MSC never discounted for solos. Sometimes, on less popular, under-sold, itineraries they would not charge a supplement. Those days have gone.

 

 

 

Yes, and I am doing! Sanity will have to return at some point even if it involves replacing all the senior MSC management. It may take some time.

 

Hi Tim

 

Senior Management will only be changed if the financial data suggests the new policy is a failure - that may not happen.

 

Enjoy your holidays wherever they take you.

 

Annie

[AmoMondo]

If it were prejudice, why would they have discounted the prices before? And why would it still be possible?

 

Sounds like they just limit numbers, as is often the case with other categories as well.

 

No it sis more than that. I've been sailing solo with them since 2005 and it is only fairly recently that masses of cruises are not available to me to book. Even early this year, 4 weeks before sailing when they were discounting cabins still available, they would not accept my booking. Seemed empty was better than having one person in it. I booked with Costa instead and MSc still had cabins remaining right up until the sail date. I even phoned them as they know me well and also know that I spend as much onboard if not more than most couples. They said they could not do anything as no solos were being accepted for that ship. This is a new policy. It did not happen before. It may just be the UK office. Prior to this they were very solo friendly.

[Skipper Tim]

Do you get a 50% rate when you book a standard hotel room for just one person? You might sometimes, but that is certainly not the norm.

 

Always. I check the one-person rate and the two-person rate. If the former is not 50% of the latter I don't book. I am not prepared to subsidise couples.

 

How can you prove such discrimination, when it can just be a business decision? You just can't force them to sell you something at half the price.

 

That being said, I think that it would be ok to have special inside smaller cabins for singles, like NCL does, at a much cheaper price. But again, you could always accuse them of not giving you a balcony. MSC might be missing the potential of a big market, I agree, and it looks like it's not appealing to them, but in the end it will be their loss.

 

And by the way, who can be against single people? Everyone has been single at some point!!! That sounds really weird., Tim.

 

Quite and yet it is so.

[Katgoesonholiday]

I agree that it's unlikely to be the Catholic thing - given that MSC is known for being gay friendly. Which I can't help but imagine must be an effort to implement when so many crew come from conservatively oriented countries.

 

I do think it's baffling that solo cabins aren't available even close to sailing. It's a terrible policy but one that is no doubt purely financial - albeit shortsighted and flawed.

 

I seem to recall something about the new MSC ships having plans for solo cabins. Is that correct or am I dreaming?

[Skipper Tim]

For those that do not know, Amomondo was the very first UK MSC Club Black Card member and one of the earliest Black Card members globally. She is an unassuming fountain of knowledge and consistently admirable contributor to the MSC forum. You really should take note of what she says.

 

It was my privilege to cruise with Amomondo earlier this year. It was a great cruise. I know that everything she says is true.

[Katgoesonholiday]

It's baffling, because the Aus/NZ website makes it clear that solos are welcome. Once I have the kids off to school I'll check to see whether I can actually make a solo booking or whether it's just words.

 

Our cruise accommodation

 

Our cabins range from a standard cabin, perfect for solo travellers to a sumptuous suite for those special occasion voyages. Family suites have interconnecting rooms and those looking for true luxury will find it in the MSC Yacht Club (MSC Divina, MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida only), which boasts opulent cabins, private quarters (Top Sail Lounge), private pool and 24-hour personal concierge.

[anniegb]

I agree that it's unlikely to be the Catholic thing - given that MSC is known for being gay friendly. Which I can't help but imagine must be an effort to implement when so many crew come from conservatively oriented countries.

 

I do think it's baffling that solo cabins aren't available even close to sailing. It's a terrible policy but one that is no doubt purely financial - albeit shortsighted and flawed.

 

I seem to recall something about the new MSC ships having plans for solo cabins. Is that correct or am I dreaming?

 

Will we ever know why they are content to have unoccupied cabins?? They don't have to tell us and it could simply be a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.

 

I have written off MSC certainly through to end of 2016 and maybe permanently.

 

Annie

[AmoMondo]

For those that do not know, Amomondo was the very first UK MSC Club Black Card member and one of the earliest Black Card members globally. She is an unassuming fountain of knowledge and consistently admirable contributor to the MSC forum. You really should take note of what she says.

 

It was my privilege to cruise with Amomondo earlier this year. It was a great cruise. I know that everything she says is true.

 

Thanks Tim, you'd have me blushing if that were possible online!

[AmoMondo]

It's baffling, because the Aus/NZ website makes it clear that solos are welcome. Once I have the kids off to school I'll check to see whether I can actually make a solo booking or whether it's just words.

 

It says that solos are welcome on the UK site on the very cruise you can't make a booking on! You can see cabin availability at every category until you change number of people to 1.

 

They do seem to be relaxing some. A few months ago, we appeared to be "banned" from Fantasia class ships next summer. Now they've decided they will let us on some of the early June sailings but not height of summer.

 

I miss the zero supplements we enjoyed for a few years. I'm used to paying the same for a hotel room as a couple would pay (I don't like pokey wee broom cupboards that try to pass themselves off as single rooms) and the first 4 or 5 years I cruised, I had to pay 80% for an inside or 100% for a balcony or suite. I'm prepared to book again under those terms if that is the only choice I have. However if other similar lines are more solo friendly, I'll defect to them provided I'm convinced their product is a good fit for me.

 

For some solos, cost is a big driver. For me it's days off work that are the scarcer commodity and I don't want to water them doing something that I would not enjoy.

 

Looking on the bright side, I've been wittering on the last 4 or 5 years about returning to Australia and visiting Hong Kong for the first time. Not being able to find summer cruises I could book with MSC back in Spring, or even some repos, I took the plunge and booked the big land trip. So thanks to MSC for giving me the incentive to get my trip organised!

[Katgoesonholiday]

It's good to look on the bright side - but it's got to be freaking irritating to be forced into a position where you have no option but to do so!

 

I just tried booking a single person onto a Magnifica sailing in Oct next year and it wouldn't let me. GRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

[moomoocow]

There were solos in balcony cabins on the Rio-Miami repo that paid the pp price with no supplement.

 

 

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