Sick and tired of the Solo's getting ripped off.

[Thoie]

I kind of agree with the OP. I've found RCI is becoming less "solo friendly" as time goes on.

 

Take a hypothetical cabin that's priced at $500 per person. If I'm travelling alone in that cabin, I can understand that they might charge me $1,000, and I can live with that. Realistically speaking, I'll cost them less in laundry, food, wear and tear, so $900 might be a bit fairer, but $1,000 is OK.

 

What annoys me is when the cabin is $1,000 for 2 people, but suddenly $1,300 if you're travelling alone. Some will say they're losing out on the on board spending of the second person. Anecdotally, my general on board spending seems to be higher than most couples, and other solos I've met say the same. As someone else pointed out, solos are more likely to book excursions through the ship, and spend around the ship. I run in to a large number of couples who drink in their cabins together (not having purchased the drink on board), whereas I'm more likely to buy a drink at a bar instead.

 

There's also the situation where you look at a sailing as a solo (paying as much as two people), to see it's sold out. If you search the same sailing for 2 people, you see plenty of availability - presumably they like to limit the percentage of solos on board.

 

I'm assuming, being a business, they have facts and figures to back up the assumption that couples spend more than solos, but it doesn't seem like it to me.

 

I've had a situation onboard where there was a problem with my cabin, and asked if I could move, and was told there were no other cabins available. The next day I ran into a couple who had a similar issue, reported the day after mine, and they were being moved. I enquired about this at guest services, and was told there had been a cabin available, but essentially it was more important to keep 2 people happy than 1. They weren't as blunt as that, but that was the general feeling. I've encountered that attitude more than once in a variety of situations. Another time, I was at the front of the queue for something. There were 2 spaces left, and I was asked to let a couple behind me go instead "so they wouldn't have to be alone". I agreed, but it left a bad taste.

 

I've also been told they "buy one get one half price" doesn't apply to solos. In my original hypothetical cabin, that would be $500 for the first person, $250 for the second, meaning $750 for the cabin. But a solo would still have to pay $1,000 (or more). I haven't gone down the "alternative" route of booking a phantom second person yet, but might in future.

 

Having said all that, I generally have a great time once I'm on board, which is why I keep going back. The majority of staff and crew are great, and I've met some fantastic people. Obviously one of the joys of travelling alone is having your own cabin, being able to do what you want, when you want. The double C&A points are nice (even though they invariably do it wrong initially, and then you have to contact them afterwards to have them adjusted). One advantage (for other people) is that the 2 bottles of wine is per cabin, so a solo can bring two bottles of wine, whereas a couple only get 1 each. As I don't sit around my cabin drinking wine, this benefits my dining companions more than me ;)

 

I think the corporate attitude to solo cruisers needs to adjust a bit, but it's not all doom and gloom.

[datolim]

It is you who need to change. Not RC. Don't fight the system. You will not win.

RC knows exactly what they are doing and how to maximize their profits to the last $.

 

When I book my cruise on board I ask the consultant point blank, if I book another phantom cruiser in my suite it is sometimes cheaper than the solo rate as RC only offer the guarantee rate for 2 cruisers and not solo. He said he would not book the cruise for me knowing what I said. I said I can do it on the internet or travel agents. He said RC could not stop me from doing that.

 

So stop complaining and add in your phantom cruiser.

[JustinCMH]

I agree that I dislike RCIs handling of solo cruisers. Here's the thing: regardless of how smart or silly we think their decisions are, pricing for solo cruisers is their decision to make. Frankly, I'd rather spend my money with cruise lines that demonstrate their appreciation of solo cruisers with better fares or more services catering to solo cruisers.

 

 

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[perditax]

Side question for those of you talking about the solo/studio rooms on newer RC ships: How early are you booking these cruises? I almost never see these rooms available for prospective cruises, which is part of why I've never sailed RC.

[datolim]

I suggest you book through a travel agent. I see from RC website they don't even show some of the cruises that I am interested in let alone finding studios. Book with a local travel agent and they not only have studios but got a better rate than what Casino Royale offered me.

[Gloworm2]

Agree with using a travel agent. Cruise lines still depend heavily on them and provide them first options. On Harmony of the Seas I think there are only 11 solo rooms

 

 

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[squadron]

Well put Paulxyz2004[/quo

 

Agree with Paulxyz2004 and Zebra 36 - very well expressed!

[gaylemh]

I have sailed solo 19 times on Royal. I have never paid 200% for a 2 person balcony cabin. The most I ever paid was 175% without considering the port charges or taxes. I book when they are first released, and check for price drops, resident rates, or senior rates every day.

 

I personally would rather have a studio balcony cabin and pay a little % more than what sharing a regular balcony cabin costs. For a small amount more, I get a bigger balcony, privacy when I want it, and my own bathroom.

[perditax]

Agree with using a travel agent. Cruise lines still depend heavily on them and provide them first options. On Harmony of the Seas I think there are only 11 solo rooms

 

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Ok, on a ship that size I have no idea why they even bothered then. It's less than a token. It renders the conversation almost academic.

 

Yeah, I'm only generating half the onboard spend, but I'm also eating half the food, making half the mess for my room steward, using half as many towels, half as much water, taking up a tiny table for sit-down dining, taking up one chair in the theater, not sharing a drinks package with my spouse on the sly, etc. Enough of us solo cruisers are happy with a 100 square foot coffin that they regularly sell out on NCL, which has many more of them, even as NCL slowly (well, not so slowly) raises the price on them.

 

(I'm not saying RC, or any other cruise line, owes me anything--I'm just bemoaning the fact that I'd like to buy a product most of them don't want to offer.)

[gaylemh]

I kind of agree with the OP. I've found RCI is becoming less "solo friendly" as time goes on.

 

Take a hypothetical cabin that's priced at $500 per person. If I'm travelling alone in that cabin, I can understand that they might charge me $1,000, and I can live with that. Realistically speaking, I'll cost them less in laundry, food, wear and tear, so $900 might be a bit fairer, but $1,000 is OK.

 

What annoys me is when the cabin is $1,000 for 2 people, but suddenly $1,300 if you're travelling alone. Some will say they're losing out on the on board spending of the second person. Anecdotally, my general on board spending seems to be higher than most couples, and other solos I've met say the same. As someone else pointed out, solos are more likely to book excursions through the ship, and spend around the ship. I run in to a large number of couples who drink in their cabins together (not having purchased the drink on board), whereas I'm more likely to buy a drink at a bar instead.

 

There's also the situation where you look at a sailing as a solo (paying as much as two people), to see it's sold out. If you search the same sailing for 2 people, you see plenty of availability - presumably they like to limit the percentage of solos on board.

 

I'm assuming, being a business, they have facts and figures to back up the assumption that couples spend more than solos, but it doesn't seem like it to me.

 

I've had a situation onboard where there was a problem with my cabin, and asked if I could move, and was told there were no other cabins available. The next day I ran into a couple who had a similar issue, reported the day after mine, and they were being moved. I enquired about this at guest services, and was told there had been a cabin available, but essentially it was more important to keep 2 people happy than 1. They weren't as blunt as that, but that was the general feeling. I've encountered that attitude more than once in a variety of situations. Another time, I was at the front of the queue for something. There were 2 spaces left, and I was asked to let a couple behind me go instead "so they wouldn't have to be alone". I agreed, but it left a bad taste.

 

I've also been told they "buy one get one half price" doesn't apply to solos. In my original hypothetical cabin, that would be $500 for the first person, $250 for the second, meaning $750 for the cabin. But a solo would still have to pay $1,000 (or more). I haven't gone down the "alternative" route of booking a phantom second person yet, but might in future.

 

Having said all that, I generally have a great time once I'm on board, which is why I keep going back. The majority of staff and crew are great, and I've met some fantastic people. Obviously one of the joys of travelling alone is having your own cabin, being able to do what you want, when you want. The double C&A points are nice (even though they invariably do it wrong initially, and then you have to contact them afterwards to have them adjusted). One advantage (for other people) is that the 2 bottles of wine is per cabin, so a solo can bring two bottles of wine, whereas a couple only get 1 each. As I don't sit around my cabin drinking wine, this benefits my dining companions more than me ;)

 

I think the corporate attitude to solo cruisers needs to adjust a bit, but it's not all doom and gloom.

 

If you price a cabin and it comes out to be more for a solo than for 2 people, it's normally an IT problem. Call Royal and they will usually correct it. I have seen that happen a few times, especially when cruises first come out or there is a new promotion. Any time I've called I got a corrected price. I have always been given the buy one get one 50% off, or any other % off promotions.

[Gloworm2]

I wonder if it's worth getting AARP or some other group involved. The solo traveler is bound to increase. It's time for some class action (not a suit) but pressing the cruise lines to treat us better economically

 

 

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[Katie Lou]

I recently booked a single cabin on Adventure of the Seas using a TA as the website prices were incorrect. I was happy with the pricing, $1300 CAD compared to almost$1900 CAD for an inside stateroom. More money for me to spend. I agree with a previous poster that I probably spend more on board than other couples as I will book a ship excursion in most ports. I feel more comfortable on an excursion than exploring on my own. The size of the cabin isn't that important as I only sleep, shower and change there. I like people watching so I would rather sit in a lounge or around the pool than in my stateroom.

[Gloworm2]

Katie Lou, I think you got a good rate because you booked an interior room.

I NEED a balcony. So not so lucky for me.

 

 

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[Virtopia]

Katie Lou, I think you got a good rate because you booked an interior room.

I NEED a balcony. So not so lucky for me.

 

 

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What is your budget? I recently booked an Anthem balcony for $1800.

 

 

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[Gloworm2]

Virtopia I'm already booked on Oasis. But thanks

 

 

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[Justmekaren918]

If you price a cabin and it comes out to be more for a solo than for 2 people, it's normally an IT problem. Call Royal and they will usually correct it. I have seen that happen a few times, especially when cruises first come out or there is a new promotion. Any time I've called I got a corrected price. I have always been given the buy one get one 50% off, or any other % off promotions.

It's not an IT problem. It is the meterics in the computing of the rate you pay. When the rate is figure the 50% off full booking value cost when 2 people pull a higher $ off then 1 person does hence why solo's are paying if you book a standard cabin 215% more then the 2 people are. Back to that pesky math. I have had long discussions with C&A about it. Told take or leave. Great treatment of a long time solo.

 

That is why even with the Solo cabins are about 128% more than an average rate. It really is not cool. Nor does Royal care. Again math!

 

I for one use way less towels. If they would let us I would have the cabin serviced every other day costing less for labor, laundry and more. Due to the Noro concerns that is not happening.

 

It is cool to see all of the Solo's pretty much accepting the higher costs you are paying without blinking an eye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[BermudaBound2014]

Katie Lou, I think you got a good rate because you booked an interior room.

I NEED a balcony. So not so lucky for me.

 

 

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I don't absolutely need a balcony, but I need a balcony more when traveling solo than when traveling with DH. We took an inside on the rhapsody because the itinerary was so extensive (greek isles). When traveling with DH it seems we are on the move more so it isn't AS critical. When traveling solo a balcony is a large part of my decompress time which means I won't likely be booking another solo on ncl.

 

As far as pricing - it's spring break week. I booked a balcony solo for $1,099 that included free gratuities, one speciality, and $150 obc. I feel the price is extremely fair.

 

Perditax- I remember you from your solo thread :). I'm the Ben and Jerry's gal. RCL is coming along slowly in their solo marketing and it can be frustrating, but don't write them off entirely. When you can find a balcony solo they do offer a nice price and product worth the challenging hunt :).

 

 

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[John&LaLa]

If you price a cabin and it comes out to be more for a solo than for 2 people, it's normally an IT problem. Call Royal and they will usually correct it. I have seen that happen a few times, especially when cruises first come out or there is a new promotion. Any time I've called I got a corrected price. I have always been given the buy one get one 50% off, or any other % off promotions.

More often than not I hear of this with guarantee pricing

 

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[DevonianCruiser]

We've just booked my mother in law on a cruise:

 

Two people total price = £2,200

One person total price = £3,300.

 

It was £1,100 more for 1 person to go than two in total, makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. The travel agent says it's because of the particular offer on at the moment. I checked direct with RC as well.

 

RC clearly don't want solo travellers on this particular cruise - whether it's to do with spending on drinks, or in the casino and shops, who knows!

[Gloworm2]

Well then I guess it is better to put down a 2nd name then cancel that person at the last minute.

 

 

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[Clarea]

Well then I guess it is better to put down a 2nd name then cancel that person at the last minute.

I would not cancel in this case, I would just have the 2nd person be a no show. Don't give them the opportunity to re-price.

[Gloworm2]

Good idea. But someone did suggest to cancel and get refunded port fees for one person. Besides there is no refund at that point. But your note on repricing worries me. Will consult with a friendly travel agent to see what she thinks

 

 

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[Clarea]

Good idea. But someone did suggest to cancel and get refunded port fees for one person. Besides there is no refund at that point. But your note on repricing worries me. Will consult with a friendly travel agent to see what she thinks

They will automatically refund taxes for a no show.

[datolim]

I would not cancel in this case, I would just have the 2nd person be a no show. Don't give them the opportunity to re-price.

 

you are exactly right.