Single Cruiser

[lakemurraykid]

During my 26 years of a beautiful marriage, my husband and I cruised quite a bit.  We loved to cruise and that's what we always did for our vacation.  Well, in August he passed away and I've been thinking about what I could do by myself.  I looked into a five-day cruise the other day and was shocked at how much it would cost for a single cruiser.  It's awful.  So that may be out for me.  Is there anyway to get a less expensive fare?

[npcl]

17 minutes ago, lakemurraykid said:

During my 26 years of a beautiful marriage, my husband and I cruised quite a bit.  We loved to cruise and that's what we always did for our vacation.  Well, in August he passed away and I've been thinking about what I could do by myself.  I looked into a five-day cruise the other day and was shocked at how much it would cost for a single cruiser.  It's awful.  So that may be out for me.  Is there anyway to get a less expensive fare?

Find someone else to cruise with you and share a cabin.

 

Pretty much the norm for main stream cruise lines is to charge a two person per cabin fee, if only one is in it.  This is largely do the amount of revenue that the lines get from on board sales.

 

The premium and luxury lines tend charge less of a solo surcharge, but their bases fares are considerably higher.

[Coral]

Find a travel agent who can watch fares for you. Last minute specials can be more affordable compared to booking in advance. Also, some travel agents will discount the cost of the cruise by 10% or so. Every bit helps.

 

I am sorry for your loss.

[tfrcal]

If you are willing to try a different cruise line, look into NCL as they have a few ships with cabins specifically designed for single cruisers. 
 

I am sorry for your loss. 

[CynCyn]

58 minutes ago, lakemurraykid said:

During my 26 years of a beautiful marriage, my husband and I cruised quite a bit.  We loved to cruise and that's what we always did for our vacation.  Well, in August he passed away and I've been thinking about what I could do by myself.  I looked into a five-day cruise the other day and was shocked at how much it would cost for a single cruiser.  It's awful.  So that may be out for me.  Is there anyway to get a less expensive fare?

I am sorry for your loss.  I use Getaway fares where the 2nd person sails at 50%.  

 

I love cruising solo because it feels safer than just taking a solo trip! 

[DrivesLikeMario]

NCL's solo cabins usually sell out far in advance and aren't much cheaper than the regular inside cabins with Princess, but it's still worth a try.  More and more ships are being fitted with solo cabins now.  Your best bet is to book last minute IMO.  Register on your Cruise Personalizer that you're able to travel at short notice. 

Watch other cruise lines' last-minute specials also.  Celebrity has a really good last-minute promotion every week that is only good for certain days the following week.  The prices are without perks but they're usually very, very good.

[califsealion]

24 minutes ago, CynCyn said:

I am sorry for your loss.  I use Getaway fares where the 2nd person sails at 50%.  

 

I love cruising solo because it feels safer than just taking a solo trip! 

 

I just booked myself on a solo cruise for next year and took advantage of a Getaway fare.  Definitely lowered the price!

 

I also agree with what others said, if your schedule is flexible, they will sometimes offer fares with a decreased single supplement closer to the sailing date. 

[califsealion]

I forget to mention, check out this section:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/279-solo-cruisers/

 

There is a thread specifically for solo bargains.

[Ombud]

First, sorry for your loss

 

As a single cruiser I can tell you that FOR ME it is still significantly less expensive than other models of travel. But, as others stated, there are times when it isn't double. My PVP can help me with that. Find a good TA or PVP that can keep an eye out for you

[georgedosch]

Very sorry for your loss.  Can't help but think about my wife and myself.  We are now booking our 35th together and I know what a special time it was for you and your husband!

 

Yes, the cruise industry prices their cabin so that it is very expensive to go by yourself.  The only option that I know of that would make sense for me in your situation is to book the lowest price inside cabin and if it is a line that you have sailed on a lot, perhaps hope for a upgrade to a balcony.  Obviously, wait until the very last minute as much as possible.

 

Good Luck!

 

[BarbinMich]

I'm not yet in the OP's situation, but that time will come as DH is 10 years older than I am and in failing health.  Thanks for everyone's advice in advance of my need for it.

 

However, as I will have to fly to the east or west coast to take a cruise (or even Europe), waiting til the last minute as many have advised doesn't work well with booking a flight.

Edited December 28, 2019 by BarbinMich

[CRUISEWITHH]

On 12/26/2019 at 5:59 PM, califsealion said:

 

I just booked myself on a solo cruise for next year and took advantage of a Getaway fare.  Definitely lowered the price!

 

 

Is this Getaway fare for Princess?  Never heard of it.

[califsealion]

1 hour ago, CRUISEWITHH said:

Is this Getaway fare for Princess?  Never heard of it.

 

Yes, I guess it is called the Getaway Sale.  It is for cruises 5 days or less, the 2nd guest is 50% off, which makes the single supplement 50% off.  This is going to be my first Princess cruise and only ran across the fares while checking out how the Best Sale Ever would change my fare.  Not sure how often they run this particular sale.

[cormike1]

So sorry for your loss Lakemurraykid.  I know exactly how you feel as I just lost my husband Dec. 8th after 37 years of marriage.  We had a Caribbean cruise booked for this Feb. with friends and I had to cancel before final payment as we were waiting for test results.  Sadly he passed away.  My friends told me to rebook and I booked an inside. We had got a "casino offer" for our original balcony booking and I still got it with the inside cabin so it saved me quite a bit.  We didn't gamble a lot but we usually can save a bit asking for a casino offer.  As I like to cruise and I think I will feel very safe traveling this way, I will look for sales and last minute deals and know I have to pay the price if I want to continue to travel.  Good luck with your continued travels...it won't be the same but he will be with you in spirit!

[matadams4u]

I agree if you gamble a little you will get casino offers although the best ones usually come anywhere between 30 to 75 days of sailing.  Low solo supplements are rare but I have seen some good deals through Princess emails.  If you are flexible you can find some good values.  

[satxdiver]

You can always book a cabin with the chicken for less (Southwest Airlines decades ago had a campaign for cheap seats if you shared your seat with the chicken!).   I volunteer every week with a widow who is in the same dilemma.  She is always looking for a partner to go with her and share the expense but has difficulty finding someone.  I see single cruisers on just about every cruise 10 days or more.  I have read reports on the single cabins on NCL and the report is that they are very small almost claustrophobic.  There is this topic on cc dedicated to single cruisers https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/85-singles-cruises/

and you may be able to find something there.  

 

Sorry for your loss.  It comes as a shock after so many years of being together.    

[geoherb]

Be sure to ask for quotes from various large travel agencies. For some reason, they're able to offer low single supplements some of the time that don't show up on the Princess website. I took a solo cruise earlier this month, a 10-day partial Panama Canal cruise, that had a $150 single supplement when I booked it through a large travel agency about six weeks before sailing. The price on the Princess website was showing up the same as paying for two people (except just one charge for port fees and taxes). I took back-to-back solo cruises last summer to Alaska on the Island Princess without any single supplement. 

 

One of the large travel agencies even has a page listing various cruises with low single supplements. My most recent cruise, though, I just found on my own by asking for quotes.

[Coral]

8 hours ago, geoherb said:

Be 

 

One of the large travel agencies even has a page listing various cruises with low single supplements. My most recent cruise, though, I just found on my own by asking for quotes.

Some travel agents have access to flash rates that Princess doesn't quote. Some of these are very good - that may have been the case as opposed to a single supplement price.