Sailing NCL as a solo traveler

[Treatsea]

Hello all – I have long wanted to take Pride of America’s Hawaii cruise, and I might soon have a chance to do so. I’ve taken several cruises but I don’t have experience booking my own. I’m not asking for a breakdown of the best ways to book a cruise, but I want to be sure I have my info straight.

 

I will most likely be traveling solo. At first, that meant the solo cabins on the ship are very appealing, until I saw that they cost much more than the listed price for inside or even some balcony cabins as a single. My immediate reaction is that I don’t understand this, maybe it’s a supply-and-demand thing, but I don’t know why I would pay more to get less.

 

Is that really how it is supposed to be? If I can get a better rate, I would not plan to book directly through the cruise line. Has anybody else done a single cruise on NCL and know the best way to go about it?

[dbrown84]

I think it's because they are not charging a solo supplement on those cruises.  Of course, the lowest prices are sail away rates, which doesn't include FAS and they don't offer sail away rates for studios.

[BenDover]

I have been on 5 NCL cruises, all solo and only once in a studio cabin.

I usually find that interior and ocean view cabins are cheaper than a studio - even with the “single supplement”. On three cruises I won a bid on a balcony by bidding the minimum plus $10. On one cruise I wound up paying less for a balcony (utilizing the bidding process) than I would have spent on a studio. Go figure.

 

[www3traveler]

I have been on 38 NCL cruises all solo.  I ALWAYS book through my hometown travel agency.  Sometimes I can get really good rates because of the they belong to a much large  travel trade group.  Find someone locally who is a Certified Travel Consulant and have them walk you through the process.  I never never book ANY travel adventure without going through my local travel agency.

 

I never never bid for a better cabin- I make my selection as to cabin type, location and stay with it.

 

Check to see if the Pride still has a few studio cabins.  She has in the past but with all the recent drydocks, I do not know if they are still there or not.  The Pride is (was) the only small ship to have Studio cabins.

 

Other than Studios, cabins base price is per person double occupancy even if you are going solo.  Added to the base price are government taxesand port fees.  Then you have all the optional added fees-- taxes on meal and drink packages, prepaid daily service charges, insurance, airfare, transfers and hotel packages.

 

Welcome to the world of Norwegian cruising.  Word of warning-- cruising can and does for many people become addictive.

 

 

[hallux]

2 hours ago, www3traveler said:

Check to see if the Pride still has a few studio cabins.  She has in the past but with all the recent drydocks, I do not know if they are still there or not.  The Pride is (was) the only small ship to have Studio cabins.

Easy to check - they still list them on the website but I believe there are only four.  https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/pride-of-america

 

The cost comparison, as some have noted, requires a little leg-work since there is no sail-away rate without the FAS perks as noted by @dbrown84  When I did my second NCL cruise I had the TA booking the trip do a total cost comparison for me and found that for that sailing it only cost me $60 more than a Studio to sail in a balcony when all costs were considered (including paying full solo supplement to get the reduced airfare perk compared to paying full airfare and booking it on my own in a Studio that didn't qualify for the airfare perk).

 

I've sailed on NCL 3 times, all solo (though I was joined by people staying in another cabin for one) and have another trip booked in 2 months.  I've sailed in one Studio cabin and I'm booked in one for my next trip, though I'm tempted to bid for a balcony upgrade.

[dbrown84]

26 minutes ago, hallux said:

Easy to check - they still list them on the website but I believe there are only four.  https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/pride-of-america

 

The cost comparison, as some have noted, requires a little leg-work since there is no sail-away rate without the FAS perks as noted by @dbrown84  When I did my second NCL cruise I had the TA booking the trip do a total cost comparison for me and found that for that sailing it only cost me $60 more than a Studio to sail in a balcony when all costs were considered (including paying full solo supplement to get the reduced airfare perk compared to paying full airfare and booking it on my own in a Studio that didn't qualify for the airfare perk).

 

I've sailed on NCL 3 times, all solo (though I was joined by people staying in another cabin for one) and have another trip booked in 2 months.  I've sailed in one Studio cabin and I'm booked in one for my next trip, though I'm tempted to bid for a balcony upgrade.

good luck.  can you actually bid on a balcony from a solo?  I know you can bid up to 2 categories from your current cabin, but I don't know if that means from solo you can only go to inside or OV or if they treat the solo cabin as an inside and let you bid up to balcony.  I won a minimum bid to go from inside to balcony on my last cruise in October and hope to do the same in April.  I also travel solo, so I had to pay the double price for the bid, but for $150 total it was worth it.

[hallux]

2 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

can you actually bid on a balcony from a solo?

If I can't, the Upgrade Advantage email is lying to me - 

[dbrown84]

Just now, hallux said:

If I can't, the Upgrade Advantage email is lying to me - 

awesome.  No, I was just wondering how they treated the solo cabins.  Looks like the treat them the same as insides, especially since you can't actually upgrade to an inside.  Good luck if you decide to bid.  Remember, you'll be paying twice your bid since all bids are based on two people

[SeaShark]

28 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

can you actually bid on a balcony from a solo?  I know you can bid up to 2 categories from your current cabin, but I don't know if that means from solo you can only go to inside or OV or if they treat the solo cabin as an inside and let you bid up to balcony.

 

Depending on the ship, it could be more than 2 options

 

 

I wasn't even given the opportunity to bid for a regular inside cabin...

[dbrown84]

12 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

 

Depending on the ship, it could be more than 2 options

 

 

I wasn't even given the opportunity to bid for a regular inside cabin...

that is only two, OV and balcony.  I didn't say two options.  You can't go up to the suites

[dbrown84]

Just now, dbrown84 said:

that is only two, OV and balcony.  I didn't say two options.  You can't go up to the suites

and yes, I think we figured that solo cabins are treated as insides for the purposes of bidding, which is why you can't actually bid on an inside.

[SeaShark]

3 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

that is only two, OV and balcony.  I didn't say two options.  You can't go up to the suites

 

That is a dumb comment considering that I never claimed that you said "two options". FWIW, I was the one who said two options. smh

[SeaShark]

8 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

that is only two, OV and balcony.  I didn't say two options.  You can't go up to the suites

 

Actually, it is three.

 

Oceanview cabins have the "O" designation

Balcony cabins have the "B" designation

Club Balcony Suite cabins (formerly Minisuites) have the "M" designation

 

Thus, I am able to bid on THREE different cabin categories.

[debenson0723]

BUT...if you look at @SeaSharkscreenshot, there are 4 options showing.  Oceanview, balcony, club balcony suite and spa balcony.  If you have a regular balcony booked, you can bid for a Club and Spa. I was in a studio on Escape...bid and won a Spa Balcony for the minimum bid (yes, times 2 but still way worth it).

OP sorry to get off topic about bidding. As a previous poster mentioned, it might be a good idea to get a TA to help you with this, though I have sailed solo many times and did it all myself. Do what makes you feel comfortable.  Enjoy your cruise!

[dbrown84]

7 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

 

That is a dumb comment considering that I never claimed that you said "two options". FWIW, I was the one who said two options. smh

my comment was dumb.  really????  I think you just proved who the dummy is

[SeaShark]

10 minutes ago, dbrown84 said:

my comment was dumb.  really????  I think you just proved who the dummy is

Yes, really. It is dumb to say "I didn't say two options" when nobody claimed that you did.

 

You didn't say three options either, but you didn't bother to say "I didn't say three options".

[SeaShark]

And just to clear things up from an official standpoint:

 

UPGRADE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1.    The following terms and conditions ("Terms and Conditions") apply to all offers (each an "Offer" or a "Bid") made by you ("Guest", "you", "passenger") to NCL Corporation Ltd. ("Norwegian Cruise Line", "we", "us") for an opportunity to upgrade from the class of service that was originally purchased for travel with Norwegian Cruise Line to a higher class of service ("Upgrade"). This Upgrade program gives you a chance to place an Offer on an opportunity to upgrade from the class of service already purchased. Your Offer is not final and binding unless and until Norwegian Cruise Line officially accepts it.
2.    You must be at least twenty one (21) years of age and able to enter into binding contracts. You shall be deemed to have the authority to act on behalf of and to bind the person or persons named or included on the Offer to these Terms and Conditions. Upgrade Offers are only valid for cabins that have already been purchased, either by you or someone on whose behalf you are bidding for the Upgrade.
3.    First, as a prerequisite to the ability to make an Offer, you must receive an invitation (“Invitation”) from Norwegian Cruise Line. Sending an Invitation to anyone and at any time is entirely within Norwegian Cruise Line’s sole discretion.
4.    Upon receipt of an Invitation, you may submit a Bid for a higher class of service level than your original, currently-booked itinerary: (a) Inside and Studio stateroom bookings may bid up to three levels higher, that is, up to the Club Balcony Suite level; and (b) all other stateroom bookings may bid up to two levels higher.
5.    Norwegian Cruise Line may accept your Bid at any time up until the day of sailing. In the event Norwegian Cruise Line accepts your Offer, your credit card will be charged the full amount immediately upon acceptance. The total amount that you must pay to us will be disclosed to you prior to your submission of your Offer. The charge on your credit card may appear in the name of "NCL Reservations USD" / "NCL Reservations XX (currency)" / "Norwegian Cruise Line". You agree that you cannot challenge or dispute a charge because the name appearing on the credit card statement is "NCL Reservations USD" / "NCL Reservations XX (currency)" / "Norwegian Cruise Line".
6.    In the event Norwegian Cruise Line accepts your Offer on day of sailing and the first credit card payment attempt declines, the full amount will be charged to your onboard folio account in USD, subject to foreign exchange rates at time of Offer submission. You agree that you cannot challenge or dispute a charge to your onboard account for an upgrade awarded through this program.
7.    Once your Bid is accepted, the upgrade amount paid is final and non-refundable.
8.    If your Bid is not accepted, you will travel in the category you originally purchased.
9.    If you make a change to your itinerary after your Bid has been accepted, your Bid will be cancelled, will not be transferred to your new itinerary and the upgrade amount paid is non-refundable.
10.    If your reservation includes multiple passengers (between 2 and 9 passengers), the purchase price you accept will be per passenger but only for the first and second passenger on the reservation.
11.    If your reservation includes only one person, the guest will be charged based on double occupancy.
12.    During the offer submission process, you may elect to apply available 100% Future Cruise Credit(s) from previously Suspended Sailings toward the payment of an Upgrade, should your Bid be selected. No other Future Cruise Credit types may be applied to Upgrades awarded through this program.
13.    Should the Upgrade amount exceed the primary passenger’s available and applicable 100% Future Cruise Credit(s), the difference will be charged to the credit card provided.
14.    Norwegian Cruise Line reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to decide whether or not to accept your Offer, and it makes no representation that any Guest will be upgraded regardless of whether or not cabins are available in the category for which an Offer is being made.
15.    If you purchase an Upgrade, the conditions of your original cruise reservation will remain in effect following the Upgrade. This includes conditions pertaining to cancellation, penalties, and changes.
16.    The Upgrade does not include any additional promotions.
17.    If you purchase an Upgrade, Norwegian Cruise Line cannot guarantee a specific cabin number assignment within the upgraded category. Your cabin number will depend on space availability.
18.    If you are currently in a 'Spa' cabin and submit an Offer to upgrade to a higher category, we cannot guarantee that you will be assigned to another 'Spa' cabin within the upgraded category. If your Offer is accepted and you do not get assigned to another 'Spa' cabin, you will be forfeiting the complimentary access to the Spa.
19.    You may revise or cancel your Offer through the hyperlink on the offer email before 5 hours of your departure, provided that your Offer has not already been accepted by Norwegian Cruise Line, and provided that your credit card has not been charged. However, if your Offer is accepted before you cancel or amend your Offer, you are legally bound to complete payment for the price stated in your original Offer.
20.    If you have purchased Norwegian Cruise Line’s Travel Protection on your current booking, you will be automatically charged to cover the Upgrade cost. For more information please visit www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/booksafe#pricing
21.    Depending on the product and destination being visited, a General Excise Tax may be applicable to the upgrade charges, if the upgrade is awarded. Taxes for applicable sailings will be charged automatically once the payment for the upgrade is taken.
22.    By submitting an offer to Upgrade, the passenger accepts all terms and conditions of the Upgrade Program.
23.    Norwegian Cruise Line reserves the right to modify and otherwise change these Terms and Conditions at its own discretion. Except as provided for in the immediately preceding sentence, no amendment, modification or waiver to these Terms and Conditions shall be binding on Norwegian Cruise Line unless made in writing and signed by an authorized officer of Norwegian Cruise Line.

[reeinaz]

3 hours ago, dbrown84 said:

good luck.  can you actually bid on a balcony from a solo?  I know you can bid up to 2 categories from your current cabin, but I don't know if that means from solo you can only go to inside or OV or if they treat the solo cabin as an inside and let you bid up to balcony.  I won a minimum bid to go from inside to balcony on my last cruise in October and hope to do the same in April.  I also travel solo, so I had to pay the double price for the bid, but for $150 total it was worth it.

You can bid on whatever category they offer you in the email. I won a bid from a studio to a balcony in October. Post-Covid rules/ practice seems to differ from pre-COVID. At least for the time being.

[dbrown84]

18 minutes ago, reeinaz said:

You can bid on whatever category they offer you in the email. I won a bid from a studio to a balcony in October. Post-Covid rules/ practice seems to differ from pre-COVID. At least for the time being.

yes, this is how it's always been.  I also won an upgrade back in October for the first time (I always put in a minimum bid just to see what happens).  Upgrades have been easier to come by since the re-start from covid due to less people onboard the cruises.  My next cruise is Easter week.  I'm expecting the ship will be pretty packed with schools be on spring break, but I got my fingers crossed for another upgrade.

[eileeshb]

1 hour ago, reeinaz said:

You can bid on whatever category they offer you in the email. I won a bid from a studio to a balcony in October. Post-Covid rules/ practice seems to differ from pre-COVID. At least for the time being.

That’s new, the studios were previously excluded from the upgrade bid program. The only time I was offered an opportunity to bid was when I booked an inside cabin on the cheap just after the resumption. The next sailing I did I had booked a studio and was not offered any opportunity to bid on an upgrade.