Solo cruising on HAL

[sambamama]

I'm a long-time HAL solo cruiser.  I just was looking at a popular cruise pricing website.  I looked at a number of cruises and couldn't find ANY cruises where HAL had less than a 79% solo supplement, and most were 100%.  In the meantime, I looked at Princess and found a number of 0% solo supplements-that's right, O%. Granted, these were cruises within 90 days, but I have looked at cruises further out, and I have have to book cruises 6 months out or later, and I can't find any on HAL less than 79%, but found cruises on Princess, NCL, Celebrity, RCCL, and even Cunard for less than that. Before COVID, you could find transatlantic, South American, Mexican Riviera, 7 day Carribean and others at 50% or less, and now there is nothing.  At that price, it is much cheaper for me to either do a land tour, or simply travel on my own as I have found booking hotels on my own never charge a single supplement.  I am a four star, and love my free laundry, my early boarding, my tender privileges, and my half off at the Pinnacle Grill, but I won't be cruising any more at this rate, or at least I won't be cruising on HAL.  HAL took away Lincoln Center-the best entertainment they ever had, and didn't replace it with anything.  They were never strong in the entertainment area anyway.  I took a cruise on Princess for the first time, and found food just as good as HAL, and much better entertainment.  I didn't find fixed dining, but found a workaround that got me the same waiters every night-just no dining companions.  If this pricing trend  continues, I won't be sailing on HAL anymore-the price difference isn't worth it. 

[FlorenceItaly]

I understand what you are saying and would be doing the same thing.

Plus, a little variety is sometimes nice, you know?

Happy sailing.

[ski ww]

There are single rooms on some of the ships, not sure which ones.

[highscar]

But why should we be subjected to inside cabins.   No way you would confine me in one.  I love my balcony but object to paying for a roommate that is invisible.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dockman]

7 minutes ago, highscar said:

But why should we be subjected to inside cabins.   No way you would confine me in one.  I love my balcony but object to paying for a roommate that is invisible.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I understand but you are hoping to get a room that they want to sell to two people and only pay for one.....rare for them to eliminate completely the single supplement but sure would be nice if u /me did not have to pay the full extra price for a second person (except for port taxes/tips)...

 

One reason that many lines do not like to offer no single supplement is because a lot of savy people will then book two connecting cabins as singles and get twice the space for same rate as two people in one cabin...some lines pretty much eliminate that idea by charging maybe at least a 50% single supplement...

 

I agree it certainly does not seem quite right that we often have to pay for two peoples eating etc when there is only one of us but i doubt it will change much as they can and do get away with the full charge...and of course they very much want two (or more) in every room to then make additional $$ from drinks shore excursions etc...

[RD64]

The Pinnacle class have outside cabins.

 

And if somebody could find me a Queen Mary 2 Transat in high season with no single or low single supplement please let me know.

 

You have to realize that the cruise lines need / want to fill their ships at double occupancy with new blood - the ones that spend on shore excursions, the spa, drink packages, specialty dining etc. The truth is that the veteran cruiser - whether single or double occupancy does not spend $$$$$.

On the Alaska cruise that I got off last week, there was a single woman passenger of a certain age - first cruise ever - that spent like a drunken sailor because she wanted to experience it all. This is in contrast to one couple doing the Vancouver roundtrip that were doing their third Alaska cruise since May - and were very proud about the fact that they had not spent one extra dollar on anything - on any of their three cruises. They were also booked at the minimum rate. At the end of the day, all cruise lines are In business to make a profit, not to provide a charitable service to single travellers of which I am one.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I detest the single supplement - but I like the HAL product - I like the ships with an abundance of deck space - the exemplary service, the food, etc. aI have travelled with other companies, but if I have to dish out a single supplement, it will be to HAL.

 

One last point - the OP made a comment about hotel rooms. I paid less - in Canadian dollars - including the single supplement (excluding port taxes) for a seven day cruise than I paid for one night hotel accommodations in Vancouver. Overall a good deal I would say.

 

[kazu]

23 minutes ago, ski ww said:

There are single rooms on some of the ships, not sure which ones.

 

They are on the Pinnacle Class ships, I believe.  They are cubby holes and book fast.  Very tiny.

 

I am solo too now, sadly and I will not book a solo cabin.  I confess, I booked verandahs for both my upcoming cruises.  I have reached the point after losing DD DH all too young that life is short and it’s not worth pinching pennies on some things.  I pinch them in enough other places 😉 

 

I have mixed feelings on the solo pricing.  In some ways “I get it”.  there aren’t 2 people buying stuff on board, etc.  On the other hand, some couples spend nearly nothing on board and solos may spend more.  

I book my cruises early and my upcoming sailing is, at last look nearly 40% more than what I paid.  I know I paid double when I booked but at the time, it seemed a reasonable price.  I didn’t check at the time if I was paying full double or not.  I knew the price was decent - and it didn’t last long. 

 

I guess my attitude is slightly different than the OP’s.  I’m happy to expand my wings and try other lines.  I’ve sailed a number.  And while money and cost are important so is the experience.  Solo pricing on unique itineraries I have checked are no break on other lines either.  I cruise first for itinerary and comfort on board as a solo - not to mention the added benefit of sailing with people I have met or happy to meet on the board and roll call.  

 

Solo pricing might not seem fair - but a lot of life isn’t at times.  everyone can talk with their wallet.

[dockman]

find me most ANY cruise with no single suppement on Holland, princess or better) and i am ready to go...few and far between though i have gotten close a few times on older princess ships when they were obviously far from full and semi last minute...

[dockman]

3 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

They are on the Pinnacle Class ships, I believe.  They are cubby holes and book fast.  Very tiny.

 

I am solo too now, sadly and I will not book a solo cabin.  I confess, I booked verandahs for both my upcoming cruises.  I have reached the point after losing DD DH all too young that life is short and it’s not worth pinching pennies on some things.  I pinch them in enough other places 😉 

 

I have mixed feelings on the solo pricing.  In some ways “I get it”.  there aren’t 2 people buying stuff on board, etc.  On the other hand, some couples spend nearly nothing on board and solos may spend more.  

I book my cruises early and my upcoming sailing is, at last look nearly 40% more than what I paid.  I know I paid double when I booked but at the time, it seemed a reasonable price.  I didn’t check at the time if I was paying full double or not.  I knew the price was decent - and it didn’t last long. 

 

I guess my attitude is slightly different than the OP’s.  I’m happy to expand my wings and try other lines.  I’ve sailed a number.  And while money and cost are important so is the experience.  Solo pricing on unique itineraries I have checked are no break on other lines either.  I cruise first for itinerary and comfort on board as a solo - not to mention the added benefit of sailing with people I have met or happy to meet on the board and roll call.  

 

Solo pricing might not seem fair - but a lot of life isn’t at times.  everyone can talk with their wallet.

 

one other consideration re singles could be that a single room the steward tip pool gets half the $$  then if there are two people ...probably relatively small but of course a room steward likely prefers two or more people in the rooms he cleans as more to tip pool and also more extra tips to him/her.

 

As to who spends a lot and who does not I would suspect that some singles spend more than twice what some couples spend and vice versa as lot of different kinds of people on cruises with different budgets and wallets...

[kazu]

10 minutes ago, dockman said:

 

one other consideration re singles could be that a single room the steward tip pool gets half the $$  then if there are two people ...probably relatively small but of course a room steward likely prefers two or more people in the rooms he cleans as more to tip pool and also more extra tips to him/her.

 

As to who spends a lot and who does not I would suspect that some singles spend more than twice what some couples spend and vice versa as lot of different kinds of people on cruises with different budgets and wallets...

 

Very true.  I have to say that I have had fantastic service on both my solo cruises from my stewards.   Hopefully my additional tip helps make up for the loss 🤞 

[lyndarra]

1 hour ago, ski ww said:

There are single rooms on some of the ships, not sure which ones.

I paid single supplement on an MSC cruise only to find, on boarding, I had a, tiny, single cabin into which they had squeezed a double bed.

[highscar]

Don’t get me wrong..  I’ll never leave HAL.   I will pay the single price and still ***** about it.  That’s me.  

[RD64]

1 minute ago, highscar said:

Don’t get me wrong..  I’ll never leave HAL.   I will pay the single price and still ***** about it.  That’s me.  

Same!!!!

[cruising Katie]

, Like Jacquie in New Brunswick, I too, because of loosing my husband, travel alone.  I will never take a cruise in a single inside cabin.  Life is too short, and as long as I can afford to, I will be in a balcony room.  I spent 69 days in my signature suite last year on the Noordam and did not regret one penny.   (even the 6 days of quarantine with covid) I am always sure my cabin stewards are not short any tip money.  I have been on other cruise lines, with some sort of single reduction, but find in the end it is the itinerary.  I have just returned from an 8 day Alaska trip with my 12 yr old grandson.  We had a blast, and my first double occupancy in many years.  But single travelling is not scary and I meet the most amazing people.    Kate, Newmarket, Ontario          

[sambamama]

Those single cabins on the Pinnacle class ships are a total ripoff. They are almost double price, and are tiny things squashed way up in he front of the ship.  If you are going to make me pay a single supplement, then let me have a normal size cabin.  

I always, always tip my stewards well, and I always spend on the ship.  Some of the things I loved about HAL are gone-the smaller 1200 passenger ships, the ginger that the yum yum man had after dinner, the Adagio group or the Lincoln Center, the chilled fruit soups.  HAL still has its amazing crew, the fantastic itineraries, the big cabins, fixed dinner sittings, and wonderful food. The cruise I took to Alaska was on HAL, and if I take another Alaska cruise (and I imagine I will), I will only take it on Princess or HAL. 

I'm lucky because I have credit cards that get me free hotels, or hotels I can get on points. In Vancouver, I have friends I can stay with.  With expensive flights, I can usually manage to fly with ff miles, or pay if the price isn't too horrific.  

I am not trying to hate on HAL-I wouldn't have sailed 130 nights on HAL if I didn't love HAL.  My point I am trying to make is that HAL may want to rethink their pricing a bit about single supplements as they are out of touch with the other cruise companies.  I am not saying I wouldn't sail on HAL-but they would need to have a 50% supplement or less. But maybe they are selling out all their cruises and don't need to worry about empty cabins.  But I used to cruise twice a year, and I don't do that anymore.  Since COVID hit, I sailed one HAL casino 7 night cruise they offered me for free (the only time they offered me a casino cruise), and a Princess 15 night Panama Canal cruise. I am booked on a 15 night HAL  Asia cruise that was supposed to sail 2 years ago, has been paid in full since December 2019, and is finally sailing January 2024. 

I am booked on a fairly new cruise line for a 7 night Greek cruise August 2024. It's about the size of the Maasdam-around 1200 pasengers.  The supplements range from 15% to 50% and they include free wine and beer at lunch and dinner. 

But if I can go to Turkey for 3-4 weeks for the price of a 10 day cruise, I am going to do that.  At this point, I don't have a burning desire to go on a cruise unless it is somewhere I haven't gone -South America, a World Cruise (but I would have to hit the lottery), Africa, the Fjords, New Zealand, or going back to Alaska or the South Pacific, or any respositioning.

 

[wdw1972]

The solo staterooms on Pinnacle ships are NOT all tiny cubby holes people have to squish into 😉  There are 6 on each side (port/starboard).  They range from basically the same size as any regular oceanview or verandah stateroom (without a verandah) down to something quite small.  I've stayed in one of the largest ones and can't tell the difference, except there's no sofa - just a huge open space where the sofa would be.  I've seen one of the 2nd largest ones and it didn't look much different - the size was impressive.  I've not seen the 4 progressively smaller ones on either side.  I assume the reason for no sofa is due to not having room for one in the smaller staterooms.  

 

I do wish they were priced with zero single supplement, but they are marginally less expensive than a solo booking a regular oceanview.  In any case, it's a viable option and they're definitely not all the tiny little room being described on this thread! You just have to be smart when booking.

 

Sue/WDW1972

[wdw1972]

[BermudaBound2014]

For those solo's who need a balcony, RCL quantum class has amazing solo balconies. The balconies are at an angle and actually bigger than the standard room balcony. 

[wdw1972]

[RD64]

1 hour ago, sambamama said:

Those single cabins on the Pinnacle class ships are a total ripoff. They are almost double price, and are tiny things squashed way up in he front of the ship.  If you are going to make me pay a single supplement, then let me have a normal size cabin.  

I always, always tip my stewards well, and I always spend on the ship.  Some of the things I loved about HAL are gone-the smaller 1200 passenger ships, the ginger that the yum yum man had after dinner, the Adagio group or the Lincoln Center, the chilled fruit soups.  HAL still has its amazing crew, the fantastic itineraries, the big cabins, fixed dinner sittings, and wonderful food. The cruise I took to Alaska was on HAL, and if I take another Alaska cruise (and I imagine I will), I will only take it on Princess or HAL. 

I'm lucky because I have credit cards that get me free hotels, or hotels I can get on points. In Vancouver, I have friends I can stay with.  With expensive flights, I can usually manage to fly with ff miles, or pay if the price isn't too horrific.  

I am not trying to hate on HAL-I wouldn't have sailed 130 nights on HAL if I didn't love HAL.  My point I am trying to make is that HAL may want to rethink their pricing a bit about single supplements as they are out of touch with the other cruise companies.  I am not saying I wouldn't sail on HAL-but they would need to have a 50% supplement or less. But maybe they are selling out all their cruises and don't need to worry about empty cabins.  But I used to cruise twice a year, and I don't do that anymore.  Since COVID hit, I sailed one HAL casino 7 night cruise they offered me for free (the only time they offered me a casino cruise), and a Princess 15 night Panama Canal cruise. I am booked on a 15 night HAL  Asia cruise that was supposed to sail 2 years ago, has been paid in full since December 2019, and is finally sailing January 2024. 

I am booked on a fairly new cruise line for a 7 night Greek cruise August 2024. It's about the size of the Maasdam-around 1200 pasengers.  The supplements range from 15% to 50% and they include free wine and beer at lunch and dinner. 

But if I can go to Turkey for 3-4 weeks for the price of a 10 day cruise, I am going to do that.  At this point, I don't have a burning desire to go on a cruise unless it is somewhere I haven't gone -South America, a World Cruise (but I would have to hit the lottery), Africa, the Fjords, New Zealand, or going back to Alaska or the South Pacific, or any respositioning.

 

I am guessing that you plan on going with Celestyal next year - former HAL ships. Good luck with that and let us know how it goes for you. Congrats to you that you have so many options that you do not have to pay for flights or hotels plus your casino free cruises.  Perhaps you can use those cost savings to pay your single supplement on mainstream cruise lines.

[kazu]

40 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

For those solo's who need a balcony, RCL quantum class has amazing solo balconies. The balconies are at an angle and actually bigger than the standard room balcony. 

 

Thanks but nearly 5,000 passengers is way too many for me.  😱 

[RD64]

Another thing to consider that makes a HAL single supplement cruise a reasonable proposition is their most reasonable Have It All add on. Perhaps you may find a cheaper cruise on another line, but when you add in all of these extras it certainly changes the value proposition.

 

However you will then get the I never drink - never buy a shore excursion - never go to the Pinnacle- don’t use the Internet - no specialty coffees - I do not spend a dime extra crowd that say it is not worth it. To each his own.

[RD64]

8 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Thanks but nearly 5,000 passengers is way too many for me.  😱 

Agreed sailing with 2000+ of my closest friends on the Noordam was enough for me. I can’t imagine - nor would I want to - sail with 5000 of my closest friends.

[dockman]

26 minutes ago, RD64 said:

Another thing to consider that makes a HAL single supplement cruise a reasonable proposition is their most reasonable Have It All add on. Perhaps you may find a cheaper cruise on another line, but when you add in all of these extras it certainly changes the value proposition.

 

However you will then get the I never drink - never buy a shore excursion - never go to the Pinnacle- don’t use the Internet - no specialty coffees - I do not spend a dime extra crowd that say it is not worth it. To each his own.

How little or how much other passengers spend on board or shore excursions etc has never really bothered me and how much or how little I spend should not bother them. 

 

I frankly am not a big fan of the tendency that seems to be developing to have separate areas of the ship or dining rooms etc according to how much you spend and hope it does not ultimately end up with steerage and upper class. 

 

Whether someone prefers inside cheapest room or a PH suite is their business and has no bearing whatsover on my enjoyment....about the only thing i don't like is having to listen to some blowhard go on and on about how they only cruise in PH suite etc etc or criticize people/peasants who may not choose to spend their money in the same way.

 

I have cruised inside rooms and i have cruised in suites.  Does anyone really care?

[TiogaCruiser]

3 hours ago, wdw1972 said:

The solo staterooms on Pinnacle ships are NOT all tiny cubby holes people have to squish into 😉  There are 6 on each side (port/starboard).  They range from basically the same size as any regular oceanview or verandah stateroom (without a verandah) down to something quite small.  I've stayed in one of the largest ones and can't tell the difference, except there's no sofa - just a huge open space where the sofa would be.  I've seen one of the 2nd largest ones and it didn't look much different - the size was impressive.  I've not seen the 4 progressively smaller ones on either side.  I assume the reason for no sofa is due to not having room for one in the smaller staterooms.  

 

I do wish they were priced with zero single supplement, but they are marginally less expensive than a solo booking a regular oceanview.  In any case, it's a viable option and they're definitely not all the tiny little room being described on this thread! You just have to be smart when booking.

 

Sue/WDW1972

Do I understand that a single who books one of the single cabins pays the cost of the cabin and a single supplement on top of that?

 

 

I’ve sailed several times as a solo, and frankly, on several of those cruises, (not all) my total fare ( including the fare for my invisible roommate) wasn’t that much because the rate I booked under was reasonable.