Solo Sailor Special starts tomorrow

[cantgetin]

Where's my Solo Sailors?

Starting tomorrow and for a limited time, Virgin Voyages is offering an exclusive opportunity for Sailors who love exploring on their own terms (and yes, I’m looking at you).

Embrace the chance to make new friends and create unforgettable memories with up to 40% off select voyages in the Caribbean or the Med and score $300 in free drinks.

But hurry, this offer ends on Jan. 31st.

Applicable Voyages:

- Scarlet Lady sailings from May 5 - October 6, 2024

- Valiant Lady sailings from January 27 - March 23, 2024

This was posted by my TA.  I deleted the contact info as that is not allowed.  

[bdever]

Thanks, is this deal limited to cabin type? For example central sea terrace?

[cantgetin]

32 minutes ago, bdever said:

Thanks, is this deal limited to cabin type? For example central sea terrace?

I'm not a TA and I know nothing more than what I copied and posted above (other than my agent's contact info).  All I can suggest is that you contact your travel agent today or call VV tomorrowl

 

Tootles,

[CruisingWalter]

These sailings are from San Juan and Barcelona only. Valiant is sailing from San Juan during that time, Scarlet Lady will be sailing from Barcelona.  

 

The only cabins eligible for this special is the Central Sea Terrace. 

[FFMilesJunkie]

Solo specials are a bit underwhelming especially for the Med.  Looks like the sale takes the Central Sea Terrace down about $250 - $300 (less than 10% discount) over 2 passengers. They advertised up to 40% savings, but haven't found that sailing yet. 

 

 

[WhyWeCruise]

Might have been an error, but here is a comparison for pricing for the July 21st Barcelona sailing between Jan 14th and Jan 16th -- an increase of about $1100 dollars. As a solo, I am frustrated.

[phoenix1975]

4 hours ago, FFMilesJunkie said:

Solo specials are a bit underwhelming especially for the Med.  Looks like the sale takes the Central Sea Terrace down about $250 - $300 (less than 10% discount) over 2 passengers. They advertised up to 40% savings, but haven't found that sailing yet. 

 

 

The terms and conditions say that it's just an extra 5% off in addition to the 35% that's on the current promotion. See here: https://www.virginvoyages.com/promotional-terms-and-conditions?item=d3f51577-12c6-4af2-8d18-7bf8a85ae07f

[kaysha2004]

It's a classic bait and switch.  This is no deal at all for a solo.

[WhyWeCruise]

7 hours ago, WhyWeCruise said:

Might have been an error, but here is a comparison for pricing for the July 21st Barcelona sailing between Jan 14th and Jan 16th -- an increase of about $1100 dollars. As a solo, I am frustrated.

I figured out why there is such a huge discrepancy in this sailing... 
The July 14th sailing was on the "blitz" sail promo. It has since returned to normal price and the solo discount gets it nowhere near its discount price. Still stinky. I'd be surprised if the 5% additional off sways any solos on a Sea Terrace if they weren't already going to book during these times. 

[Cloud9 Bob]

I checked it out today with a smile on my face and a zip in my step...quickly became a fall in the mud and I skinned my knee. 😲

[Wildcatllamas]

I was just reading an article regarding Celebrity now charging solo travelers 300% of the fare and Royal has been inching up past 200%. 

 

I can understand many lines make more off the onboard spending then they do off of cabin fares so those extra cabin mates are lost revenue. But you start making it hard for those of us to travel solo you will be losing us as well.

 

I don't expect a complete give away, but in my mind 125% to 150% should give most lines enough towards that lost revenue versus nothing from me if I go elsewhere. 

[AlyssaJames]

7 hours ago, Cloud9 Bob said:

I checked it out today with a smile on my face and a zip in my step...quickly became a fall in the mud and I skinned my knee. 😲

I haven't even been able to bring myself to try a mock booking since Bloody Thursday (Dec 14 or whenever the new itins with crazy price increases came out).

This alleged solo offer did have my hopes up but it sounds like it's a good thing I didn't bother clicking. 

[AlyssaJames]

40 minutes ago, Wildcatllamas said:

I was just reading an article regarding Celebrity now charging solo travelers 300% of the fare and Royal has been inching up past 200%. 

 

This is a bit more anecdotal, but on other sites I've seen people saying NCL is starting to play games with fees charged to solo cruisers too. 

 

Remember: the company doesn't love you back. 

[cantgetin]

Sorry that my hopeful post became a dud for VV sailors. 

1 hour ago, Wildcatllamas said:

I was just reading an article regarding Celebrity now charging solo travelers 300% of the fare and Royal has been inching up past 200%. 

 

I can understand many lines make more off the onboard spending then they do off of cabin fares so those extra cabin mates are lost revenue. But you start making it hard for those of us to travel solo you will be losing us as well.

 

I don't expect a complete give away, but in my mind 125% to 150% should give most lines enough towards that lost revenue versus nothing from me if I go elsewhere. 

The cruise lines have the numbers for onboard spends stratified in every way possible--age, number ov previous cruises on their line, often whether or not we've cruised other lines, solo vs. couple vs. larger group, etc.  So Celebrity, which is trying to get rid of its image as an older line has decided to try to recoup some of the on board spend money because their numbers show that solo cruisers spend less than couples.  Their right to do so...but solo cruisers will vote with their feet.  Most of the time, when I sail solo, I'm already paying for the ghost who isn't occupying the second bed. I'm not willing to pay for the excursions he isn't taking.  They can sell their cabin to someone else.  Since Royal owns Celebrity, it makes sense that Royal is "considering" the same move. 

Solo cruisers will be supporting lines that offer solo cabins, particularly those that offer choices in cabin types!  

 

[AlyssaJames]

48 minutes ago, cantgetin said:

I'm not willing to pay for the excursions he isn't taking.

 

And speaking only for myself, I'm most certainly not going to pay for the booze the ghost sailor isn't drinking. 

[TheDarkestBlue]

Last month, it was both my first time on Virgin and that I had the cabin to myself 🙂 it was fantastic, and hope to do more of it in the future, but those prices are disappointing. I was on a cruise with Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia last June, mostly all inclusive, but a long haul from anywhere. I thought these prices were very good

 

https://www.pgcruises.com/promotions/solo-travelers-save

 

[kaysha2004]

I come at this whole solo penalty concept from a different angle.  It's a penalty and not a supplement.  Solo travelers are punished for not having a travel companion.  Whether by circumstance or by choice, we are penalized by paying more for being the only occupant in that room.  You don't rent a car by the person; you don't rent a hotel room by the person; you don't rent your home or apartment by the person or a pleasure water craft like a boat or a jet ski.

 

The cruise line companies cried "poor" during COVID, yet they were still building ships overseas for release within the past year or two.  They are taking zero loss in revenue if they charged by the room and not by the person.  Casino profits alone would cover that.  I traveled and cruised during COVID and was on VV cruises with 800 people on board.  If they can run a cruise with 30% occupancy, they're still making money or they would have cancelled the cruise.

 

VV did make the effort to build the solo insider room, but they are super tiny.  I've stayed in one a couple of times and I just can't do it again.  At 105 square feet, the space to walk from the entry door to your bed is a little larger than a big suitcase.  The bed platform is lower to the floor so you have to drop in and climb out.  And solo balcony rooms...forget it.  The solo traveler is not worth their effort.

[Cloud9 Bob]

So many companies these days have focus groups from hell. Where do they get these concepts? I consider myself a good barometer for people in my age group (mid 60's but young thinking). Why penalize the solo traveler? I will not allow myself to be ripped off. I was recently in a focus group for Apple and I spouted how the new 15 Pro had the most boring colors of any year I can recall. Why do they assume people that buy the Pro version want boring colors? I told them I thought that if they had a few colors like the Corvettes Atomic Orange (beautiful burned orange) or the Nassau Blue of the 1960's that IMHO they would sell like gangbusters. I relate that story because I believe that others think like me. If the cruise lines dedicated 25% of their occupancy to affordable solo cabins they would sell out. I would actually book two when traveling, as my wife can't sleep well through my snoring and a vacation should not mean sleep deprivation. LOL!

I'll step off the soap box now 😝

[Wildcatllamas]

Years ago, right after I lost my husband, NCL created their solo cabins. NCL was the groundbreaking leader at that time. But when I looked at them, and dinky is a mild description, and there is no frig I reached out to NCL numerous times saying there are those of us who now cruise solo and love balconies or suites. What about smaller, but still comfortable, cabins in those areas for solo sailors. 

 

Yesterday I was looking to see if they had anything comparable to my cruise in 2025 and they now have solo balconies on Prima. They are a decent size and look pretty nice. If it wasn't for MNVV that I used on the Virgin cruise I would possibly consider jumping over to that one. I'm going to have to sit and crunch number to see if it would be worth my while to test out that new cabin on NCL. 

[Wildcatllamas]

Well!!! Pen to paper for an 11 night NCL Prima in the solo balcony with the packages and their 50% off sale and my 10% off military is $4311 versus $6805 on Virgin. That is before deposits and with Virgin is the $300 off the price. That is a huge difference and one not to scoff at for a solo cruiser.

 

I'm going to reach out to the friend who is going with her husband and see what she might come up with on NCL and we may just jump over.

[AlyssaJames]

9 hours ago, Cloud9 Bob said:

 ... new 15 Pro had the most boring colors of any year I can recall. Why do they assume people that buy the Pro version want boring colors? I told them I thought that if they had a few colors like the Corvettes Atomic Orange (beautiful burned orange) or the Nassau Blue  ...

Why would you do this to me? Now I desperately want a new iPad Pro in Nassau blue!

[FFMilesJunkie]

15 hours ago, Cloud9 Bob said:

I would actually book two when traveling, as my wife can't sleep well through my snoring and a vacation should not mean sleep deprivation. LOL!

I'll step off the soap box now 😝

 

this was one of the things they mentioned when they discussed the 2023 solo sale.  Since there was no solo supplement, many couples booked 2 cabins for the extra bar tab and just left 1 cabin empty.  So when they came up with this year's solo sale, they didn't want to make it too good so people do that again.  But instead of being too generous, they went the opposite direction and made it insultingly bad.  I was hoping for something like a 125 - 150% fares for solos so that couples couldn't abuse the sale and solos get a decent offering.  Instead we have 195% and told it's a great "Sale" for our solo passengers.  

The thing is, solo passengers came to Virgin's rescue and helped fill up cabins in the 2023 Med season (albeit with almost too good to be true fares).  They bought up MNVVs thinking that they would be able to keep booking Virgin.  Now they are faced with these staggering solo fares and almost worthless MNVVs.  It's not a good way to treat those who were there to fill the ships and spread the word about Virgin. Now they rightfully feel ignored. 

[AlyssaJames]

4 hours ago, FFMilesJunkie said:

The thing is, solo passengers came to Virgin's rescue and helped fill up cabins in the 2023 Med season (albeit with almost too good to be true fares).  They bought up MNVVs thinking that they would be able to keep booking Virgin.  Now they are faced with these staggering solo fares and almost worthless MNVVs.  It's not a good way to treat those who were there to fill the ships and spread the word about Virgin. Now they rightfully feel ignored. 

I usually keep this behind my teeth because I’m not an “influencer”, but I was sailing solo on VV in summer 2022 when ships were empty. And then I spread SO MUCH positive buzz on Reddit. Not because I am an influencer, the thought makes me practically break out in hives, but because back then it seemed touch and go whether the line would even succeed. And because I LOVED the line. I was (so I thought) realistic about the cheap 2022 prices, the eventual loss of the solo deals, and the price increases in 2023. But yeah, I wasn’t prepared for where they were heading ($$$$$) and I have some bitterness about how many times I recommended VV to people who had never heard of them (and some who had never even cruised). I’m not an influencer, but I can write persuasively and I know how to communicate on Reddit. (Yes, it’s a dubious talent.) And I post prolifically.

 

And I now take it they’re going to attempt to take the sting out of their Ferrari pricing by … offering flexible date changes. K. 

Edited January 19 by AlyssaJames

[Cloud9 Bob]

6 hours ago, AlyssaJames said:

And I now take it they’re going to attempt to take the sting out of their Ferrari pricing by … offering flexible date changes.

 

Sort of like allowing us to change the day we'll get screwed.  🤑

[rj59]

On 1/17/2024 at 6:56 AM, Wildcatllamas said:

I was just reading an article regarding Celebrity now charging solo travelers 300% of the fare and Royal has been inching up past 200%. 

 

I can understand many lines make more off the onboard spending then they do off of cabin fares so those extra cabin mates are lost revenue. But you start making it hard for those of us to travel solo you will be losing us as well.

 

I don't expect a complete give away, but in my mind 125% to 150% should give most lines enough towards that lost revenue versus nothing from me if I go elsewhere. 

There are deals on Celebrity, but you have to look carefully and there haven't been many lately. The same goes with Virgin, like the $900 solo inside for Barcelona-Athens 9-nights in October I got before it sold out, or the 9-nt Caribbean in April 2025 I just booked for $1400 solo inside. I found both fares on the Cruiseplum Hot Deals section, a real gold mine for solo passengers. I cancelled the Virgin promotional emails, because the hot deals were never really deals. They at least have a really valuable search function in searching price per sailer per night and you can search for one passenger.

 

For Celebrity, the way to get around the discriminatory pricing is to search for solo and doubles, and book with a friend/relative for the second person, have them no-show, and then get the second fees/taxes refunded. I did that on a Mexico sailing, but I managed to get sailings on Ascent and Beyond that were below 200%, using a TA website. Silhouette also has some solo cabins, as do many RC ships, so you can get good deals that way. Their stock has doubled in a year, so they have a strong incentive to raise revenue to justify it, and demand for their newer ship allows them to charge what they want on the new megaships, just as Disney can do for their ships, which make Virgin seem like a real bargain, especially with all the onboard spending RC/Disney pick up. The explosion in cruising is getting a little scary for me, for prices and overfull ships and cutbucks and cost increases and overfull ports, so I'm not sure how much fun cruising will be going forward, if those trends continue. Will people get burned out on Virgin, if ships and shows and dining are mostly the same on every ship?