Solo Fares disappearing

[Elizabethbea]

Many solo travellers have noticed this --and many jumping ship. It seems a tad shortsighted --at our age solos as a group are growing exponentially....

[Dolcevita Diva]

On 8/2/2024 at 8:08 PM, pavementends said:

I would take this to mean that Silversea is selling cruises better than Ponant or Regent.

 

Or, I suppose, maybe they are less aggressive with revenue management.

I have a hunch that it is because RCL's revenue management team is simply not accustomed to using lower solo supplements as a promotional/pricing lever, since they seldom offer low solo pricing on their mainstream lines.   

[jollyjones]

I think non-solo pax seldom understand the impact of the solo supplement on our fares. 

 

I have just received quotes for two cruises on the Ray next year - one 32 day cruise from Lauderdale to Buenos Aires and a 20 day segment of the same cruise from Lima to Buenos Aires.

All other factors are the same - cabin category, my Venetian discount etc. - the only difference is the solo supplement.

In round numbers the quotes are:

25% solo supplement, 32 day cruise - $21K

100% solo supplement, 20 day cruise - $31K

 

Fortunately the 100% supplement is rare on SS - nearly all my cruises are 25% or 50% - but this is a very stark demonstration of how much disappearing low solo supplements matter to us solos.

 

[Mahogany]

On 8/4/2024 at 1:25 PM, Archipelago said:

Was just checking and Regent has 71 voyages on offer for solo travellers many at 25%  ..have always had a great time solo on SS so I hope this is just a glitch in pricing but willing to try Regent 

I’m on Regent Splendor now on a 0% SS, category G. Just make sure you compare suite sizes. Mine is considerably smaller than Silversea  verandas .

[Archipelago]

Yes the supplements do make a big difference and I personally would not pay 100%supplement . I just don't think it is worth it for me . I was lucky that I have a 19 day cruise booked on the Moon before the supplement disappeared and will see what is offered at that time onboard  or will not book another one . 

[Elizabethbea]

Many solo travellers have noticed this --and many jumping ship. It seems a tad shortsighted --at our age solos as a group are growing exponentially....I also was lucky and booked quite a few cruises into mid 2025. But with the current solo supplements will be going elsewhere--maybe the hay day of Silversea Solos is over, sadly....

[Port Power]

10 hours ago, Elizabethbea said:

Many solo travellers have noticed this --and many jumping ship. It seems a tad shortsighted --at our age solos as a group are growing exponentially....I also was lucky and booked quite a few cruises into mid 2025. But with the current solo supplements will be going elsewhere--maybe the hay day of Silversea Solos is over, sadly....

You just need to book “last minute” or well in advance. As I mentioned earlier, I booked the 2027 world cruise with only a 25% solo supplement.  I also this afternoon started a dummy booking on Silver Whisperer in the Mediterranean in October 2026 as a comparison, and that was also only 25%.  
 

It seems timing is everything!

 

carolpart59 at gmail dot com

[frankhi]

The way of advertising the price of cruises, say $X, when to go on the cruise actually costs $2X has been around forever on most all cruise lines. Less than $2X, like a <100% single supplement, is a sale price. Sales come and go.

[Archipelago]

The website that I show has no cruises past August 2026 and those from June are limited to Tahiti ..I don't see many voyages then ..

[jollyjones]

The rest of the 2026 cruises are supposed to be coming out in a month or two. 

[pavementends]

On 8/10/2024 at 3:34 AM, Port Power said:

You just need to book “last minute” or well in advance. As I mentioned earlier, I booked the 2027 world cruise with only a 25% solo supplement.  I also this afternoon started a dummy booking on Silver Whisperer in the Mediterranean in October 2026 as a comparison, and that was also only 25%.  
 

It seems timing is everything!

 

carolpart59 at gmail dot com

The same is true with regular bookings. When a cruise is popular and well booked port to port (or now the Essential) bookings will not be available.

 

For me only the port to port option has had an attractive price. So (even though I book for two) I act like a single who won't book unless there a favorable deal on the single supplement.

 

[Port Power]

The point was the 25% solo supplement.  I was comparing prices between Silversea and Azamara using my cruise specialist premium TA’s website.  
 

My apologies, it wasn’t the Med, it was Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, to Japan).  Both March and October were the same price on SS.  Maybe my TA is given early access.

[Elizabethbea]

 Silversea and Azamara are  different products. ( although the way SS is going it will soon be on par.)

 

There are currently 8 SS cruises with 25% supplement. All the rest are higher. Plus SSs prices have doubled ( if not more ) in the last 10 months.

 

Your TA, with respect ,will have no more access to single supplements than you or I. We just have to know how to find them. 

[irvington]

Yes, I tried pricing 2 cruises in 2026 on the West Coast of Africa, and I think the SS was about 50%. Even though they were long off they were not at the 25% level.

[Port Power]

On 8/12/2024 at 3:52 PM, Elizabethbea said:

 Silversea and Azamara are  different products. ( although the way SS is going it will soon be on par.)

 

There are currently 8 SS cruises with 25% supplement. All the rest are higher. Plus SSs prices have doubled ( if not more ) in the last 10 months.

 

Your TA, with respect ,will have no more access to single supplements than you or I. We just have to know how to find them. 

I was simply stating that it was via my TA’s website that I found the 2026 cruises when others had stated they could not find those dates on the SS website. I am quite aware of a TA’s scope.

 

I also know very well that Azamara is different to Silversea.  I have as many days on Azamara as Silversea (150+) and really enjoy the Azamara experience.  It is precisely because of the price hikes by SS that I am comparing prices!  (Allowing for upgraded beverages and shore excursions, very favourable for a solo traveller.)

Edited August 13 by Port Power

[Elizabethbea]

I know--and I think Azamara will get morfe solos --which will be good for us singles!

[DavyWavey70]

I’m going on my first solo on Az in January and the price was very fair. Can’t wait.

[Lois R]

44 minutes ago, DavyWavey70 said:

I’m going on my first solo on Az in January and the price was very fair. Can’t wait.

Hi Davy, I sailed with Azamara back in 2019 but never tried them again. What ship and itinerary are you sailing?

[DavyWavey70]

4 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Hi Davy, I sailed with Azamara back in 2019 but never tried them again. What ship and itinerary are you sailing?

Hi Lois, I’m on the quest from CPT on a 12 nighter around South Africa. First time in my life I’m trying an escorted tour, as you know I usually go on my own but didn’t fancy looking like a tourist in Joburg. Much better odds against getting shot if there are 14 other ducks on the bus. Can’t wait! 

[Lois R]

3 minutes ago, DavyWavey70 said:

Hi Lois, I’m on the quest from CPT on a 12 nighter around South Africa. First time in my life I’m trying an escorted tour, as you know I usually go on my own but didn’t fancy looking like a tourist in Joburg. Much better odds against getting shot if there are 14 other ducks on the bus. Can’t wait! 

Sounds exciting! Hope you have a great time.😃

[DavyWavey70]

8 hours ago, Lois R said:

Sounds exciting! Hope you have a great time.😃

You know me Lois, I’ll give it my best shot.

[highplanesdrifters]

On 8/12/2024 at 12:52 AM, Elizabethbea said:

Your TA, with respect ,will have no more access to single supplements than you or I.

 

On occasion our TA has scored better single supplements than those publicly available. 

[Port Power]

3 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

 

On occasion our TA has scored better single supplements than those publicly available. 

I’d better get his name! 😆

[Elizabethbea]

I hear what you say--but realistically no line is going to offer , out of all the travel agents that sell their cruises, special solo supplements to one particular TA! The line does frequently change the % solo supplement, but no agent gets a better deal than any other. A TA may get advance notice of a change in solo supp or  what could happen however, is that your TA discounts from his/her commission.  Either way you are happy which is the main thing😀

[highplanesdrifters]

21 hours ago, Elizabethbea said:

I hear what you say--but realistically no line is going to offer , out of all the travel agents that sell their cruises, special solo supplements to one particular TA! The line does frequently change the % solo supplement, but no agent gets a better deal than any other. A TA may get advance notice of a change in solo supp or  what could happen however, is that your TA discounts from his/her commission.  Either way you are happy which is the main thing😀

 

There are many TAs that work extra hard and have special relationships with certain cruise lines. Some TAs are just order takers who give rebates, which is great for most travelers.  Not all the lines that you believe are written in stone are actually written in stone.

Granted she cannot always wave her magic wand and make a single supplement disappear or be greatly reduced, but it does happen. Timing and situations need to be right. It doesn't matter to me if you believe the excellent work our TA does. If you're happy with your TA that is the main thing. 

 

@Port Power

Send me an email. 

 

 

As for the general conversation about solo supplements -

 

Loyalty to long term clients went out the window when the covid debt burden took over the business models. Add in that fact cruising has become even more popular and many ships are filling up.  Bean counters dont like the idea of missing revenue .