If you are a solo traveler, Celebrity still doesn't want you.

[Sandy1975]

Hi everyone,  awhile back I posted that I couldn't move my MIL to a concierge cabin on Celebrity Apex. Our sailing is on Nov 16 and there are still plenty of cabins left.

I called again because I noticed all solo cabins are gone and assumed other cabins would be available. I waited with our TA on the phone while we waited for the "revenue department" to approve an exception. After a long wait, an analyst denied the request. 

They are strict in the restriction so once the 20+solo cabins are gone, if you are traveling alone, you can only book a suite.

If you are used to traveling in Aqua class, you like a Sunset veranda or want an inside room then you can't book a cabin in an Edge class ship.

I don't know if this has been extended to all Edge class ships but I know others mentioned similar restrictions in their sailings.

Laura Hodges Bethge and Celebrity's  policy for single passengers continues to be one of the worse in the industry.

 

 

[mrgabriel]

That's a terrible decision. If someone is willing to pay twice the amount to sail alone, why would they disallow it?

 

Maybe a call to Laura Hodges Bethge's office is in order?

[d9704011]

3 minutes ago, mrgabriel said:

That's a terrible decision. If someone is willing to pay twice the amount to sail alone, why would they disallow it?

 

Maybe a call to Laura Hodges Bethge's office is in order?

Because they're not getting the potential revenue from drinks, grats, shopping, gambling, excursios and all the rest of the stuff they want to sell to passengers, not one.

[Sandy1975]

Yes, it is a bad decision. I like the Edge class ships and don't like the location or size of the solo cabins so if I ever travel on my own, I will need to look elsewhere. 

[cruisetonowhere10]

18 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Because they're not getting the potential revenue from drinks, grats, shopping, gambling, excursios and all the rest of the stuff they want to sell to passengers, not one.

I’d be curious what the average expenditure is per person…I had a grand total under $20 on my recent trip (I did tip extra direct to people but that’s not what I consider a celebrity revenue line item.) I tend not to spend extra on a ship and am amazed by people’s budgets (I posted our end budget in my trip report) and am all about figuring It how to do that.  lol.  I guess my real point would be that I’m curious how much celebrity is losing by already charging singles more than for two people.

[drakes2]

1 hour ago, Sandy1975 said:

only book a suite.

If you are used to traveling in Aqua class, you like a Sunset veranda or want an inside room then you can't book a cabin in an Edge class ship.

I recently booked a sunset verandah as a solo traveler on the Ascent 11 night Mediterranean cruise next year. Yes it was pricey but I didn't pay double occupancy. No way of checking current prices as there aren't any SVs left. 

[lola2013]

As a solo traveler, I expect that my upcoming Apex cruise in a SV will be my last.  I love the E class (along with the S class), but would not consider a solo cabin or retreat.  

Since I am a non-drinker who doesn't frequent the casino for more than a few minutes each night, owns as much Celebrity merch as I need and can find my own way to a beach without booking one of their excursions, I expect I will enjoy every moment in my SV on Edge before spending solo time on the S class going forward.

Let me add an unfortunate experience from a few years ago on Reflection.  My friends (married couple) and I (solo) booked balcony cabins next to each other.  I paid the same as they did for my cabin as a solo.  We enjoy opening up the balcony divider and watching the sunset or just hanging out.  Since we have dinner the same time and are basically on the same schedule, it works to have cabins close together.  When we checked in at the port, I went to the agent on the right while they went to an agent on the left (this was in Miami; at the time they didn't use the iPads like in Ft. Lauderdale).  Anyway they were upgraded to Aqua...good for them; but when we realized we wouldn't be having dinner in the same restaurant, they declined the upgrade.  When I went to Guest Services and asked how upgrades are selected, I was told (very bluntly), "well, solos never get an upgrade."😆  Thank you Celebrity for making me feel like a valued customer!!!

[tfred]

7 minutes ago, lola2013 said:

As a solo traveler, I expect that my upcoming Apex cruise in a SV will be my last.  I love the E class (along with the S class), but would not consider a solo cabin or retreat.  

Since I am a non-drinker who doesn't frequent the casino for more than a few minutes each night, owns as much Celebrity merch as I need and can find my own way to a beach without booking one of their excursions, I expect I will enjoy every moment in my SV on Edge before spending solo time on the S class going forward.

Let me add an unfortunate experience from a few years ago on Reflection.  My friends (married couple) and I (solo) booked balcony cabins next to each other.  I paid the same as they did for my cabin as a solo.  We enjoy opening up the balcony divider and watching the sunset or just hanging out.  Since we have dinner the same time and are basically on the same schedule, it works to have cabins close together.  When we checked in at the port, I went to the agent on the right while they went to an agent on the left (this was in Miami; at the time they didn't use the iPads like in Ft. Lauderdale).  Anyway they were upgraded to Aqua...good for them; but when we realized we wouldn't be having dinner in the same restaurant, they declined the upgrade.  When I went to Guest Services and asked how upgrades are selected, I was told (very bluntly), "well, solos never get an upgrade."😆  Thank you Celebrity for making me feel like a valued customer!!!

You answered the solo question in your first paragraph. You don't drink, gamble or buy merchandise on board. You don't take excursions. This means are reduced/low or no profit customer. Not a target market. 

 

You may not be the "typical" solo traveler but there is something to be said about a double occupancy driving extra revenue. "let's do this fun activity together!" may not be something that solos would say. 

[lola2013]

5 minutes ago, tfred said:

You answered the solo question in your first paragraph. You don't drink, gamble or buy merchandise on board. You don't take excursions. This means are reduced/low or no profit customer. Not a target market. 

 

You may not be the "typical" solo traveler but there is something to be said about a double occupancy driving extra revenue. "let's do this fun activity together!" may not be something that solos would say. 

 

Hopefully, the S class does not follow suit.  Although they are not offering the tiny solo cabins.  My luggage and I would certainly not fit!

[drakes2]

22 minutes ago, lola2013 said:

well, solos never get an upgrade."😆  Thank you Celebrity for making me feel like a valued customer!

I wouldn't put too much faith in what the front desk reps tell you. Many of them are still in training 

[PTC DAWG]

13 minutes ago, tfred said:

You answered the solo question in your first paragraph. You don't drink, gamble or buy merchandise on board. You don't take excursions. This means are reduced/low or no profit customer. Not a target market. 

 

Agreed, on another note, it’s a good thing we are hashing this issue out again. 🙂

[BytownMatt]

Sorry to hear about this outcome @Sandy1975. It still seems to be inconsistent/ad hoc across the fleet - e.g., based on the website, there don't appear to be similar restrictions on the Beyond in November (with more expensive solo cabins still available).

 

I have 7 cruises planned with Celebrity over the next 2 years (booked a while ago), all as a solo cruiser in a regular balcony stateroom. They didn't refuse my money for any of those.

 

I don't understand why Celebrity would deliberately alienate a segment of their market. Perhaps they think occupancy rates over 100% will last forever and solo cruisers belong on RC going forward.

[TRLD]

1 hour ago, cruisetonowhere10 said:

I’d be curious what the average expenditure is per person…I had a grand total under $20 on my recent trip (I did tip extra direct to people but that’s not what I consider a celebrity revenue line item.) I tend not to spend extra on a ship and am amazed by people’s budgets (I posted our end budget in my trip report) and am all about figuring It how to do that.  lol.  I guess my real point would be that I’m curious how much celebrity is losing by already charging singles more than for two people.

While you can not get it for Celebrity alone, you can get the average per passenger per day spend across all of the RCL brands.  Last quarter the average per passenger per day fare was $218.21 and the onboard spend was $92.44.  The onboard spend includes money spent of packages even if was paid as part of the fare. RCL owned lines, including Celebrity get around 30% of their revenue from onboard spend.

[TRLD]

49 minutes ago, lola2013 said:

As a solo traveler, I expect that my upcoming Apex cruise in a SV will be my last.  I love the E class (along with the S class), but would not consider a solo cabin or retreat.  

Since I am a non-drinker who doesn't frequent the casino for more than a few minutes each night, owns as much Celebrity merch as I need and can find my own way to a beach without booking one of their excursions, I expect I will enjoy every moment in my SV on Edge before spending solo time on the S class going forward.

Let me add an unfortunate experience from a few years ago on Reflection.  My friends (married couple) and I (solo) booked balcony cabins next to each other.  I paid the same as they did for my cabin as a solo.  We enjoy opening up the balcony divider and watching the sunset or just hanging out.  Since we have dinner the same time and are basically on the same schedule, it works to have cabins close together.  When we checked in at the port, I went to the agent on the right while they went to an agent on the left (this was in Miami; at the time they didn't use the iPads like in Ft. Lauderdale).  Anyway they were upgraded to Aqua...good for them; but when we realized we wouldn't be having dinner in the same restaurant, they declined the upgrade.  When I went to Guest Services and asked how upgrades are selected, I was told (very bluntly), "well, solos never get an upgrade."😆  Thank you Celebrity for making me feel like a valued customer!!!

When you stay in a hotel as a solo you are paying the same as the couple in the room next to you.

 

The limiting factor in cruise shup revenue is the number of cabins same as with hotels.

 

Most expenses for a cruise line are fixed for a given itinerary. One might argue about food costs. Even the the orders are basically fixed for an itinerary.  Even if they discounted for food. The amount that cruise lines spend on food per passenger per day is in the 15 - 18 dollar range looking at the cost as an average across all of a companies brands.

[lola2013]

32 minutes ago, drakes2 said:

I wouldn't put too much faith in what the front desk reps tell you. Many of them are still in training 

Lack of training should not be an excuse; there should have been a more polite, diplomatic way to break the news.

[WELDON]

I have 2 cruises booked - Beyond in November and Ascent in December, both ov cabins. They were not double the price.

[cruisetonowhere10]

16 minutes ago, TRLD said:

While you can not get it for Celebrity alone, you can get the average per passenger per day spend across all of the RCL brands.  Last quarter the average per passenger per day fare was $218.21 and the onboard spend was $92.44.  The onboard spend includes money spent of packages even if was paid as part of the fare. RCL owned lines, including Celebrity get around 30% of their revenue from onboard spend.

Interesting.  I had WiFi, drink packages and gratuities as part of the original amount I paid not an add on once on the ship.  The 30% is crazy to me…now if I ever got some of the prices I see then i might spend more but I have to travel at the most expensive times due to work so there’s never really a deal to be had.

Edited August 14 by cruisetonowhere10

[drakes2]

8 minutes ago, lola2013 said:

Lack of training should not be an excuse; there should have been a more polite, diplomatic way to break the news.

Some of the GR agents are just blunt. I sometimes feel it depends on their culture. They don't even realize they are being rude or come across that way until its pointed out. 

[Lena11033]

I wonder if its specific itineraries because I just did a mock booking for myself and every category came up (no second guest added). I know one I looked at the other day it only gave me veranda or retreat as a solo cruiser.

[TRLD]

20 minutes ago, cruisetonowhere10 said:

Interesting.  I had WiFi, drink packages and gratuities as part of the original amount I paid not an add on once on the ship.  The 30% is crazy to me…now if I ever got some of the prices I see then i might spend more but I have to travel at the most expensive times due to work so there’s never really a deal to be had.

Keep in mind that the packages booked as part of fare is split out when it comes to reporting. It is still considered onboard spend even if it was purchased as part of the fare.

[cruisetonowhere10]

7 minutes ago, TRLD said:

Keep in mind that the packages booked as part of fare is split out when it comes to reporting. It is still considered onboard spend even if it was purchased as part of the fare.

Makes sense since they can also all be done individually.  Would be interesting to know the %of ppl who include anything they can from the start.  Honestly, I always include gratuities but the other two depend on the price point.  

[Sandy1975]

35 minutes ago, WELDON said:

I have 2 cruises booked - Beyond in November and Ascent in December, both ov cabins. They were not double the price.

This is something that just started in July (that I noticed). Like I said, not sure if it is widespread but I did looked at a few random sailings in Apex and found the same restrictions. I'm just passing on what "the analyst at the revenue department" said

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

1 hour ago, tfred said:

You answered the solo question in your first paragraph. You don't drink, gamble or buy merchandise on board. You don't take excursions. This means are reduced/low or no profit customer. Not a target market. 

 

You may not be the "typical" solo traveler but there is something to be said about a double occupancy driving extra revenue. "let's do this fun activity together!" may not be something that solos would say. 

 

But I'd guess there are also couples on here (and on board) who do not spend any extra - look at the number of people on here who don't take ship-based excursions, who are elite or elite plus and use that for their drinking and internet, people who don't gamble or shop. If you're going to penalize and restrict solos, you should track those guests and once their Captain's Club number is entered make only Retreat available to them. Until they do that, they are making it pretty clear that they'd prefer to limit solo travelers to the few solo cabins on E-Class ships.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

I have been looking at non-E-Class options for my cruise booked for Feb 2026 - which is in an Aqua Class currently on Beyond - it's a NRD so I'd pay the $100 change fee, but... I figure if they're going to eliminate my ability to book in staterooms I prefer (Aqua) on E-Class, I should look at their other options to see if X will remain one of my choices for cruising. But basically - since I don't want to deal with New Orleans over Mardi Gras and I don't want to do the short cruises on Reflection, I'm left with Silhouette. And looking at recent videos, the TV is across from the sofa rather than the bed. That's a big drawback for me. Everyone on here seems to think the balcony furniture is uncomfortable - I have no issues with that (even on E-Class), but those sofas are NOT comfy at all. So... IDK.

 

I'm willing to lose the $100 I put on a cruise later if I have to. But losing that plus the regular deposit on this one is something I'd rather not do.

[PTC DAWG]

I would say for sure my Wife and I spend 30% or more of the cruise fare on board, counting excursions, the AI up charge, specialty dining, shops etc..