Why Are Solo Cruisers Getting Ripped-Off?
As you know, most of my cruises have been as a solo cruiser. One question I often get is why are solo cruisers getting ripped-off? There are many solo travelers who would love to take a cruise but quickly find out they will have to pay double the advertised fare for a cruise to take one. Ouch! So here I’ll explain why cruise lines charge double for a solo cruiser and what you can do to avoid getting ripped-off. There are loads of ways to save on a cruise so if you have any tips of your own, please let me know in the comments.
What is a Solo Supplement?
When you go to book a cruise, the rates you will see assume double occupancy and is the cost per person. As an example, on the Princess website they are showing a 7-Day Eastern Caribbean with Bahamas cruise for $569 per person for an interior cabin. If you switch that to single occupancy the price goes to $1138. When you look at that, your immediate reaction is “What! That’s a rip-off!” This is natural as you appear to be paying double for the value you receive. Afterall, if you book a land hotel, in most cases, you do not pay double for a room if you are the only one in the room. Cruise lines base their business not only on the cruise fare but what you will spend onboard. Estimates vary but it’s not uncommon to spend $50-$100 per day per person for the extras not included in the cruise fare. Most lines have you pay with a “cruise card” so the total can add up quickly without you realizing it. The cruise lines count on this revenue for their business, so the more people on the ship, the more potential they have to make money. By selling a cabin to a solo traveler, they are halving their potential to earn money. But is this actually the case? Are cruise lines looking at things the wrong way or, in fact, are we as solo cruisers looking at it the wrong way?
Introducing the Solo Cabin
If you have looked at the new ships coming online in the past few years, you will see that the demographics are changing for cruising. For years the view was that cruising was for older or retired couples who had the time and money to go on a cruise. Some cruise lines still cater to that demographic to this day. But increasingly, more people are seeing the value offered by cruising and the cruise lines are eager to tap into the growth potential by offering products that these groups are looking for. Today it is common to see younger couples, multigenerational and families looking to cruise. Among these new demographics are solo cruisers. The Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA) states that solo (lone) cruisers are an industry trend. The report explains, “Lone Cruisers: Marriage rates are declining and the number of single adults is growing globally. As a result, cruise lines are responding to the shift in passenger demographics by offering studio cabins, single-friendly activities, eliminating single supplements and solo-lounges.” Here the report is specifically calling out single cruisers but not all solo travelers are single. Many, like me, are married or have partners, but choose to cruise alone. One way cruise lines are addressing this trend is with the introduction of solo cabins. New cruise ships are starting to add cabins specifically designed for single occupancy. These cabins are much smaller and normally only inside cabins. Norwegian Cruise Lines has taken an interesting approach, branding their solo cabins as “studio cabins”. Guests have private key access to a common area, called “The Living Room” which is a lounge area that includes a bar, TVs, and seating area. Some studios are connecting which could really work out if you are travelling together but still want your own space. On the surface, solo cabins seem to be the solution for the solo cruiser wanting to avoid the solo supplement and for many it is. However, it may be useful to not just look at the price, but the value of what you are paying for.
Looking at the Value
Looking only at the price does not give a total picture of the value received. It may be that for the price, it’s worth paying the extra money. Two value aspects that are often overlook are space and benefits. It is certainly true that for the most part you will be paying more to cruise solo. But on the other hand, you are also getting a cabin designed for two people all to yourself! Take a look on YouTube and you will find zillions of vlogs showing you how to make the most of the limited space in a cabin. Take a closer look and you will see that they are couples or families all trying to use the same space. But as a solo traveler, it’s all yours. You will find you will have more than enough space for all your stuff. So yes, you are paying more but you are also getting more value in the form of space. You may also find that solo cabins are not always a great deal. A random search on NCL showed a studio cabin going for $1,356 and an inside cabin at $1,093 (single occupancy) for the same cruise. So you would actually pay more for the solo cabin. An often-overlooked value from paying the solo supplement is reaching higher status on the cruise line more quickly. Most lines will double the cruise credits that count towards your status levels when you pay the solo supplement. So yes, you are paying double but also getting credit for sailing two cruises for every cruise you sail. Cabin location is one the most important choices to make for an enjoyable cruise. Being in a noisy area or far away from the areas you frequently go to can really ruin your cruise experience. If you opt for a solo or studio cabin, you will limit the choices you have for cabin location. But you may get lucky and find a cabin in a good spot for you. As always, book early so you have the best chance of finding a cabin location you like. Although the number of ships with solo cabins is increasing, for now you will find a limited choice. That means there will also be a limited number of itineraries available to you. You are most likely to find ships with solo cabins sailing in most popular areas with the most popular itineraries. But if you’re looking for more unusual cruise destinations or itineraries, it may be more difficult.
What if cruise lines didn’t have a solo supplement?
It Is natural to view the solo supplement as a penalty, but what If cruise lines didn’t charge a solo supplement? I would think most people traveling as a couple or as a family would gladly get two cabins if it costs nothing extra. What I mean is, if a balcony cabin costs $1000 for a week with two people in the cabin, then the cost for a single in the cabin is also $1000 for the week since there would be no solo supplement. If I were traveling as a couple or as a family, I’d definitely get adjoining cabins for the same price. That would give me double the balcony space, double the closet space, and double bathroom space for no extra cost. (As an aside, I think that is why you see the cost of the third and fourth person in the cabin at such a low price. If they also paid the same as the first two, then that also would make sense for them to get a separate cabin) So the solo supplement also keeps people traveling in parties greater than 1 from gaming the system.
Is there a way to avoid the solo supplement?
From time-to-time cruise lines will offer discounts on the solo supplement. The trick is, how to find out about them. Some sources for information are your travel agent, cruise line advertisements and promotional emails, online communities like Facebook or Cruise Critic, and dedicated websites for finding cruises with a lower solo supplement. You may also be able to get a better deal based on your loyalty status with the cruise line. For instance, as of this writing, the Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor program offers “Single supplement cruise fare reduced to 150% from 200% for members that have 340+ cruise points”. I only have 199 so I have a way to go yet. There are several solo cruiser websites offering information on availability and discounts offered to solo travelers. Some websites also offer hosted groups where you book your cruise along with other solo cruisers. Here is a brief list of websites I have found to find discounts for solo cruisers.
I mentioned before that a travel agent is a good way to find out about discounts on solo cruises. There is no additional cost to use a travel agent so it’s a good option. I don’t know of any agents or agencies that specialize in solo cruising. Maybe there is a business opportunity there? As I stated earlier, solo cruising is getting to be more and more common. The best chance to find a low-cost cruise is to have flexibility of time and choice of itinerary and cruise line. If you only want to cruise one specific itinerary at a specific time, you might get lucky, but you may find that booking is not offering a discount. Secondly to improve your chances, book when bookings first open. That gives you the most choice in selecting the right cabin on the right ship at the right time for the itinerary you are looking for.
Don't cruise solo!
A straightforward way of avoiding the solo supplement is to not sail solo. What I mean is find someone to go with you. Maybe even offer a deal to your travelling companion, you will pay half the cost of their cruise, assuming you would normally have paid double, that cuts your additional cost in half along with the cost to your cruising partner. For example, if the total cost for a cabin double occupancy is $1000 ($500 each), you would pay $750, and your companion would pay $250. A win-win situation. You each save $250.
Summary
So, are solo cruisers getting ripped-off? Certainly, when you see the cruise fare double when you select that “1” on the cruise line’s “find a cruise” page, it certainly feels that way. Hopefully this post has given you some ideas for saving money. I also hope after reading this post that you have a broader sense of the value you receive. You might have to pay double, but you also get some benefits others do not get. In the end solo cruising provides you the opportunity to do what you want, when you want. And that is a real treat. I recommend you watch this excellent video from Gary Bembridge on YouTube, Tips for Travllers - Cruise Solo Without Paying For Two! How Do I Do It? for more information. He has done many solo cruises and has several videos on how to save money as a solo traveler.
Additional Information
CLIA Releases 2020 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook Report | CLIA (cruising.org)
Cruise Vlogger, UK | Cruising Tips Pete
Solo Cabin Cruise Lines - Tips For Travellers
Tips for Travllers YouTube - Cruise Solo Without Paying For Two! How Do I Do It?
YouTube: Norwegian Bliss Cruise Studio Cabin 12508 Connecting - Rhonda Reinhardt