How much can you solo ?

In 2015, I met someone on a cruise who told me that she cruises solo for 5-6 months out of the year, and is home for holidays and the summer.

It didn't dawn on me at that time to ask her how she does it.

Can it be done for $1000/wk - less or more ?

I started this thread to get some ideas/experiences from others who cruise a lot and how you plan for more than 1 or B2B cruises ?

Thank you !

Lyannea

If you are able then do last minute cruising, especially from October-March, then it can get quiet cheap.. And if you have cruises that leave your home port, then you cut the flight. Also depends on the cruise line, I have found NCL is the best price wise and they often don't charge single supplement, especially on their last minute cruises.

Let me just give you an example of what a last minute cruise can look like.

My last cruise was in March of this year. NCL Pearl, booked last minute(two days before sailing), Panama Canal 10 day cruise out of Miami. I booked an inside guarantee for 499, not including taxes and fees. Last year I found similar great deals out of NY which of course I took advantage of.

GREAT ideas !

I read about a gentleman who has been on cruise ships for the last seven years. He uses a credit card to pay for his cruises where he gets travel points, and uses those points to pay for his flights between ports.

For the last year I have not seen good prices (less than $100 per day) for cruises going the the places I wanted to see.

But:

In the previous two years I did 6 days @ $460, 7 days @ $540 and 21 days @ $1800, all of these were well below my $100 day threshold.

More important, this year I have received email from both the Carnival and NCL cruise lines that I qualify for a past-guest discount that would bring a number of cruises also below that $100 day threshold. (The main reason I did not go is I had medical appointments).

So if you do go on some cruises that are already at the less than $1000 per week, you will probably find the cruise lines will send you email offers to still other cheap cruises. You just need to get started and register with them, but expect a lot of emails for cruises that don't save you that much in money also.

To do extended cruising, solo or not, one books the longer cruises available on most lines. Otherwise you will spend much of your cruise time going back and forth to FLA ports. Also, its better financially.

GREAT ideas !

I read about a gentleman who has been on cruise ships for the last seven years. He uses a credit card to pay for his cruises where he gets travel points, and uses those points to pay for his flights between ports.

I guess it depends on what stage of life a cruiser is at. If someone works full time and only gets 2 weeks vacation per year, then there are limitations. If a cruiser is retired then the options are almost unlimited especially for longer cruises.

Being within driving distance of ports of embarkation make a big difference on how much it will cost overall.

To do extended cruising, solo or not, one books the longer cruises available on most lines. Otherwise you will spend much of your cruise time going back and forth to FLA ports. Also, its better financially.

Yes, you are right. I should pointed out that there a large number of cruises that are two weeks or longer in length that often cost $1100-$1900 in costs but still ends up costing less than $1000 a week.

As for the time starting and ending the cruise, I find half of the starting day is spent settling in for the cruise, and a lot of the final day getting ready to leave the ship. So one and half days of a shorter cruise are wasted, longer cruises are better. I only talked about my solo cruises, but my travel companions and I have agreed years ago to only go on longer trips together. The last three trips with them all were two week cruises.

Agreed Earl.Not to mention air costs/ hastle to go on a short cruise. As I age,I really hate long flights. I did 71N cruise in 15. I am thinking of renting my condo out and doing another longer cruise of several WC segments.

And don't forget travel insurance. At minimum, most US citizens need medical and evacuation if you are of an age where you can be away for 5-6 months a year.

There are a very few people who have retired to a cruise ship, but I think that's only feasible if you do not maintain a home on land. Certainly cruising for 6+ months a year is feasible at a reasonable cost if you live in a port city (so getting to and from the ship is inexpensive).

In my opinion, most people (operative word here......"MOST") would

have a hard time cruising 6 months out of the year.....unless they are

independently wealthy;)....and if that is the case? Heck, I would just

cruise all year round. But that will never be the case (for me anyway).

But seriously, the person the original poster met and said they cruise

6 months out of the year? Well, it sounds like they don't have to work....

they have "some" unlimited wealth and are responsible for only themselves.

Oh, about doing it for less than $1000.00 a week?........I have no idea. You would

have to do lots of research and see what itineraries are what..........but again,

in my opinion, that sounds really cheap (especially for a solo). You would have

to do alot of research to find all the information or call a TA who specializes

in cruising and tell them what you want and how much you want to spend per

week and see what they come up with..........

I agree with the other posters, it would be nice to cruise that much; but unfortunately until I retire and hit the lottery there is not much chance of that happening. Of course though once I do hit the lottery it will be much easier to retire, so when that happens it will be Bon Voyage to everyone. However, I am not holding my breath, so I will continue with my 1 or 2 cruises a year until then.

If you are able then do last minute cruising, especially from October-March, then it can get quiet cheap.. And if you have cruises that leave your home port, then you cut the flight. Also depends on the cruise line, I have found NCL is the best price wise and they often don't charge single supplement, especially on their last minute cruises.

 

Let me just give you an example of what a last minute cruise can look like.

 

My last cruise was in March of this year. NCL Pearl, booked last minute(two days before sailing), Panama Canal 10 day cruise out of Miami. I booked an inside guarantee for 499, not including taxes and fees. Last year I found similar great deals out of NY which of course I took advantage of.

I did not find anything 'chreap' about ncl'S 200% SINGLE supplement I paid forpenthouse last summeron Dawen. HAD I WANTEDD,, I could have sailed many weeks if I was willig t book a $100/cabin.

I did not find anything 'chreap' about ncl'S 200% SINGLE supplement I paid forpenthouse last summeron Dawen. HAD I WANTEDD,, I could have sailed many weeks if I was willig t book a $100/cabin.

The words 'cheap' and 'penthouse' never go together. What did you expect?

In today's market there seems to be few cruises that are not nearly fully booked.

The odds that they will sail and not find someone to pay full price for the penthouse is very low, so would they give you a cheaper deal?

The words 'cheap' and 'penthouse' never go together. What did you expect?

 

Very true! I think most solos do not cruise in the higher-end cabins.

Very true! I think most solos do not cruise in the higher-end cabins.

I would never begrudge anyone who can afford whatever type of cabin

they book.....Penthouse or whatever suite they choose. If I could afford

a suite, not sure I would do it but that is just me....I think my DNA is

geared to just book a "regular cabin";).......

We all have our priorities and so it goes........

I would never begrudge anyone who can afford whatever type of cabin

they book.....Penthouse or whatever suite they choose. If I could afford

a suite, not sure I would do it but that is just me....I think my DNA is

geared to just book a "regular cabin";).......

 

We all have our priorities and so it goes........

I'd rather have a smaller cabin on a luxury line than a penthouse on NCL or HAL (for instance). As you said, different strokes.....

I am now a solo now and sail in what type cabinwealways booked. personal choice and all that. I was not the only solo in a butler eligible cabin on my Dawn cruise. :wink:

No problem, Sail. If I had the extra cash sitting around, I would get a regular balcony every time. Enjoy the penthouse and the butler! :)

I'm thinking of retiring next year, so hope to be able to take advantage of late offers. I live reasonably close to Southampton, and could actually get across there using my free bus pass! I normally just get the train.

The only reason that I'm still working is to pay for my cruising habit!

Can it be done for $1000/wk - less or more ?

A few years back there was a guy here on CC who had set up to cruise for a year, and I believe his cost was just over $1,000/week. He had negotiated a deal with the cruise line (I forget which one). He basically did one 7-day cruise back-to-back for about half the year, and then switched to another itinerary, again back-to-back for the balance of the year. There were maybe 2-3 weeks out of the year that the cruise line couldn't accommodate him, so he arranged to spend those times onshore.

Cool, but here's the thing: I wouldn't want to simply do the SAME cruise (or two) over and over again. I would think more in terms of doing a "world" cruise (typically about 15 weeks) and then maybe add some time on either end of that. But you won't be able to do THAT for a measly $1,000/week. ;-)

I think the most economical way to cruise that long would actually be to cruise full time, without a home on land. By giving up the costs of a land-based home (rent/mortgage, utilities, food, car, insurance, etc), those costs will help pay for the cost of year-round cruises. And a hotel for those dry-dock times, or times when you want to visit with friends or family.

I just started cruising last July--and am packing for b2b cruises next week which will be #7 & 8--with 9 & 10 already booked. All but 2 of them have been solo. I will be the first to admit that if it weren't for the perks through casino services-I couldn't afford it! I've had everything from inside cabin to balcony.

Not sure where to post this question. I have had 7 solo cruises on Princess which gives me 14 points for the Captains Circles. One point less of Elite status. I have a 14 day cruise to Hawaii. Anyone have an experience of getting bumped up with this situation.

Thank you.

Diana

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If I understand your question, you want to know if you will be bumped up to elite? It will be after your next cruise.