Single supplement charge

[luv2travel77]

Well I guess, in general, the single supplement charge is resulted from the solo cruiser paying for the double occupancy rate of a cabin.

 

When a Princess ship is not sailing full, do they ever waive the single supplement charge for solo cruisers at a last minute deal event?

Or would they rather have the cabin empty?

 

Thanks for all your input!

[SwissDave]

As a mostly solo traveller I have never known them to not to charge the full single supplement even though it's been obvious the ship sailed well under capacity.

[cruisemom42]

I've never known them to waive the supplement. Occasionally there are special deals where the supplement is lower. However, these specials most often do not apply to balcony & above cabins.

[paul929207]

Not that I have heard of. They would lower the double occupancy rate first as this would yield two passengers spending money on the ship.

[2little time]

Well I guess, in general, the single supplement charge is resulted from the solo cruiser paying for the double occupancy rate of a cabin.

 

When a Princess ship is not sailing full, do they ever waive the single supplement charge for solo cruisers at a last minute deal event?

Or would they rather have the cabin empty?

 

Thanks for all your input!

 

That would be wonderful if they did but I am afraid they do not.:mad:

[travlinbug]

I'm confused. "single supplement"?? Do you mean a single basically paying for 2 except for some ports charges? I have always paid basically full cabin fare as a solo.The smallest cabin I have used is a minisuite. I have been in PS and Grand Suite also. Is there such a thing as single supplement? Or do they call 100% a "supplement"? Maybe on smaller cabins? I have booked thru both TA and with Princess directly. Enlighten me.:confused:

[cherylandtk]

I'm confused. "single supplement"?? Do you mean a single basically paying for 2 except for some ports charges? I have always paid basically full cabin fare as a solo.The smallest cabin I have used is a minisuite. I have been in PS and Grand Suite also. Is there such a thing as single supplement? Or do they call 100% a "supplement"? Maybe on smaller cabins? I have booked thru both TA and with Princess directly. Enlighten me.:confused:

'Single supplement' is the common terminology used in cruise contracts to describe the extra amount (~double) paid by solo cruisers who occupy a cabin by themselves.

[Pam in CA]

Well I guess, in general, the single supplement charge is resulted from the solo cruiser paying for the double occupancy rate of a cabin.

 

When a Princess ship is not sailing full, do they ever waive the single supplement charge for solo cruisers at a last minute deal event?

Or would they rather have the cabin empty?

 

Thanks for all your input!

No, never waived. They will sell the cabin whether you're in it or not. If you choose to cruise as a single in a cabin, you will pay anywhere from 150-200% of the per-person cruise fare, depending on the cruise and cabin category, for the exclusive use of the cabin. That's the cost of the cruise.

[Treven]

On my upcoming cruise to Alaska in June, my single supplement is 162% of the base fare. This is probably the lowest fare I've encountered. I realize the cruise lines are not "non-profit making organizations" and that a cabin rents for (as an example) $3000 for a certain period of time whether there are two people in there or just myself. I don't like having to pay it, :rolleyes: but I'd rather pay it than have someone else in the cabin.:(

[Coral]

First - it depends on the category. If booked in advance, insides and outsides are often not 200%. Balconies and higher are almost always 200%.

 

I have found that when the sailing gets closer and if the ship issues flash specials, the prices go down but single supplement is 200% on the flash categories. Though, there are sometimes that some categories are in the flash specials and others are not.

 

Though - to give an example from several years ago. A single friend of mine booked a b2b in Alaska and he paid 150% for an outside cabin. I booked on a flash special several weeks later for the same sailing and paid 200% for my outside cabin. We were 2 doors apart and we both paid the same amount for our cabins even though he paid a lower percentage.

 

Lesson learned - look at the whole picture and not just the percentage.

[KruzPrincess]

Never. Now that I book balconies I always pay 200%. When I booked an inside cabin I originally started out at 135%, but by the time the cruise got there I was close to 200% due to price drops. My price never dropped, but people who paid double occupancy got a bunch of price drops. The only advantage to cruising solo, besides the obvious of getting a lovely cabin to yourself, is that you get double points on your way up the loyalty ladder.

[zacc]

Triple points if you book a suite. And only the cruises credits multiply not the days at sea. A 7 day solo cruise in a balcony is 2 cruise credits but only 7 days.

[luv2travel77]

Thanks for all your replies! Wishful thinking on my part. :D

[Stevesan]

First - it depends on the category. If booked in advance, insides and outsides are often not 200%. Balconies and higher are almost always 200%.

 

I have found that when the sailing gets closer and if the ship issues flash specials, the prices go down but single supplement is 200% on the flash categories. Though, there are sometimes that some categories are in the flash specials and others are not.

 

Though - to give an example from several years ago. A single friend of mine booked a b2b in Alaska and he paid 150% for an outside cabin. I booked on a flash special several weeks later for the same sailing and paid 200% for my outside cabin. We were 2 doors apart and we both paid the same amount for our cabins even though he paid a lower percentage.

 

Lesson learned - look at the whole picture and not just the percentage.

 

Exactly right! Solo cruisers shouldn't get hung up on the percentage. I've paid less to Princess for a top category cabin than HAL's price for a cabin at the bottom of the same category - identical itinerary and dates.

 

We have to keep an eye on the bottom line.

[dread_pirate]

Exactly right! Solo cruisers shouldn't get hung up on the percentage. I've paid less to Princess for a top category cabin than HAL's price for a cabin at the bottom of the same category - identical itinerary and dates.

 

We have to keep an eye on the bottom line.

Agreed, and the cruise lines are shooting themselves in the foot with their marketing.

 

When I book a hotel, I generally see the price as double occupancy, but I am shown the price for the room. I pay the same whether I'm one person or two. But since I don't have to double the price, I'm generally okay with the price for the room. Depending on the hotel, I determine if I want to pay $X for that hotel.

 

It's the psychological shock of suddenly seeing the pricing double that has people balking at a "single supplement."

 

Why don't they just say, "This is the price of the cabin for a maximum of two occupants"? IMO, they'd have many fewer problems with solo cruisers.

[dmwnc1959]

Lesson learned - look at the whole picture and not just the percentage.

 

Exactly right! Solo cruisers shouldn't get hung up on the percentage....We have to keep an eye on the bottom line.

 

Last year I booked a 10-nt B2B and the bottom line was $1233 for my single occupancy rate. I never even considered or looked at what it was in relation to the double occupancy rate. Just what I was paying, was I comfortable with the per diem rate, and was I happy with it.

 

Same thing for two years ago when I got a balcony on a 9-nt out of Baltimore from less than $900. This year I have a 4-nt booked and the total cruise price is $530 and I am happy with it.

 

I set a budget, look at the price and the number of days, where it's going, and is it a good deal to me. I love having my own room and to me that is priceless.

[Stevesan]

Agreed, and the cruise lines are shooting themselves in the foot with their marketing.

 

When I book a hotel, I generally see the price as double occupancy, but I am shown the price for the room. I pay the same whether I'm one person or two. But since I don't have to double the price, I'm generally okay with the price for the room. Depending on the hotel, I determine if I want to pay $X for that hotel.

 

It's the psychological shock of suddenly seeing the pricing double that has people balking at a "single supplement."

 

Why don't they just say, "This is the price of the cabin for a maximum of two occupants"? IMO, they'd have many fewer problems with solo cruisers.

 

We can, and should, grouse about 200%, but on board spending accounts for 25% of revenues.

Examples from CNBC program dated July 2009:

The cruise line takes 20% of Art Auctions and 50-60% of Shorex. On average about two- thirds of pax purchase one shore tour. There's additional lost revenue from the casino, beverage sales and art auctions. The cruise line also shares in sales with some land shops such as DI.

[tgmtgm]

No, never waived. They will sell the cabin whether you're in it or not. If you choose to cruise as a single in a cabin, you will pay anywhere from 150-200% of the per-person cruise fare, depending on the cruise and cabin category, for the exclusive use of the cabin. That's the cost of the cruise.

 

 

Not always so. I as well as as another solo cruiser booked Window Suites on the Caribbean Princess this fall for the same per person double occupancy price. Basically zero supplement. Might have been a glitch in the system, who knows. The same pricing was available on several different sailings. It pays to go through the booking process to verify just exactly what the single passenger pricing actually is. You might get lucky and grab a great deal! :D

 

Tony