Cruise Day Points for Solo Travel

[evandbob]

When I 1st started cruising, I sailed solo several times and paid the 200% supplement for the absent person in my cabin. Should I have been given credit for 14 cruise day points instead of the 7 that I received?

 

I now have 137 points towards Diamond status, and could go to 172 if 5 of my solo 7 day cruises that I paid double for would be counted.

 

What do you think?

Edited November 30, 2014 by evandbob

[Jamman54]

When I 1st started cruising, I sailed solo several times and paid the 200% supplement for the absent person in my cabin. Should I have been given credit for 14 cruise day points instead of the 7 that I received?

 

I now have 137 points towards Diamond status, and could go to 172 if 5 of my solo 7 day cruises that I paid double for would be counted.

 

What do you think?

 

Having done several solo cruises myself, I wish that was the case, but it isn't.

[shibby sails]

Well, what we think and what carnival thinks are two different thinks. I cruise solo often also and never got double days for the 6 solo cruises on Carnival. Did get it once on RCCL but it was some sort of promotion. If you pay for two I think you should get double days.

[SunshineCruiser24]

I personally think if they're going to make solo cruisers pay the double rate, they should get double points, but I doubt Carnival will ever make the change!

[Gari]

I cruise solo most of the time to just get away, unplug and relax. They may not give us twice the points but I do feel I have twice the fun

[misguidedangel]

I am on the side of all of you!!! I have done six solo cruises and I truly wish Carnival would give double credit for those solo sailings, I would have an additional 41 days and be around the 140 days mark to get me to Diamond....

 

Perhaps the new CEO of Carnival will correct that if we speak up

[YubaSutter]

It's not how much you paid, it's how many actual days cruised.

[DGP1111]

I personally think if they're going to make solo cruisers pay the double rate, they should get double points, but I doubt Carnival will ever make the change!

 

And I highly doubt that too.

 

You have to remember that CCL was the one who initially (and for more than one year) made the totally doofus decision that solo cruisers who participated in their Future Carnival Vacation certificate program . . . even those who were paying 200% percent . . . would only receive HALF of the stated onboard credit per sailing. A couple paying the exact same total amount would receive the full OBC. Foolish!

 

They eventually took their head out of a very dark place, and changed that rule, but (for some) the damage had already been done.

 

It is what it is.

 

.

[djacobson]

When I 1st started cruising, I sailed solo several times and paid the 200% supplement for the absent person in my cabin. Should I have been given credit for 14 cruise day points instead of the 7 that I received?

 

I now have 137 points towards Diamond status, and could go to 172 if 5 of my solo 7 day cruises that I paid double for would be counted.

 

What do you think?

 

I wish that a solo passenger did not have to pay double deposits when booking a cruise. I understand paying the double occupancy, but don't understand the need to pay double deposits.

 

It would be nice if the absent person who I paid for in my cabin could get their chocolate strawberries or past guest gift. They have sailed as often as I have...

 

If you book on NCL more than nine months before the cruise date, their loyalty program allows you to receive double cruise days.

[SunshineCruiser24]

And I highly doubt that too.

 

 

 

You have to remember that CCL was the one who initially (and for more than one year) made the totally doofus decision that solo cruisers who participated in their Future Carnival Vacation certificate program . . . even those who were paying 200% percent . . . would only receive HALF of the stated onboard credit per sailing. A couple paying the exact same total amount would receive the full OBC. Foolish!

 

 

 

They eventually took their head out of a very dark place, and changed that rule, but (for some) the damage had already been done.

 

 

 

It is what it is.

 

 

 

.

 

 

That's crap! I can't believe they did that. I don't get why cruise lines are so adamant against solos. They should follow NCL and build cabins just for solos and capitalize on the market! I know solos who drop a pretty penny on the ship, and couples who don't spend a dime.

[cruisecraze96]

That's crap! I can't believe they did that. I don't get why cruise lines are so adamant against solos. They should follow NCL and build cabins just for solos and capitalize on the market! I know solos who drop a pretty penny on the ship, and couples who don't spend a dime.

I checked into those NCL solo cabins and wow they are tiny :) When we cruise I still like a balcony and I am one of those people who would rather pay double occupancy than share a room with anyone except kids or DH. My sister is the same way so we each have our own cabin in February.

 

I know that Carnival does have some single sales sometimes and there used to be a list of cruises. I know when we went on a spring break one if my MIL could have found flights I could have got her a room as a single without the double rate but by then the flights were 2-3x as much as the cruise would have been.

[RWolver672]

As far as having to pay double and only getting credit for one cruise, it's no different than someone getting an inside cabin on the Riviera Deck for "X" dollars and someone getting the Captains Suite for "XXXX" dollars. Both get credit for one cruise no matter how much you paid for it.

 

Before the new way of getting "status", you could book ten three day cruises and become Platinum. Had you booked five seven day cruises, you still wouldn't make it to Platinum even though you have cruises more days and more than likely spent a lot more to do it.

[okgirl]

I understand the frustration of the solo cruiser on the 200% and I'm glad that is not an issue for my sister and I.

 

But, from Carnival's perspective they would rather have 2 people in a cabin for revenue purposes. So looking at it from that slant, the solo cruiser almost costs the cruise lines money since the solo cruiser isn't paying double gratuities (I know 1/2 the work, but the steward still misses out on the gratuities that they bank on). Presumably 1/2 the onboard revenue in all area's, specialty restaurants, shops, casino, excursions.

 

That revenue loss isn't offset by the solo cruiser eating 1/2 the food since that's an inconsequential expense. In fact it could be said that food is going to waste on the solo cruiser since they have to stock the ship accordingly.

[Carnival_Brides]

I agree you should 100% get credit since you're paying for the absent second person. However, I think if they do this, they are opening themselves up to the situation where people who pay for others want the "others" points.

 

For example, we paid for 10 people to cruise and attend our cruise wedding--my wife and I should be able to take those people's combined 70 days and split them between us to further our status.

 

I also think it would also bring flack from those who book "more expensive cabins" or spend $$$$ and aren't getting credit for their spending, as well.

[nwcruiselover]

I have sailed as a solo on Carnival, NCL and Royal Caribbean. Only Royal Caribbean gives double points for solos. They do it all the time, not just as a promotion. Royal gives double points for people in suites. Royal and NCL don't charge double deposits for solos either. I wish Carnival would go back to single deposits for solos.

Edited December 1, 2014 by nwcruiselover

[adaptabl]

When I 1st started cruising, I sailed solo several times and paid the 200% supplement for the absent person in my cabin. Should I have been given credit for 14 cruise day points instead of the 7 that I received?

 

I now have 137 points towards Diamond status, and could go to 172 if 5 of my solo 7 day cruises that I paid double for would be counted.

 

What do you think?

 

one day sailing = one day credit for all. A great policy that does not need to change.

[evandbob]

one day sailing = one day credit for all. A great policy that does not need to change.

 

Well I appreciate your opinion.

 

I made up my mind long ago that the only solo cruises I will do on Carnival would be at a true single rate. For double the cost, other cruise lines are better values. I doubt I will achieve diamond status, but perhaps I'll get to my 25th cruise with Carnival at some point in my lifetime.

[misguidedangel]

Heck ya, I too was a victim of the early bungling of the Book on Board/FCC program. I booked a cruise on the Liberty for the year and when I went argued my case for the $100 OBC to a Carnival rep and even emailed John about it, well I got nowhere.

 

The frustrating part was a month or so after my cruise Carnival realized their massive blunder and started honouring the $100 OBC for solo travellers. I asked John if those of us who got stiffed would be able to get our $50 credit back and it seems that Carnival wasn't going to budge.....

 

I booked at a higher rate, and when ES rates came out I could have cancelled without penalty, lost the OBC, and rebooked the same cabin for $300 less, but I was also told that since there were only our spa suites on the Splendor I risked losing it during the process of cancelling and rebooking...

 

Carnival blundered bigtime when introducing the program way back when people in port cities cruised as many as five times a year on three or four day long weekend cruises managed to get Platinum status in two and some years with only 30-40 sea days, while others went on 10 seven day or longer cruises and got Platinum with 70 or 70+ days....

 

We'll see if they fix or change it...doubtful, but a wee, iddy biddy, tiny, minute chance they will....like less than 1%....

[Joeychgo]

Personally, I think the VFIP program is terrible just because of things like this.

 

I don't like that the points are the same whether you travel alone or with several others, no consideration as to what kind of cabin you get be it inside or suite, same points, nothing for referring someone else to carnival, and no real benefits unless you have cruised many many days.

 

Completely Inequitable IMO which makes it ineffective.

[ccruisequeen]

Last summer I was lucky to get a casino rate with no single supplement. It seams there are more single supplement sales on the east coast than the west.

 

I was lucky to be grandfathered into platinum before it converted to days sailed, otherwise I'd still have 12 points to go. I'm onto my 16th cruise (five of them solo) and would love to have some of those supplement fees back. When I get the post cruise surveys and they ask about changes to the VIFP program, I always suggest that platinum diamond pax get the supplement dropped!

 

 

I still cruise for Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (with 2 sugar-free vanilla ice-creams)

[near the beach]

I don’t think anyone should get any days sailed credit for purchasing anyone else’s cruise. All passengers should receive one day for one day sailed.

Carnival fixed what some people thought was a lop hole to fast platinum level. Changing number of cruises regardless of number of days sailed to just days sailed.

The old way someone could sail 10 cruises of 3 days and be platinum with 30 days of cruising.

If someone could received double credit for sailing solo they could reach platinum in 5 or 6 cruises. To me that seems like a bigger loop hole.

I don’t have a problem with the way it is now. I don’t sail alone. However if I wanted to I would paid whatever the rate is to sail on that particular cruise.

 

If you enjoy cruising and cruise long enough. You will advance to higher levels of cruise line status. If that means anything to you.

[kybluecruiser]

Add me to the list of solo cruisers who wish we got double points.

[kybluecruiser]

I don’t think anyone should get any days sailed credit for purchasing anyone else’s cruise. All passengers should receive one day for one day sailed.

Carnival fixed what some people thought was a lop hole to fast platinum level. Changing number of cruises regardless of number of days sailed to just days sailed.

The old way someone could sail 10 cruises of 3 days and be platinum with 30 days of cruising.

If someone could received double credit for sailing solo they could reach platinum in 5 or 6 cruises. To me that seems like a bigger loop hole.

I don’t have a problem with the way it is now. I don’t sail alone. However if I wanted to I would paid whatever the rate is to sail on that particular cruise.

 

If you enjoy cruising and cruise long enough. You will advance to higher levels of cruise line status. If that means anything to you.

Why not?? When we pay for a solo cruise we are basically paying for two people.

[near the beach]

The rule states one day credit per day sailed.

Solo cruisers don’t pay for two people they just pay extra for being solo.

[maryann2]

I wish that a solo passenger did not have to pay double deposits when booking a cruise. I understand paying the double occupancy, but don't understand the need to pay double deposits.

 

If you book on NCL more than nine months before the cruise date, their loyalty program allows you to receive double cruise days.

Royal also gives double points for solos even if the solo price is not double.

 

I know that Carnival does have some single sales sometimes and there used to be a list of cruises. I know when we went on a spring break one if my MIL could have found flights I could have got her a room as a single without the double rate but by then the flights were 2-3x as much as the cruise would have been.

My 5 recent Carnival cruises have had no solo supplement at all. That's why I did five. 3 on the Splendor, one Freedom and one Glory. 7 day, 5 day, 8 day, 6 day and 7 day so a total of 33 days. What a deal. These were for the 1As with portholes. I did B2Bs and saved on airfare that way.

Edited December 8, 2014 by maryann2