How to reserve-solo vs possibly 2 of us-RCCL

[Buddysmom10]

Planning on  doing a Royal Caribbean cruise in December with "possibly" another person.  Online the only difference is port fees/taxes--i.e. $1000 for solo and about $1150 for two of us.

In reading the boards, I thought it would be best to reserve the cabin for two and if the other person "no shows," the fees and taxes would be refunded for the second person so it would be the same amount as a single. 

 

But I spoke to Royal and they said to reserve for just one and that the other person can be added later (I think they said up until two days before the cruise) and then would have to just pay port charges/fees.  

 

So the amounts are the same but I'm skeptical that I might not be able to add the second person later on even though Royal Caribbean says I can.

 

Any opinions/am I making too much of this or too skeptical? 

 

Thanks!   

[Sprigs616]

17 hours ago, Buddysmom10 said:

Any opinions/am I making too much of this or too skeptical?

 

I received the same advice when I recently booked a solo cruise for May 2020.  At the time I booked, I essentially paid for 2 people under a promotion (buy one and the 2nd person pays 50%).  Even though I booked as a solo, the RC booking agent said, if I decide later to add a second passenger to my cabin, I would only have to pay the additional taxes/fees.  

 

 

[Plant]

I would be concerned because there's a limit to how many guests can be booked on a ship.  It's possible that they'd reach that limit before you added the other person. I don't know much about RCI, so maybe they don't sail full every cruise? Hope someone who's familiar can give you more advice.

[Courcelles]

Unless you have 340 points in Crown and Anchor, book as a double. 
 

If you are at 340, book as a single, they can always charge you more later, but they will not do the single supplement discount after final payment. 

[brillohead]

On 11/15/2019 at 8:16 PM, Plant said:

I would be concerned because there's a limit to how many guests can be booked on a ship.  It's possible that they'd reach that limit before you added the other person. I don't know much about RCI, so maybe they don't sail full every cruise? Hope someone who's familiar can give you more advice.

Royal reserves two lifeboat spots for each cabin on the ship -- it's only a problem adding an extra person to a sold-out ship if you're looking to add a third or fourth person to a room.  (I sometimes cruise solo and have confirmed this with my travel agent, who has been a Top Seller with Royal two years in a row now.)

If you know the second person's info, it's just as easy to book it with both names to start.  There's no downside to booking for two and having one not go.