Celebrity's new 150% Single Supplement Policy - OUTRAGEOUS!!!

[MTTRUN]

Went to Book Celebrity Ascent for April 2025 out of FLL. I sail solo. I have cruised 23 times before on RCCL and NCl. I am accustomed to paying single supplements and understand the reasoning but Celebrity's new policy of charging a single supplement of 150% is frankly disgusting. I reached out to Celebrity customer service and they did their best to answer my questions but acknowledged the industry breaking policy and referred to it as "demand pricing". But if I book for two passengers (not just one) the cruise was $1,100 cheaper. Yes, one passenger on an April Celebrity Ascent (7 day) sailing is $4,600 but same cruise, same cabin for two people is only $3,500. I tried booking multiple cruises and different ships only to find the same thing. I realize they some (very few) solo cabins but those are booked out very fast. What are they thinking? What's so taboo about solo travelers that management outwardly and purposely does not want them?

[kaysha2004]

Celebrity has always charged 200% for a solo traveler in a double occupancy room.  So if you're only getting charged 150%, that's a win for a solo.  But your numbers don't make sense. Celebrity's leadership has always treated solos like trash, and it's worse than ever now.  Notice where they put the solo cabins....on deck 6 overlooking the lifeboats.  I'm taking my cruise dollars elsewhere.

[tropiclvrs]

As money grabbing as it does seem, it's all about the potential onboard spending that they would be losing for the 2nd person.  At least that is their rationale.

Unless you are specifically wanting to get double cruise points, I would suggesting making your booking for 2 people with that 2nd person (maybe a friend, family member etc...) never showing up at the dock.  I've heard this is the way to go to save yourself some money.

 

 

[PTC DAWG]

I would also go the no show route..

[Liao]

30 minutes ago, MTTRUN said:

Went to Book Celebrity Ascent for April 2025 out of FLL. I sail solo. I have cruised 23 times before on RCCL and NCl. I am accustomed to paying single supplements and understand the reasoning but Celebrity's new policy of charging a single supplement of 150% is frankly disgusting. I reached out to Celebrity customer service and they did their best to answer my questions but acknowledged the industry breaking policy and referred to it as "demand pricing". But if I book for two passengers (not just one) the cruise was $1,100 cheaper. Yes, one passenger on an April Celebrity Ascent (7 day) sailing is $4,600 but same cruise, same cabin for two people is only $3,500. I tried booking multiple cruises and different ships only to find the same thing. I realize they some (very few) solo cabins but those are booked out very fast. What are they thinking? What's so taboo about solo travelers that management outwardly and purposely does not want them?

I'm not seeing this anymore, I did several weeks ago but not now.  Example with two mock bookings, did not include grats in either example:

 

Apex

13 nights transatlantic

March 2025

Celebrity Suite

2 pax - $16,249

1 pax - $14,491

 

Eclipse

12 nights transatlantic

March 2025

Royal Suite

2 pax - $13,338

1 pax - $11,893

 

In both examples, just now off website, cost for 1 pax is less.

[PTC DAWG]

3 minutes ago, Liao said:

I'm not seeing this anymore, I did several weeks ago but not now.  Example with two mock bookings, did not include grats in either example:

 

Apex

13 nights transatlantic

March 2025

Celebrity Suite

2 pax - $16,249

1 pax - $14,491

 

Eclipse

12 nights transatlantic

March 2025

Royal Suite

2 pax - $13,338

1 pax - $11,893

 

In both examples, just now off website, cost for 1 pax is less.

That doesn’t seem all that OUTRAGEOUS!!!

Edited March 8 by PTC DAWG

[leaveitallbehind]

Just out of curiosity I just requested three mock bookings using April 6 '25 on Ascent.  No fare qualifiers (age, state of residence, etc) were added, just straight rate fares. The fare class is non refundable deposit with no perks - basically lowest base rate.  Here is what I received for a solo traveler:

 

Solo in the designated single veranda  ES stateroom: $2,279

Solo in a standard double occupancy E3 infinite veranda: $2,962

Double occupancy rate (for two) E3 infinite veranda: $3,337

 

Not challenging, not arguing, just showing what I was provided.

Edited March 8 by leaveitallbehind

[Liao]

3 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

That doesn’t seem all that OUTRAGEOUS!!!

Agree.  To be fair, I do think the OP was referring to the official Celebrity solo cabins, which I personally would never book.  I usually always sail solo, but for my next cruise my husband is going with me, but even if he weren't I'd be booking a suite and just sucking it up, not double cost, yes close, but it is what it is.

[leaveitallbehind]

20 minutes ago, Liao said:

Agree.  To be fair, I do think the OP was referring to the official Celebrity solo cabins, which I personally would never book.  I usually always sail solo, but for my next cruise my husband is going with me, but even if he weren't I'd be booking a suite and just sucking it up, not double cost, yes close, but it is what it is.

Based on what I was provided and just posted, that ES category was the least costly by a significant amount - 23% less than the standard solo pricing in a double occupancy E3, and 32% less than the double occupancy E3 rate for two.

Edited March 8 by leaveitallbehind

[MTTRUN]

56 minutes ago, kaysha2004 said:

Celebrity has always charged 200% for a solo traveler in a double occupancy room.  So if you're only getting charged 150%, that's a win for a solo.  But your numbers don't make sense. Celebrity's leadership has always treated solos like trash, and it's worse than ever now.  Notice where they put the solo cabins....on deck 6 overlooking the lifeboats.  I'm taking my cruise dollars elsewhere.

Sorry, what I'm saying is the supplement is 150%, that being 100% for my fare and 150% for the supplement. Total fare is 250% not the norm 200%.

[PTC DAWG]

26 minutes ago, Liao said:

Agree.  To be fair, I do think the OP was referring to the official Celebrity solo cabins, which I personally would never book. 

Could be the case..

[RTShaker]

1 hour ago, kaysha2004 said:

Celebrity has always charged 200% for a solo traveler in a double occupancy room.  So if you're only getting charged 150%, that's a win for a solo.  But your numbers don't make sense. Celebrity's leadership has always treated solos like trash, and it's worse than ever now.  Notice where they put the solo cabins....on deck 6 overlooking the lifeboats.  I'm taking my cruise dollars elsewhere.

Your interpretation of supplement is flawed. That has always been one of my pet peeves when people discuss this. OP specifically stated 150% supplement. That intimates a fare plus an additional  150%.   A supplement is an amount in addition to the originally set price, so his assessment of a 150% supplement is correct. The charge is 250% of the original fare. If  the charges were 200% of the fare it would be a 100% supplement.

[MTTRUN]

1 minute ago, RTShaker said:

Your interpretation of supplement is flawed. That has always been one of my pet peeves when people discuss this. OP specifically stated 150% supplement. That intimates a fare plus an additional  150%.   A supplement is an amount in addition to the originally set price, so his assessment of a 150% supplement is correct. The charge is 250% of the original fare. If  the charges were 200% of the fare it would be a 100% supplement.

Thank you RT, you are correct. That's what I am saying. Few understood, thank you for your attention to detail. 

[Ellaleah]

[Ellaleah]

This is a last minute cruise to South America.  Please see tgae charge for solo vs double!  Ridiculous!

[cublet]

11 hours ago, RTShaker said:

Your interpretation of supplement is flawed. That has always been one of my pet peeves when people discuss this. OP specifically stated 150% supplement. That intimates a fare plus an additional  150%.   A supplement is an amount in addition to the originally set price, so his assessment of a 150% supplement is correct. The charge is 250% of the original fare. If  the charges were 200% of the fare it would be a 100% supplement.

Hello,

 

This is another case of two countries divided by a common language. The Royal Group seems to be of the view that a 'supplement' is a multiplier not an additive unlike the rest of us.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[Twolittleboys]

I assume the rationale for charging more for one passenger than for two is that cruise lines make most of their profit on extras (beverages, excursions, casino, shops, etc.) and not with the cruise fare itself.

 

So assuming that a solo passenger will only spend half as much extra as a couple (on average), they need to charge more on the room than it would cost for two passengers (as they can't really charge a solo passenger double for drinks etc.) if they want to make the same profit as they would if the room had two passengers in it. 

 

Obviously, that reasoning only works if they can be sure to fill all cabins with at least two passengers as empty cabins are much worse than just having one guest in it.

 

That being said, I do cruise solo and would not pay inflated prices. Actually, I don't look much at the solo supplement but at the total cost so might book a cruise with a high supplement if the base fare was very low. 

 

Still, all things being equal it is unlikely I would often cruise on a line with a high solo supplement as the total price will generally be higher than I can get elsewhere. And of course high supplements will make a line less "solo-friendly"

[twins_to_alaska]

There's been another thread ongoing about this

 

[Oregonhiker]

As recent widower I now travel as a solo. Just priced 7 day Alaska in Retreat least expensive cabin and it was $2000 more to go single vs double. That's almost $300 a day extra to be one person less. Makes no sense. Next they will be charging extra if you refuse to gamble, buy art work or get the photo package.  I like Celebrity and have been on 32 cruises but this is outrageous!

[Jeremiah1212]

There is a ton of confusion on this topic. The three Ascent sailings in April 2025 are all classed as having a solo supplement at 125%. The standard is considered 200%. If you compare the Ascent March 2025 prices to the April 2025 prices for singles you will see the difference. 

 

 

 

While we're also on the subject of checking math, percentage difference and percentage increase get used interchangeably. They are not the same. Just a pet peeve 🤓

 

Edited March 9 by Jeremiah1212

[Oregonhiker]

Jeremiah, not saying there aren't Celebrity cruises that have a lower than 200% supplement. There are web sites where you can find cruises with reduced or no supplements. All some folks here are saying is when you look to specific cruises at popular times the upcharge for going single is substantial and I don't think at all justified. Especially for the Retreat where most things are included.

Edited March 9 by Oregonhiker

[NutsAboutGolf]

It took me about a minute to go to a TA site I won't mention, set the filters to single occupancy, X sailings through August, copy all, paste values only into a spreadsheet and sort...

 

[Chris86]

I noticed the same issue when looking for my friend who wants a single room. I believe the issue might be with the current promotion. 75% off the second guest. So the second guest is paying 25% of the fare. Now the single supplement is an additional 50% of the first sailor. Hence 25% more.

 

Life would be easier without endless promotions and just standard and discounted sailings. Although I guess dynamic pricing is a win for the company.

[tschwa2]

19 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

It took me about a minute to go to a TA site I won't mention, set the filters to single occupancy, X sailings through August, copy all, paste values only into a spreadsheet and sort...

 

I only know one site that makes it easy sort by single traveler so I think I know which one you used.  Problem is that only checks for interior cruise only.  I haven't found a way to let it sort by single and other categories.  Even when the supplement is reasonable for an interior cruise only if you look at other categories, it jumps to the crazy 150%+ amounts.

[NutsAboutGolf]

1 minute ago, tschwa2 said:

I only know one site that makes it easy sort by single traveler so I think I know which one you used.  Problem is that only checks for interior cruise only.  I haven't found a way to let it sort by single and other categories.  Even when the supplement is reasonable for an interior cruise only if you look at other categories, it jumps to the crazy 150%+ amounts.

 

From their homepage, under the "Custom Search" header, select "more search options", the 8th field down defaults to "cheapest overall rates", you can change to cheapest OV, balcony or suite.  Once you pick what you want, switch the 9th field to "single occupancy pricing" which will list the single supp. %