Cost for Single Occupancy

[KingdomHeartsFan]

I agree with everyone. 200% is a very high premium to pay for traveling solo. I had read about the change, so I was not shocked when I booked my solo cruise on the Fantasy for December 2014. I see it as a personal challenge! I will just have to eat twice as much food to make sure I am getting my money's worth! Just kidding, of course (sort of).

 

[mkmommy]

I think it makes total sense that they do this. All rooms are based on double occupancy. If you stay in any hotel it is the same price for one or two people. If my 4 year old flies on an airplane it is the same price as me even though they are a child. If they charged by the person they would be losing money because they could have sold the single room to a family of 2 or more. This is why I always put my daughter in the room with my mom. She is paying the same price either way.
I do understand it is frustrating and I wish it was a per person charge, it does make sense why it is not that way.

But with this logic if you have 3 people in a room that holds 4 there should be a surcharge, as DCL is losing out on potentially sell a room to 4 people.

 

[sunryzez]

But with this logic if you have 3 people in a room that holds 4 there should be a surcharge, as DCL is losing out on potentially sell a room to 4 people.

That would be true, except room is based on double occupancy. So they are basing their profit on double occupancy. Anyone extra in the room is just extra money.

I'm not trying to cause a debate. Like I said, I wish it was per person but I can understand why it is not...

 

[KMovies]

The "cruise" pricing is really set on the room - and that is 2 per room.

So, a 3rd and 4th is extra but the charge is only for food and such. The 3rd and 4th person charges are the same regardless of the cabins (except maybe the highest level cabins which have more bells and whistles).

The food really costs the same, so really the single supplement would need to change based on category with the lowest being the cheapest categories and the highest being the highest categories.

Probably 175% is fare.

Besides the "food", not sure what other expenses are less. They still really need "x" number of crew members and such. Maybe laundry has a few less towels to clean.

 

[jrabbit]

the "easiest" way to get around the single supplement is to invite a friend that can pay their own way (or most of it) since the cost is the same for one or two in a room.

KMovies said:

So, a 3rd and 4th is extra but the charge is only for food and such. The 3rd and 4th person charges are the same regardless of the cabins (except maybe the highest level cabins which have more bells and whistles).

Yes that is true for DCL, but that is a lot of money "food and such" Other cruise lines 3rd and 4th person per room is ridiculously low.

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The "Official Capacity" of the Magic and Wonder are in the 1,600 to 1,800 passenger range but frequently they sail with 2,400 - 2,500 passengers. Most of those extra cruisers are kids, so I understand why DCL charges a significant amount for the 3rd and 4th passengers in a room. It doesn't make sense to me why they would charge over 150% for a single passenger. Just think about how many "grandma's" aren't going on a cruise with their kids and grandkids because they get priced out of the trip.

 

[MikeAndNick]

the "easiest" way to get around the single supplement is to invite a friend that can pay their own way (or most of it)

In a couple of years I am going to hit that age that I will be cruising alone. I do not have friends that I would like to take. I like to do my own thing on my vacations. I would not mind if they made some rooms half the size for a single traveler. I have read about a couple of lines that have added small single rooms that share a common room. The problem is most of them are in Europe. The other thing, I wish the DISboard would start a new area for single travelers that just are looking for someone to share the cost of a room and nothing else.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Remember that the single suplement is the cruise fare only, so if you can figure out what the fare itself is, you can figure out the suplement. Cruise lines have done this for as long as I have been cruising, since1986, and probably longer. They count on having at least 2 people in the cabin, if they don't, they charge the supplement. I have cruised solo, and paid the extra. If you want to cruise solo and not pay, NCL has single cabins on the Epic and perhaps on another ship. These are very small room, much like those on some of the first ferry to passenger conversion cruise ship. No amount of complaining about it isn't fair, it isn't right, etc is going make one bit of difference. Cruise lines charge what they do in order to make a profit. DCL charges more than many at times, but considering that they have fully staffed areas for children and no casino,they have to make up for the expense of the clubs and the lack of gambling income. Played Bingo on the ships recently? Not 10 to 30 dollars any more. Single passengers do pay the higher rates, and that isn't going to change.