Hi Raffles, i'm going through the same thing. I really wish the cruise industry would take it into their little brains that most of their passengers are singles and therefore do away with the supplements for us singles. They really aren't losing any money if you look at it. But that is just me. Good luck on booking a cruise. If you have Triple A you can maybe use that as a discount.

quote:

Originally posted by Keri Wilhelm:
Hi Raffles, i'm going through the same thing. I really wish the cruise industry would take it into their little brains that most of their passengers are singles and therefore do away with the supplements for us singles. They really aren't losing any money if you look at it. But that is just me. Good luck on booking a cruise. If you have Triple A you can maybe use that as a discount.

I agree with you on the single supplement issue. Carnival does give you a break if you are willing to take the bottom category. The reason why I no longer cruise RCCL or NCL (well I don't like NCL) or Celebrity is because when I look at the cost of cruising Carnival solo Cat 1A and then I look at RCCL or Celebrity, the price is often twice as much. I just can't justify paying $1000 for a cruise that I can get for less than $500 with Carnival. I like Carnival's fun party upbeat atmosphere so I stick with them.

Also while the single supplement on a Carnival cruise for a cat 1A is said to be 150%, I find that often times it is much much less than that. I have see it as low as an extra $20. Solo cruisers tend to be out and about more, therefore they drink, gamble and shop more than other cruisers. They very likely book ship excursions rather than go off on their own. So I believe it is true that the cruiselines probably makes up the lost revenue from the cabin with the additional sail and sign charges.

I believe that RCCL is missing out on a large population of the cruising community by not offering some sort of break. As their core market (baby boomers) get older, we are empty nesting, we are divorced, our spouses may have past away or we may just now be ready to "do me" with or without companionship. RCCL, Celebrity, Princess, NCL and the rest have to get with the program and stop punishing us for having the back bone to go on a vacation solo.

IBCRUZIN-I agree that the Cat 1A Cabins on Carnival are a singles bonanza as far as affordable cruising is concerned. I note that on several of the Carnival ships these cabins are porthole cabins rather than inside. In fact on some of the vessels built for Carnival there are some Cat 1A cabins with a full window!

Bon Voyage,

BillyBuzzy

Which ships have 1A cabins with full windows? Id like to go on one of those. Also do 1A's have a sofa or just a chair? Thanks

Showcat-Try Main Deck on the following CCL ships:Conquest,Glory,Valor,Liberty Cabins #2462 & 2465; Triumph & Victory Cabins #2444 & 2445; Carnival Destiny Cabins #2334 & 2335. These cabins are located in the Stern and have 2 lower beds. There is no couch. In that location they may be subject to vibration and noise.Additionally, they are next to the aft stairways.

Bon Voyage,

BillyBuzzy

Thanks I never realized there are 1A cabins. I booked my first balcony cabin on my next cruise,(Im so excited) even though Im sharing the cabin, but I will keep these in mind for future cruises!

Showcat-On the previously referenced ships the Forward 1A Cabins on Main deck have portholes,The cabins feature bunkbeds or non adjustable couch/beds- CCL lists these accomodations as "Inside Cabins".

Bon Voyage,

BillyBuzzy

Thanks again Billy, I was aware of the forward 1A cabins not the aft ones though, I checked and most are sold out for singles sailings. Guess you need to book em very early.

On just about all Carnival ships except the Fantasy class ships, there are two cabins on the Main Deck in the back of the ship (would that be Aft?) which have two picture windows. (Outside cabins only have one window.) It is almost wall to wall window!! On the older ships, there are two beds. On the newer ships, there is 1 twin bed and a sofa. The cabins are huge because of their shape from what I understand. And, yes, these cabins sell first in the Cat. 1A arena.

I had one booked on my 09/29/07 Glory cruise but I canceled it in order to go with VTG. VTG does not book Cat. 1A cabins. Rather their lowest available cabin is category 4A.

IBCRUZIN', VTG does offer every category on the ship. When they buy blocks of inventory (group space to be sold individually at better rates) they purchase minimum Cat 4A. A couple of reason why are... 1A cannot be offered for more than 2 pax. If a famlily wants to take advantage of the savings a 4A quad or triple occupancy cabin can be booked. Second, on many ships the 1A is predominantly bunkbed cabins and they are harded to sell once that disclaimer is given. A 4A sold from a group purchase is lower in price than a 1A through the cruiseline anyway so you get a better cabin at lower cost. They also buy 6A's instead of 5A porthole cabins and 8A's instead of 7A (partially obstructed view) when balconies are purchased.

All other categories can be booked at the same rate the cruiseline offers for folks who want something not purchased in the blocks at the special savings.

Cheers, Neil

quote:

Originally posted by TrvlPro:
IBCRUZIN', VTG does offer every category on the ship. When they buy blocks of inventory (group space to be sold individually at better rates) they purchase minimum Cat 4A. A couple of reason why are... 1A cannot be offered for more than 2 pax. If a famlily wants to take advantage of the savings a 4A quad or triple occupancy cabin can be booked. Second, on many ships the 1A is predominantly bunkbed cabins and they are harded to sell once that disclaimer is given. A 4A sold from a group purchase is lower in price than a 1A through the cruiseline anyway so you get a better cabin at lower cost. They also buy 6A's instead of 5A porthole cabins and 8A's instead of 7A (partially obstructed view) when balconies are purchased.

All other categories can be booked at the same rate the cruiseline offers for folks who want something not purchased in the blocks at the special savings.

Cheers, Neil

On the single cruises there were no Cat 1A's available, even for 1 in the cabin. The 4A I booked with VTG was $125 more than the Cat 1A I booked but almost $200 cheaper than what Carnival was offering for 1 in a 4A. I am paying $125 for the experience of going with an organized group. I have never done a group cruise and going with a group like VTG is as good a test case as I am going to get. I like to enjoy my time as I see fit and if I go with a group of friends, family or co-workers, that may rub contrary to the group's intention. I won't have that problem with a group from VTG since I do not know the other members of the group. If that makes sense.

On another note, the cruiselines will never completely get rid of the single supp b/c if they do, friends/family members that would normally share a cabin will just book their own cabin if it is the same or near same price. Most people that cruise Carnival (but not solo) do not realize that more often than not, Carnival does not charge the full supp of 150% on Cat 1A's. I have paid as little as $15 supp.

At this point, unless I am romantically involved with the person, I do not want to share a cabin. It is worth the extra $$ for the privacy and freedom.

IBCRUZIN', I'm very sorry for providing you wrong information. I made an assumption based on your comment that the 1A's were not available. Typically that only happens in my world when we buy group space and sell it individually. I've never worked in the Singles Dept here as I've been married for over 25 years. I didn't realize they also bought 4A's for the Singles Groups. Also didn't know they were higher priced, so thanks for the info.

I do know a number of the folks here who work in the Singles Dept and they're always talking about how much fun it is to cruise all the time instead of sitting in the office here to make their living. I's a little jealous of that but don't think my wife would want me changing Dept's, at least not to that Dept.

Please post a review when you get back and let us know how you liked going with an organized group.

Happy sailing, Neil

Many years ago when I went on a cruise & there was a group called Singles World. I booked through a travel agent and this was a group you would join and get together with once you got on the cruise. They hook you up with a roomate and you eat dinner with other singles. It was a blast! They would have daily activities or you can just do things on your own. My roomate and I hit it off & hung out together the whole cruise. The following year we went together but we still went with this Singles World. Well we are still good friends after 20 years and live in different states but see one another every year. I don't know if this group still exists but a travel agent should have this information.

I am back from my singles group cruise. For many reasons, it is not for my personal taste. I am not going into it here because on the last forum that I shared my experiences, I got hammered. Therefore suffice it to say that single group cruises do not offer what I am looking for in a vacation.

VTG was great and I have no complaint about this company at all. I think they gave me my full money's worth.

Because of my own situation at the time, I cut my cruising teeth on cruising solo. This is a niche that is not for everyone. However, for those of us who have cruised solo, joining a group just for the sake of being part of a group is not a prerequisite to having a good time.

Did I have a good time? Yes, I had a blast but not as much fun as when I go solo.

Will I do another singles cruise? Not likely.

Will I recommend a single cruise to a friend? Yes, with some reservations.

Welcome back IBCRUISIN! Glad to hear you enjoyed the cruise for the most part. Sorry to hear it was not what you'd hoped it would be. I'm not sure a group cruise would be for me either, even if I were single. I like my independence and freedom to do what i want, when I want, with whom I want.

Also glad to hear you've been pleased with your travel agency of choice. Enough said on that topic. Just wanted to welcome you back and thank you for the mini-review.

Cheers, Neil

Hey Val..I also cruised with Single World ?? I also made friends that still have to this day, and have made other cruise friends I stayed tight with. My friends are better at keeping in touch, and have even palnned non-cruise vacations "Reuinions" with fellow cruisers. I was even in New Orleans MANY years ago, and ran into some oen I had just met on a cruise two months before. Small world....