Celebrity Solo Penalty? Could Royal Caribbean do the same?

[CHart]

I saw a video and article on Celebrity charging more than double the cost for a solo traveler. With Royal Caribbean Group as the parent company over Celebrity, do you think Royal Caribbean will do the same? I could see where some solo travelers do not spend as much onboard, but I feel I personally make up spending for 2 via the casino.  

Solo Penalty: Cruise Line Charges Single Travelers Much More Than Double (forbes.com)

Solo Cruises: The Ultimate Guide to Cruising Solo | Celebrity Cruises

 

[JFCruise]

I just mocked a booking for Celebrity and it seems that the issue is that they aren't applying their "75% off 2nd guest" discount on the solo supplement. Easy fix - book the cabin with a phantom guest who - oh no! - missed their flight. 

[She Sails Away]

There's a video on YouTube by Allison from let's go travel tips that covers this very well. I went to Celebrity and did some mock bookings. Same cruise, same cabin, I'm finding that solos are being charged anywhere from $400 more to over $1000 more.
 

Royal has been doing this for quite some time but on a much smaller scale, solos are generally charged $75-$200 more than a couple for the same cruise, same cabin. Also, sometimes when I search Royal Caribbean cruises I will be told that a cabin category is sold out when I'm searching as a solo, but if I go back and search as a couple, all of a sudden those cabin categories are open.

 

One of the questions raised on the chatter on the video I saw was, if we all start booking a phantom guest and then that guest is a no-show, is celebrity going to do some sort of penalty charge for no-shows to make up for the workaround.

 

I totally get being charged a single supplement fee and paying the same as a couple but being charged several hundred dollars more? That's just not right.

[monctonguy]

They already do...not new news..been like that since at least 2013 when i started cruising with Royal.....

[CruisingSteve]

I've already seen Royal charge about 3 times the price of a solo vs double occupancy

[twangster]

Celebrity has long been unfriendly to solo.  The upcharge to book Always Included has always been based on double occupancy with pricing based on two guests but a solo guests can't drink for two and doesn't get two wifi devices despite paying for it. 

Briefly during the restart there were some solo breaks because ships were leaving at 25% occupancy but those days are over.

 For a solo cruiser Silversea is thousands less to the Galapagos compared to Celebrity, at least when Silversea offers a reduced single supplement which they do from time to time.  

Celebrity has always been the least favourable brand in the RCG family for solo guests.  I don't see their unfriendly ways for solo guests spreading if it hasn't already.

[BrianB]

I primarily cruise solo.

It’s a business reality that less passengers means less onboard revenue. Everything from drink/dining packages, shops, excursions, casino, onboard activities…etc.

Many solo cruisers are repeat customers who may not spend as much simply because they have already experienced many of the ‘for a fee’ activities and excursions. I don’t need to visit the shops for souvenirs or logo items because I already have them. I don’t treat myself to the Spa or purchase art. I do frequent the casino and play enough to earn certificates that I can apply to future cruises.  Also, I have enough Club Royale points to give me free drinks in the casino. Plus, I also have enough C&A points to enjoy enough free drinks all day so I never have to purchase any. I occasionally eat at specialty restaurants, but I’m paying for just me.

During the restart, we solos were part of the successful come back. I started cruising again as soon as possible. I went through the health policies and protocols…I got vaccinated, and boosted, went and got tested before every cruise, wore my mask everywhere onboard, maintained my vaccine record card and possessed my negative test document. I did everything knowing there was a health risk…and a risk of being quarantined…but I really enjoy cruising and couldn’t wait to get back onboard.

But now…cruising is back completely! Bookings are at an all-time high. Ships are running at or above full occupancy. Demand has allowed the company to continually raise prices over and over. They raise prices on bookings and activities and people keep paying.

They now recognize that one fly in the ointment is solo cruisers taking up space. Space that could be available for doubles or family units. More occupants means more revenue. But if the ship is full…there must be potential revenue sources being turned away.

So the bean counters figure they can make up some of the difference by raising prices for solos. Nothing huge…just enough to offset some of the potential loss. I don’t have to like it but…it is what it is.

Nothing personal…just business.

[Cactus527]

I find this an interesting topic. I booked a solo cruise this past summer for March 2025 in a solo cabin on Celebrity Silhouette. The price was incredible for 3 nights - $450 for cruise fare only refundable rate. The all-in fare was something like $900, so obviously I didn't go with that, but I remember thinking WOW this is a great price for a solo cruiser! Even when I mock book that same itinerary and cabin type now, it's still around $650-700. Not terrible, definitely better than some 3 nighters I'm seeing from Royal. SO, if Celebrity is charging more now for solo cruisers, I guess I'm not seeing it.