What is the best way to book a cruise if only one person is going. It seems like they charge for two anyway??

Answer 1

Its because of the two person rooms.

The cheapest way to get on a cruise is to go to a port where they leave from and put your name on the stand by list. Every cruise there are people who book but don't show up. You can get thier rooms for 75% off.

Answer 2

All cruise lines charge from 150-200% of the fare for solo travelers. Your options would be to find someone to go with or look into "singles cruises" where they will match you with a room mate.

I cruise solo all the time....the only exception is once a year when I take my grandson with me. I take 3 or more a year. I have found the best single rates for solo travelers has been on Carnival Cruise lines.

When I am ready to plan my next cruise, I check several websites and price the single rate for the cabin I want. Invariably, Carnival is cheaper by a coupla hundred dollars.... So I cruise Carnival..which is good because I like the cruiseline anyway.

Try the following websites:

cruisevalue.com
carnival.com
cruiseonly.com

They are all reputable. They will permit you to make a reservation to get a price without actually having to provide payment first.

By the way, one responder mentioned "standby" cruises... There is no such animal anymore. Most ships sail full and if there was a cabin available at the port, you couldn't book it anyway. There are new rules since 9/11 and Homeland Security regulations simply don't permit last minute cruises anymore. It wasn't much to begin with because most cruiselines who had empty cabins would sell them at premium rates at the pier. There were some exceptions to this for Florida residents at Florida ports - but that's gone, too.

Answer 3

Most cruise cabins are sold as being occupied by two people (so that the price looks lower - $800 per person rather than $1,600 for the cabin). So, if you are the only one in the cabin, you do pay for two. Some cruise ships have cabins for one (though they are rare). Most of the major lines charge 150% for one person if you are in an inside room and 200% for any other room (ocean view, balcony or suite). However, some of the more expensive lines (Crystal, Silversea, Seabourn ...) will charge less for the single supplement (such as 110% or 125%).

Some lines offer to partner up two singles of the same sex and smoking preference so that each pays only the per person rate (but then you are sharing the cabin with a complete stranger).

Of the seven cruises I have been on, I have been in a cabin myself six times (though only twice have I been traveling by myself). I have booked four more cruises, and it looks like I be in the cabin myself all four times, though in two cases I am traveling with others. Since I like balconies, I just accept that I have to pay for two (though one time I did book someone else with me, but that person ended up sleeping in another cabin during the cruise).

One advantage of being the only one in a cabin is that a standard cabin, designed for two, can feel as roomy as a suite, when you are the only one in the cabin.

Answer 4

First you need to book really early to get the best prices. Early means six months to a year early. Second you need to look at the prices of the cruise that you want on different dates and pick the lowest priced date. The prices can change for the same cruise itinerary by hundreds. Third, since all cruise lines sell all of their cabins as DOUBLE OCCUPANCY, book the cheapest cabin on the lowest priced date. That would be an inside cabin on a lower deck. So if the inside cabin is $700, you will pay $1400 for it.

Look at this RC web page and you will see that the price of cabins for the exact same cruise varies by date:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/cruiseDetails/itineraryAndPricing.do;jsessionid=0000zVAPZGhSAHQBi6LRBHlQecQ:12hdhubrs?packageCode=LB07E004&date=ANY&selectedCurrencyCode=&promoType=

So look at cruises, pick the lowest priced date, then pick the lowest priced cabin. Also note that if you book for this year you pay a higher price for some dates than the same dates next year.

Answer 5

Yes, unfortunately they will charge you almost double for a single person. If your not that interested in getting a balcony of suite, just go for the window or inside cabin. You'll save that way. There is no getting around paying twice as much for one person.

Answer 6

Some people advertise for roommates on http://www.craigslist.org

This website has cruises starting at $159:

http://www.choiceretreat.com

Answer 7

Yes, they charge for double occupancy. Which means you call the cruiseline and ask to be matched with someone or you convince a friend or family member to go with you.
here 's a great site for more info
cruisecritic.com
cruiseclues.com
cruisereviews.com

Answer 8

They do have single cruises but then you will be staying with a stranger.

Answer 9

Call your travel agent and ask them or go to www.carnivalcruiselines.com