Carnival Changing Amounts

bbaughan · #1 (**permalink**) December 30th, 2007, 05:20 PM

I recently found out that Carnival has changed it's formula for calculating the cost of a single passenger. Up until September it was

200% of the room
100% Port Fees
100% Taxes

Now it is

200 Room
200 Port
100 Taxes

Kind of crazy to me that you should have to pay the port fees for 2 people when you are only one. I don't suppose they are telling the port people that they are getting double on the fees!!!!

IBCRUZIN' · #2 (**permalink**) December 30th, 2007, 06:02 PM

I think it is an attempt to deter people from booking single cabins. And, yes, it is a bit of a nest egg for the cruiseline.

As their passenger base ages, more people are traveling solo (divorced, widowed, empty-nested) and there may be more people booking single cabins these days.

I am a solo cruiser and I believe solos spend more money on the ship per capita because we are rarely in our cabins and spend almost all of our time out and about. Also, most solos (not me) tend to book the ships excursions rather than go off by themselves. I tend to just grab a cab at the pier and head to the beach.

As far as my sail and sign account goes, it is usually in the $500-$1,000 range with my all time high of $1,396

for an 8 day Eastern Carib on the Liberty almost entirely foo-foo's drinks and casino. That is a whole lot of profit for the cruiseline.

mehawk · #3 (**permalink**) December 30th, 2007, 06:53 PM

Anything to keep single person passengers away.

misguidedangel · #4 (**permalink**) December 31st, 2007, 07:36 PM

I don't agree with it, but there isn't much that can be done. It is possible the port fees are based similar to how they are administering the fuel surcharge. If they brought back the cabin share it would make sense, but then again, that program also uses inside/OV cabins on the bottom two decks, and I am not willing to have a cabin practically that low. I want to be high up with balcony view. The balcony is the best place to be when you want to wake up slowly....

I tend to spend more and make it a holiday to remember, and I do spend a fair bit of time in the cabin on my balcony. If I had a OV or a inside I'd be on deck more too.. I will willingly pay more to go solo, but I will also be patient and wait for an upgrade sale to get a better price. My 9/08 cruise wasn't booked on a sale, rather it was booked when the Canadian dollar was high and final payment will be the same, that is if the Canuck Buck hits $1.05 before May 2008.

As for sail and sign, well, last one was around $2075 and I had fun spending every dime of it!!!! Not too much booze, mostly Bling Bling from the onboard jewelry store

mehawk · #5 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2008, 06:35 PM

So... your bling bling went ding ding?

Donna · #6 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2008, 07:10 PM

That totally doesn't make any sence to me?? What is their reasoning for that I wonder?

Mike M · #7 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna

That totally doesn't make any sense to me?? What is their reasoning for that I wonder?

One thing to note is that Port Charges are actually non-commisionable fares with the actual port charges being a percent of the total.
The rest of the amount is some strange formula of "mystery" fees.

Donna,

Their reasoning is very simple. More money. With only one person in the cabin there is less onboard revenue generated therefore they want to make up the money.

Take care,
Mike

IBCRUZIN' · #8 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike M

Their reasoning is very simple. More money. With only one person in the cabin there is less onboard revenue generated therefore they want to make up the money.

Take care,
Mike

I really wonder about that. Singles take excursions and hang out at the clubs and casino, drinking and gambling. Singles tend not to sneak liquor onboard because they are not going to sit in their cabins alone and drink. Singles probably do not take as many pictures and may not buy as many souvenirs.

However, I wonder dollar for dollar if they are really losing out when one person pays 150% of the double occupancy rate. They have never lost a dime on my single cabins. As stated before, I spend as much if not more on my sail & sign as I do for my cabin.

I think it is just a way to generate a little bit extra revenue and it only affects a very small population of the passenger load so it is a good gamble that they can get away with it without hurting themselves. We singles may not like it but it is still the most economical way for us to travel and vacation. An all-inclusive land resort is prohibitively expensive for solo travelers and most land resorts' activities are not geared for people travelling alone.

7 nights at an all-inclusive land resort on a Caribbean island will cost me upwards of 3 times as much as I will pay to cruise for a week (Cat. 1A). And that is just the base price. On land, you usually have to spend more money for entertainment (shows, clubs, etc.).

Oh well, what can you do.

Marc · #9 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2008, 08:12 PM

[quote="IBCRUZIN'
Oh well, what can you do.[/quote]

There are cruise lines that only charge 25% to 40% for single supplement. Particularly if you do imbibe, you might want to look at the luxury lines. Free beverages, low single supplement, no tipping, and a crew that works very hard to make sure that no single passengers ever have to eat alone.

IBCRUZIN' · #10 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2008, 09:03 PM

[quote=Marc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by "IBCRUZIN'
Oh well, what can you do.[/quote

There are cruise lines that only charge 25% to 40% for single supplement. Particularly if you do imbibe, you might want to look at the luxury lines. Free beverages, low single supplement, no tipping, and a crew that works very hard to make sure that no single passengers ever have to eat alone.

And really old passeners. Those cruiselines cater to a much older client base than myself. And if not older, not nearly as fun and free-spirited as Carnival or Royal Caribbean. The passengers on those "other" cruiselines are way too reserved and mature for me. Plus they are all sleeping when I am just coming alive!

Marc · #11 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2008, 09:12 PM

No, there are not a lot of the activities found on Carnival or RCI. However, the average age isn't necessarily higher. On Regent, most Caribbean cruises (and short European cruises) probably have average age in upper 40s to 50s. We have also been know to keep the lounge going to 1 or 2 in the morning. Probably not as late as on the other cruise lines. I would sure look at them with an open I if you are really tired of the high single supplements.

IBCRUZIN' · #12 (**permalink**) January 2nd, 2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc

No, there are not a lot of the activities found on Carnival or RCI. However, the average age isn't necessarily higher. On Regent, most Caribbean cruises (and short European cruises) probably have average age in upper 40s to 50s. We have also been know to keep the lounge going to 1 or 2 in the morning. Probably not as late as on the other cruise lines. I would sure look at them with an open I if you are really tired of the high single supplements.

I appreciate your positive advice and words. I may expand my horizon and give one of the other cruiselines a go. A few months ago, I saw a very well priced Celebrity cruise but I opted for RCCL. Next year, I promised I would try Celebrity or one of the higher ends.

Do they have shorter cruises. I don't really want to start with a 7 night cruise on a totally new cruiseline.

Thanks for your help.

Marc · #13 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2008, 01:46 AM

Occassionally there will be a three or four night cruise; usually stuck in because of a dry dock.

One thing I noticed recently is that NCL has a number of one night Dinner and Dancing cruises from New York, Honolulu, and Seattle; a great way to check out a ship. Even at $399 for a suite; in NYC that is cheaper than a good hotel room and it includes food and entertainment.

IBCRUZIN' · #14 (**permalink**) January 3rd, 2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc

Occassionally there will be a three or four night cruise; usually stuck in because of a dry dock.

One thing I noticed recently is that NCL has a number of one night Dinner and Dancing cruises from New York, Honolulu, and Seattle; a great way to check out a ship. Even at $399 for a suite; in NYC that is cheaper than a good hotel room and it includes food and entertainment.

I have done NCL (NCL America out of Hawaii) and didn't care for it. While I know it is NCL America and not NCL, it still left me with a decidedly negative opinion of NCL. I had a good time and the service was not terrible. However, I can have a better time for my $$ on other cruiselines and will not likely do another NCL cruise unless it is some super cheap, can't be passed up bargain. Also, I hated free-style dining. I prefer the traditional cruiseship dining style over the free-style.