Cruises don’t work like land-based vacations.
Since your ship is traveling to different countries, there will be different fees depending on the port you call at.
Additionally, cruise lines charge a daily tip, which is technically optional but is often considered a required extra by cruise passengers.
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Cruise ships also charge some fees that land hotels and resorts don’t charge.
Of course, there are no fees for cruises. President Joe Biden has been trying, with some success, to get hotels to eliminate resort fees or force them to disclose them in their listed prices.
Cruise lines do not charge resort fees, but port fees do, and all major cruise lines advertise these fees up front.
However, there is an additional fee for solo cruises, which surprises some passengers. Many passengers think this is unfair.
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Image source &col;Carnival Corporation.
This is how cruises are priced
Hotel rooms are usually sold on a double occupancy basis, with a single traveler paying the same price as two people. If you bring more than two people, the cost actually increases.
It is not cost-effective to stay in a hotel room alone, but since it is not that important for 1 or 2 people to occupy the room, the second person’s name does not need to be on the room. However, cruise ships must accurately track everyone on board,
This is at least partly due to the need for a lifeboat position for each passenger. Therefore, when you book a room, you must inform how many passengers will be traveling in that room.
Some rooms can only accommodate two passengers, so if you have 3 or 4 passengers, you will need a larger room.
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But since cruise lines make you share how many people are in the room, it makes it look like passengers are paying a penalty for a solo cruise. Basically, a single-occupancy cruiser pays double occupancy in addition to port fees.
This is actually how land hotels work, but the way cruise ships are priced makes it seem like a penalty. And, to be fair, in some ways, it’s not like a solo cruiser would feed two people, take up two seats at a show, or fill spots in a pool or hot tub.
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There is a separate fee for the carnival
Most cruise lines do not have single cabins (some cruise lines have a relatively limited number of single cabins).
Jenny McAlpine recently wrote to Carnival Cruise Lines brand ambassador to inquire about how solo cruises are priced.
“Hello! This is just a question, not a complaint! I normally cruise for a single person. Why am I charged the same as a two person cabin? I’m sure this has been addressed before but I can’t find anything, hence this question! Thank you and have a great day,” she shared.
When someone asked a question in good faith, Heard responded with her usual warmth and compassion.
“Thank you. Yes, of course, that’s pretty standard, but I do understand your frustration. Obviously, we’re not charging just one person at the moment,” he added.
Hield did share that he was working on a bonus for a solo cruiser.
“I’m trying to get double points for our wonderful solo cruiser. So thank you and I know the challenge is in your face so I hope we see you soon. If there’s anything I can do for you, Please let me know,” he added.
Royal Caribbean offers a dual loyalty program on its solo cruises and charges a 150% (rather than 200%) single surcharge to passengers with 340 or more Crown & Anchor loyalty program points.
Also read: Top travel agents share how to get the best cruise prices
Bob Kissinger also weighed in on Heard’s response.
Janene McAlpine, Carnival There are no single cabins on any of the ships. If they don’t have a cabin, they can’t charge you for a single cabin. If you wish to book a cabin designed for two passengers, you must pay the appropriate fee for that cabin, regardless of whether it accommodates two passengers or not.
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