Carnival is supposed to be a reasonable cruise line. They are ripping solo travelers off, as per normal, but twin share customers get good value.
Carnival Cruise 9 Night South Pacific 29 Jan 2017. $676 Pp Twin Share @ Cruise Agency
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voteoften on 12/01/2017 - 00:48 cruiseagency.com.au (1772 clicks)
Last edited 12/01/2017 - 12:50 by 1 other user
Last edited 12/01/2017 - 12:50 by 1 other user
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There are port fees etc, that the cruise line does not pay for a second guest. These are often considerable.
No food provided for the second guest.
My understanding is ships generally sail full.. so a solo passenger is also reducing the persons on board.. less taxes and gratuities for staff. Less paying customers buying drinks. Port fees arent as big as you think and exactly.. the port fee is a cost to the room.. as such solo or twin would pay the same.
Port fees are per passenger.
Less taxes?
@voteoften: port fees are not per passenger. Each passenger may be charged by the cruise line but the cruise line would pay based on the vessel. Which is why they charge solo passengers more. Rant over.. do your own research.
Additionally staff levels are fixed since they are on contracts, so they don't save there.
As a rough idea we went on Royal Caribbean late last year and a drinks package was around $12 a day for soft drink, a coffee package around $20 a day and an alcohol package was around the $50 - $60 mark. A LOT of people looked to have a beverage package of some sort.
There was also some other money making areas they had which are optional but I assume more lucrative the more people on the ship, on average. Casino would be one, it always had people in it, and there was speciality dining that was a paid extra which we didn't use but I assume enough people do.
I'd also assume couples or families are more likely to make purchase of the photo packages, spend more on shore excursions etc.
It is possibly to go on the cruise and not partake in much of that (we didn't buy a drinks package and instead just purchased a single alcoholic beverage each evening), but it is cutting down their potential revenue. It's considerable too when you consider a room is only $700pp but they may very well add a $50 a day drinks package to bring in an extra $450.
By that logic the 3rd and 4th guests in a cabin should be free, since they are bringing in so much revenue and cost not one jot to feed or keep clean (water,laundry, etc). Up to eight in family suites. The only cruise line that regularly charges about free for these additional guests is P&O. Royal charges about the same after the first two.
@voteoften: Why would they make them free if they can make money off them still? They aren't a charity. They'll drop prices close to sail date if rooms are available, but likewise why not charge as much as they can if the boats going to sail full?
One person costs similar to two same as three and four because they're there to maximise their profits.
If you checked before your comment you would see that port fees are generally deducted for the difference. And BTW, they're not that considerable… about $20-30 a port, so about $100 a cruise.
For example, for Inside 4D the twin share price total is $2236. Whereas the single fee is $2146 - a difference of $90 in that case, which matches the typical port fee cost. So the single payer is not charged that, only for the cabin space taken.
I've got no doubt you checked before you commented and that's why you selected a cabin I did not quote. The cabin I quoted was IS. Twin $676 or $1352 for two. Single $1347. So where is the port charges deduction in this instance? $5.
That's a deeply discounted rate. I guess they chose not to offer as great discounts for singles in that instance due to low margin, compared to normal rates where they don't charge them.
2 people to a room… = 2x drink sales, 2x shore excursion sales, 2x casino income, less gratuity..
Better for the ship to carry as many passengers (spenders) as possible.
Here is one cruise lines statement. None of them charge per room.
http://www.princess.com/html/global/book/disclaimers/TFPE_de…
You also failed to address the food, smarty pants. If you had "done your own research" you'd learn the food and fuel are the two largest operating costs of any cruise ship. And why would "taxes" be a good thing to collect, unlike gratuities?
I note you have never, not once, posted any deal on this web site. Troll?
Food is far from the largest operating cost. Fuel is significant - but what is the relevance? Do you claim that one less body on the ship will result in a priceable reduction in fuel? You would be mistaken.
As for food, you only need to have taken a cruise to see that they do not mete out portions in the buffet. You can take what you want. Hence, the food cost itself does not change based on people on board. They don't change the amount of food produced or offered. So no, there is no saving there either.
Hehe. The OP is unbelievably delusional.
Went on the carnival legend a few years ago and absolutely loved it.
Some ships have tiny single cabins, so none on Carnival?
Solo cabins are a very rare thing.
I would give a positive vote to read that voteoften and zancs had booked a twin share together. 😘
I realise a double may be a bridge too far.
We just did. Pay out sweetie.
I've sailed on the Carnival Legend recently, we enjoyed the experience (even though the weather didn't cooperate, the staff more than made up for that).
Cheap tickets, so an upvote from me.
A tip for anyone booking: Get a room in the middle of the ship (even if you have to pay more). If you get one towards the front (or the rear), you'll feel the ship riding the swell much more than if you had a room in the middle of the vessel.
Thanks for the tip :)
How can you get a room in the middle of the ship? Isn't it up to the office to allocate you any room Once you have booked it?
If you choose, for example, a "guaranteed ocean view", then no, you can't specify I believe.
But if you select an ocean view room, then you should be able to select from the rooms left available in that category.
I understand that might not make much sense, but it will if you try to book, as there's various categories of inside/ocean view/balcony room/suites, the lowest being the "guaranteed" option.
Thanks for the reply.
Travelled on the Carnival Spirit over a year ago. It was good - the food was impressive for such a big ship, with a special mention for the pizza. The ship itself was starting to feel a bit dated/worn though. As I recall ours was one of the last cruises before it was going to go off to be refreshed so I assume that has been done by now. $676 per person for 9 nights is amazing value when you consider it includes all accomodation, entertainment, food, tips, and travel overseas (TRS opportunity). Doesn't suit everyone, and we may never do it again ourselves, but we definitely don't regret doing it.
In fact it is a 'Funship 2.0'. Marketing people -> first against the wall when the revolution comes etc etc etc.
Anyhow, $44M spent in upgrading it in late 2015, so should be good.
https://www.cruisesalefinder.com.au/blog/news/carnival-spiri…
Any ideas about Internet access on such cruise?
The Legend had internet access when we went (in November), but it was expensive and slow imo.
The lowest package was $25 for 24 hours which'd only get you access to social media sites. Full access was $60 for 24 hours.
Internet access for the duration of the cruise is offered at slightly reduced rates compared to the day rates.
I'd imagine the Spirit is similar, although it might be better as it's been refurbished in the last couple of years, whereas the Legend hasn't yet (the Legend's getting refurb'd this year sometime I read).
Beat me too it and yes, this is more accurate than my information, there was 2 bands of pricing depending on how restricted you want your access & it was terribly slow
You can pay for 1 hour at a time for like $10, or sign up for the entire cruise for like $25 a day. I know when I went, I used it once to keep up to date with my work emails but it was pure bliss otherwise to be disconnected.
Went last February on carnival legend for 9 nights, paid $114 or something like that for unlimited Facebook, snapchat, ect. Just used Facebook messenger to call and video call back home.
Do they charge per device? E.g. can me and my partner use the same login?
It's only for 1 device. I just used my partners during the cruise
If you can go without internet for most of the trip, some of the ports will have free wifi depending on where you go.
Fortunately for Australian consumers, Norwegian Cruise Line is coming to Australia. The Star will be the first NCL ship to visit Oz for about 15 years. It'll spend most of its time in Asia, but will cruise Oz during the Asian winter. It leaves Singapore for a 21 day cruise to Sydney on 16/1. Cruise guru has fares for just above $1800 for solo OR twin. NCL frequently has zero single supplement. It is one hallmark of the line. It will bring prices down overall and/or raise standards. That'll be good thing for all cruisers wishing to cruise in and around Australia. You can possibly get this cruise for about $63 AUD per day, if vacations to go is able to sell to Australians.
"You can possibly get this cruise for about $63 AUD per day, if vacations to go is able to sell to Australians."
It looks like you've ignored the taxes that are charged.
"NCL frequently has zero single supplement. It is one hallmark of the line."
Actually, no. Even on this very last minute cruise - only 4 days away - not sure how much the airfare will cost! It is only on insides that there is no single supplement. On outsides, balconies and suites i.e. about 75% of the ship, single is double the twin price, as normal.
"It will bring prices down overall and/or raise standards. That'll be good thing for all cruisers wishing to cruise in and around Australia. "
Haha - you must have missed their pricing to date. Since their entry, prices on their cruises have been way above any competitor, doing nothing to bring prices down as you suggest. I daresay that's why they have this ridiculous number of vacancies only 4 days out. Whoever did their pricing is seriously misguided - and out of touch.
The pricing in this cruise is less than $90 AUD on for a solo cabin. Bargain. Don't know how that can be considered out of touch. Unless you sail into or out of your home port you are always going to encounter air fares. You can fly per-sin on the night before for $158. Syd-per on the return would be less tha $200 of points. Or if you are in Sydney you can fly to Singapore for $258 on the day before. I don't know you thinknairfares are such an issue.
I can't help you if you think that increased supply will not decrease prices and/or increase quality. It's pretty basic free market economics.
"The pricing in this cruise is less than $90 AUD on for a solo cabin. Bargain. Don't know how that can be considered out of touch."
It's only 4 days out. I specifically said "since their entry." And then explicitly explained they've probably only had to price things this low because they have so many cabins now - because they over priced them to begin with.
I can't help you if you lack comprehension. It's pretty basic grammar - and logic.
This may be a stupid question but is this 1 cabin available at that price?
Whatever cabins are available in that category I imagine. If you are looking at this cruise, try all of the cruise sites as cruise agency is probably closed now and I don't think you can actually pay until they contact you.
Thanks!
Some of the other sites are showing this as just under $900, there are later dates for about $750. Cruise agency may still have cabins. I'll expire this deal for now.
How are they ripping off solo travellers? I would expect solo's to pay twice the price of a twin share.. afterall they take up the same space.