Holidaying/cruising solo - any tips/bargains etc

Suzycoll

Hi

I am opening this thread for any other forum members that regularly take holiday/cruise by themselves.

I 'mostly' holiday solo through choice and I love it . However, I am getting increasingly cheesed off with the extortionate prices most holiday and cruise companies charge for 1 person travelling.

It seems to be worse with cruise companies. In my experience Norwegian cruises seem to cater for solo passengers the best but the prices are still high. Regarding holiday companies Tui are by far the worst for their solo prices. Some cruise fares can be double (or more!). Booking early seems to bring some fares down slightly. Sometimes I don't want to book early.

Just wishing to chew the fat and ask if anyone has any tips, advice on how to reduce the fare for a solo traveller. I appreciate what is regarded as expensive for some others may disagree, so is open to ones budget I guess?
thanks in advance 

zagfles

I travel on my own a lot but would never consider a package holiday when travelling alone, they're generally designed for couples/families. I just book flights/hotels independantly. I think there are some package holiday companies which target single people, they're generally the more adventurous type holiday where you'd probably share a room/dorm.  

For cruises you're best looking/posting on the cruisecritic forum which is excellent for cruises. But I imagine the issue is that most cruise ships only have double cabins, there's not a lot of point having single cabins as they won't really be that much smaller when you consider the ensuite etc. So as you take up a space that 2 could fit in they'll probably want to charge you as much as a couple.

Yes you won't eat for 2, but then again if you buy extras like dining upgrades, drinks, shore excursions etc you'll only buy one of them, and have you seen the prices they charge for excursions? Sometimes they come to more than the cruise cost!! They'd probably prefer a couple in a cabin to a single as they'll make more on the extras, more than offsetting the extra food cost. 

As with most holidays, it's usually cheaper booking late than early. 

daveyjp

Single cabins on cruise ships exist, but you need to be online as soon as the trips are released (up to 18 months from the date of the trip) to have a chance of securing one.

Singles are charged more because in general they spend less on board. A retired colleague does 5-6 cruises a year as a single traveller, but spends nothing on board on drinks, shops or excursions.

Browntoa

I've been using easyJet holidays but booking as soon as dates become available. I've been paying not much more than I did 2 years ago for the same holiday.

I think it is because easyJet holidays business model is no resort reps or presence saving the overheads of having those staff. You have access to 24 hour help instead.

Then again I only travel short haul these days 

LinLui

Try Voyages Jules Verne - they have a large number of solo deals. Even when I travel with my friend, we prefer separate rooms - so they treat this as 2x solo holidays. Otherwise I agree with others - shop the deals or package it yourself.

Brie

A friend met some friendly people on board one cruise he was on solo and since then has partnered up with one of them to share a cabin.  A bit odd given he's mid 50s and she's in her 70s and live in completely different countries.  But they are just travelling buddies and nothing more.  Definitely makes things more affordable!

katejo

Suzycoll said:

Hi

I am opening this thread for any other forum members that regularly take holiday/cruise by themselves.

I 'mostly' holiday solo through choice and I love it . However, I am getting increasingly cheesed off with the extortionate prices most holiday and cruise companies charge for 1 person travelling.

It seems to be worse with cruise companies. In my experience Norwegian cruises seem to cater for solo passengers the best but the prices are still high. Regarding holiday companies Tui are by far the worst for their solo prices. Some cruise fares can be double (or more!). Booking early seems to bring some fares down slightly. Sometimes I don't want to book early.

Just wishing to chew the fat and ask if anyone has any tips, advice on how to reduce the fare for a solo traveller. I appreciate what is regarded as expensive for some others may disagree, so is open to ones budget I guess?
thanks in advance 

I am a member of a FB group for solo women travelling over 50. There are lots of discussions on this topic with tips and recommendations. I haven't done a solo cruise but I do group package trips with Explore. I am about to try Riviera. They do river cruises and have been advertising single supplement free places in August and October 

Caz3121

For cruises look at ‘passion for cruises’ specialist for solo cruisers and negotiate special deals will low or no solo supplements (I have used them many times) cruiseplum also lets you track solo deals for some cruise lines showing the supplement % so you can find the deals (still need to validate on cruise company website as US/UK deals can be different)

shykins

have you looked at Ambassador?   more of a budget line cruise but I understand their solo prices have less mark up than some of the others.   

OnlyLoki

I regularly go away alone and usually go with Intrepid Travel to join a group and do something adventurous. I’m touring Thailand later this month inc a sleeper train, a home stay in a fishing village and island hopping. My own room throughout. 

Travel Republic are good for a resort type holiday and offer decent solo deals and a BlueLightCard discount (plus clicking through Topcashback of course!). Otherwise a separate flight and accomm on Expedia or Booking.com has worked well. 

heatherw_01

I have travelled solo for about 20 years now.

I always book flight and hotel separately that way you don't have the single person supplements. 
I always compare flight and hotel prices before booking too.

I haven't cruised before, but I think they always have extra charges for people travelling solo which is a shame.