It all starts with work travel, promotional quotes and some math detective work, which will make any budget traveler proud.
But let me back up.
Cruise prices can be confusing. Fares are constantly fluctuating according to demand; on different dates, the same itinerary on the same boat may have a fare difference of hundreds of dollars. Some cabin locations cost more than others, even the same room type. Check the cruise ticket prices today and tomorrow it will almost guarantee that they will be different.
To find the best cruise protocol for the voyage you need, you may need to abandon traditional logic and bring some creative chaos.
I just wanted to find the best cruising fares for the upcoming trip, but I stumbled upon a pricing quirk that helped me save some money and, more importantly, my cruising money expanded further. This is my amazing discovery of cruising fares and how this knowledge can also help you save.
Related: I booked a cruise through American Airlines – Is it worth it?
Surprising cruising fare discovery
I’m mainly parading with my husband or family, but this time, I’m booking a solo for comment Royal Caribbean‘ Marine Navigator For TPG. So I started to make booking searches based on individual passengers.
If you have never booked a solo tour, you should know that most cruise companies charge a single supplement fee, which can be a major obstacle Solo cruiser. Cruise companies apply the charge to recover the income they can earn from a second passenger, who may spend money on things like spa treatments, drinks and coastal outings.
When I searched for the best cruise tickets, I found that in many cases the solo cruiser would pay the same total cruise ticket (if not a little bit) instead of what two people would pay for the same cabin.
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However, I found something interesting during the booking process. Royal Caribbean offers 60% off for second guests as part of the series Wave season Promotions (usually from January to March). During the wave season, cruise lines often launch their most competitive sales.
Of course, it’s better to use a grain of salt for a cruise promotion, as they may not always be The best deal. However, the 60% discount on the second passenger offer prompted me to compare the cost of cruising alone with my husband.
As I progressed through the booking process, I realized something amazing. Booking two is not only solo price – Yes Cheap Better than solo.
Related: How to reach an agreement
Guaranteed cabin advantages
How can two people cruise on one person? Let me tell you.
In the search for two passenger cabins, I unlocked new savings opportunities. When I get to the step of picking the cabin, I can choose to select “ensure“When I searched for single passenger fares, the discounted price for the cabin was something I didn’t offer.
What exactly is the guaranteed cabin? You choose the cabin category (balcony, ocean view, etc.), but the cruise route selects a specific location. While you can at least guarantee the cabin type you choose (even if not the higher category), you can give up control over its position on the boat. Cabin missions are usually closer to departure.
If the cabin category you choose sell out, the appeal of the cabin is in the potential savings and the possibility of upgrades. The guaranteed cabin fare on my cruise, based on a shared cabin for two people, is $140 less than the cheapest room you can choose from.
trade off? Your cabin may be in a less than ideal location above a noisy elevator or nightclub, or your windows or balcony may have obstructed views.
How many I saved, added a second passenger
The numbers are eye-opening when I compare the cost of cruising solos with the shared guaranteed cabin. The solo tour will cost me $2,081.51 (including taxes and fees), while my husband’s total ticket price is only $1,736.03 (including taxes and fees).
Of course, traveling as a couple can lead to other expenses. I also have to consider the additional flight costs to the cruise port and pay one person (per day) in advance. Needless to say, after I did math, my GOB was completely hit – because traveling is still cheaper than solo travelers!
This is how numbers are stacked.
The cost of a solo parade
- Ticket price for balcony cottage: $2,081.51
- remuneration: $92.50 ($18.50 per day)
- flight: $249 round-trip
Total cost: $2,423.01
Cost of a two-person cruise
- Fares for the balcony (guaranteed) cabin: $1,736.03
- remuneration: $185 ($18.50 per person per day)
- flight: $498 Total ($249 per ticket)
Total cost: $2,419.03
result? I’ll join my husband to save $3.98. As a bonus, since the cruise was in February, I was in trouble for him to buy him a Valentine’s Day gift.
Bottom line
The math is clear – my husband wants to accompany me to save money. (Also, I got extra photography help.) Our guaranteed cabin risk paid off. We received the cabin number two weeks before the departure date. Our room was in a quiet area on the boat and our balcony overlooked the lifeboat, but the view was perfectly acceptable.
Finding the biggest savings on cruising fares is usually a practice of patience, but worth mentioning. This experience in cruising booking has given me an unexpected savings on the potential of guaranteed fares and how to think creatively about cabin categories and fare courses.
In my case, this means I will save money traveling alone in the room of my choice, booking two people on a fare without labor. You may find that sharing a suite with your family is cheaper than booking two separate rooms (and vice versa), or the “free” privilege makes you spend less on your holiday.
My point is: Cruise prices don’t always make sense in the beginning. Rather than struggling with this concept, use it to your strengths. Creativity through comparing cabin combinations on your next voyage, you might be happy to find a cruise protocol hidden in your naive sight.
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