Cruises don't work like land-based vacations.
Because you're on a moving vessel that visits different countries, there are a variety of charges based on which ports you stop in.
In addition, cruise lines charge daily gratuities, which are technically optional but are generally considered a required added fee by cruise passengers.
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Cruise ships also have some fees and charges that land-based hotels and resorts don't charge.
Of course, fees are not reserved for cruise ships. President Joe Biden has been trying to get hotels to either eliminate resort fees or force them to disclose them in listed prices with some success.
Cruise line don't have resort fees, but they do have port charges and those are now being advertised up front by all the major cruise lines.
Solo cruisers, however, face an added fee that some passengers are surprised by. That's something that many passengers don't consider fair.
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Image source: Carnival Corp.
Here's how cruises are priced
Hotel rooms are generally sold based on double occupancy, with a solo traveler paying the same price as two people. If you bring more than two people, the costs actually increase.
You don't get a deal for being solo in a hotel room, but because it's not that important if 1 or 2 people are staying in the room, the second person's name does not need to be on the room. Cruise ships, however, have to keep exact track of every person onboard,
That's at least partially because there needs to be a lifeboat spot for each passenger. Because of that, when you book a room, you have to share how many passengers will be traveling in that room.
Some rooms can only accommodate two passengers, so if you have 3 or 4, you will need a bigger room.
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But, because cruise lines make you share how many people are in the room, it makes it look like passengers are paying a penalty for cruising solo. Basically, aside from port fees, a solo cruiser pays a double occupancy price.
That's actually exactly how things work at land-based hotels, but the way cruises are priced makes it look like a penalty. And, to be fair, in some ways, it is as a solo cruiser won't be eating for two, taking up two seats at a show, or filling spots in a pool or hot tub.
Carnival charges a solo supplement
Most cruise lines do not have solo cabins (and the ones that do have a relatively limited number of them).
Janene McAlpine recently wrote to Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador questioning how solo cruises are priced.
"Hello! This is just a question, not a complaint! I am usually a solo cruiser. Why am I charged the same as a cabin with two? I’m sure it’s been addressed before but I couldn’t find anything on it, hence the question! Thank you and have a great day," she shared.
Heald, as he always is when a question is asked kindly, responded with warmth and compassion.
"Thank you. Yes, of course, this is very much standard, and I do though understand your frustration. Obviously, just charging for one person is not something we do at the moment," he added.
Heald did share that's he's working on a bonus for solo cruisers.
"I am working on trying to get double points for our wonderful solo cruisers. So thank you, I know the challenge is your face and so I do hope we see you very very soon. If there is anything I can do for you please let me know," he added.
Royal Caribbean offers double loyalty programs for its solo cruisers and charges a 150% rather than a 200% solo supplement charge to passengers with 340 or more Crown & Anchor loyalty program points.
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Bob Kissinger also weighed in on Heald's response.
Janene McAlpine, Carnival does not have single cabins on any of its ships. They can’t charge you for a single cabin if they don’t have any. If you wish to book a cabin designed for two passengers, then you have to pay that amount for that cabin, regardless of if you put two passengers in it or not," he posted.
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