I realize I misspelled "Cruise Fare" - but it took me 6 hours to upload from the ship, so I am going to just have to live with the embarrassment & all the "fare vs. fair" comments!
From my experience, you have the option to pay gratuities in advance if you don’t want to deal w the hassle of trying to figure out gratuities every day for everything.
Cruise math! Solo supplement! Now I get it! Can you imagine how much I'd have paid for any cruise anywhere if you weren't doing this series? Didn't have the first clue about any of this. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the effort you put into helping us to understand. Thanks so much, Kevin!!!
55 year old man went on solo cruse on NCL solo cabin had great time, the drink packaged included made me drink more and have a good time with other travelers in the solo lounge. Also went to solo meeting before dinner every day. Alot of solo cabin travelers did not go to dinner with solo group, so meet alot of people that i would have not meet normally, About 15 of us always new what we were all doing every day, we hung out together if we were interested in the same thing. about 60 rooms with other solo travelers all in one place, only solo travelers could get in.
I pulled the trigger and just booked a 14 day Alaska cruise on Princess. Alaska is the only state in the U.S I have not lived in or visited and this was #1 on my bucket list…
@@30AndAWakeUp I live in southern Florida and needed to be in Michigan the end of May for grandson’s high school graduation. The Sapphire Princess was depart Vancouver on May 31st and returning on June 14th. I tried to get on the Grand Princess on June 2nd but that didn’t work out.
I was dragged kicking and screaming onto an Alaska cruise, and boy was I overwhelmed by the natural beauty of it. Plus our ship was made up of 40% Aussies. They livened up a normally sedate Holland America cruise BIG TIME! I loved it.
Really appreciate that. I did feel there wasn't a ton of solo specific content out there. So Im trying to show that perspective. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Best thing is that your videos will encourage prospective solo cruisers to just GO! Try it! I just know there are so many out there who would love to try and have the $, but are intimidated by the prospect.
@@charlow3absolutely! I have not tried it because I am afraid I will feel funny eating alone, or going on an excursion alone. Other than that, I think I would be fine to pursue interests on the ship on sea days!
Thank you for sharing so much non-sponsored information to help people with cruising. It's great to see your passion for your newest way to travel/live.
You are becoming the best cruise site for your research, brilliant examination of the data, & organized presentation- tremendous value for your subscribers- thank you, Kevin!
The best deals out there ate on repositioning cruises. They are usually 14 to 21 days and are very well priced. I booked a 16 day cruise from Seattle to Alaska to Japan for less than 200 bucks. Certainly the airfare back from Tokyo will be expensive, but the bonus comes in that I can jump straight back to Seattle and take a second repositioning cruise 21 days to Miami for just over 200 bucks. A month and a half at sea for under 4K. My military retirement check will pay that in a month and the next half month is living at no cost out of pocket
@@margaretk9351 A repositioning cruise is when the end of a season the ship moves from one areato the next. Like Miami to Rome in the spring, and then back in the fall. Or Miami to Seattle to set up for the Alaska cruises. They are usually longer than other cruises, 17 to 25 days, and you have to make two one way flights. The advantages are that they are usually low priced, fewer people on the ship, and fewer children
@@danwest6803any tips on how to find these? I’m in Seattle as well (well currently az for a weeks) will be in Seattle for holidays if you want to link up for coffee or a cigar, Thailand and cruise hacking is my plan for 2025
@@DIVGAINS Cruiseplum website is the obvious method. The other ways to find bargains is to book last minute cruises. in the last 3 to 5 days they offer steep discounts. Some cruise lines offer Perrsonal cruise consultants. Mine know to call me with last minute specials. I just went 14 days from Miami to Southhampton in a balcony for 625. Those deals are out here
One thing people surprisingly overlook in overall cost is overlooking that their city, or a nearby city, is where to start and end the journey. We live in DC, with 2 el cheapo train lines (Amtrak + MARC) to Baltimore, which is a lot cheaper than round trip airfare to a Florida port.
I've never cruised before but for some reason have recently got into watching cruise channels like yours. I saw someone say that they are willing to pay extra for a smaller solo/studio cabin, not for the lounge but for the lack of noise. They said that they're usually a lot quiter, as you don't have kids running up and down the corridor and people having loud conversations etc. I don't know how prevalent that sort of thing is, but they saw it as important. Thought you might find that interesting. X
I found Norwegian Balcony Cabins no more noisier than the inside cabins. But I never cruise when the kids are out of school, like spring break. I saw maybe 5 kids on my last Norwegian Cruise. Look at the bottom line, like Kevin says. Its the best advice I have heard so far!
Thanks for your continued posts. I’m learning quite a bit and at age 72 I am single and thinking about taking the big step of my first cruise. Obviously, there are millions of questions and lots of research but living in New Jersey, I have narrowed down my interest right now to warm weather cruises.
I’m a widow and have been cruising solo since 2019. I’ve met some lovely people and seen wonderful places. Don’t hesitate! You can ask for a “sharing table” at dinners, go on group excursions, and meet people at trivia competitions, in the cruise terminal, etc. You can also find 50% solo supplements. Go for it!
There are singles cruises. Vacations To Go has them. Every quarter or so, they organize a group of singles and they book together, so they can go on the tours, sit together, and have fun, Gives you people to do things with. Vacations To Go is basically an online tour booking place (my mind is going blank). I'm sure there are others doing the same thing.
@@cherifurr3935me too. I am 65. My Husband refuses to go on a cruise. Last time I went with a friend. Now, I am ready to go and cannot find anyone to go with me! I wish I could find a Solo Cruisers Group!
Great video! I'm going on my 3rd cruise this year in April. I think I overpaid a little for it but the itinerary included 2 ports I wanted to see. Always looking for tips to get a great deal! 👍🏾
I think this is the BEST presentation I have ever seen on searching for cheap cruise fares. Excellent job, great search engine . . . WOW!!!!!!! Cruise Plum is a Solo Traveler MUST!
Thank you SO MUCH for this!! I have been trying to figure out the onboard cost and no one will tell me!!! I am new to this and I keep booking resorts because I can plan the whole budget. I am so grateful!!!!
I loved this video. It's so difficult for solo cruisers to find anything affordable and I appreciate you and this website trying to help us. I used to just wait for the cruise companies to send me last-minute deals. Hoping I can more and better deals. Thanks again.
When I do cost comparison of cruises I basically do the same things. I figure out 3 costs: the total cruise fare (with taxes, tips and fees), the per day cost, and the same total and per day cost with the upgraded package (or drink package) the line offers. This is because we usually like a drink package and sometimes the higher-end lines offer an upgrade package where drinks are included that actually ends up cheaper overall than a more budget friendly line if you’re adding their drink package onto the cost.
I always figure in the cost of Travel Protection also. I would be interested to know which is the best outside company for it. My Travel Agent suggested Allianz. I believe they have better coverage than the Cruise line Coverage!
New subscribers here. We have been watching your cruise video for awhile. Really enjoy all the great info on this one. It just goes to show that even after 45 cruise's you can still learn more ways to save. Thank you.😊
One more tip: Once you book, make sure you periodically check the fare (or use one of the services like Cruise Plum that will track it for you). I have only booked on NCL, but two different people there told me that if the price goes down they will lower the price you pay as many times as necessary right up until the time of final payment (120 days out); and after that, they will do a 1x courtesy adjustment if the fare goes down, but will only give you future-cruise-credit. I’m not sure about the other cruise lines, however.
I don’t think they offer that after so many days after booking. BUT I did watch a video recently where someone says they did not get a refund, but instead got an upgrade to cover the difference. But you have to ask for it!
I think you’re right that often an inside cabin is cheaper than the solo. However, I’ve found great deals on solo cabins on both Celebrity (Edge class, solo infinite veranda) and Holland America’s and Cunard’s solo oceanview cabins. In all cases, the solo was cheaper than an inside cabin. So I think it really varies on the cruise line and type of ship.
I also think NCL’s solo cabins are a complete ripoff and would never pay for one. I’m not paying that much money for what is essentially a closet. And frankly I’ve seen nicer closets.
Thanks, I was about to reserve on NCL escape studio from Barcelona to Trieste next June but seeing this video I found out the studio stateroom was 5 dollars cheaper than interior which is more spacious. Thanks again
I just recently found your channel and I must tell you that I really liked the way that you broke down the costs and the way that you explained it all. Makes perfect sense to me. I am really enjoying your videos.
Super helpful!! I should have used CruisePlum when bidding for an upgrade, too. Excellent point made about focusing on cost per day to truly compare apples to apples. Thanks, Kevin!
Thank you for breaking it down in a very informative way. I have never heard of CruisePlum but I will be checking it out! All your videos make this so easy to understand! What do you think of the new Norwegian Solo Cabins in every category that are coming out in Jan? And I would love to hear about Holland America’s Cabin prices for Solo Cruisers!
Most excellent information and I appreciate the thought that went into it. It's like you made the video just for me! :). I am one of those that until recently, thought the NCL studio cabins were the best deal on the market. Handy tip for NCL travelers if you DON'T book the studio cabins. On my last NCL cruise, I booked a balcony. As soon as I got on the ship, I headed to Guest Services and asked them about the solo program and if I could get access to the Studio Lounge. YES and I met the solo group every evening. NCL treats its solo passengers well and I do wish other lines would implement similar programs so if you want to meet other solos, it is an option. Thanks!
Ho-LEE! I just got a little cruise crush on you. lol I came to your channel from Allie and Rob and I'm so glad I watched their deals live stream. I've seen some other full time travelers talk about cruising but I never really thought about it until seeing some of your content about just cruising all the time, everywhere. I'm not traveling yet. I LOVE the idea of just wandering the planet but I'm also lazy. And the ease of moving onto a ship for a chunk of time sounds super up my alley. And that site? And your cruise math? That is some sexy stuff. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Kevin The one thing you left out that I’m sure at least 75% of us end up paying that is a shock to the system… Is parking! I think in Lauderdale it was $25 or $30 a DAY! That one was an unexpected surprise when leaving! Another couple hundred bucks.
@@30AndAWakeUpwe were pleasantly surprised at the Ft. Lauderdale cruise port terminal parking that it was FREE for those displaying a handicapped tag. Had the money in hand ready to pay and was flagged thru with a smile. Nice way to end a cruise.
Hello All Just stumbled on this video, WOW! I am or will be a new cruiser. I want to get in slowly and thinking about a short ( 4-7 day) cruise, from Florida. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.
Great analysis Kevin. I am a solo cruiser too and I look at it the same way. I also think Princess has some really good deals for solo travelers. You have mentioned in the past that stock ownership, veterans, and referral benefits are another great way to save money as well. I look at the TCC (Total Cost to Cruise) which is similar to your math but I back out the "Perks" which for me is veteran, stock ownership, and any other on board credits. Like you I usually get many 100's of dollars per cruise so it can significantly reduce the cost per night. We met on the Sky Princess briefly. Hope to run into you again. All the best in your travels.
Hi Michael! Yeah it was great to meet you. I actually had it in my script to talk about the different incentives and I completely forgot to include it! I’m kicking myself because that’s huge! Also, so far Princess is by far the best for price, experience and all the onboard credit us vets get.
Total cost of cruise must include transportation to the port for me, because I don't live anywhere near an ocean. I've had to pay double occupancy, but it was a transition cruise and far less than other cruises on the same cruise line. I'd rather pay for an inside cabin. I get plenty of room and it's comfortable.
Great video with a lot of value. Keep up the great content. I've been doing Solo cruises for a couple years since I work in the travel industry and fortunate enough to have a lot of vacation time per year. Would love to see some videos of how you pack for trips that involve flying. I'm a Florida Native and have only sailed from cruise ports within driving distance but looking to start venturing out as I have a bunch of points I've been saving with no real goal or use for at the moment. I've always hated the hassle of over packing and having to deal with airports and baggage claim isnt my ideal of fun. If you also have any tips for shopping for your cruise such as ways to get quality clothing that will last and save you money. I need to refresh my wardrobe after losing quite a bit of weight and would love some new cruise attire.
I taught my math was bad! You were calculating then I kinda answer it then you said $500 per person .....I like it when you give an honest reviews no sugar coated. Thank you Kevin
Thanks for the solo occupancy and supplement clarification and also the fact that you can find double occupancy (even a suite) for the same price as a solo, solo cabins, etc. Compare, compare, compare, and cost per day is the key. And Norwegian is a much lower level cruise line than Princess. I don’t find a “solo” cabin a good deal either, and they are SO small! CruisePlum is a good tip. Thanks for the tutorial. Have you cruised on Costa or MSC? Just curious as a fellow American.
@@30AndAWakeUpwatch Travel with Ben. He sailed out of South Hampton, UK, he’s British, In October 2023. He went to NYC in 13 days with stops in France, Spain & Portugal. 511.00 USD on Norwegian.
How does it work for meals? I'm sure they have different places to eat on the ships. If love to take my 81 year old mom. Do you ever need to have a passport for a cruise? I don't know if any start in the US and to to press of different countries. Yes...I'm a newbie 😁
There are many places to eat on a ship. Dinning rooms, buffets and specialty restaurants. Im not 100% sure but I think if a cruise leaves the US and returns to the US, you only need a birth certificate to cruise.
Thank you for your video. My son purchased the solo cabin for me for 10 days cruise on Norwegian getaway ship + beverage package for $2800. I think that is too expensive. So next time I’ll try to shop more and follow your advice. Thank you again.
This is a great video, thank you! My wife just passed last year and so I am new to solo cruising and I am guilty of only being concerned about the solo supplement. Great advice, thanks again!
Don't forget about Airfare, cruise insurance, and what some call gratuities, and others call service charge. (for example, on NCL, it's $20 pp, per day) These types of gratuities are often not added in until you get on the ship.) The type of gratuities that are added in Booking are for drink and dining packages. A three week cruise can add an additional $840 to your cost.
Good points. Paul Gauguin offers zero single supplement for their Tahiti cruises. Of course, they're still a lot more expensive than norwegian. I still want to try it.
I realized that I did not hear you mention the shareholder benefit perks to help reduce cruise costs. This works for frequent cruisers on any of the Carnival Corp LInes (There are 9 of them, including Princess). Buy and hold 100 shares of stocks in Carnival Corp, and get onboard credit for every cruise you take. $50 for sailings of 6 days or less, $100 for sailings of 7 to 13 days, $250 for sailings of 14 days or longer. With all the cruises you are taking, you have a 100% return on the stock very quickly.......
Genius! But also sell low delta covered call options on your 100 shares every 30 days and if it gets called away, sell an at the money put option. Ahhh, to be sitting on the deck by the pool selling options on the cruise line you’re sailing on:)
Some great tips in this video, but I'm actually SO impressed at how quiet that top deck is for your video - I dread to think what time you were up to shoot that video!
If the ship is entirely booked, they can sell the cabin to 1 or 2 people. You're still consuming the cabin that two people could have booked. It is a marketing and optimization policy.
Thanks for the Info. on a way to find great savings with cruises and choices that you can make on your own. I also like the way that you can make your own choices on cruise ships-so cool and amazing!! That 100K is coming soon- Early Congrats!!!🎉 Take care!🌺🛳
One obvious cost is what it takes to get and from the ship. I found an Alaska cruise from/to Vancouver, BC, but from my home the cost to get to Vancouver was more than the cruise itself. Someone like you who wants to take multiple successive cruises needs to continually coordinate transferring from one ship to the other (or staying on the same ship). Super Mario books 60 cruises in advance in order to stay on the same ship and same cabin for months at a time. And he has a condo in Miami for turnover days.
Biggest reason I didn't include that is the cost can fluctuate a lot person to person. I use a credit card that gets me lots of points for travel. I havent paid for a flight or hotel in over 4 years now. So my transportation cost are just points that I earn from booking cruises.
@@30AndAWakeUp I like that you are not so focused on cost that you are limiting the opportunity to travel to different destinations and be in cruise lines that offer great food. Many people that are doing full time cruising limit themselves too much, like never going to Europe because it's more expensive. They are missing so many beautiful cities to save just a few dollars. Also it's worth it sometimes to take a cheaper cruiseline in order to visit some interesting ports and then supplementing that with better cruiselines around areas that you already know. That's how you can get variety
Love your video - great info. I subscribed. Any tips on finding a cabinmate to solo cruise with a roomie to avoid single supplement? I’m easy & fun to cruise with. I’m a young 69F Widow who lives in Long Beach CA just 7 miles from both Carnival Cruiseport in LB AND LA World Cruiseport in SanPedro CA. Travel Dentistry is awesome. I had my extractions (12) & 4 implants & snap-on dentures done in 2022 in Tijuana Mexico & love them. 60-70% less than USA. Best decision ever!
I think you have some great information here but check with a good travel agent they often have prices cheaper then the cruise line and can offer you on board credit, They have group space which often is much cheaper because they have group space held on cabins.
I tried Cruise Plum, but the problem is, it doesn't link to the cruise line website. I actually found fares on Cruise Plum, then went to the cruise line website, looked up the exact same cruise on the same ship on the same dates, and didn't find the fares that Cruise Plum listed--not even close. So how do you actually find the fares that Cruise Plum lists?
I stick with Norwegian and Cunard for the best value as a solo cruiser. The Studio premium over a solo Inside cabin is also about deck location. Deck 5 vs more convenient upper decks for the Studios.
To throw a wrench into your theory….it is also very much about location of the cabin. I would much rather pay a higher price for a smaller cabin in the center of the ship than pay less for a mini-suite in the very front of rear of a ship. I always look for mid-ship location cabins.
@@30AndAWakeUp Sorry, I have done enough cruising on the big ships that I do find that my cabin location is a major factor…for ME. I have cruised in the Caribbean where it was the cruise from hell, everyone was seasick and the public bathrooms were not even useable. I was in a storm off the coast of Vietnam and we rocked and rolled for a full day at sea, there is a reason there are handrails going to the corridors.
Since he comes from the Navy, the ship motion is probably minimal compared to what he had been used to. But others are very sensitive to motion sickness. For me it's more about not being directly under (or over) a nightclub or pool deck and being careful about connecting cabins
New subscriber here👍 I love your videos keep doing what you’re doing you’ve created Great content in all of your videos. I’m really enjoying the cruises and Vanlife
I didn’t hear you say how to book the cruise once you find out on cruiseplum. I would imagine that once I find the cruise that I’d like to book and go to the cruise line to book it, they will tell me that they don’t have a room at that rate.
I always travel solo mostly I prefer to enjoy it better but cruises always seemed to costly because they kinda penalized you if you are solo traveling but recently I found a Alaska cruise on Royal Caribbean for 7 nights leaving Seattle got a studio balcony room with paid gratuities up front anytime dining and travel protection for $2888 got $967 off so I thought that was a good deal especially for Alaska cruises which tend to cost more you have to just look carefully search many options
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
I realize I misspelled "Cruise Fare" - but it took me 6 hours to upload from the ship, so I am going to just have to live with the embarrassment & all the "fare vs. fair" comments!
That’s fair!! 😂😂 we are all human!
@@beachblythe i see what you did there 😂
You talk like the gratuities are optional. Like the Las Vegas strip fees. Is it optional?
From my experience, you have the option to pay gratuities in advance if you don’t want to deal w the hassle of trying to figure out gratuities every day for everything.
No problem! We have all made mistakes, don’t sweat the small things!
Cruise math! Solo supplement! Now I get it! Can you imagine how much I'd have paid for any cruise anywhere if you weren't doing this series? Didn't have the first clue about any of this. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the effort you put into helping us to understand. Thanks so much, Kevin!!!
Thanks, Ke Le.
55 year old man went on solo cruse on NCL solo cabin had great time, the drink packaged included made me drink more and have a good time with other travelers in the solo lounge. Also went to solo meeting before dinner every day. Alot of solo cabin travelers did not go to dinner with solo group, so meet alot of people that i would have not meet normally, About 15 of us always new what we were all doing every day, we hung out together if we were interested in the same thing. about 60 rooms with other solo travelers all in one place, only solo travelers could get in.
oh nice!
what as your destination?
Thank you! Excellent information!
Your picture shows you are a liar
I pulled the trigger and just booked a 14 day Alaska cruise on Princess. Alaska is the only state in the U.S I have not lived in or visited and this was #1 on my bucket list…
Which one!? I just booked 2 Alaska cruises on Grand Princess
@@30AndAWakeUp I live in southern Florida and needed to be in Michigan the end of May for grandson’s high school graduation. The Sapphire Princess was depart Vancouver on May 31st and returning on June 14th. I tried to get on the Grand Princess on June 2nd but that didn’t work out.
I was dragged kicking and screaming onto an Alaska cruise, and boy was I overwhelmed by the natural beauty of it. Plus our ship was made up of 40% Aussies. They livened up a normally sedate Holland America cruise BIG TIME! I loved it.
New subscriber.. I think you’re providing the best solo cruiser content on RUclips. Really enjoying everything you’re doing. Thanks!
Really appreciate that. I did feel there wasn't a ton of solo specific content out there. So Im trying to show that perspective. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Best thing is that your videos will encourage prospective solo cruisers to just GO! Try it! I just know there are so many out there who would love to try and have the $, but are intimidated by the prospect.
@@charlow3 thank you ...your comments made my day
@@charlow3absolutely! I have not tried it because I am afraid I will feel funny eating alone, or going on an excursion alone. Other than that, I think I would be fine to pursue interests on the ship on sea days!
Thank you for sharing so much non-sponsored information to help people with cruising. It's great to see your passion for your newest way to travel/live.
Thanks for watching!
Feel like I just had a crash course in cruising economics and I LOVED it!!! Thanks so much for the education, I had no idea 🥰
No problem
Being a solo cruiser I am always appreciative of any tips on how to get the best deal out there, thank you for the great content!
Any time!
You are becoming the best cruise site for your research, brilliant examination of the data, & organized presentation- tremendous value for your subscribers- thank you, Kevin!
I agree. I trust Kevin implicitly!
Awe...Jan, you are too kind
Agreed, along with Let's Go Travel Tips
The best deals out there ate on repositioning cruises. They are usually 14 to 21 days and are very well priced. I booked a 16 day cruise from Seattle to Alaska to Japan for less than 200 bucks. Certainly the airfare back from Tokyo will be expensive, but the bonus comes in that I can jump straight back to Seattle and take a second repositioning cruise 21 days to Miami for just over 200 bucks. A month and a half at sea for under 4K. My military retirement check will pay that in a month and the next half month is living at no cost out of pocket
great point
What is a repositioning cruise?
@@margaretk9351 A repositioning cruise is when the end of a season the ship moves from one areato the next. Like Miami to Rome in the spring, and then back in the fall. Or Miami to Seattle to set up for the Alaska cruises.
They are usually longer than other cruises, 17 to 25 days, and you have to make two one way flights. The advantages are that they are usually low priced, fewer people on the ship, and fewer children
@@danwest6803any tips on how to find these? I’m in Seattle as well (well currently az for a weeks) will be in Seattle for holidays if you want to link up for coffee or a cigar, Thailand and cruise hacking is my plan for 2025
@@DIVGAINS Cruiseplum website is the obvious method. The other ways to find bargains is to book last minute cruises. in the last 3 to 5 days they offer steep discounts. Some cruise lines offer Perrsonal cruise consultants. Mine know to call me with last minute specials. I just went 14 days from Miami to Southhampton in a balcony for 625. Those deals are out here
I really like the cost per day search. It would make my budgeting much easier.
Definitely my favorite feature as well!
Omg love the no bs explanation of all the fees.
no problem
One thing people surprisingly overlook in overall cost is overlooking that their city, or a nearby city, is where to start and end the journey. We live in DC, with 2 el cheapo train lines (Amtrak + MARC) to Baltimore, which is a lot cheaper than round trip airfare to a Florida port.
good point
I live in md, and will absolutely consider this now. Thanks!
My pleasure and emphasizing saving money, if you could take Amtrak or even better a MARC train it's so much cheaper than paying $15 a day for parking.
I would love to find cheap solo cruises for seniors also
I've never cruised before but for some reason have recently got into watching cruise channels like yours.
I saw someone say that they are willing to pay extra for a smaller solo/studio cabin, not for the lounge but for the lack of noise. They said that they're usually a lot quiter, as you don't have kids running up and down the corridor and people having loud conversations etc. I don't know how prevalent that sort of thing is, but they saw it as important.
Thought you might find that interesting. X
That is interesting. I recently spent time in one & I guess it was a little quieter in the area we were in.
I found Norwegian Balcony Cabins no more noisier than the inside cabins. But I never cruise when the kids are out of school, like spring break. I saw maybe 5 kids on my last Norwegian Cruise. Look at the bottom line, like Kevin says. Its the best advice I have heard so far!
24.. going through a lot of stress I have a major heart surgery coming up. Emptied my 401k and I’m gonna try a cruise. Thanks for the vid bro.
awww man i’m sorry to hear that…hope you feel better soon
Thanks for your continued posts. I’m learning quite a bit and at age 72 I am single and thinking about taking the big step of my first cruise. Obviously, there are millions of questions and lots of research but living in New Jersey, I have narrowed down my interest right now to warm weather cruises.
Warm weather cruising is the best 😊
I’m a widow and have been cruising solo since 2019. I’ve met some lovely people and seen wonderful places. Don’t hesitate! You can ask for a “sharing table” at dinners, go on group excursions, and meet people at trivia competitions, in the cruise terminal, etc. You can also find 50% solo supplements. Go for it!
@@cherifurr3935 Go for it - never too late
There are singles cruises. Vacations To Go has them. Every quarter or so, they organize a group of singles and they book together, so they can go on the tours, sit together, and have fun, Gives you people to do things with. Vacations To Go is basically an online tour booking place (my mind is going blank). I'm sure there are others doing the same thing.
@@cherifurr3935me too. I am 65. My Husband refuses to go on a cruise. Last time I went with a friend. Now, I am ready to go and cannot find anyone to go with me! I wish I could find a Solo Cruisers Group!
Great video! I'm going on my 3rd cruise this year in April. I think I overpaid a little for it but the itinerary included 2 ports I wanted to see. Always looking for tips to get a great deal! 👍🏾
Im always willing to pay up for ports I want to go to!
I think this is the BEST presentation I have ever seen on searching for cheap cruise fares. Excellent job, great search engine . . . WOW!!!!!!! Cruise Plum is a Solo Traveler MUST!
Thanks Patrick!
This was a great explainer video on the pricing side especially for solo cruisers. Title is spot on and you did a great job communicating the topics.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you SO MUCH for this!! I have been trying to figure out the onboard cost and no one will tell me!!! I am new to this and I keep booking resorts because I can plan the whole budget. I am so grateful!!!!
No problem! ☺️🙏
I loved this video. It's so difficult for solo cruisers to find anything affordable and I appreciate you and this website trying to help us. I used to just wait for the cruise companies to send me last-minute deals. Hoping I can more and better deals. Thanks again.
Glad it was helpful! It really is much easier to find solo deal than most people thing.
did solo cruse with NCL solo lounge was nice because you meet other solo travelers you did things with.
Yeah, I liked it
Thank you. Happy cruising!!!
🙏
Great video! Again. Agreed, cost per day is a great way to evaluate different cruises.
It really is! Thanks for watching, Joe.
When I do cost comparison of cruises I basically do the same things. I figure out 3 costs: the total cruise fare (with taxes, tips and fees), the per day cost, and the same total and per day cost with the upgraded package (or drink package) the line offers. This is because we usually like a drink package and sometimes the higher-end lines offer an upgrade package where drinks are included that actually ends up cheaper overall than a more budget friendly line if you’re adding their drink package onto the cost.
That’s definitely a good approach
I always figure in the cost of Travel Protection also. I would be interested to know which is the best outside company for it. My Travel Agent suggested Allianz. I believe they have better coverage than the Cruise line Coverage!
New subscribers here. We have been watching your cruise video for awhile. Really enjoy all the great info on this one. It just goes to show that even after 45 cruise's you can still learn more ways to save. Thank you.😊
I am learning everyday! I get a kick out of the planning side of travel...so it's been fun to figure different things out.
This was an excellent video. I really liked your tone, pace and cadence. It was very relaxing and enjoyable to watch.
Thank you very much!
One more tip: Once you book, make sure you periodically check the fare (or use one of the services like Cruise Plum that will track it for you). I have only booked on NCL, but two different people there told me that if the price goes down they will lower the price you pay as many times as necessary right up until the time of final payment (120 days out); and after that, they will do a 1x courtesy adjustment if the fare goes down, but will only give you future-cruise-credit. I’m not sure about the other cruise lines, however.
Good to know...thanks.
Holland America will sometimes upgrade you to a better room category.
I don’t think they offer that after so many days after booking. BUT I did watch a video recently where someone says they did not get a refund, but instead got an upgrade to cover the difference. But you have to ask for it!
I think you’re right that often an inside cabin is cheaper than the solo. However, I’ve found great deals on solo cabins on both Celebrity (Edge class, solo infinite veranda) and Holland America’s and Cunard’s solo oceanview cabins. In all cases, the solo was cheaper than an inside cabin. So I think it really varies on the cruise line and type of ship.
I also think NCL’s solo cabins are a complete ripoff and would never pay for one. I’m not paying that much money for what is essentially a closet. And frankly I’ve seen nicer closets.
That's good to know. I'll look for those.
I booked a solo cabin on Celebrity Edge cause it has the infinite veranda and was less than the inside cabins.
Thanks, I was about to reserve on NCL escape studio from Barcelona to Trieste next June but seeing this video I found out the studio stateroom was 5 dollars cheaper than interior which is more spacious. Thanks again
Awesome!
I just recently found your channel and I must tell you that I really liked the way that you broke down the costs and the way that you explained it all. Makes perfect sense to me. I am really enjoying your videos.
Awesome! Thank you!
Just popped up on You Tube out of the blue and started listening. Wealth of info and level headed. Suscribed. Thanks. Will book one.
thanks, max 🙏
Whoa! Cruise plum is a game-changer! It has so many of the functions that I’ve been looking for! Great content!
Glad it was helpful!
You're so close to 100k! 😊 This is a great informative vlog for anyone wanting to cruise.
Thanks Cindy! :)
This is wonderful! I've been thinking of booking a solo cruise - so glad I found your channel!
Glad it was helpful!
Super helpful!! I should have used CruisePlum when bidding for an upgrade, too. Excellent point made about focusing on cost per day to truly compare apples to apples. Thanks, Kevin!
no problem
Thank you for breaking it down in a very informative way. I have never heard of CruisePlum but I will be checking it out! All your videos make this so easy to understand! What do you think of the new Norwegian Solo Cabins in every category that are coming out in Jan? And I would love to hear about Holland America’s Cabin prices for Solo Cruisers!
I have used Norwegian's solo cabins and usually they cost the same as a double occupancy cabin. Sometimes you can find deals but usually not..
You have it right, value is the way to look at cost. I also consider the value of double the space and double (or triple) the loyalty points.
Exactly!
Most excellent information and I appreciate the thought that went into it. It's like you made the video just for me! :). I am one of those that until recently, thought the NCL studio cabins were the best deal on the market. Handy tip for NCL travelers if you DON'T book the studio cabins. On my last NCL cruise, I booked a balcony. As soon as I got on the ship, I headed to Guest Services and asked them about the solo program and if I could get access to the Studio Lounge. YES and I met the solo group every evening. NCL treats its solo passengers well and I do wish other lines would implement similar programs so if you want to meet other solos, it is an option. Thanks!
That is good to know about other cabins getting access. I appreciate that. And you didn't know....I made this for you Jan! :)
@@30AndAWakeUp so sweet! I can't wait for MY next video LOL
Did you have to pay extra for that access to the Solo lounge?
Ho-LEE! I just got a little cruise crush on you. lol I came to your channel from Allie and Rob and I'm so glad I watched their deals live stream. I've seen some other full time travelers talk about cruising but I never really thought about it until seeing some of your content about just cruising all the time, everywhere. I'm not traveling yet. I LOVE the idea of just wandering the planet but I'm also lazy. And the ease of moving onto a ship for a chunk of time sounds super up my alley. And that site? And your cruise math? That is some sexy stuff. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Well that made my day! ☺️
$599 solo cabin New York to Rome 16 night 😮 they can keep the lounge
Nice!
This is terrific information! Thanks so much for your precious time. Just subscribed.
Glad it was helpful!
Finally!!! Someone calls out the absurdity of "solo cabin" pricing.
The biggest marketing gimmick in the industry in my opinion!
Thanks very much Kevin, this is very helpful and will for sure help me in choosing the right cruise as solo traveller.
Glad it was helpful!
Kevin The one thing you left out that I’m sure at least 75% of us end up paying that is a shock to the system… Is parking! I think in Lauderdale it was $25 or $30 a DAY! That one was an unexpected surprise when leaving! Another couple hundred bucks.
good point
@@30AndAWakeUpwe were pleasantly surprised at the Ft. Lauderdale cruise port terminal parking that it was FREE for those displaying a handicapped tag. Had the money in hand ready to pay and was flagged thru with a smile. Nice way to end a cruise.
Hello All Just stumbled on this video, WOW! I am or will be a new cruiser. I want to get in slowly and thinking about a short ( 4-7 day) cruise, from Florida. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.
The sky looks amazing! Thanks Kevin for your tips on solo cruises.
You bet!
This is the most useful video I have found on pricing cruises (which I am new to). Thank you and Subscribed!!
No problem! Thanks for subscribing
Great analysis Kevin. I am a solo cruiser too and I look at it the same way. I also think Princess has some really good deals for solo travelers. You have mentioned in the past that stock ownership, veterans, and referral benefits are another great way to save money as well. I look at the TCC (Total Cost to Cruise) which is similar to your math but I back out the "Perks" which for me is veteran, stock ownership, and any other on board credits. Like you I usually get many 100's of dollars per cruise so it can significantly reduce the cost per night. We met on the Sky Princess briefly. Hope to run into you again. All the best in your travels.
Hi Michael! Yeah it was great to meet you. I actually had it in my script to talk about the different incentives and I completely forgot to include it! I’m kicking myself because that’s huge! Also, so far Princess is by far the best for price, experience and all the onboard credit us vets get.
@@30AndAWakeUp I am on the Regal Princess for 2 weeks starting 3/12 and have $850 in OBC, which is a significant amount.
@@michaelgalliher548 yeah, that is a game changer
Thank you for the awesome tips! I have always considered PPD, but figured it out myself. CruisePlum will be a game changer!!
It's an awesome tool
Great info!! Enjoying your channel!!
Glad you enjoy it!
Excellent summary - thank you! Best explanation for comparing and evaluating the “right” data points 👏🏻
Awe...thank you so much Michelle. And thanks for being a subscriber for over 2 years now! :)
First time seeing one of your videos and found it very informative. I just subscribed and you are one closer to 100,000👍
Welcome aboard & thank you, Laurie!
Total cost of cruise must include transportation to the port for me, because I don't live anywhere near an ocean.
I've had to pay double occupancy, but it was a transition cruise and far less than other cruises on the same cruise line.
I'd rather pay for an inside cabin. I get plenty of room and it's comfortable.
Yeah, I love the inside cabin. Im glad so many dont, keeps them cheap for us :)
Great video with a lot of value. Keep up the great content. I've been doing Solo cruises for a couple years since I work in the travel industry and fortunate enough to have a lot of vacation time per year. Would love to see some videos of how you pack for trips that involve flying. I'm a Florida Native and have only sailed from cruise ports within driving distance but looking to start venturing out as I have a bunch of points I've been saving with no real goal or use for at the moment. I've always hated the hassle of over packing and having to deal with airports and baggage claim isnt my ideal of fun. If you also have any tips for shopping for your cruise such as ways to get quality clothing that will last and save you money. I need to refresh my wardrobe after losing quite a bit of weight and would love some new cruise attire.
i could talk for hours on my love of merino wool! i have a few packing vids. and a link below to the company i love
I taught my math was bad! You were calculating then I kinda answer it then you said $500 per person .....I like it when you give an honest reviews no sugar coated. Thank you Kevin
No problem :)
Worked on cruise lines but didn't know how to get the good deals like that. Thank you for providing that!)
No problem!
Thank you for this. I like to travel solo, but have previously paid double the per person rate. I like the “cost per day” comparison.
Yeah, that is definitely the best way to compare cruises.
Thanks for the solo occupancy and supplement clarification and also the fact that you can find double occupancy (even a suite) for the same price as a solo, solo cabins, etc. Compare, compare, compare, and cost per day is the key. And Norwegian is a much lower level cruise line than Princess. I don’t find a “solo” cabin a good deal either, and they are SO small! CruisePlum is a good tip. Thanks for the tutorial. Have you cruised on Costa or MSC? Just curious as a fellow American.
I have cruised MSC but not Costa. I love MSCs private island.
YES , Many Thanks for this solo info !
No problem
Fantastic video. Total cost per day is how I think about these cruise deals too. Thank you so much for telling us about this great resource.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video. I thought I knew quite a lot about getting good cruise deals but this next level ! Awesome content.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I was looking for a solo cruise travel. After watching this, don't even want to go to a cruise at all.
👍
@@30AndAWakeUpwatch Travel with Ben. He sailed out of South Hampton, UK, he’s British, In October 2023. He went to NYC in 13 days with stops in France, Spain & Portugal. 511.00 USD on Norwegian.
@@SatSun-op9dpThe best deals are on repositioning cruises on older ships. Even with the 100% solo supplement, they are still a great value
Best info I've ever seen on cruise fare searching! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Wow what a terrific and informative video. I would give solo cruising a chance now after your great research - thanks so much!
Glad it was helpful.
How does it work for meals? I'm sure they have different places to eat on the ships. If love to take my 81 year old mom. Do you ever need to have a passport for a cruise? I don't know if any start in the US and to to press of different countries. Yes...I'm a newbie 😁
There are many places to eat on a ship. Dinning rooms, buffets and specialty restaurants. Im not 100% sure but I think if a cruise leaves the US and returns to the US, you only need a birth certificate to cruise.
Amazing video! This is like Solo Cruise 101.
thanks!!!
👍🤩Fantastic. Thanks for sharing the details and your journey. Safe travels. 💝
Thanks, LA!
Great information brother! Good tips for saving cash especially during these times👍👍👍
Thank you for your video. My son purchased the solo cabin for me for 10 days cruise on Norwegian getaway ship + beverage package for $2800. I think that is too expensive. So next time I’ll try to shop more and follow your advice. Thank you again.
i was on Getaway before…it’s a fun ship
This is a great video, thank you! My wife just passed last year and so I am new to solo cruising and I am guilty of only being concerned about the solo supplement. Great advice, thanks again!
Sorry to hear about your wife passing, Ralph.
Don't forget about Airfare, cruise insurance, and what some call gratuities, and others call service charge. (for example, on NCL, it's $20 pp, per day)
These types of gratuities are often not added in until you get on the ship.) The type of gratuities that are added in Booking are for drink and dining packages.
A three week cruise can add an additional $840 to your cost.
CruisePlum includes gratuities in the prices it shows.
THIS is the video I’ve been looking for for weeks! 🙌🏽🙏🏽
Hope you like it!
Good points. Paul Gauguin offers zero single supplement for their Tahiti cruises. Of course, they're still a lot more expensive than norwegian. I still want to try it.
oh cool...Ill have to check them out. I enjoyed Norwegian. If you hunt around you can find bargains on their solo cabins.
Awesome thank you for sharing
You are so welcome
I realized that I did not hear you mention the shareholder benefit perks to help reduce cruise costs. This works for frequent cruisers on any of the Carnival Corp LInes (There are 9 of them, including Princess). Buy and hold 100 shares of stocks in Carnival Corp, and get onboard credit for every cruise you take. $50 for sailings of 6 days or less, $100 for sailings of 7 to 13 days, $250 for sailings of 14 days or longer. With all the cruises you are taking, you have a 100% return on the stock very quickly.......
I actually had it in my script and completely forgot to mention it!
Genius! But also sell low delta covered call options on your 100 shares every 30 days and if it gets called away, sell an at the money put option. Ahhh, to be sitting on the deck by the pool selling options on the cruise line you’re sailing on:)
Some great tips in this video, but I'm actually SO impressed at how quiet that top deck is for your video - I dread to think what time you were up to shoot that video!
haha...yeah it was pretty early and I have a wireless lapel mic on! :)
@@30AndAWakeUp mind me asking what mic you’re using? I’m toying with a DJI one, but they’re huge compared to yours!
Great video - well done , heaps of great info , Mark
Glad it was helpful!
A solo cabin or "ocean view" can also be a wedge under the bow with one porthole that you can look out of if you stand on the bed. Not good.
yeah, ocean view really isn't my thing but I can see where that would bother someone
Most comprehensive detail on shopping cruise deals.... Amazeballs!😊
Glad it was helpful!
If the ship is entirely booked, they can sell the cabin to 1 or 2 people. You're still consuming the cabin that two people could have booked.
It is a marketing and optimization policy.
yeah, ive never had an issue getting a deal on a cabin for 1 person
Thanks for the Info. on a way to find great savings with cruises and choices that you can make on your own. I also like the way that you can make your own choices on cruise ships-so cool and amazing!! That 100K is coming soon- Early Congrats!!!🎉 Take care!🌺🛳
Thanks, Maxine.
Great Video! I've been booking cruises all wrong. Thank you for setting me straight!
Cruiseplum changed my cruise life! haha!
Cost per day is a great metric! Thank you, im a solo cruiser as well. Ill start using this.
Absolutely! And I love your hair! :)
@@30AndAWakeUp ❤ thank you 🙂
One obvious cost is what it takes to get and from the ship. I found an Alaska cruise from/to Vancouver, BC, but from my home the cost to get to Vancouver was more than the cruise itself.
Someone like you who wants to take multiple successive cruises needs to continually coordinate transferring from one ship to the other (or staying on the same ship). Super Mario books 60 cruises in advance in order to stay on the same ship and same cabin for months at a time. And he has a condo in Miami for turnover days.
Biggest reason I didn't include that is the cost can fluctuate a lot person to person. I use a credit card that gets me lots of points for travel. I havent paid for a flight or hotel in over 4 years now. So my transportation cost are just points that I earn from booking cruises.
@@30AndAWakeUp I like that you are not so focused on cost that you are limiting the opportunity to travel to different destinations and be in cruise lines that offer great food. Many people that are doing full time cruising limit themselves too much, like never going to Europe because it's more expensive. They are missing so many beautiful cities to save just a few dollars. Also it's worth it sometimes to take a cheaper cruiseline in order to visit some interesting ports and then supplementing that with better cruiselines around areas that you already know. That's how you can get variety
This was VERY informative! Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Love your video - great info. I subscribed. Any tips on finding a cabinmate to solo cruise with a roomie to avoid single supplement? I’m easy & fun to cruise with. I’m a young 69F Widow who lives in Long Beach CA just 7 miles from both Carnival Cruiseport in LB AND LA World Cruiseport in SanPedro CA.
Travel Dentistry is awesome. I had my extractions (12) & 4 implants & snap-on dentures done in 2022 in Tijuana Mexico & love them. 60-70% less than USA. Best decision ever!
check out cruise critic…they have some groups for finding cruise partners…
Great video and fantastic information. Will review cruiseplum. Thanks Kevin!!!!
Glad it was helpful, Lee Joyce!
Exactly how would you book these cruises that you find on cruiseplum???
directly from the cruiseline
I think you have some great information here but check with a good travel agent they often have prices cheaper then the cruise line and can offer you on board credit, They have group space which often is much cheaper because they have group space held on cabins.
Will do! Thanks for the info
I tried Cruise Plum, but the problem is, it doesn't link to the cruise line website. I actually found fares on Cruise Plum, then went to the cruise line website, looked up the exact same cruise on the same ship on the same dates, and didn't find the fares that Cruise Plum listed--not even close. So how do you actually find the fares that Cruise Plum lists?
I’ve never had that issue but have heard a few that do.
I stick with Norwegian and Cunard for the best value as a solo cruiser. The Studio premium over a solo Inside cabin is also about deck location. Deck 5 vs more convenient upper decks for the Studios.
👍
Thanks for all the solo info! See you on the Enchantment on March 11!
Can't wait!
To throw a wrench into your theory….it is also very much about location of the cabin. I would much rather pay a higher price for a smaller cabin in the center of the ship than pay less for a mini-suite in the very front of rear of a ship. I always look for mid-ship location cabins.
definitely a good point....but these big ships barely move...so for me...definitely wouldnt factor in :)
@@30AndAWakeUp Sorry, I have done enough cruising on the big ships that I do find that my cabin location is a major factor…for ME. I have cruised in the Caribbean where it was the cruise from hell, everyone was seasick and the public bathrooms were not even useable. I was in a storm off the coast of Vietnam and we rocked and rolled for a full day at sea, there is a reason there are handrails going to the corridors.
@@peggytravels793 Im curious to see if I run into that this year.
Since he comes from the Navy, the ship motion is probably minimal compared to what he had been used to. But others are very sensitive to motion sickness. For me it's more about not being directly under (or over) a nightclub or pool deck and being careful about connecting cabins
New subscriber here👍 I love your videos keep doing what you’re doing you’ve created Great content in all of your videos. I’m really enjoying the cruises and Vanlife
Thank you! Will do!
Someday, before I'm too unhealthy to enjoy a cruise. A doc recently strongly suggested that I step up acting on my bucket list. Wake up call!
You should, Ke Le.
You didn’t mention the food in Norwegian is much better than Princess, and there are a lot of free stuff, like special dining, excursion bonus, so on
yeah, definitely some positives to NCL
I didn’t hear you say how to book the cruise once you find out on cruiseplum.
I would imagine that once I find the cruise that I’d like to book and go to the cruise line to book it, they will tell me that they don’t have a room at that rate.
ive never had that problem
Loving cruise plum. Hope the prices are accurate when I go to the said cruise line site to book.
They have been in my experience.
I always travel solo mostly I prefer to enjoy it better but cruises always seemed to costly because they kinda penalized you if you are solo traveling but recently I found a Alaska cruise on Royal Caribbean for 7 nights leaving Seattle got a studio balcony room with paid gratuities up front anytime dining and travel protection for $2888 got $967 off so I thought that was a good deal especially for Alaska cruises which tend to cost more you have to just look carefully search many options
Yeah, check out cruise plum…you’ll be able to find all kinds of low solo supplement cruises :)