Vicki, a cruise consultant at CruiseOne in Palm Harbor Florida, wonders why you would share a cabin when you don't have to. My sentiments exactly, and koodos to anyone who makes the effort to seek out attractive offers for solo cruisers. Vicki has started a blog that lists cruise departures for which the single supplement has been waived entirely, or at least offers significantly reduced supplements. These deals are especially attractive for anyone who can take advantage of late or last minute bookings. Examples:
Details: Why Share A Cabin.
Save up to US$1,025 on a limited number departure dates with Adventure Center's "luxury" walking tour programs. Examples:
Details:Adventure Center
Boston MA. Harriet R Lewis, Vice Chair of Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT), just announced a new trip to Burma for Americans 50+. "We're delighted to share this incredible country with our travelers," said Lewis, "and to accommodate OAT's growing number of solo travelers, the single supplement fee is waived on this and all OAT Land adventures in 2012.
OAT's 16-day Burma: Land of Golden Temples & Floating Gardens explores Rangoon, Bagan, Mandalay, Kalaw, and Inle Lake in small groups of just 10-16 travelers. The price begins at US$2,995 (or $200 per day) and includes single-occupancy accommodations, some meals, activities, services of a resident OAT Trip Leader, ground transport and 6 internal flights, a 5% Frequent Traveler credit towards a future OAT adventure, and baggage handling (1 bag)
Details: Overseas Adventure Travel.
Los Angeles, CA. The river-cruise specialist, Uniworld, has just waived single supplement fees on the River Saigon, a brand new ship plying the Mekong. This offer adds to a good selection of supplement-free departures previously offered on Uniworld's 2012 European river cruises.
This latest Solo Savings special applies to 15-day sailings departing December 9, 13, 27, 2012, Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh. The price on those dates is US$4,999 in the lowest category stateroom and availability is capacity controlled.
Details: Uniworld.
I just came across a blog that reiterates what I've been saying for years, so I'm happy to repeat the text here in its entirety:
"With the percentage of single [North] American's fast approaching the 50% mark, this segment of the population is deceptively large and often overlooked. Each year, Valentine's Day invigorates half of the population at the other's expense. Instead, the message singles should be receiving is to enjoy life by one's own merit – and there's no better way to enjoy life than on a fun and social outdoor adventure amongst like-minded individuals.
"This has prompted us [at BikeHike Adventures] to create a new kind of adventurous opportunity over the course of this year's Valentine's Day. During the period of the year often devoted to honoring love and commitment, single travelers are invited to hop aboard Viva Venezuela! – a trip devoted to empower its single participants. Single travelers will be met with no single supplement fee and no mention of any special significance of February 14th.
"This 9-day itinerary is epitomized by undiscovered challenge and variety. This emphasizes personal achievement and instills independence within travelers. Among stints of hiking and rafting, the group will mountain-bike across the Andean mountain range. Overnights are in cozy family-run haciendas, rich with traditional flavor. A day of wildlife viewing on horseback will cap off this singles-only adventure. This special departure of Viva Venezuela! embarks on February 11th until the 19th."
Details: BikeHike Adventures.
Turkish Airlines, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world and voted the top airline in Europe, invites travelers to spend Valentine's in Turkey with a special low airfare to exotic Istanbul – just $599 round-trip, including taxes.
"Singles have to celebrate Valentine's Day too," says Joe Williams of Alpaytac Marketing Communications, "and this could be the excellent opportunity to travel a truly romantic location and maybe meet their future Valentine."
Travelers must book the Valentine's Day special economy-class fare between January 24 and January 31 for outbound travel between February 1 and February 29. The promotion is offered from several of Turkish Airlines' top gateways with non-stop flights: Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Tickets are available for purchase online at Turkish Airlines, via the Turkish Airlines sales offices at 1-800-874-8875, and through participating travel agents. A $20 per ticket service charge applies for all tickets purchased through the Turkish Airlines sales offices.
Seafarer Holidays is a UK-based company that organizes flotilla holidays and yacht charters in sailing destinations around the globe. Sail and Stay options are also available based at "Beach Club" resorts in Greece and Turkey. Two of these resorts, both in Greece, are offering "No Single Supplement" pricing on the following dates during the summer 2012 season: May 1-30; June 10-30; September 8-30, 2012.
Sailing events and instruction may be arranged at additional cost, along with airfare from the UK.
Details: Seafarer Holidays.
Littleton, CO. With the European economy continuing along its gloomy course, the outlook for solo travelers is on a favorable upswing. Unable to fill all the available cabins with twosomes, river cruise operators keep on opening up the space to singles at big savings over regular single occupancy prices. Avalon Waterways has joined other major river cruise operators in continuing a policy of waiving single supplement fees on selected cruises. Currently on offer in 2012 are the following cruise departures:
Details: Avalon Waterways.
Award winning New Life Hiking Spa is getting ready for its 35th summer season in Vermont. Operating dates are set from May 17 through September 30, 2012. "We are excited to be celebrating our 35th summer in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont," said Jimmy LeSage, founder and director. "For the 19 weeks we are open, there is simply no better place to go hiking than New Life Hiking Spa in Killington, Vermont."
To mark this 35th anniversary, New Life is offering a $300 discount off the first 11-night Weight Loss Retreat of the year (May 17 - 28). That is a total price of $2,219, single occupancy, or $1,949 (plus service and tax) per person if sharing a room.
In addition, early booking specials are also available for $20 a night discount on any length of stay from May 17 through September 15, 2012, or $300 off the total price of an 11-night Weight Loss Retreat for the following dates: May 17-28, May 29-June 9, June 29-July 10, July 10-21, any 11 nights during the month of August, or September 1-12. Rates include a room with a private bath, three healthy meals a day, fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks, one basic massage for each 3-night stay, all fitness programming, daily guided hikes (three levels offered per day), cooking demos, lectures and evening activities.
>> Reservations must be made by February 10, 2012 to receive the discounted rates. Discounts cannot be combined.
Details: For more information visit New Life Hiking Spa, or watch a three minute video.
Helena, AL. For 30-plus years International Expeditions has been arranging tours to exotic regions of the globe, and over the last five years, this travel company has taken notice of a growing number of single travelers "looking for safe, escorted travel to the world's wildlife-rich regions."
According to company President Van Perry, International Expeditions has always been committed to keeping single supplements as low as possible, and in that respect, budget savvy solo travelers will be pleased to find that single supplement fees will be waived on the following Galapagos Island cruises during 2012: February 3 and 17, March 16 and 30, May 11 and 25, and October 12 and 26.
On the 10-day Galapagos Islands cruise, solo travelers join a group of like-minded guests aboard M/V Evolution, International Expeditions' 32-passenger yacht equipped with spacious accommodations, an observation deck (perfect for whale watching), snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, and kayaks. Prices start at US$5,098 in 2012, including single occupancy accommodation, most meals, excursions, transfers, gratuities to porters and waiters for included meals.
Details: International Expeditions
Littleton, CO. All through 2011, Avalon Waterways waived single supplement charges on selected river European cruises, and I note that the offer has been extended once again to numerous sailings scheduled between March and June 2012. With these continuous extensions coming not only from Avalon Waterways but also from other river-cruise reps such as Uniworld, it looks as if this is a trend that could become standard practice, and possibly even – dare I say it – a strong indication that single and solo travelers are finally being seriously considered as a viable, stand-alone market. And yet, the cynic in me can't resist the observation that singles, traditionally always the last to get a deal, are getting a break now only because continued rough economic times have marketers resorting to last measures to fill those boats.
Details: Avalon Waterways.
Coral Princess Cruises, Australia's pioneer of small-ship expedition cruising, is yet another operator paying particular attention to single clients. It's waiving single supplement charges on 10-night Kimberley Expedition Cruises aboard Coral Princess or Oceanic Discoverer.
The Kimberley wilderness of Western Australia is three times larger than England with a population of just 30 000. Coral Princess's voyages between Darwin and Broome cruise through some of the planet's oldest and most awe-inspiring scenery and landscapes.
Waterfall Season prices for the 10-night Kimberley cruise aboard Oceanic Discoverer start at A$6,517.50 per person for past guests (25% off) and A$7,386.50 for first-time guests (15% off). Aboard Coral Princess they start at A$5,242.50 for past guests and A$5,941.50 for first timers. The reduced prices include all meals, lectures, and excursions.
Details: Coral Princess Cruises.
Back in 1990, when I first started searching the world for tours designated specifically for singles, I was thrilled to discover that California-based Backroads offered a number of trips each year just for single and solo participants. At that time, singles-only tours were so rare I wrote a feature article on the company. Before long, I was adding 100 or more Backroads trips each year to my Singles Tours Calendar. Imagine my dismay then, in 2010, when the company, without explanation, dropped singles tours from its extensive roster. Well, Backroads is back, apparently "by popular demand," with dozens of singles-only departures selected from its 2012 programs in Asia, Europe, North America, and the South Pacific.
That good news is tempered somewhat by the fact that Backroads has redefined its pricing policy, and I'm not sure it is as single-friendly as it used to be. Formerly, singles who were willing to share a room and who reserved at least 90 days prior to departure, were guaranteed to pay no more than the double-occupancy share price, even if Backroads could not find a room mate. Now, the wording has changed thus:
On the other hand, likely in response to the increasing numbers of singles who prefer the privacy of a single-occupancy room as well as company during the day's activities, Backroads has the following plan in place:
Those terms, I think, amount to no more than a minimal inovation from a company that is a leader in its field. In any case, Backroads singles-only trips are, once again, listed on CSTN's Singles Tours Calendar.