So, a few years ago I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise and me and two other adults shared a room, and we each had a discounted price for it. A few days ago I was just playing with Royal Caribbean’s website looking at cruises, and it was the same, if three adults shared a room, each received a lower price than if two were in a room.
So, today, for the same cruises I was looking at the other day, they are now charging an additional $70 to $100 per person to stay three to a room.
I don’t know anything about the historic pricing for this stuff, but it makes perfect sense to me that 3 occupants in a room has a greater combined nightly rate than 2 occupants in the same room. You’ll be less comfortable in the room but you’re using more of the ship-wide amenities with 3 people. I have to guess if the per-person rate is higher with 3 vs. 2 you’re not actually getting the same room. It’s likely that the 3-person occupancy forces you into a suite with a fold-out or something which if booked with 2 people would be considered a significant upgrade.
The OP said a higher per person rate. The combined rate on a cruise is higher for just the reason you say, but the per person rate should go down with three in a given room.
In that case, it sound similar to airline pricing. Less about logic and more about people within the industry knowing a lot about buying patterns and when they can bump up rates.
Also, try checking the prices, then clear your history/cache/cookies and check again. It’s not uncommon for certain places to bump up the rates, not for everyone, but just for you. If they can see you keep checking the rates, having them start creeping up will cause people to buy now instead of putting it off and risking it going higher.
When you were playing around, did the website give you the actual stateroom number or a category code? When I say category code , I’m not talking about inside, oceanview and so on. I’m talking about these codes. They are all balcony staterooms- but the price is different based on location, room for a third/fourth, size, etc You can’t really compare the price for 2 vs 3 unless you know its the same category code - otherwise, you might think they are charging an extra $70 per person simply because there are three in the room when it’s actually that you got the 2 person price for a D3 room and a three person price for a D1 room.
I assume you did look at the same room type. We did several cruises with our daughter, and there was a supplemental charge for her, our price didn’t change.
Given that the Secretary of State has told people to stay away from cruises, you should try again. And then not do it.
The charge for the first and second person should not change. And many amenities charge - if you spend more time at the bar to stay away from your crowded room, the ship wins.
Most people don’t spend that much time in their rooms anyway.
On the three cruises I’ve done (two solo, one with my son) I was in my room to sleep, shower, change clothes, and that’s about it. For me the room was like a race car’s pit stop.
If you have a nice room, you spend time in it, though.
I’m confused about the pricing described in the OP. I have trouble believing that the PER PERSON rate is higher for triple occupancy than double occupancy, that make no sense.
Now, if they are saying the ROOM rate is higher with 3 occupants than it is with two occupants - that makes perfect sense, because they have to feed the extra person.
In the other direction, there is no discount for single occupancy, you pay two fares if you want your own stateroom.
Remember, there will be a daily gratuity added to the bill,and that will be per person.
Doing what? I spent my awake time hitting the various bars, soaking in the hot tubs, gazing at the sea, eating, hitting the various bars, playing ping-pong, eating, etc.
OP might be seeing the price difference between two or three different sales. Royal Caribbean was recently doing something like 60% off guest 2 and x% off guests 3 and 4. The current sale is 30% off all guests.
I suspect the math just works out to a higher total under the current sale versus whatever the price was before.
I used to get a balcony room with an extra-large balcony. Same price range as other balcony rooms, you just had to know what room to book ( C deck on Princess ships has the singles with big balconies). I’d lounge and exercise on the balcony and get food and drink from the free room service.
I did do the shipboard stuff, too - but it was nice to soak up the sun and enjoy the scenery in private.