Cruises for the single traveller usually mean paying a single supplement that can be equal to paying double the cruise fare. Some solo travellers opt to share a cabin with a stranger in order to avoid the single supplement charged by most cruise lines. Alternatively, there are a number of cruise ships that feature single staterooms and these cabins carry no single supplement. Here are a few to choose from.
Best Cruises for Singles
In July 2010, the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic will debut featuring 128 Studio staterooms. This is a new category of accommodation for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) although each cabin offers only 100 square feet of living space. The room will have a full-sized bed, adjustable mood lighting, a flat screen TV and unique storage spaces. Guests of the Studio staterooms will also have access to their own private lounge with bar. Many of these staterooms will have connecting cabins, ideal for friends travelling together.
Single Travel on P&O Azura
In April 2010, P&O Cruises will launch the Azura, an 116,000-ton cruise ship carrying 3,100 passengers. The ship will feature 18 single cabins with 12 of them including a window. At 130 square feet, the Azura’s single cabins will be larger than the NCL Studios. They will be located close to shipboard venues such as Brodie’s Pub, the theater and the casino.
Other Cruise Ships for the Solo Traveller
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines – All four of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ ships have at least 40 single cabins in a variety of categories. In fact, the Balmoral has 64 single cabins including three 200-foot single balcony suites.
Saga Holidays – An option for travellers aged 50 and over is a cruise with Saga Holidays. The Saga Ruby features 92 single cabins in a variety of categories including suites with balconies. Additionally, the Saga Pearl II (the former Astoria) will emerge from a multi-million dollar dry dock refurbishment before the end of the month featuring 60 single cabins.
Viking River Cruises – Viking River Cruises offers a limited number of single cabins on most of their Russian river cruises. For example, the Viking Surkov features two single staterooms, the Viking Pakhomov features eight singles and the Viking Peterhof has 17 singles (all with a river view).
Voyages of Discovery – The Voyages of Discovery operates the cruise ship, MV Discovery. This vessel features only two single cabins but a limited number of twin bedded cabins are also available for sole occupancy without a supplement.
Voyages to Antiquity – Voyages to Antiquity will debut its vessel, the MV Aegean Odyssey in May 2010 after it is completely refurbished (the former Aegean 1). There will be 16 single cabins onboard.
The downside of many of these single cabins is the size. For solo travellers needing extra space, look for cruise lines that have lower single supplement costs. In fact some cruise lines have reduced their single supplements from 100% to as low as 25%. For example, last year Costa Cruises introduced a reduction in their single cabin supplement to 30%.
Renee Ruggero - Renee is a published travel writer and cruise industry insider with more than 1,000 days on cruise ships, visiting over 50 countries.
