Solo Cruises: Cruise Holidays For Singles & Solo Travellers

Table Of Content

• Opportunities to Interact with Fellow Passengers
• Exclusive Amenities for NCL Solo Cruise Travelers
• Which Norwegian Cruise Ships Have Single Cabins?
• I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian. Here’s how they compare
• SOLO CRUISES FOR SINGLES & SOLO TRAVELLERS
• Day Mediterranean From Barcelona To Rome: Florence & Cannes

While the older smaller ships might be preferred by some travelers, they don’t tend to have single cabins and studio lounge features. The newer ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet are more tailored towards solo cruisers, with new ships since the Norwegian Epic launched in 2010. Note that the solo cabins with windows are at the front of the ships, facing forward. While that's a spectacular location for sightseeing, seasoned cruisers know that cabins in this location can be bumpy in rough seas. I love a little movement when I cruise (how else do you know you're at sea?), but if you don't, consider yourself warned. Designated solo cabins will be available on every ship, but the number of accommodations will vary.

Opportunities to Interact with Fellow Passengers

Norwegian makes it easy by taking the stress out of traveling and giving you plenty of well-deserved "me" time as well as introducing you to people you normally would not have met. Get ready for days full of sun, waves, and all the time in the world to relax! Even if you don't think you enjoy time by yourself, experiencing a Bahamas cruise on your own (or with whomever you happen to meet) is nothing but luxurious. You can take the time to rest, relax, and soak in the sun or party into the wee hours of the morning! It's getting easier and more affordable to be a solo cruiser — and this move from Norwegian Cruise Line will only help.

Exclusive Amenities for NCL Solo Cruise Travelers

There's also quite a bar scene on Royal Caribbean ships, with rows of bar seats in many bars that are a great place to find other solo travelers. Norwegian Cruise Line leads the way for solo cruisers with its innovative Studio cabins. Some cruise lines charge the full price for two persons for a solo traveler, making cruising a luxury that is out of reach for many. Norwegian Cruise Line, on the other hand, offers lower rates for solo cruisers. Still, all is not lost if you're a singleton wanting to experience life at sea. Spurred by increasing demand, a growing number of cruise lines are adding cabins designed specifically for solo travelers (with pricing that, by definition, is based on single occupancy).

Which Norwegian Cruise Ships Have Single Cabins?

The cabins are stylishly designed and come with all the amenities and comforts of a regular cabin, making them an ideal home base for your solo adventures. There's been a noticeable upswing in solo travel, as reflected by a Travelport study indicating that solo journeys constituted nearly 18% of global bookings. Another significant stat from Radical Storage highlighted a whopping 267% growth in online searches for "solo travel" from December 2020 to April 2022. NCL itself witnessed a rise in single occupant bookings in non-studio staterooms from 2019 to 2022. The NCL cruise line is popular with solo travelers from their 20s to 50s.

I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian. Here’s how they compare

I was very thankful that I had taken the time to prearrange my transportation ahead of time! Once my flight arrived to California, I was quickly able to find the area where ride shares meet outside the terminal, and my Uber arrived exactly at the prescheduled time. The day before my flights I had decided to pre-schedule my Uber transportation from the airport to the hotel that I would be staying at the night before the cruise, and this turned out to be a very good decision. This cruise was a repositioning cruise of sorts due to Norwegian Encore moving for the summer season to Alaska, where it will conduct mostly 7-day sailings around Alaska and Canada. Another option are the Friends of Dorthy happy hours, which is on each evening on ships that hold it. If you book do book a double-occupancy room, you will have to pay double the fare, but you’ll only pay for one person’s port fees, taxes, and gratuities.

SOLO CRUISES FOR SINGLES & SOLO TRAVELLERS

The video below highlights the experience of a solo cruiser (La Lido Loca) in a Norwegian studio cabin. Approximately half the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet offers studio cabins, with 8 in total, which will increase to 9 when the new ship Norwegian Viva is launched in 2023. On small ships, you'll see the same people again and again — on tours, in lounges, around the pool and so forth; this increases the odds you'll strike up a conversation and soon become fast friends.

Day Mediterranean From Barcelona To Rome: Florence & Cannes

Solo cruisers must pay an extra fare, known as a "single supplement," to make up for the lost revenue from the hypothetical second passenger who could have shared the room with them. On a cruise ship, I am used to the typical twin-size bed, which is about 15 inches narrower. You can really feel the difference, and it offered a welcome upgrade in comfort. While I would definitely entertain the idea of doing a solo cruise at some point again in the future, I still think that I would rather travel with someone when given the chance. However, I really did enjoy this experience overall and would absolutely consider a solo cruise with Norwegian again. This is cheaper than most hotels nowadays for a 4-night stay and included an unlimited amount of food, entertainment, and activities.

Special Lounges, Single Staterooms: Cruises Fight for Solo Travelers - The Wall Street Journal

Special Lounges, Single Staterooms: Cruises Fight for Solo Travelers.

Posted: Tue, 17 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

We haven't yet sailed in one of their solo rooms, but based on what we saw when we toured Scarlet Lady, they might just become the coolest digs-for-one around. Norwegian also offers four solo cabins on its Hawaii-based Pride of America. Norwegian has since added similar solo cabin areas with exclusive lounges to seven more new ships, including its two newest vessels, Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima.

Things I Loved And 2 I Didn’t Cruising Solo On Norwegian Prima

It's shaping up to be a leader in the solo cruise market, judging from my experience when I sailed on its first ship, Scarlet Lady. These little staterooms measure less than 100 square feet, but they put every inch to smart use. On Norwegian Prima, the décor offers a modern look, with blue, gray, and black as the primary colors.

My hotel stay was great, and although I did not get much sleep because I planned to wake up early the next day to make my way to the cruise terminal, the hotel room was very comfortable. I enjoyed relaxing and watching a TV show while decompressing from the long travel day before I went to sleep. I feel very lucky to have be able to do quite a bit of traveling in my life, and while I have had the privilege of traveling all over the world, I have never been on a multiple day trip by myself anywhere! Solo cruising can be a great way to meet new people, whether its in the Studio Lounge or taking part with other guests on one of the many activities available. Cruisers traveling alone can seek out others at the bar (no worries about the bar tab — drinks are included) or escape to a quiet sun deck spot with a book when they're tired of socializing.

Dive into our comprehensive guide and learn how to navigate the high seas without sinking your budget. If you are specifically looking to cruise with other singles, a good option is to book a charted singles cruise. Although compact, you can use under-the-bed storage as well as an cabin stall for extra storage options. Norwegian cruises is one of our picks for best cruises lines for 20-something singles and also for singles in their 30s.

I was also able to fully explore the Vancouver cruise terminal, which quickly became one of my favorite cruise terminals yet! This terminal is really great, located at the very center of the city and walkable to many sights, has a small park with beautiful views, is well maintained, and even has a small free museum for guests to visit. I was unsure what these meetups would be like, what the age demographic of them would be, etc., so I decided to investigate by attending one in the studio lounge the second evening of the cruise. This is something relatively unique to the cruising industry, and if you are someone who is considering a solo cruise, I recommend checking out Norwegian Cruise Line’s amenities.

I can't tell you how many times I've been sitting alone in a corner of a cruise ship lounge, minding my own business, when another passenger (or two or five) stopped by and struck up a conversation. Other Royal Caribbean ships with solo cabins include some of the line's giant Oasis-class vessels, including Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. Several of Royal Caribbean's older Voyager-class and Radiance-class vessels also have solo cabins.

By the end of the cruise, I no longer felt awkward dining alone or attending an event by myself. It also meant that if I wanted to take a nap in my cozy stateroom or simply read a book in one of the lounges, I could! If I wanted to see a show twice, I could do so without guilt, and I was completely on my own schedule. Before this, I had never seen a seaplane take off or land before, and if you are someone who is interested in aviation or seeing something of the local area, I recommend stopping by this fun spot.