Cruise Lines Embracing Solo Travelers With More Single-Occupancy Cabins

Cruise lines are no longer asking solo travelers to pay single occupancy penalties.

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Cruise Lines Embracing Solo Travelers With More Single-Occupancy Cabins — Increasingly, though, cruise lines are catering to solo travelers with cabins that require no penalty for single occupancy. Jeff R. Clow/Shutterstock

1/25/2024Updated: 1/25/2024

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By M.T. Schwartzman From TravelPulse

There was a time, not too long ago, when cruise passengers wishing to occupy a cabin by themselves had to pay a supplement of up to 200 percent of the double-occupancy fare.

Increasingly, though, cruise lines are catering to solo travelers with cabins that require no penalty for single occupancy.

Solo cabins were something of a rarity on modern cruise ships, which favored staterooms designed for two or more until Norwegian Cruise Line started the trend in 2010 aboard the Norwegian Epic. Now, many other cruise lines are jumping on the single-cabin bandwagon.

What follows is a quick rundown of choices for solo travelers in different markets aboard the newest classes of ships, which, of course, are the most in-demand (all passenger capacities are based on double occupancy).

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity’s Edge-class ships offer more than 100 single cabins spread across four vessels: The Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent each offer 32 single cabins, while the Celebrity Apex has 24 and the namesake Celebrity Edge numbers 16. These cabins measure 140 square feet or more and feature the exclusive “Infinite Veranda,” which turns the entire living area into a balcony at the push of a button. Ships in the premium-category Edge series register 130,000 to 140,000 gross tons and carry around 3,000 passengers.

Cunard Line

Cunard’s most recent ships, the near-sisters Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, each boast nine staterooms for single passengers. Eight are oceanviews with one interior. The two Queens register just over 90,000 gross tons and accommodate almost 2,100 passengers, making them a midsize choice for solo cruisers in the luxury end of the market.

Holland America Line

Holland America’s Pinnacle-class ships—the Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam—each offer 12 single staterooms. All are oceanview and measure 127 to 172 square feet. Holland America’s Pinnacle-class ships register just under 100,000 gross tons with accommodations for 2,650 passengers, which makes them a midsize choice for solo travelers in the premium category.

MSC Cruises

MSC’s enormous World Europa, the first vessel in the line’s new World class, described by the line as “trailblazing” for its use of LNG and other green technologies, boasts 22 single cabins in both outside and inside accommodations. These Studio accommodations measure 108 to 129 square feet. The contemporary-category World Europa is among cruising’s largest ships, registering over 215,000 gross tons and carrying 5,252 passengers.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line has brought its Studio concept of single cabins aboard its newest ships, with 73 such staterooms aboard the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. In addition to almost 95 feet of living space, Studio cabins offer access to the private Studio Lounge. Even larger single cabins measure up to 250 or 350 square feet and are available in various categories, including inside, outside, and balcony accommodations. The mainstream Prima-class ships register 143,000 gross tons and carry over 3,000 passengers.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania’s newest ship, the Vista, has six single-occupancy cabins. These are among the biggest solo cabins available, measuring 270 square feet with large balconies. Part of the line’s Concierge category of accommodations, they offer occupants access to the private Concierge Lounge. The 67,000-gross-ton Vista carries 1,200 passengers, which puts it in a unique cruise niche that the line calls “upper premium.”

Princess Cruises

Princess debuts its next-generation Sphere-class ships in February, starting with the Sun Princess, which, among its many firsts for the line, will offer a new cabin category for single travelers. The Sun Princess and its forthcoming sister, Star Princess, are premium-category big ships that register 175,500 tons and carry 4,300 passengers.

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean’s latest ships to offer solo cabins are its two Quantum-Ultra vessels, the Odyssey of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas. Both have 28 single staterooms, including interior, exterior, and balcony accommodations. Some insides feature “Virtual Balcony” technology that uses LED TV screens to simulate the view outside the ship. The mainstream category Quantum-Ultra ships register approximately 167,000 gross tons and carry more than 4,000 passengers, placing them among the larger cruise ship choices for single travelers.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages is a new brand that offers 46 cabins for single passengers on each of its three ships—the Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady. Forty are inside cabins, while six are outside accommodations with sea views. Virgin’s solo staterooms measure 105 to 130 square feet. The Virgin Voyages sisters register 110,000 tons and carry 2,800 passengers—perfect for travelers who want a ship that’s big but not enormous and tailored to adults only.