Cruise Lines Welcome Solo Travelers: Increasing Single-Occupancy Cabin Options

The cruise industry is undergoing a significant transformation, especially in catering to solo travelers. Gone are the days when single passengers faced the daunting expense of a 200% surcharge for a private cabin. In a welcoming shift, many cruise lines are now offering single-occupancy cabins without any additional penalty, making solo cruising more accessible and appealing.

This change was spearheaded in 2010 by Norwegian Cruise Line with the introduction of solo cabins on the Norwegian Epic. This move marked a departure from the traditional focus on double or multi-occupancy staterooms. Following this trend, numerous other cruise lines have joined in, adding single cabins to their fleets.

Here is an overview of the options available for solo travelers across different segments of the cruise market, focusing on the newest and most sought-after classes of ships (all passenger capacities are based on double occupancy):

• Celebrity Cruises: The Edge-class ships from Celebrity Cruises, including Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Apex, and Celebrity Edge, offer over 100 single cabins. These cabins are notable for their “Infinite Veranda,” transforming the living area into a balcony. These premium-category ships carry around 3,000 passengers.
• Cunard Line: Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, Cunard’s latest vessels, offer nine single-occupancy staterooms each, blending luxury with midsize cruising for almost 2,100 passengers.
• Holland America Line: The Pinnacle-class ships – Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, and Rotterdam – each feature 12 oceanview single staterooms. These midsize premium-category ships accommodate 2,650 passengers.
• MSC Cruises: MSC World Europa, a contemporary-class ship, has 22 single cabins, both outside and inside, emphasizing green technologies. It’s one of the largest, accommodating over 5,252 passengers.
• Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, the latest in Norwegian’s fleet, offer 73 studio cabins for solo travelers, along with access to the private Studio Lounge. These mainstream ships carry over 3,000 passengers.
• Oceania Cruises: Vista, Oceania’s newest ship, features six large single-occupancy cabins within its upper premium category. With 1,200 passengers, it offers an exclusive experience.
• Princess Cruises: The upcoming Sun Princess and Star Princess will introduce a new cabin category for solo travelers in their premium-class Sphere series, accommodating 4,300 passengers.
• Royal Caribbean International: The Quantum-Ultra ships, Odyssey of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas, offer 28 single staterooms, including options with “Virtual Balcony” technology. These mainstream ships carry over 4,000 passengers.
• Virgin Voyages: Aimed at adult-only travelers, Virgin Voyages’ ships – Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, and Resilient Lady – offer 46 cabins for single travelers, perfectly balancing size and exclusivity with a capacity of 2,800 passengers.

This increasing availability of single-occupancy cabins across various cruise lines and ship classes reflects a growing recognition of the solo traveler market. It highlights the industry’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity in travel experiences.