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Holland America's solo cabins are larger than Norwegian's, but you'll have to settle for a twin bed. Still, solo cruisers on Holland America’s Koningsdam, Niewuw Statendam, Rotterdam, and Ryndam ships can expect between 127 and 172 square feet of space onboard. However, Eric Kravitz, president of singles-travel specialist Travel Services Worldwide, notes that itinerary options are quite limited if you must book a solo cabin. U.K.-based cruise lines have long had a sensibility for solo travelers. Olsen has featured a generous number of solo cabins across its fleet for nearly three decades, while P&O Cruises also joined the game in 2010, and today offers such units on most of its ships. Cruises for solo travelers aboard Silversea don't include "single" cabins.
SOLO CRUISES FOR SINGLES & SOLO TRAVELERS
Royal Caribbean boasts the most single cruise cabins of any line, with about half of the ships in its fleet housing at least two. However, the most impressive are Super Studio staterooms with balconies, found on Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas. These are the best types of cabins for solo cruisers to book across the major cruise lines.
The 5 best cruise lines for solo travelers
The area now used for solo cabins was formerly part of the casino and photo gallery on board. The prestigious and traditional cruise line Cunard offers solo cabins on all 3 of the ships in the fleet. Atlas' first solo suites hit the seas this year onboard its debut ship, World Navigator. Each suite clocks in at just over 180 square feet and comes equipped with a queen-size bed, a 42-inch TV, and a shower complete with L'Occitane bath products. Here's everything you need to know about single bookings aboard some of the best lines for solo cruisers.
I took my first solo on MSC Cruises. After 4 nights, here are the pros and cons of cruising alone - Cruise Blog
I took my first solo on MSC Cruises. After 4 nights, here are the pros and cons of cruising alone.
Posted: Thu, 27 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Norwegian Cruise Line's studio cabins
Plus, the lines new-builds will have a larger number of single cabins moving forward, as well as a larger variety of cabin types that include ocean view room with windows and balcony accommodations. With solo cruising on the rise, cruise lines are beginning to take notice by adding accommodations for one to their newest ships. Some have even outfitted older vessels to offer accommodations for solo travelers. Although they can be pricey, single cruise cabins usually represent some savings versus what you'd pay for a voyage in a cabin meant for two. This means solo cruising, which too often can be cost prohibitive because of the dreaded “single supplement” penalty is now more accessible than ever if you can find the right cruise ship.
Avalon Waterways waives single supplements on its European river cruises and on some itineraries in southeast Asia. About 10 percent of Avalon passengers are solo cruisers, but you’ll want to book early to join them. Only a portion of each ship’s staterooms are reserved for solo cruisers on each itinerary. Costa Cruises and Royal Caribbean International trail Norwegian with big-ship inventory, with Royal Caribbean touting some high-tech touches like "virtual balconies" for interior solo staterooms. Holland America Line followed suit with a dozen designated solo cruise cabins aboard Koningsdam. Cunard, likewise, refurbished all of its ships with solo staterooms.
Norwegian Cruise Line adding close to 1,000 solo cabins - USA TODAY
Norwegian Cruise Line adding close to 1,000 solo cabins.
Posted: Sat, 07 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
See all of our readers' favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2021. On May 24, 2016, a new "Lightweight Composite Cabin" design was unveiled in Southampton, England. World's largest accommodation found on a riverboat is Riverside Mozart's French Balcony Suite. The vessel has two such accommodations, each sized 885 ft2 / 82 m2. Must be noted, that the stateroom is combined with an adjacent French Balcony cabin.
Whether you're traveling solo or as a single on Royal Caribbean, cruises are easy to find. Royal Caribbean ships with solo cabins include Quantum of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas, which each feature 28 studio cabins for solo travelers. Royal Caribbean offers these in a mix of virtual balcony cabins (inside cabins) and solo balcony rooms with 55-square-foot open-air terraces.
Loft Suites (aka Duplex Suites)
Royal Caribbean has taken a page from Norwegian's playbook in recent years by adding solo cabins to both new and older ship classes. The line's Quantum-class vessels, which began debuting in 2014, offer up to 28 of these dedicated studio cabins, which measure from 101 to 119 square feet. There are two ocean cruise ships in Saga’s fleet and both have plenty of solo cabins for cruise passengers to choose from. The UK-based cruise line caters to passengers 50 and older on its 1,000-passenger vessels. Norwegian was one of the first mainstream cruise lines to introduce solo cabins to their ships.
It also has four ships in Europe that each have two dedicated solo cabins that carry no single supplement. Royal Caribbean has more single cruise cabins than the average cruise line. Vista, Oceania Cruises' newest ship, offers six 270-square-foot solo cabins. Dubbed Concierge Level Veranda staterooms, they all have balconies and entitle cruisers staying in them to Concierge Level amenities. This includes free laundry service, room service from the dining room menu, exclusive keycard-only access to the dedicated Concierge Lounge, priority embarkation and a complimentary bottle of Champagne. To keep up with the rising demand from cruisers who want to sail alone and don’t want to be penalized with the added cost of paying for a whole cabin on their own, Cunard refurbished its ships to offer solo staterooms.
What's unique about NCL's studios is that they allow occupants access to the studio lounge, where they can meet other cruisers sailing alone and partake in daily snacks. Studio cabins are available on Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Bliss, Pride of America, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva. The cabins also each include an ultraluxurious Tranquility memory foam bed, a seating area that overlooks a private balcony and ample storage space.
You'll also want to consider which lines charge single supplements when looking at fares, as this can actually increase costs. Today, this line known for its specialty dining is still trailblazing. It’s the first one to offer a wide variety of cabin categories dedicated to singles. More than 150 Studio cabins feature true oceanview window rooms and more than 300 have balconies, a rarity for solo accommodations. 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.
Always check the fares closely, though, because high demand for solo cabins combined with sales promotions on standard staterooms can mean that you still might get a better deal booking a regular stateroom. The pioneer in solo cruising, Norwegian turned the tide when it introduced 128 studio cabins designed and priced exclusively for one on the Norwegian Epic back in 2010. Yes, they were small, at just 100 square feet, but they enabled solo travelers to consistently avoid the single supplement. Located on the inside, they had a full-size bed and a window feature, but not one that faced the water. From its solo-oriented activities to its cabins for one, Holland America’s commitment to singles is full steam ahead.
Hankamer explained, "There are deals to be found, but it's a segment of the market that is not well catered to in today's marketplace. Deals can be scarce." Solo travelers are unlikely to be bored on any Cunard ship with so many activities taking place onboard. Then you can decide if you prefer to book with the cruise line or a travel agent. Fitness classes, dance classes, and other onboard activities, such as trivia quizzes or listening to live bands, are good ways to meet others.
These cabins come in at just under 100 square feet—enough space for a full bed. They don’t offer sea views, but the cruise line does include access to a lounge where they can meet other solo travelers over snacks. River cruising in general is ideal for solo travelers, and other river lines also waive or significantly lower single supplement charges. Avalon Waterways waives its single supplement charge for some cabins on every cruise departure in Europe, and AmaWaterways charges a single supplement of just 50% for solo travelers booking non-suite cabins.
Unlike traditional balconies, Infinite Verandas extend the overall square footage of the cabin, featuring a window that raises and lowers with the push of a button. Oceania plans to add solo cabins to four more ships in its fleet in late September 2022. Each of the four vessels — Regatta, Nautica, Insignia and Sirena — will have 14 solo oceanview cabins. 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.
Most cruise ship cabins are designed for two, and the cruise rates you see advertised for these cabins are per person, based on double occupancy. That means the rates are only available to customers who will be sharing the cabin with a second paying passenger. There are currently three ships in Cunard’s fleet with a fourth being added in 2024. Queen Mary 2 had 15 single cabins added to the vessel during a recent dry dock.
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