Holland America Cruises For Solo Travelers
Holland America Line is renowned for its commitment to solo cruisers. There are plenty of activities that can be delightfully solitary or a means to meeting others . Holland America’s Single Partners Program, available on most voyages, offers events for solo travelers like cocktail mixers and games, too. Singles are also invited to dine together .
But does Holland America have single cabins, you ask? Yes, they do. The line’s biggest and newest ships, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, offer 12 solo cabins. They are all ocean view rooms and range from 127 to 172 square feet. They feature all of the same amenities of a double-occupancy cabin, but with a twin bed.
Holland America Line Solo Cruise Pricing: Solo cabins are priced for one single supplements are as much as 100 percent over standard per person double-occupancy fare for all other cabins.
Are Solo Cruise Cabins A Good Deal
Rates for solo cabins aren’t fixed and can fluctuate widely based on season, destination, customer demand and other variables. As this is the case with any cruise room, comparing single cruise room prices to standard cabin prices can be tricky and is best done on a case-by-case basis.
A good rule of thumb is that you can generally expect solo cruise cabins to start out priced higher than the per-person rate for a double-occupancy stateroom, but lower than the rate for a single person booking a double-occupancy stateroom, when factoring in the single supplement. Cruise lines offering solo cabins quote fares averaging about 125 to 160 percent more, when compared to the per-passenger rates in shared double-occupancy room.
Solo cruise cabins are intended to be a better deal than the single supplement rates for singles booking double-occupancy cabins, which typically average 125 to 200 percent. For example, when we checked, Norwegian listed a sample solo cabin fare in a studio stateroom for a July sailing at $1,099 — a deal compared to the cost of booking a double-occupancy room with a single supplement at $1,898.
However, as solo cruise cabin inventory is quite limited and coveted solo cabins quickly book up on ships, it’s not unheard of that the more widely available standard double-occupancy cabins offer more affordable fares — even with the added single supplement. Word to the wise: Book early to get your hands on the best solo cruise cabin rates.
Royal Caribbeans Studio Staterooms
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.
Reaching up to 199 square feet with 55-square-foot balconies, these cabins are outfitted with a mix of bedding types and plenty of space for one person.
Don’t Miss: Cruise Parking Miami – Port Of Miami Parking
What Are P& os Single Cabins Like
Like Royal Caribbean, the type of solo cabin will depend on the ship.
Arcadia, Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura have a small number of single interior cabins.
Aurora, Azura and Ventura have single sea view cabins
Arcadia, Aurora, Iona and Britannia have single balcony cabins.
Arvia has both single interior cabins and single balcony cabins.
Note also that you will be sleeping in a single bed in all of these cabins.
Arcadia and Aurora are adult-only ships, perfect for those looking for a child-free holiday!
Why Solo Cruising Is Up And How To Decide If Its Right For You
When the pandemic hit, no-sail orders suspended cruises for 15 months. Once the ban was lifted, , an avid cruiser from New York City, couldnt wait to get back onboard. But his girlfriend of three years didnt share his enthusiasm.
Even though he had never sailed solo before, De Lio, 26, a construction company owner and travel blogger, began researching his options and found promotions designed to entice customers to return. He set off alone from Miami for a four-night cruise to the Bahamas in September on the Norwegian Cruise Line Getaway ship. The trip, De Lio said, was a fantastic adventure that provided him with the opportunity to step outside of his comfort zone and meet new people.
The trend of solo cruise travel picked up during the pandemic, said Darley Newman, a travel host and an executive producer in New York City. Many cruise lines offered deals to drive occupancy, and one of those special offers was waiving the single supplement for solo cruisers, meaning greater savings.
The single supplement surcharge, which forces solo travelers to pay extra if they are in a cabin designed for two, has been an ongoing issue of contention in the cruise industry. Even if can afford it, it still bugs them to pay that extra amount, said Stefan Bisciglia, director of I Cruise Solo and co-owner of Specialty Cruise & Villas travel agency in Gig Harbor, Wash.
Don’t Miss: Virgin Cruise Line Scarlet Lady
Fred Olsen Cruise Line Single Cabins
Fred Olsen Cruise is a UK based company that has offered solo cabins since their founding in 1988. With only four ships in their fleet, they have nearly 200 solo cabins across the four ships each offering a twin bed.
- Fred Olsen Braemar 40 single-occupancy cabins
- Fred Olsen Balmoral 64 single solo cabins
- Fred Olsen Black Watch 43 single solo cabins
- Fred Olsen Boudicca 43 single solo cabins
Dont Miss: What Cruise Line Goes To Turk And Caicos
Which Ships Have Solo Cabins
Solos hoping to avoid the dreaded single supplement should know that select cruise ships have cabins designed and priced specifically as single-occupancy rooms. Called solo cabins or studios, these are usually small staterooms with most of the same standard amenities as regular cabins, and can be inside, ocean-view and, on a few rare ships, balcony category rooms.
For solo cruisers looking for ships with cabins created specifically for them, here is a list of cruise ships with solo cabins, organized by cruise line.
Don’t Miss: Alaska Cruises 2021 From Seattle
P& o Cruise Line Single Cabins
P& O ships, owned by Carnival Cruise lines, of which there are about seven currently, three are adults only, are British based ships offering modern British cruises. They offer P& O single cabins on their ships and the passengers are generally European. Their itineraries are often longer to accommodate the holiday schedules of their guests .
- P& O Azura 12 outside solo cabins / 6 solo inside
- P& O Arcadia 2 outside solo cabins / 4 inside solo
- P& O Aurora 4 outside solo cabins
- P& O Britannia 15 solo balcony cabins / 12 solo interior
- P& O Oriana 2 inside solo cabins
- P& O Ventura 12 outside solo cabins / 6 solo interior
What Are Royal Caribbeans Single Cabins Like
The type of stateroom will depend on which ship you are sailing on.
Lets take a look at their Quantum Class ships Quantum, Anthem, Ovation and Spectrum first. These ships offer two types of solo cabins for those travelling alone:
- Studio interior stateroom with a virtual view similar in size to the studio cabins on NCL, these innovative staterooms feature a floor to ceiling LED screen displaying real-time ocean views.
- Super studio balcony stateroom Super studios are 199 sq. ft. with a 55 sq. ft. balcony and full-size beds.
Harmony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas feature Studio Interior and Studio Ocean View cabins.
Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas feature Studio Interior staterooms only. The availability of these solo cabins is limited to 2 -5 per ship.
Read Also: November 2022 Cruises From Florida
The Truth About Solo Cruise Cabins
For solo travelers, the traditionally coupled-up cruise world has long meant navigating unfriendly waters, largely due to the dreaded “single supplement.” This pesky — and pricy — fee could easily double the cost of a cruise vacation for a single cruise traveler looking to sail in a room priced for two.
Happily, the tides have turned: More and more cruise lines are coming out with priced-for-one solo cruise cabins on both new and reconfigured ships. These are meant to afford single travelers savings at sea . So what exactly do you get when you sign up for a solo cruise?
Norwegian Cruise Lines Studio Cabins
Norwegian was a forerunner in the solo accommodation space, introducing its studio cabins on Norwegian Epic in 2010. The rooms are on the small side at just 100 square feet. Theyre also insides , but theyre great if youre not planning to spend much time in your room.
Whats unique about NCLs 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 Escape, Norwegian Bliss, Pride of America and Norwegian Prima .
Read Also: West Palm Beach Cruise To Bahamas
No Solo Cabins Charging Single Supplements Up To 200%
- Carnival Cruise Line the fun cruise is no fun paying 200% solo
- Princess Cruise Lines great itineraries, wonderful food, beverage and entertainment yet no solo cabins
- Disney Cruise Lines its a shame that Disney doesnt have solo cabins to recognize the multi-generational families that are sailing with them. Solo Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents pay 200% for a cabin unless you can split the family up to save money.
- Paul Gaugin French Polynesia in luxury
Dont Miss: Carnival Cruise Lines Out Of Mobile Alabama
Cunard Cruise Lines Single Cabins
The luxury Cunard ship line recently added 15 single cabins to the Queen Mary 2 when the ship was renovated in dry dock. The category code is KB and KC and located mid-ship on deck 2 and deck 3 as the area used to be the Photo Gallery and part of a casino so the cabins have windows! The cabins have a twin bed and are between 159-162 sq. ft. Cunard recently added solo cabins, Britannia Single Staterooms to the other ships in their fleet. Cunard do transatlantic sailings to/from New York and Southampton, England as well as intensive itineraries that are a month or longer. The ships are luxury, skew older demographic and have a Canyon Ranch Spa onboard.
Recent pricing for a New York to Southampton, England crossing of 7 days were $1,586 in November vs. $699 per person for inside cabin plus taxes/fees. So you are paying a bit more for less space but for a window view of the water. If you have points for a one way flight to New York or London, this is a nice, leisurely way to return home.
- Cunard Queen Mary 2 15 Ocean view solo single cabins
- Cunard Queen Elizabeth 8 outside / 1 interior solo cabin
- Cunard Queen Victoria 8 outside / 1 interior solo cabin
Read Also: Best Cruise Jobs
Also Check: Viking River Cruise Prague To Berlin
American Queen Steamboat Company
The Ships: American Queen has two single inside staterooms and four single outside staterooms with verandas, while American Empress offers one single outside stateroom with a veranda.
The Cabins: You’ll find American Queen’s single inside staterooms on Deck 5 and the single outside staterooms on Deck 3 . The latter has a queen-sized bed and a balcony with French doors, and the former has a single bed and no window. The single outside stateroom with veranda on American Empress is a slightly scaled-down version of the ship’s deluxe veranda stateroom . It offers one twin bed, a private balcony and outside-facing windows.
Tauck And Other River Lines
Solo travelers looking for an upscale river cruise often can find a deal from Tauck, a high-end tour company that has a European cruise division. It markets more than half a dozen river vessels.
Tauck often eliminates its single supplement completely on its least-expensive category of cabins and reduces single supplements for other cabin categories.
Other river lines that sometimes waive or significantly lower single supplement charges include Avalon Waterways and AmaWaterways.
Avalon waives its single supplement charge for a handful of cabins on every cruise departure in addition to occasionally offering larger solo traveler promotions. AmaWaterways currently has a promotion that drops the single supplement for cabins on hundreds of Europe and Asia sailings to just 25%. AmaWaterways also has four ships in Europe that each have two dedicated solo cabins that carry no single supplement. They are the France-based AmaDolce, AmaLyra and AmaCello, and the AmaDante, which sails on the Rhine and Moselle rivers.
For more cruise coverage, check out our 2022 Cruise Extravaganza.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
Recommended Reading: Cruise Out Of Puerto Rico
Celebritys Infinite Veranda Solo Rooms
Cruisers looking for a little bit more space on a line that falls somewhere between Royal Caribbean and Oceania will have luck with Celebrity Cruises Infinite Veranda solo 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.
Passengers can find 16 of these 131-square-foot staterooms on Celebrity Edge, 24 on Celebrity Apex and 32 on Celebrity Beyond.
Cruise Lines With Single Cruise Cabins
So, you’ve decided to take a voyage by yourself. Whether it’s your first solo foray or you travel alone frequently, choosing a stateroom is important.
To help you plan, we’ve compiled a list of cruise lines with ships that offer solo cruise cabins. Consider booking one to avoid dreaded single supplements that can cost you as much as 100 percent of your cruise fare.
Note: “Standard amenities” generally include a full in-cabin bathroom, storage space for clothing and toiletries, a vanity and/or desk area with a chair, mirrors, a safe, a hair dryer, lighting, individual climate control, a television, a phone and electrical outlets.
You May Like: Cruises Leaving From Norfolk Va
Virgin Voyages Solo Insider And Solo Sea View Cabins
Virgin Voyages is new to the cruise industry, but it knows whats up. Positioning itself as a hip anti-cruise line, it has built its first vessels Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and soon-to-debut Resilient Lady to include 46 cabins for single passengers, 40 of which are insides and six of which provide rare forward-facing views of the sea.
Theyre a bit small at just larger than 100 square feet, but these Solo Insider and Solo Sea View rooms are cleverly appointed with full-sized beds and sleek, stylish furniture, decor and bathrooms.
Luxury & Small Ships Single Supplements Vary
While the ships do not offer single solo cabins, they may offer lower single supplement or possibly waive the single supplement depending on the itinerary and promotion in place. These small ships are quite luxurious in the amenities offered and included features in the price. Unlike the mass market ships, they may offer drinks, sightseeing or private restaurants included in the promotion.
- Seabourn generally 175%
- Crystal varies 130-200%, offer single parties and still have gentlemen hosts
- Silverseas generally 125-175%
- Ponant
- Windstar
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Alaska Cruise From Seattle
Solo Travel: Which Cruise Ships Have Solo Cabins From P& O To Royal Caribbean
Solo cruises have become more and more popular as travellers seek to explore the world on their own but which cruise ships offer solo cabins?
Solo cruise holidays are fantastic for all sorts of reasons, from being able to do exactly what you want when you want to making a plethora of new friends along the way.
In the past, this used to pose a problem due to the hefty sum globetrotters had to fork out for the luxury of travelling independently.
However, costly single supplements are a thing of the past on many cruises these days and lines are offering singles events, sociable seating and solo cabins.
ROL Cruise sells a wide selection of holidays on cruise ships that cater well for solo travellers and have single rooms. This is everything you need to knowâ¦
Dont Miss: How Much Does It Cost To Have Solar Panels Cleaned
Solo Cabins With Saga For The Age 50+ Guests In Mind
Then there is Saga Cruises. This British based company has long focused on the 50+ age group and solo travelers are well catered for with a large proportion of single cabins available on many of their cruise ships.
Their newest ship, Spirit of Discovery carries around just 1000 guests. All cabins are balcony cabins and that includes the 109 single occupancy cabins on board.
These cabins offer different price categories depending how large you want to go: standard, superior, deluxe or suite. And WiFi is free all over the ship so you dont need to worry about making sure you buy a WiFi package for single use, its all included.
Don’t Miss: Italy And Greece Cruise 2022
Costa Cruises Single Cabins
Costa Cruises, the Italian ship line, owned by Carnival Cruise lines, offers roomy solo cabins of 130-160 sq. ft. on eight of its fourteen ships the number ranges from 6 to 21 solo cabins depending on the ship. The Costa Diadema has single cabins with extra perks available to guests. Im not that familiar with Costa as Ive not sailed them yet but as an Italian ship, I have to think that the food onboard is amazing.
- Costa Diadema 21 solo cabins
- Costa Fascinosa 17 solo cabins
- Costa Favolosa 17 solo cabins
- Costa Pacifica 17 solo cabins
- Costa Serena 17 solo cabins
- Costa Magica -14 solo cabins
- Costa Fortuna -14 solo cabins
- Costa neoRomantica 6 solo cabins
