Cruise with Shannon's Solo Cabin Cruise Guide!

 

One of the biggest challenges for solo travelers is avoiding the traditional “single supplement” charge. Most cruise fares are priced on double occupancy, which can mean a solo traveler pays nearly the same as two guests.

The good news: several cruise lines now offer dedicated solo cabins designed for one guest. These staterooms typically come with a reduced single-occupancy rate—so you can cruise comfortably without the usual 200% fare.

Most ships only have a small number of solo staterooms, and they’re often some of the first cabins to sell out.

Booking 12–24 months in advance is highly recommended, especially for:

• Alaska cruises
• Europe cruises
• Holiday sailings
• Spring Break sailings
• Popular new ship launches
• Group cruises

Waiting until the last minute usually means the solo cabins are gone and only standard cabins remain—bringing higher single supplement charges back into play.

Norwegian was the first major cruise line to truly invest in solo cruising, and it remains one of the strongest options for solo travelers today.

✔️ Studio Cabins (designed for one guest)
✔️ Solo Inside Cabins
✔️ Solo Oceanview Cabins
✔️ Solo Balcony Cabins

• Private Studio Lounge
• Coffee, snacks, and a social gathering space
• Hosted solo traveler meetups onboard
• Wide variety of dining and entertainment

Many newer ships include:

• Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Viva
• Norwegian Prima
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Epic

Royal Caribbean offers solo cabins on many of its newer ships, making it a great pick for travelers who want big-ship energy and nonstop activities.

✔️ Studio Interior
✔️ Studio Ocean View
✔️ Studio Balcony (select ships)

• Icon of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Quantum Class ships

• Active travelers
• Entertainment lovers
• Adventure seekers

Celebrity has expanded solo accommodations across much of its fleet—perfect if you want a more elevated experience while still cruising solo-friendly.

✔️ Infinite Veranda Solo Cabins
✔️ Solo Inside Cabins
✔️ Solo Oceanview Cabins

• Celebrity Ascent
• Celebrity Beyond
• Celebrity Apex
• Celebrity Edge

• Premium cruising
• Food and wine enthusiasts
• Adults seeking a sophisticated atmosphere

MSC offers a growing number of solo cabins on select ships and can be a strong value for travelers who want an international vibe.

✔️ Solo Interior
✔️ Solo Oceanview
✔️ Solo Balcony

• MSC World America
• MSC World Europa
• MSC Seashore
• MSC Seascape

• Budget-conscious travelers
• International cruising experience
• Caribbean sailings

Virgin Voyages was designed with solo travelers in mind, with an adults-only onboard atmosphere that makes it easy to meet people—or simply unwind.

✔️ Solo Insider Cabins
✔️ Solo Sea View Cabins

• Adults-only environment
• No children onboard
• Social, modern atmosphere
• Included dining and Wi-Fi

• Scarlet Lady
• Valiant Lady
• Resilient Lady
• Brilliant Lady

• Adults 18+
• Social travelers
• Modern cruising experience

Holland America offers a limited number of solo cabins on select ships and is a standout choice for itinerary-focused cruising—especially Alaska.

• Koningsdam
• Nieuw Statendam
• Rotterdam

✔️ Solo Ocean View
✔️ Solo Interior

• Alaska cruises
• Mature travelers
• Destination-focused itineraries

A luxury solo cruising option with a classic, traditional feel.

• Queen Mary 2
• Queen Anne

✔️ Solo Oceanview
✔️ Solo Balcony

• Transatlantic crossings
• Luxury travelers
• Traditional cruising enthusiasts

Popular with UK travelers and offers solo cabin options on select ships.

• Britannia
• Iona
• Arvia

✔️ Solo Interior
✔️ Solo Balcony

River cruise lines rarely build dedicated solo cabins, but several frequently offer reduced or waived single supplements—especially during promotional periods.

✔️ AmaWaterways
✔️ Avalon Waterways
✔️ Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
✔️ Riviera River Cruises
✔️ CroisiEurope

Most river ships have very few solo cabins—often fewer than 10 on an entire ship.

When solo promotions are released, they can sell out fast.

For Europe river cruises, booking 12–18 months in advance is strongly recommended.

Even if dedicated solo cabins aren’t available, these cruise lines often run promotions with reduced single supplements:

✔️ Princess Cruises
✔️ Holland America Line
✔️ Celebrity Cruises
✔️ Cunard
✔️ Oceania Cruises
✔️ Regent Seven Seas Cruises
✔️ Viking Ocean Cruises
✔️ Azamara

These promotions may reduce the supplement from 200% to approximately 125%–175%, depending on the sailing and availability.

The best solo cabins can sell out more than a year before sailing.

Different sail dates can have dramatically different solo pricing.

Cruise lines regularly run:
• Reduced solo supplements
• Waived solo supplements
• Solo traveler sales

These often have some of the best solo pricing available.

A travel agent can monitor solo promotions, compare sailings, and identify group cruises that may include extra perks or savings.

Solo cruising is one of the fastest-growing segments of the cruise industry. While most cabins are still designed for double occupancy, cruise lines like Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Holland America, and Cunard now offer dedicated solo accommodations—making it possible to cruise without paying the traditional 200% fare.

The key to securing these cabins is simple:

📅 Book early
🚢 Be flexible
💰 Watch for solo promotions

The earlier you book, the better your chances of snagging one of these highly sought-after solo cabins at the best possible price!