A Guide to Solo Cabins on Ocean Cruise Lines

Virgin Voyages’ Solo Sea View cabin is one of many accommodation options for those cruising alone.
Photo credit: Virgin Voyages

For solo travelers, navigating cruise staterooms and suites based on double occupancy — and thus usually incurring a single supplement — can be a challenge. Thankfully, though, there are several lines with solutions in the form of solo cabins priced for those traveling on their own.

While there are occasional special offers and promotions that reduce single supplements, there are also lines that offer solo-priced options every day.

Here’s a guide to solo travel offerings from nine major cruise brands.

Celebrity Cruises

Onboard Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-class ships (Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Ascent), the line offers its Edge Single Stateroom with Infinite Veranda category, featuring the same Infinite Veranda feature seen in larger cabins. The single variety measures in at 184 square feet with a veranda size of 42 square feet.

Additionally, Celebrity Silhouette has its own Single Inside Staterooms available, albeit without a balcony or window. Four of these are available at 103 square feet.

Crystal

When all-inclusive luxury line Crystal reduced the capacity of Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, it did so by consolidating several existing staterooms into suites, as well as reassigning a few originally earmarked for two down to only one.

On both Serenity and Symphony that resulted in a 2023-redesigned Single Guest Room with Ocean View category complete with butler service, sized at up to 215 square feet.

Cunard

Historic Cunard has staterooms for those traveling alone on three of its four ships: Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria. Solo travelers can choose between a Britannia Single Inside or Britannia Single Oceanview cabin. Each come with 24-hour room service, complimentary Penhaligon’s toiletries and a bottle of sparkling wine.

Holland America Line

On Holland America Line, Single Ocean View cabins measuring between 127 and 172 square feet are available, featuring a full-size Signature Mariner’s Dream bed with plush Euro-top mattress. They can be found on the line’s Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam.

MSC Cruises

In the case of MSC Cruises, its Meraviglia, Meraviglia Plus and World series of ships showcase staterooms for solo travelers.

The namesake MSC Meraviglia sports 32 Studio Interior (108 square feet) and four Studio Balcony (129 square feet) cabins, while the second in class MSC Bellissima has 12 and four of each category respectively. Both MSC Grandiosa and MSC Virtuosa have 15 Studio Interior and four Studio Balcony staterooms each (all sized at 129 square feet), and MSC Euribia has nearly the same at 14 and four, respectively.

And in the World class, MSC World America and MSC World Europa each tout 10 Studio Interiors of 108 square feet and 18 Studio Ocean Views of 129 square feet.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Well known for its studio offerings is Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), given not only the brand’s cabins for solo travelers but additional shared lounges for those passengers. Every class and ship offers some combination of single traveler accommodations.

On its latest ships — Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Viva and the upcoming Norwegian Aqua — there are 73 Studios (94 square feet) and 20 Solo Inside, Oceanview and Balcony cabins (160-358 square feet), plus a dedicated Studio Lounge. Onboard Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore, the count is 82 Studios (99 square feet) and 46 Solo Inside, Oceanview and Balcony staterooms (135-367 square feet), as well as a dedicated Studio Lounge.

Also with their own Studio Lounges and combination of available solo amenities are the following ships: Norwegian Escape (82 Studios of 99 square feet and 50 Solo Inside, Oceanview and Balcony cabins of 135-322 square feet); Norwegian Getaway (59 options at 97-99 square feet) and Norwegian Breakaway (59 Studios at 97-131 square feet and 60 Solo Inside, Oceanview and Balcony at 129-356 square feet); Norwegian Epic (128 Studios of 100 square feet and 30 Solo Inside, Oceanview and Balcony options at 128-364 square feet); and Pride of America (four 107-square-foot Studios and 36 Solo Inside, Oceanview and Balcony cabins at 132-285 square feet).

Norwegian Joy has no Studio Lounge, but it does have 76 Solo Inside, Oceanview and Balcony cabins measuring 135-367 square feet. Also without lounges are Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Jewel, which each come with 50 Solo Inside, Oceanview and Balcony staterooms of 138-289 square feet.

More ships with Solo Inside, Oceanview and Balcony accommodations but without Studio Lounges include the 50 options on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star (142-301 square feet), 58 rooms on Norwegian Sun (145-330 square feet), 60 on Norwegian Sky (121-202 square feet) and 60 on Norwegian Spirit (149-281 square feet).

Oceania Cruises

NCL corporate cousin Oceania Cruises also extends a single traveler option to its passengers onboard Insignia, Nautica, Regatta, Sirena and Vista.

Solo Oceanview Staterooms (143-165 square feet) with windows are available on the four smaller sister ships, and Concierge Level Solo Veranda Staterooms (270 square feet) are bookable on Vista. For the latter, occupants even receive access to the ship’s dedicated Concierge Lounge.

Royal Caribbean International

Solo fans of Royal Caribbean International can choose studio cabins on a variety of classes and ships.

All Quantum and Quantum Ultra Class vessels (Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas) highlight Studio Ocean View Balcony staterooms, while all but Odyssey have Studio Interior options.

Meanwhile, on Voyager-class ships, there are five Studio Interiors available on Adventure of the Seas and four of the same on Mariner of the Seas, with another three each on every Radiance-class ship (Radiance of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas).

Virgin Voyages

And lastly for parties of one, Virgin Voyages’ fleet of identical ships (Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady) has a number of its Sea View (130-190 square feet) and Insider (105-177 square feet) cabins ready for single occupancy.

And included for those guests are the line’s usual complimentary Wi-Fi access, dining and entertainment, soda and water, fitness classes, tips and gratuities.

This article originally appeared in TravelAge West.