SOLO Cabins - Studios & Staterooms

Hi, just to add an ***....AMA Waterways does have single

cabins:D...I am going on my first RIVER CRUISE with them in April

2016:D....I am in one of those cabins;) so that is a confirmation to your list:)

(More than just a rumor LOL)....it is a fact.

Awesome! I hope you post a review. I would love to hear about a solo experience on a river cruise. It's definitely on my bucket list, especially a Christmas market cruise. Where are you going?

Awesome! I hope you post a review. I would love to hear about a solo experience on a river cruise. It's definitely on my bucket list, especially a Christmas market cruise. Where are you going?

I am sailing out of Amsterdam with stops around the Netherlands

and Belgium. It is called "TULIP TIME":D

Here in the UK we have a company called SAGA which caters for the solo traveller but am not sure if non-UK residents can book with this company. Also it caters only for those over 55. Might be worth checking out though.

Suzanne (Bristol, UK)

Back to your original question...what ships have solo cabins, this is what my research turned up:

 

NCL: Epic, Breakaway, Getaway, Escape, Pride of America

RCCL: Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas have "studios", Radiance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas have "single cabins"

P&O: Azura, Britannia, Ventura, Arcadia, Aurora, Oriana

Fred. Olsen: I think all of them have some kind of single cabin, some oceanview and balconies available

Cunard: Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, and Queen Mary 2, some oceanview

Costa: Classica, Fascinosa, Favolosa, Fortuna, Magica, neoRomantica, Pacifica, and Serena

HAL: MS Prinsendam (unconfirmed and maybe just a few??), MS Koningsdam due in 2016

Lindblad Expeditions: all ships

Emerald Waterways: two on every ship

American Queen Steamboat Company: American Queen

Unconfirmed but AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Viking, and CroisiEurope are rumored to have a few across their fleets

 

This is information I have gathered from the boards here at CC and over a year of solo traveler research. I can't guarantee that this is complete or correct!

Don't assume you need to get a solo cabin to get a good price.

In December I sailed an inside cabin for 6 days for $429 CDN on Carnival Breeze and since it was a single bed with the other bed pushed up into the ceiling I had lots of room in my cabin.

In May I sailed for 7 days for $549 CDN on Norwegian Epic, again in an inside cabin (not a solo). While not as much room as the Carnival ship there were no space problems since there was only myself in the cabin.

In October I will sail for 21 days B2B for $2100 CDN on Carnival Dream, and that is my fault for paying so much. If I had made up my mind earlier I could have gotten that same cruise for $1800 instead.

I just posted this because I want people to realize that they need to search a lot and search hard for the bargains, but the bargains are still are out there.

I am also betting that when the first mega-ships start to sail to Cuba that there will be some bargains available then too. So keep an eye out.

PS. I must tell the truth - I am boasting too. :)

I don't assume, Earl, but I admit it's getting harder and harder to get a good solo price. For me, a "good" price is no more than a 25% supplement.

I don't assume, Earl, but I admit it's getting harder and harder to get a good solo price. For me, a "good" price is no more than a 25% supplement.

Maybe using the word 'Assume' was a mistake on my part. Sorry about that.

In my case I don't look at the supplement percentage, but rather how much I am paying per day to go solo. If the total cost is less than $100 per day and it is a ship I have sailed on before or has good reviews that makes it good for me.

The reason I don't look at the percentage is I don't have the money to spend on the more expensive cruise-lines where even a 0% supplement can still run me well above the $100 day limit I put on myself.

On the other-hand, I understand why someone will feel they are being ripped off if they have to pay 100% supplement. Sure the cruise line may not make as much money per cabin if there is a solo traveler, but at the same time some of their expenses are lower too. 25% sounds reasonable to make up the difference on low cost cruises, but when they charge $500-$1000 a day we know their expenses are such that they are making a killing charging a 100% supplement on the more expensive cruises.

PS. I am not totally cheap, for some of the special cruises out there I am willing to spend more. But so far the most I have spent is about $200 a day for my Alaskan trip.

Hi Earl, I agree with you. I don't look at the "supplment %" anymore and

haven't in many years. I look at the total price of my cruise, whatever

the total happens to be....if I can afford it and it is something I want

to do, timing, etc.....I book it.

The Single Supplement is there...nothing I can do about it. Would I like

the price of the cruise to be lower? Well, yea.....wouldn't most of us?

But anyway, just putting my .02 in there;)

I, too, look at everything and that includes supplement. On that popular online TA site, when I looked carefully, some of their rates are higher than the brochure rate. How can that be? Like I said, I'm having a hard time finding good rates, both in the Caribbean and in Europe.

I, too, look at everything and that includes supplement. On that popular online TA site, when I looked carefully, some of their rates are higher than the brochure rate. How can that be? Like I said, I'm having a hard time finding good rates, both in the Caribbean and in Europe.

I don't remember which thread it was, but was there not a post about the single supplement being higher that 100% on some cruise?

Imagine a cruise line wanting you to pay more for just yourself than if you travel with someone who would just cost them more money to process and feed. I can only assume they make big bucks off passengers in the casino and thus want to discourage solo cruisers.

I've cruised in the RCL studio featured in the video. I had the exact same cabin on the starboard, but one deck lower. I thought it was a great cabin, but IMO it would be tight for two adults and the beds don't separate. I can't believe the price would be so terrific for two people either.

 

The balcony is really huge in the cabins ending in '48'. It is smaller in the '50' cabins and regular size in the '52' cabins.

 

One thing that happened on my cruise was that a super studio balcony guarantee was offered (no supplement) and the folks I met who booked it all got regular balconies. This guarantee offering was kind of a secret code for solo balcony rate with no supplement.

I am sorry but can you explain this better for me. I don't understand what you mean. Should I be requesting a particular type of cabin as a solo?

I don't remember which thread it was, but was there not a post about the single supplement being higher that 100% on some cruise?

 

Imagine a cruise line wanting you to pay more for just yourself than if you travel with someone who would just cost them more money to process and feed. I can only assume they make big bucks off passengers in the casino and thus want to discourage solo cruisers.

They do charge almost double for solo cruisers, which is just absurd and really hard on us solo travelers. Not fair, not at all. If anyone knows of any great solo rates/tips for a trip to Alaska for next summer let me know asap!!!!!

I am sorry but can you explain this better for me. I don't understand what you mean. Should I be requesting a particular type of cabin as a solo?

The Quantum class ships have 12 solo balconies in category SB. They pretty much sell out the first day bookings open. If a quantum class ship is not selling well, they may offer a SB guarantee to attract solo cruisers. If that category ever pops up, chances are you will get a regular balcony instead. RCL guarantees you will get at least an SB balcony, but they can upgrade you to any cabin with a balcony.

I have also watched Alaska a bit. There were deals after final payment this summer. But Alaska prices seem to hold their own and only go up up up.

Here in the UK we have a company called SAGA which caters for the solo traveller but am not sure if non-UK residents can book with this company. Also it caters only for those over 55. Might be worth checking out though.

 

Suzanne (Bristol, UK)

Thanks for letting us know.

I've cruised in the RCL studio featured in the video. I had the exact same cabin on the starboard, but one deck lower. I thought it was a great cabin, but IMO it would be tight for two adults and the beds don't separate. I can't believe the price would be so terrific for two people either.

 

The balcony is really huge in the cabins ending in '48'. It is smaller in the '50' cabins and regular size in the '52' cabins.

 

One thing that happened on my cruise was that a super studio balcony guarantee was offered (no supplement) and the folks I met who booked it all got regular balconies. This guarantee offering was kind of a secret code for solo balcony rate with no supplement.

Thanks tons!!!

Don't assume you need to get a solo cabin to get a good price.

 

In December I sailed an inside cabin for 6 days for $429 CDN on Carnival Breeze and since it was a single bed with the other bed pushed up into the ceiling I had lots of room in my cabin.

 

In May I sailed for 7 days for $549 CDN on Norwegian Epic, again in an inside cabin (not a solo). While not as much room as the Carnival ship there were no space problems since there was only myself in the cabin.

 

In October I will sail for 21 days B2B for $2100 CDN on Carnival Dream, and that is my fault for paying so much. If I had made up my mind earlier I could have gotten that same cruise for $1800 instead.

 

I just posted this because I want people to realize that they need to search a lot and search hard for the bargains, but the bargains are still are out there.

 

I am also betting that when the first mega-ships start to sail to Cuba that there will be some bargains available then too. So keep an eye out.

 

PS. I must tell the truth - I am boasting too. :)

Hey Earl,

Any tips for solo cruising in getting a great deal for a balcony cabin, mid-ship going to Alaska? Lynsey

I don't remember which thread it was, but was there not a post about the single supplement being higher that 100% on some cruise?

 

Imagine a cruise line wanting you to pay more for just yourself than if you travel with someone who would just cost them more money to process and feed. I can only assume they make big bucks off passengers in the casino and thus want to discourage solo cruisers.

I haven't seen a single supplement more than 100%, but what I HAVE seen is a situation where during a mock booking I was unable to book a "guarantee" as a solo, but it was available for two people. That resulted in cabins which where more than double the rate for double occupancy.

My work-around was to have my TA set up the booking for two people and at a later time have one name dropped.

Silly rabbits. :D

I haven't seen a single supplement more than 100%, but what I HAVE seen is a situation where during a mock booking I was unable to book a "guarantee" as a solo, but it was available for two people. That resulted in cabins which where more than double the rate for double occupancy.

 

My work-around was to have my TA set up the booking for two people and at a later time have one name dropped.

 

Silly rabbits. :D

I don't get it, you booked for two people, then changed it by dropping one and they didn't charge you a solo rate supplement?

I don't get it, you booked for two people, then changed it by dropping one and they didn't charge you a solo rate supplement?

Hi Molly, makes no sense to me either.....the cabin needs to be paid

for in full......whether someone cancelled (for real or pretend)......

the other person has to then pay for the full amount. So I don't get

it either......not sure how he pays less.

Hi Molly, makes no sense to me either.....the cabin needs to be paid

 

for in full......whether someone cancelled (for real or pretend)......

 

the other person has to then pay for the full amount. So I don't get

 

it either......not sure how he pays less.

Easy. He pays what he would have paid for 2 people then the second person just doesn't show up. It works when the solo rate is more than the rate for 2 people (which It should never be imo)

I don't get it, you booked for two people, then changed it by dropping one and they didn't charge you a solo rate supplement?

Still probably paid double. But the guarantee wasn't "available" when booking online as as solo.

I've had that happen before, with fares not available when I booked online as a solo, but when calling, was able to get the fare. Well, after calling twice. First person wasn't able to find it :)

I don't get it, you booked for two people, then changed it by dropping one and they didn't charge you a solo rate supplement?

Sorry for the confusion. Calypso & ChiGal got it right.

As an example.-- There have been instances where when I do a mock booking for 2, I'm able to book an inside guarantee for say $450/pp-- total $900. But when I go in to book as a solo, the available cabins do not list the "guarantee" cabin or other lower priced cabins, but instead start out at $1050 for a solo.

That's where I do the booking as if it were for two people.

Still probably paid double. But the guarantee wasn't "available" when booking online as as solo.

 

I've had that happen before, with fares not available when I booked online as a solo, but when calling, was able to get the fare. Well, after calling twice. First person wasn't able to find it :)

Yes, I know with Royal.

while you can't book it online as as a solo, usually if you call Crown and Anchor they will let you, so I have never had to add a person to get the low gty rate