Solo Travellers on a Cruise: Ships Without a Single Supplement and Solo Programmes

Cruising alone? Traditionally, the solo traveller is penalised with a 50–100% single supplement. But increasingly there are cruise lines with solo programmes, dedicated single cabins and singles' meetups.

The problem with the single supplement

At most cruise lines, the cabin is sold as a flat rate. Anyone booking alone pays 150–200% of the per-person price. Example: a double cabin costs 1,000 EUR per person — a solo traveller pays 1,500–2,000 EUR.

The background: the cruise line earns per cabin, not per person. An empty half of a bed is an economic loss. For solo travellers, however, this is unfair — they pay more for less.

Cruise lines with genuine single cabins

Some cruise lines have set up special solo cabins with no single supplement:

• Norwegian Cruise Line — Studio cabins on Norwegian Bliss, Encore, Joy, Escape, Getaway, Epic. Between 9–12 m², no single supplement, with their own Studio Lounge just for solo guests with complimentary wine and snacks in the evening. The standard for solo travellers on NCL.
• Royal Caribbean — on Quantum, Anthem, Ovation, Spectrum: a single-cabin category with no single supplement (as of 2024).
• Saga Cruises (UK, adults-only from 50) — around 30% of all cabins on Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure are single cabins. Standard with no single supplement on many routes.
• Cunard Line — on the Queen Mary 2 around 15 Britannia single cabins, often fully booked.

Cruise lines with a reduced or no single supplement

Even without explicit single cabins, some cruise lines occasionally offer no-single-supplement promotions:

• Viking Ocean Cruises — adults-only from 18, regular no-single-supplement deals for selected trips
• Virgin Voyages — adults-only, occasional solo-booking promotions
• Hurtigruten — the Coastal Express lines often have a 0–25% single supplement (instead of the usual 50–100%)

Solo programmes on board

More than the cabin question: anyone travelling alone on a cruise usually wants to connect with others. Cruise lines with well-developed solo programmes:

• NCL — a Studio Lounge with daily singles' meetups (a drink + snacks)
• Cunard — a solo travellers' cocktail party on board on the 2nd day, shared tables on request
• Mein Schiff — solo-traveller areas in the Atlantik restaurant, a shared table reservation possible
• Holland America — a daily solo-travellers' meetup in the Crow's Nest Lounge

Which ships actually have many solo travellers on board?

Demographically high solo proportions:

• Saga Cruises — around 40% solo travellers, all 50+. Anyone aged 50+ and travelling alone is perfectly placed here.
• NCL Studio ships — on Norwegian Bliss/Encore with 100 Studio cabins, the atmosphere is very solo-friendly.
• Virgin Voyages — adults-only, a younger clientele (40–55), suited to solo women who want a bit of buzz.
• Cunard on world routes — on the long legs, many widows/widowers travel.

Tips for your first solo cruise

• A shared table in the main restaurant — request this explicitly when booking. Standard tables are for 6–8 people.
• Onboard activities on the first day — solo meetups, sports classes, the welcome-aboard party. There you meet other solos on the first day.
• Shore excursions in groups — ship excursions are more expensive, but also more sociable than going alone by taxi.
• The viewing deck at the bow — at the bow on the observation deck at sunset hour. Many solo travellers are there and conversations come about easily.

What solo travellers should avoid

• Honeymoon-oriented lines (there is no Sandals as a cruise, but Princess often has many honeymooners — unpleasant as a solo)
• AIDA Cruises in the summer peak season — a family hotspot, fewer solos
• Small yachts under 200 pax — if there are no other solo travellers on board, it can get lonely

Conclusion for solo travellers

Recommendations for 2026:

• First solo cruise: Norwegian Bliss or Encore with a Studio cabin — affordable and socially inclusive
• 50+ solo: Saga Spirit of Discovery — many solos of the same age
• Premium solo: Viking Jupiter or Cunard Queen Mary 2 with a solo cabin
• Adults-only solo: Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady — a young clientele