Norwegian Breakaway docked at Bermuda. Breakaway offers studio cabins, specifically designed and priced for solo travelers with an innovative bathroom design. The studios also have private keycard access to the Studio complex and an exclusive two-story Studio Lounge with a bar © 2013 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com
Traveling solo can be a great way to relax and enjoy a cruise, but you want to be sure to plan well and that your ship and itinerary make sense, say the cruise experts at Crown Cruise Vacations. Finding good pricing as a solo traveler can be a challenge, because the cruise lines look at the market value of their cabins on a per-person basis, and they are usually priced at double occupancy rate.
When sailing alone, you’ll pay what’s known as a “single supplement,” which means you pay for the entire cabin, and your individual rate will be higher than if you were sharing the cabin with another passenger. However, in the interest of relaxation and solitude, many travelers find that this added expense is well worth the cost.
As more people take to traveling solo these days, enjoying their quiet time as well as the opportunity to make new friends, Hurtigruten continues to offer a long held policy of sailings without the penalty of a single supplement. Guests traveling alone and booking a double-occupancy cabin will pay the same per person rate as if they were traveling as a couple on select departures of the six- to 12-day itineraries along Norway’s fjord-filled west coast – including the holiday sailings. The route, named the “world’s most beautiful voyage” by Lonely Planet, runs between the UNESCO-listed harbor city of Bergen and the Norway/Russia border town of Kirkenes, with 34 ports of call in both directions.
Right now, MSC Cruises is offering exclusive rates on select MSC Divina Caribbean sailings where certain sailings are offered at a reduced fare to solo travelers for a limited time.
Ultra luxury lines like Silversea, Crystal and Seabourn may be more conducive to solo travelers in some respects with smaller guest numbers overall that can make solo travelers feel more at home in a cozy sense. These lines do not offer solo cabins per se, but may have pricing that factors in one versus two guests in a cabin.
NCL’s Norwegian Epic has 128 studio cabins priced for solo cruisers, with no extra supplement required. Norwegian is the leader in number of cabins offered, with cabins equipped with full-size beds, tvs, and private bathrooms. Cabins are inside but look out onto corridors and include shared social space in the Studio Lounge or you can mingle with other passengers in the mainstream offerings.
Holland America Line does not offer solo cabins and does charge 140 to 200 percent of the cabin fare, but there are plenty of things to do for solo guests. HAL has a matching service for those looking to share a cabin (Single Partner’s Program). There are also social gatherings to be included in on longer voyages and gentlemen hosts that Holland offers solo ladies looking for a dance partner.
Cunard does not have solo cabins and usually charges 175 to 200 percent of the cabin fare, but has many programs like lectures and theatrical performances that are conducive to solo travelers. Cunard also offers gentlemen hosts for ladies looking for dance partners.
Sophisticated cruise specialists at Crown Cruise Vacations provide exclusive offers, exceptional value & unparalleled service and can assist with experienced cruise information and bookings. For more information and to book a cruise call Crown Cruise Vacations, which is based in Princeton, NJ, at 1-877-283-1114 toll-free USA/Canada, +1-609-945-9801 direct dial or visit http://www.crowncruisevacations.com/
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