SAILING SOLO IN A DOUBLE CABIN WORLD

As someone who has assisted tens of thousands of clients with cruise travel, I would say one of the most difficult clients to assist, when it comes to finding bargains on cruise travel, is the solo cruiser.

Unlike other types of travel like air, hotel or tours; the cruise industry looks at a cabin with one person in it as “spoilage” — loss of half the room as well as half the potential on-board income from the purchase of spa treatments, shore excursions and drinks. Cruisers may not realize, when the department that determines pricing, revenue management, looks at potential costs versus income for an upcoming sailing, the potential income from on-board spending, is very much calculated into these figures. So allowing for half-filled rooms, would affect overall company income overall, and the only alternative would be to raise prices for everyone to facilitate cruisers alone in their accommodations.

That’s how most lines explain the single supplement, which is usually 50 to 100 percent price premium above the double-occupancy rate. The lower the single supplement percentage, the less you pay. Usually, options are limited for single travelers looking for a great deal at the last-minute, or if there is one, how does one search for and find it?

As an agent who looks ‘outside the box’, I have found that if one searches hard enough, there is always a better solution, especially to a problem that is becoming more and more common. According to the New York Times, “The proportion of people over 18 who are currently married is down, to 51 percent in 2010, from 72 percent in 1960.”

“There has also been a rise in living alone, which might be a better indicator of independence. Over a quarter of households consist of one person — up from 13 percent in 1960. But only about one-fifth of the never-married population lives alone. The real story is among widows and widowers: Almost 6 in 10 of them live alone.”

And this does not just include millennials, according to a story from the Washington Post, Middle-age people account for the largest growth in people living alone in recent years, nearly doubling since 1999, according to an analysis of Current Population Survey data. The 55-to-64 age group has increased. recently, from 13 percent to 21 percent of those living alone surpassing those 75 and older, who were the largest component of those living alone in 1999.

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Although these statistics show an increase in demand for singles cruiser berth’s, it appears that the cruise industry has, until recently,  cast a blind eye on this trend. Either single cruisers have resigned themselves to electing for other types of travel or have decided to travel less and suck up the disproportionate price tag for cruising alone. This article attempts to offer some relief for this common travel dilemma and perhaps bring more attention to this daunting principle of the travel industry.

A common solution, offered by various travel agencies, both small and large, are what they call “singles cruises”. First of all what this term means is unclear. Does single mean unmarried, divorced, married but open, widowed, never married and never will be or actively pairing with whoever is available? Remember when agencies basically set up group space for such an affair as this, it is utterly impossible to determine or regulate the nature and pairing proclivities to those who elect to participate. You will most likely be sharing a berth with an unknown quantity for the duration of the cruise and you will be required to accept this with no possibility of refund or change of stature for the duration of travel. Something I would not recommend. This is a proposition which could inevitably upend even the most carefully laid out vacation plans

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Some Ocean Cruise Lines Now Feature Solo Cabins

Since the turn of the century, more and more cruise lines are offering single cabin options. Here are just a few.

Holland America accommodates solo travelers.

Holland America’s Ms Koningsdam, MS Nieuw Statendam and MS Rottterdam have many ocean view cabins for singles.  And don’t forget the Ms Prinsendam  which as several of its own single cabins.

Single Staterooms on Cunard.

For those traveling on Cunard, the Queen Victoria And Queen Elizabeth both feature nine solo cabins.  And the transatlantic Queen Mary 2 also features another 15 single cabins of its own.

Oceania Cruises has staterooms for singles

Oceania Cruises ‘s Vista Class Ships have solo cabins with balconies with a concierge option for upgraded amenity access.

Search for Ocean single stateroom deals with the website cruiseplum.

Even other cruise lines like Regent Seven Seas, Silversea Cruises, Azamara and Seabourn offer single cruiser deals. You just have to know the secret to finding them.

Cruiseplum is a quick and efficient but little-known ocean cruise search engine for not only Solo, but all cruise deals in general. Just click on Solo and find your best singles deal in minutes. Then call us to add our extra perks before you book.

River Cruise Lines offering single supplements.

Although less common than ocean, some river cruise lines do offer substantial savings for Solo Travelers with a select few having cabins dedicated to serving them.

Solo Savings with Amawaterways. 

Amawaterways River Cruises offers substantial savings on select sailings for their travelers. Check out our list here and then call us to add up to $100 per couple in extra cabin credits.

Single Traveler Savings with Uniworld. 

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises  offers considerable savings on select sailings for solo travelers.  Check out our list here and then call us to offer our automatic extra cabin credits starting at $300 per cabin and up.

Single Staterooms on American Cruise Lines. 

Like all of their existing vessels, all of American Cruise line 12 new, go anywhere Project Blue vessels will feature a number of solo cabins.

American Queen Voyages  also offer single cabins on some of their ships.