Solo Cruising and the Single Supplement: What You Need to Know

Quick answer: The single supplement is the extra charge a cruise line adds when one person books a cabin priced for two. It is commonly 100% of the per person fare and can be higher or lower depending on the line, ship, cabin and sailing. You can avoid or reduce it by booking a dedicated solo cabin, watching for supplement sales, choosing an inside cabin or sailing off peak.

Cruise fares are priced per person on the assumption that two people share a cabin. When you travel alone, the cruise line still has to cover the cost of that cabin, so it charges you more. It is frustrating, but it is how most mainstream lines work, and knowing the options can save you real money.

The Math in Plain Terms

Take a balcony cabin priced at $1,200 per person. A couple pays $2,400 in total. A solo traveler with a 100% single supplement also pays $2,400 for one person in a cabin designed for two. That is $1,200 more than you would pay with a cabin mate.

Some lines charge a lower supplement. At 50%, you would pay $1,800 in the example above, still a premium but a smaller one. A few lines offer dedicated solo cabins priced for one person, and some lines run promotions that reduce or waive the supplement on certain sailings. Others charge more than 100% on some cabins, so always compare the final price for one traveler.

One more thing to check: port taxes, fees and onboard gratuities are normally charged per person, so the supplement usually applies to the cruise fare itself. Confirm exactly what is included before you book. Our cruise budget calculator helps you see the full cost.

Which Cruise Lines Handle Solo Travelers Better?

Lines change their solo offerings often, so treat this as a starting point and verify current options on the booking page for your exact ship and date.

Norwegian Cruise Line: Studio Cabins

Norwegian is the most prominent mainstream example. Many of its ships have Studio staterooms, small cabins built for one person and priced for one, so you avoid the usual double fare. Studio guests also get keycard access to the Studio Lounge, a space for solo travelers with coffee, snacks and hosted get togethers. Studios are smaller than standard cabins but designed well for one. Availability and categories depend on the ship, so check before you book.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages is an adults only line with solo cabin options and a reputation for social events. Pricing differs from mainstream lines, so compare the solo fare with the standard double fare for your sailing. It is also a different style of cruise, with a focus on dining, nightlife and wellness, so make sure it suits you.

Other Lines With Solo Cabins

A growing number of lines offer solo or single occupancy cabins on select ships, though not on every ship in the fleet. Examples include Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, MSC, Holland America and Cunard. Prices and policies differ, and some lines still charge a supplement even on solo cabins, so compare the final fare.

Single Supplement Sales

Many mainstream lines run promotions that reduce the single supplement, sometimes to 50% or lower, at various points in the year. They tend to appear on off season sailings, repositioning cruises and sailings with weaker demand. They are real and worth watching, but terms vary by sailing.

Expedition, River and Small Ship Lines

Some expedition, river and small ship operators run solo promotions or waive the supplement on select departures. Lines such as HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) have offered waivers on some sailings, but offers change quickly. If you like those itineraries, check the current solo terms, because the economics can sometimes be better than on a large ship.

Strategies to Reduce the Cost

• Book a dedicated solo cabin. On a ship that has studios or solo cabins, this is usually the cleanest way to avoid a double fare.
• Book an inside cabin. The supplement is usually a percentage of the fare, so a lower base fare means a lower dollar supplement. If you are weighing views against savings, read our guide to inside cabin vs. balcony.
• Watch for supplement sales. They happen across many lines. Email alerts and flexible timing help.
• Look at repositioning cruises. Lower base fares, a better chance of reduced supplements and often interesting ports.
• Consider a guaranteed cabin. You choose the category and the line assigns the cabin. See our explainer on guaranteed cabins for the trade offs.
• Book late if you can be flexible. Lines sometimes reduce supplements to fill remaining cabins close to sailing, though you may not get the itinerary or cabin you want.
• Use perks well. Check any onboard credit offers, since a solo traveler can often stretch it further.

The Social Experience as a Solo Traveler

Cruising suits solo travel well. You are in a self contained environment with plenty of people, so meeting others is easy if you want to, and being alone is just as easy.

Most ships run solo traveler meetups through the cruise director's program, so check the daily schedule on embarkation day. They are usually low pressure, often just a casual gathering in a bar, but they are where many solo travelers find their group for the week. Some lines also have dedicated solo lounges or host solo dinners.

For dining, you can often ask for a shared table in the main dining room or choose flexible dining, where solo guests are commonly seated with others. Group shore excursions are another easy way to meet people. Browse shore excursions for ideas, and read our guide to cruise ship WiFi if you want to keep in touch with new friends or family back home.

Before you sail, Facebook groups for specific sailings are often active. Search for the ship name and departure date, and solo travelers frequently arrange meetups through them.

Solo Cruise Ideas by Region

If you are planning your first solo trip, popular regions with plenty of social ports include the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest and Bermuda. Short sailings from Miami, Port Everglades or Galveston are a good low commitment way to try cruising alone. For scenery, see our Glacier Bay day guide, and for an easy first port, read what to do at Princess Cays or Kings Wharf, Bermuda.

Plan the Rest of Your Cruise

• Inside cabin vs. balcony: which is worth it?
• What a guaranteed cabin is
• How cruise onboard credit works
• How to prevent seasickness on a cruise
• Cruise ship WiFi guide
• What to expect on a Panama Canal cruise
• What to expect on disembarkation day
• Search cruises
• Cruise budget calculator
• Cruise FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions