For those like myself who love the experience of solo travel, there’s been some major news from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) that is a big win for solo travelers. The line announced its plan to introduce close to a thousand dedicated solo staterooms across its 19-ship fleet.
Beginning this week, for the first time ever, NCL will unveil three new solo stateroom categories – Solo Inside, Solo Oceanview, and Solo Balcony – for future sailings beginning January 2, 2024. The pricing structure, dependent on the destination and demand, is designed to be economical, offering solo travelers an experience of luxury at a cost less than traditional double occupancy rooms.
Guests booking the new solo stateroom categories will enjoy exclusive access to the Studio Lounge, a private oasis available on select ships, equipped with a well-stocked bar and a variety of snacks served daily. This dedicated space to relax and unwind is accessible only via key card entry, ensuring an intimate atmosphere for solo travelers.
The surge in solo travel has been noticeable, post-COVID. A study by Travelport highlighted that solo travel made up nearly 18% of global bookings in the travel industry. Searches for “solo travel” saw a staggering 267% increase from December 2020 to April 2022, according to Radical Storage.
Based on those numbers, Norwegian Cruise Line has expanded the capacity of solo staterooms from nine ships to the entire 19-ship fleet. This expansion offers single cruisers a bunch of opportunities to explore iconic destinations in Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand aboard vessels historically not equipped with such tailored offerings.
Typically, solo travelers will pay the double occupancy rate – 200% – the dreaded “single supplement” when booking in a stateroom not designated for a single passenger. For more information on solo travel and single supplements, check out my post called Cruise Line Single Supplements and Staterooms for Solo Travelers.