Not everyone wants to share a cabin when taking a cruise as a solo traveller. Unfortunately having the additional privacy comes with an extra cost, the single supplement. Although the best case scenario for single travel is a cruise with no single supplement, finding cruises with low single supplements is the next best option. How much is this surcharge that makes the single traveller cringe, and which cruise lines have the lowest and best cruise deals?
What is the Single Supplement on Cruises?
A single supplement is the extra charge that singles must pay to occupy an entire stateroom or suite alone. These surcharges can be equal to 200% of the cruise fare. This means that a passenger that doesn’t want to share the cabin with another passenger may have to pay both double occupancy fares to have the cabin on their own. Fortunately, there are a number of cruise lines that have low single supplements on cruises.
Single Travel with Low Single Supplements on Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines – Carnival Cruise Lines’ lowest cabin category is called a 1A. They often offer these cabins at 150% of the double occupancy fare, instead of the 200% that they charge on other cabin categories. Ideal for single travellers, a 1A cabin could be an inside cabin or a cabin with a porthole, depending on the cruise ship. Additionally, beds may be bunk beds or they may be a twin configuration that could be made into a queen.
Costa Cruises – Costa Cruises' website states that the single supplement for sole occupancy of a stateroom varies depending on availability for the chosen departure date. The earlier the cruise is booked, the more opportunities to get the lowest single supplement of 30%.
Crystal Cruises – For 2010, single travellers pay only 125% of the applicable double occupancy cruise-only fare for stateroom categories C through E. For categories A and B, single travellers pay 135% of the double occupancy fare.
Holland America Line – HAL’s Single Partner Program agrees to place single guests of the same sex with each other for those that don't want to pay a single supplement. On the other hand, it may be worth it to pay the 150% to 200% to not share with a complete stranger.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises – On select Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner cruises, single supplements have been reduced for 2010. From May to December 2010, the single supplement for cruise only fares in category G suites are as low as 40%.
Silversea Cruises – Silversea Cruises states on their website that they have a limited number of suites available for purchase on a single occupancy basis. The single supplement ranges from 25% to 100% of the double occupancy fare for select suites.
Viking River Cruises – Viking offers a limited number of small single cabins on their historic Russian river cruises. For a more spacious cabin, they charge a single supplement of 25% on their E & F category staterooms.
In addition, no single supplement cruises are also available on select cruise ships that have dedicated single cabins. New cruise ships such as on the Norwegian Epic and P&O Azura will feature single cabins with no single supplement when they debut in 2010. Additionally, some older cruise ships have a limited number of these single cabins booked based on sole occupancy.
Renee Ruggero - Renee is a published travel writer and cruise industry insider with more than 1,000 days on cruise ships, visiting over 50 countries.
