Are Solo Travelers Forgotten by Cruise Lines? | TravelPulse
According to online resource and community Solo Traveler, cruise lines are not doing a good job of servicing those who travel alone.
It came to that conclusion when its panel of five judges opted not to nominate any ocean cruise lines and few river ones for the brand’s first Solo Travel Awards.
The panel used criteria such as whether companies apply a single supplement (and how much it is if they do), publish prices based on double occupancy, have limited solo space, and provide special solo services before or during trips.
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The judges were Spud Hilton, travel editor, “San Francisco Chronicle”; Keith Jenkins, CEO, ambassador and publisher, “Velvet Escape;” Andrew McCarthy, director, award-winning travel writer and actor; Tracey Nesbitt, editor and contributor, “Solo Traveler”; and Oneika Raymond, publisher, “Oneika the Traveller” and in-house travel expert for CTV’s “Your Morning.”
In a press release, they concluded, “There are still too many barriers for solo travelers despite the overwhelming evidence of the upside for the industry to serve this market. We’re going to continue to advocate for the solo market and are looking forward to using the insight we have gained from our global community to help companies capitalize on one of the most important and emerging travel trends.”
The awards came to the conclusion that the majority of cruises are unfavorably listed at double occupancy rates and that single supplements can be up to or occasionally in excess of 100 percent of the first fare.
While they list solo receptions, communal tables, Facebook groups and extra tour free time seemingly as helpful, they also disagree with the suggestion that sharing a room with a potential stranger is a good idea to avoid a single supplement.
I, for one, concur that cruise lines can do more to accommodate solo travelers, but they are doing more than they have in years past.
Three companies that offer cabins specifically for solo travelers sans supplement are Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.
READ MORE: How To Get The Most Out Of Your Solo Cruise
All three Cunarders—the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria—feature single staterooms with ocean-view or inside configurations. The Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway and Pride of America from Norwegian also have modular studio staterooms with exclusive access to the Studio Complex and Lounge.
With even more options, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas come with studios configured either as standard interior, interior with virtual view, ocean-view or balcony.
What’s more, single supplement waivers are more common than might be initially believed. You just need to keep an eye out for them on the ocean and river cruise lines that do not themselves sport solo staterooms.
READ MORE: 5 Best Accommodations for Solo Cruisers
The release also said, “With the number of people traveling solo on the rise, both travelers and the travel industry miss out when there is a single supplement.”
However, the reality is that cruise ships are built on an economy of scale wherein profits are based on cabins being filled with two people. If all were occupied with just one person not paying a single supplement, the industry would indeed be hurt.
Lastly, as to finding a travel companion to potentially share a room with and therefore eliminate any supplement, you might otherwise consider a family member or friend, or use reputable online tools, such as gender-specific ones, to safely vet someone ahead of time.
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