The short answer: The best cruise lines for solo travelers are the ones with cabins built and priced for one. Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, Cunard, Virgin Voyages and Celebrity Cruises all have dedicated solo cabins at sea. On the rivers, Avalon Waterways, AmaWaterways and Tauck regularly waive or reduce the single supplement.
Key Takeaways: Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers
- Dedicated solo cabins usually carry no single supplement. You pay one fare for one person.
- In a standard cabin, a solo traveler often pays a supplement of 25% to 100% on top of the per-person fare.
- Norwegian has the most solo cabins at sea, including Studio cabins with a private lounge on many ships.
- Luxury lines like Crystal, Seabourn and Silversea rarely have solo cabins, but they run reduced-supplement offers on select voyages.
- River cruise lines are often the best value for solo travelers because supplements are frequently waived.
Many major cruise lines are catering to the increasing demand of solo travelers. Cruising has customarily been designed almost exclusively for couples and families. However, with the increase in solo travelers in recent years, cruise lines have redesigned some features as well as pricing structures to appeal to those traveling independently. For a broader look at every line, see our complete cruise line comparison guide.
What Is a Single Supplement?
A single supplement is the extra charge a solo traveler pays to occupy a cabin priced for two. It usually adds 10% to 100% to the per-person fare. The main exception is a dedicated solo cabin, which is priced for one person with no supplement.
Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers at a Glance
| Cruise line | Ships with solo cabins | Solo pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Solo cabins fleetwide; Studios on 10 ships | Priced for one | Social solo travelers who want a lounge |
| Royal Caribbean | Studio cabins on about 10 ships, incl. Quantum class | Studios: no supplement. Regular cabins: 100% | Big-ship activities |
| Holland America Line | Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam (12 each) | No supplement in single cabins | Mature travelers, longer itineraries |
| Cunard | Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria | No supplement in single cabins | Transatlantic and classic voyages |
| Virgin Voyages | All four ships (Solo Insider and Solo Sea View) | Varies; promotions as low as 25% | Adults-only, younger solo travelers |
| Celebrity Cruises | Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent; Silhouette | Single cabins priced for one | Modern premium ships |
| Crystal | Serenity and Symphony (Single Ocean View) | 25% offers on select 2026 to 2027 voyages | Luxury, dance and dinner hosts |
| Seabourn | None | As low as 25% on select sailings | Small-ship luxury |
| Silversea | None | As low as 25% on selected voyages | All-inclusive luxury |
| Avalon Waterways (river) | None | Waived on many Europe departures | European rivers |
| AmaWaterways (river) | Single cabins on 4 ships | Waived, 10% or 25% offers | European rivers |
| Tauck (river and land) | None | Waived on Category 1 river cabins | Fully inclusive river cruises and tours |
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line was one of the first cruise lines to design cabins for solo travelers, starting with Norwegian Epic. As a result, Solo Inside and Solo Balcony cabins today are on every ship in the fleet, including Pride of America. Solo Studios are on Norwegian Aqua, Bliss, Breakaway, Encore, Epic, Escape, Getaway, Prima, Viva and Pride of America.
In addition, Studio guests get access to the Studio Lounge, a private space to mingle with other solo travelers, with complimentary coffee, espresso and snacks. Pride of America is the exception, with Studios but no lounge.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has Studio staterooms on about 10 ships, including Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, which also offer balcony studios, and Harmony of the Seas. Studios carry no single supplement. By contrast, a solo traveler in a regular cabin typically pays a 100% supplement.
Beyond the cabins, solo travelers will also appreciate the onboard activities, from fitness classes to cooking classes and wine tastings.
Holland America Line
Holland America‘s Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam each have 12 oceanview single cabins with no single supplement. Better still, the line has announced 30 new Solo Verandah cabins coming to Oosterdam in late 2027. In recent years, Holland America has hosted solo mixers on most voyages, so ask your advisor whether they are offered on your sailing.
Cunard
Meanwhile, Cunard is one of the most traditional choices for solo travelers. Queen Mary 2 has 15 single cabins, all with windows, and Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria also have single cabins. All of them carry no single supplement. However, Queen Anne, Cunard’s newest ship, does not have single cabins, so check the ship before you book.
Virgin Voyages
Unlike most big lines, Virgin Voyages is adults-only and especially popular with younger solo travelers. All four ships, Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady, have Solo Insider cabins and a smaller number of Solo Sea View cabins. For example, solo travelers can join a meetup on the first evening of the voyage and hosted solo dinners and gatherings throughout. Supplements on regular cabins vary, and promotions have brought them as low as 25%.
Celebrity Cruises
Similarly, Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond and Ascent each offer Edge Single Infinite Veranda staterooms with a private veranda, and Celebrity Silhouette has a small number of single inside cabins.
Crystal
Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony offer a Single Ocean View category, sold for one guest only. In addition, Crystal offers a 25% solo supplement on select 2026 and 2027 voyages and suite categories when booked by November 30, 2026. Crystal’s Ambassador Hosts serve as dance partners and dinner companions, a long-standing favorite with solo guests.
Seabourn
Seabourn is a luxury cruise line known for its smaller ships and relaxed atmosphere, making it ideal for solo travelers. For instance, solo guests are often invited to dine at tables hosted by officers and staff. Seabourn does not have solo suites, but it regularly offers reduced supplements, as low as 25% on select sailings.
Silversea
Likewise, Silversea offers single supplements as low as 25% on selected voyages. Moreover, every voyage includes a champagne welcome reception for solo guests, and select voyages have Gentlemen Hosts.
River Cruises for Solo Travelers
On the whole, river cruises are often the best value for solo travelers, because many lines waive the supplement.
- Avalon Waterways waives the single supplement on Deluxe Staterooms and Panorama Suites on most Europe departures.
- AmaWaterways runs solo offers on select 2026 and 2027 Europe sailings, including waived supplements and 10% or 25% supplements. AmaCello, AmaDante, AmaDolce and AmaLyra also have single cabins.
- Tauck waives the single supplement on all Category 1 cabins on its 2026 European river cruises and reduces it on some other categories.
Since these offers change often, an Atlas advisor can tell you which departures currently carry the best solo pricing.
Is a Cruise or an Escorted Tour Better for a First Solo Trip?
Both work well, but for different reasons. On one hand, a cruise gives you one hotel that moves, built-in dining companions and plenty of solo meetups. On the other hand, an escorted tour keeps you with the same small group every day, which makes it easy to make friends, and many tour companies offer solo departures or reduced supplements. In short, if you like structure and companionship from day one, start with a tour. If you want independence with company when you choose it, start with a cruise.
Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers: FAQ
Not always. In a standard cabin, a solo traveler often pays a supplement of 25% to 100% on top of the per-person fare. Solo cabins on lines like Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Cunard and Celebrity are priced for one, with no supplement.
Norwegian has solo cabins on every ship. Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships, Holland America’s Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, all four Virgin Voyages ships, and Celebrity’s Edge-class ships also have them.
An escorted tour is best if you want the same group every day and built-in companionship. A cruise is best if you want more independence, with solo meetups available when you want them.
Look for solo meetups, which many lines hold on the first evening, hosted dinner tables, group shore excursions, and classes like cooking or wine tasting. Norwegian’s Studio Lounge, Virgin Voyages’ solo gatherings and Silversea’s solo welcome reception are designed for this.
Plan Your Solo Cruise with Atlas
In the end, traveling solo does not have to mean paying double. Whether you want a solo cabin at sea, a river cruise with the supplement waived, or a small-group escorted tour, an Atlas advisor can find the departures with the best solo pricing. Call 1-800-942-3301 or visit atlastravelweb.com. (Se habla español.)
Please note: event dates, ticket prices, ship assignments, and seasonal offerings change from year to year and can sell out or be updated without notice. The details here are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing; always confirm current prices and availability directly with the cruise line, theme park, or tour operator, or let an Atlas advisor confirm them for you, before booking.
