Traveling Solo on the Water: How to Find Your Perfect Cruise Style
- Lindsey Markwood
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Traditionally the travel industry as a whole has penalized solo travelers with the huge single supplement fee. For decades, that translated into having to pay double for a cabin just to enjoy the comfort of your own private room.
Thankfully, it has changed. Solo travel is experiencing a massive wave of popularity. Now ocean and river cruise lines are rolling out the red carpet for travelers who value their independence but still want that community and luxury feel.
Ultimately, finding the best line for your vacation depends on whether you are looking for vibrant social exploration, ultra luxury pampering, or a completely dedicated solo community. I have highlighted a few of my favorite lines for solo travelers. When we have our consultation, I will make sure to match you with which line, ship, and itinerary perfectly align for your solo adventure on the water!
The Elegance of Solo River Cruising
River cruising by itself is inherently intimate. I love the boutique small ship experience with fewer than two hundred guests onboard. It is incredibly easy to mingle during open seating dinners or over a glass of wine in the lounge, but you also have total freedom to retreat to your private cabin.
Riviera Travel
As you might recall from my travel updates, I sailed as a solo traveler onboard Riviera MS Geoffrey Chaucer on their Dutch Waterways cruise. Riviera is the top river cruise line in the UK and recently began selling into the US market. They are truly the very first river cruise line to fully champion solo travelers across the historic waterways of Europe. In fact, in 2027 the MS George Eliot will be the world’s first river cruise dedicated entirely to solo travelers for the full sailing season. If you are wondering about the accommodations, you will be thrilled to know that the cabin sizes on this ship are identical to the rest of their premium fleet. This is a huge win!
Which River Cruise Lines Offer Dedicated Solo Options?
Beyond Riviera there are a select group of river cruise lines have cabins specific for solo travelers and/or wave the solo supplement fee on certain itineraries. This elite groups includes Scenic, AmaWaterways, Tauck, Emerald, and Avalon Waterways. AmaWaterways features single occupancy staterooms with a French Balcony on some of their ships. I snapped the photo featured on the right while onboard Scenic Opal which is a luxury river cruise ship. Their dedicated solo cabins feature an innovative enclosed infinity balcony that transforms into an open air veranda at the touch of a button. Other luxury river cruise lines like Tauck waves the simple supplement on some of their Category 1 cabins, which offer expansive river views. With so many distinct choices available for solo river cruising, figuring out which vessel and layout best fits your lifestyle can quickly feel overwhelming. Markwood Magic is here to take that logistical stress completely off your plate and curate the perfect match for your next journey when you schedule your consultation.
Norwegian Cruise Line (Ocean Cruises)
Norwegian Cruise Line has completely doubled down on their commitment to independent travelers and I love it. The video featured on the right was captured during my exclusive time onboard the official Christening Sailing of Norwegian Viva giving you a quick personal tour of what these innovative spaces look like in real time. Norwegian calls these cabins Studio Cabins. It is great option for traveling or if you are exploring the world as part of a larger group of friends but simply do not have a plus one traveling in your room. In addition to Studio Cabins, a private keycard access area only for solo travelers where you can grab a morning espresso, join daily hosted happy hours, and meet dinner companions without any forced singles mixers. It delivers the best of both worlds when traveling.
Which Ocean Cruise Lines Feature Solo Staterooms?
In addition to Norwegian Cruise Line there are a few ocean cruise lines that have cabins specific for solo travelers. Virgin Voyages offers their sleek Solo Insiders. Royal Caribbean and Holland America has studio cabins on some of their ships.
The Golden Rule When to Book a Solo Cabin
Because the inventory for dedicated solo cabins and single supplement waivers is incredibly limited on every ship, these coveted rooms sell out faster than almost any other category on the water. To secure your ideal layout, it is highly recommended to have Markwood Magic lock in your reservation the moment you decide you want to travel, ideally twelve months prior to departure. The exact time line will vary slightly by cruise line. Booking early is the single best way to guarantee you secure the exact deck placement, cabin style, and itinerary you want before the inventory vanishes completely.
