More Spacious Norwegian Cruise Line Solo Cabins Added Fleetwide

Table Of Content

• Inside cabins on Norwegian Cruise Line ships
• Costa Cruises
• Is The Norwegian Unlimited Open Bar Worth It? Calculator Included (
• Things I Didn’t Like Cruising Solo
• I tried the newest ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian. Here’s how they compare
• Norwegian Epic first impressions
• Royal Caribbean

This is a great feature to solo travelers looking for their next adventure. For prospective solo cruisers looking to sail on Norwegian Cruise Line’s newer ships I would recommend either the Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore or even newer still, the Norwegian Prima or Norwegian Viva! These Studio Staterooms are sure to offer the very best of the Norwegian Cruise Line brand, and allow guests to test out the best staterooms designed for one person in the industry. All in all, I had a wonderful and relaxing time staying in my — albeit tiny and windowless — Studio cabin on Norwegian Prima. While there wasn’t as much interaction with other cruisers in the lounge as I might have hoped, this probably was more a function of the number of solo cruisers staying in these staterooms on my particular sailing. This ship was not full, and I only saw a few others who were booked in the Studio rooms with me.

Inside cabins on Norwegian Cruise Line ships

Something that is really neat about these ‘windows’ is that they are only available to the Studio Staterooms onboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships. When faced with a plethora of unsold cabins on a particular sailing, a cruise line will reduce the supplement anywhere from 175% down to 25%. A less than full ship means less tips for their crew, less onboard revenue for the ship. Solo travelers can also expect to pay less than a traditional double occupancy room. These little staterooms measure less than 100 square feet, but they put every inch to smart use.

Costa Cruises

However, it's not just the sheer volume of cabins that makes choosing a room on a Norwegian ship a challenge. Pam and her husband, Myron, travel almost three months of the year, enjoying all the benefits of premium cruising. She's learned a thing or two and has a checklist for nearly everything related to cruising, and enjoys sharing those tips and lists with you.

Is The Norwegian Unlimited Open Bar Worth It? Calculator Included (

Fourteen years after introducing solo cabins, Norwegian Cruise Line plans to more than double the number of solo staterooms across its fleet. On Norwegian Encore, a category of balcony cabins known as Large Balcony cabins (category B6) measure 331 square feet, due to enormous balconies that measure 155 square feet. The ship also offers aft-facing balconies (category B1) that measure up to 426 square feet, again due to unusually large balconies. In general, ocean-view cabins on Norwegian ships are bigger than inside cabins but not quite as big as balcony cabins (when comparing their interior space).

Things I Didn’t Like Cruising Solo

Weighing in at a “whopping” 100 square feet, it sure sounds like it’s way too small for anything but a walk-in closet. Norwegian Epic has 128 studios, while Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway have 59. Pride of America, which received the studios during a refurbishment, has just four. The shower is a nice size, but the bathroom space for the toilet and in front of the sink can be tight, too. There is no mini-fridge, however, which is something you get in all other cabin categories.

NCL's expansion and introduction of the new solo cabins are more than just new room offerings; it's a nod to the future of cruising. The industry is evolving, and NCL is at the forefront, ensuring that solo travelers can set sail in style without breaking the bank. If you’d like to mingle with other single travelers, Norwegian Cruise Line offers meet-ups for solo cruisers. Some ships even host a pub crawl, and there’s always a Friends of Dorothy happy hour. You can sip an umbrella drink as you lounge poolside, chill out at the Ice Bar or take a margarita tasting class. There will be plenty of time to pamper yourself at the spa, followed by enjoying broadway-style entertainment in the evening.

Shore excursions will offer another fun way to meet up with fellow cruisers, as will participating in on board activities such as the ropes course and climbing walls. Solo travel has it’s perks on Norwegian and this is why sometimes their guests pay a little more. Solo Guests who stay in any solo stateroom categories gain access to the Solo traveler only Studio Lounge. The lounge is on most ships and features a place for solo travelers to mix and mingle. To trade stories, and cocktails, with like-minded travellers from around the world. Now when you cruise solo with Norwegian, you'll enjoy more freedom and choice than ever.

Royal Caribbean

Azura was the first of the line's new-build vessels to debut with single cabins back in 2010; it offers 18 single cabins (both on Deck 6), including 12 outside cabins and 6 inside cabins, all measuring 130 square feet. This TV has some great features for guests to explore, including one of my favorite features, the sailing map. Until Norwegian Epic was launched in 2010, there was no option for the solo cruise passenger but to reserve a double occupancy cabin and pay the prevailing rate. Then came forward-thinking Norwegian Cruise Lines and their very innovative studio cabins. Norwegian Cruise Line has considered this, it seems, because these cabins offer a “virtual porthole” channel on the TV that gives a live view of the outside.

Opportunities To Mingle With Other Solo Cruisers

Solo cabins are highly sought after on cruise ships because single cruisers have historically been punished for traveling alone. Most cruise ship cabins are designed for two people, and the cruise fares for these cabins are per person, based on double occupancy. That means the rates are only available to customers sharing the cabin with a second paying passenger. The line pointed to statistics from Travelport finding that nearly 18% of global travel bookings were for solo travel. The cruise line also noticed an increase in single-occupant non-studio staterooms from 2019 to 2022.

My favorite was what I personally started to call the ‘cozy lighting’, which allowed me to turn off the bright overhead lighting and instead turn on the soft glow lighting behind the bed. If you get the chance to stay in one of these Studio Staterooms, definitely test out the various lighting options as the contribute greatly to the environment of the room. In addition to the basics such as the bed, shower, toilet, and sink, there are some other really great things that these rooms have for guests to enjoy.

On some of Norwegian's largest ships, including Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy, there are a whopping 39 different types of cabins — each a little different from the last. For starters, there are a huge number of cabins available on some Norwegian ships. The line is known for operating some of the world's biggest cruise vessels — ships so big that some have more than 2,000 cabins each. NCL’s Food Republic is a one-of-a-kind dining experience that offers guests a chance to taste their way around the world without ever leaving the ship. Up until now, studio cabins have only been available on the Viva, Prima, Encore, Escape, Bliss, Breakaway, Getaway, Epic, and Pride of America. Hankamer explained, "There are deals to be found, but it's a segment of the market that is not well catered to in today's marketplace. Deals can be scarce."

Guests of these Studio Staterooms can also store their suitcases under the twin bed, as these beds have plenty of room underneath as well for storage. It's getting easier and more affordable to be a solo cruiser — and this move from Norwegian Cruise Line will only help. It’s all about “doubles.” Double Dutch, double trouble, double whammy and when it comes to cruising, the ever-present double occupancy. Discover the secrets to affordable cruising, from the cheapest months to set sail to insider booking strategies.

And let's not forget the original, ever-popular Studio cabins that initiated the trend. Solos hoping to avoid the dreaded single supplement should know that select cruise ships have cabins designed and priced specifically as single-occupancy rooms. Called solo cabins or studios, these are usually small staterooms with most of the same standard amenities (including private bathrooms) as regular cabins, and can be inside, ocean-view and, on a few rare ships, balcony category rooms. New solo cabin categories will also include access to the dedicated lounge space. However, ships that currently do not offer studio cabins will only receive the solo cabin retrofit and no new lounge space.

In addition to the ships mentioned above that already have studio cabins, these new cabins will now also be available on the Sky, Sun, Star, Dawn, Gem, Jewel, Pearl, Joy, Jade, and Joy. Norwegian Cruise Line has done such a good job of fostering a positive and fun environment as well as experience for solo travelers. The Studio Staterooms themselves make the perfect option for guests looking for a quick weekend away, or a longer international itinerary. Whatever cruise sailing prospective guests choose, I know they will enjoy their Studio Stateroom. Norwegian Cruise Line offers almost all of their itinerary types to guests wishing to cruise solo and test out the exclusive Studio Staterooms!

Our Studios are the perfect sized room for solo cruising and the Studio Lounge is a great way to meet other single cruisers. For the first time ever, Norwegian is introducing three new solo stateroom categories, including Solo Inside, Solo Oceanview and Solo Balcony for future sailings starting Jan. 2, 2024. Solo travelers can expect to pay less than a traditional double occupancy room. There will still be a solo supplement on some cruises, depending on popularity and time of year. The typical Norwegian balcony cabin has a contemporary look with clean lines and relatively minimalist furniture. Norwegian balcony cabins typically offer twin beds that can be converted into a queen bed, a built-in desk area and a sofa that often pulls out into an additional bed.

A little cutout in the wall next to the bed serves as a sort of nightstand, with light switches, a little shelf, and a USB outlet. You can stick your luggage under the bed, and the TV is attached to the wall with an arm that lets you telescope the TV away from the wall and spin it into a variety of positions for viewing. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.