5 Premium Solo Cruise Cabins That Don't Suck

The Bjarni & Drake team knows that every successful professional needs a break sometimes. A tiny inside cabin with a porthole the size of a dinner plate is not going to cut it. Thankfully, cruise lines are finally waking up to the solo traveler market. They’re adding dedicated solo cruise cabins, creating exclusive lounges, and sometimes cutting ridiculous single supplements. In 2024, an estimated 50% of Americans planned to travel solo. 70% of Gen Z travelers are embracing solo adventures. We’re here to help you find cabins that actually match your standards.

Here’s how single pricing works: most cruise fares are advertised per person based on double occupancy, meaning when you sail alone, you typically pay 100-200% of the advertised fare. But Bjarni & Drake can help you navigate these pricing structures and find the best value for your solo adventure.

The Trailblazer: Norwegian’s Studio Experience

Found on: Nearly all Norwegian ships, including 128 studios on Norwegian Epic

Norwegian didn’t just create solo cabins – they built an entire solo ecosystem and pioneers in the solo cruiser market. Their 100-square-foot Studios come with access to the exclusive Studio Lounge – a keycard-access sanctuary with 24-hour coffee service, complimentary snacks, and a full bar during select hours.

Norwegian hosts daily solo meetups at 5:00 PM where cruise staff run everything from icebreaker questions and games to get the group to laugh and share stories to booking group reservations at specialty restaurants and even securing group spots for laser tag without advance planning. But here’s the key – participation is completely optional. One solo cruiser perfectly captured this: “I always have the solo area to fall back on and to see those familiar faces at the end of the day in the lounge” while another noted: “If I felt like spending a full day reading or a few hours in the casino I didn’t have anyone else to arrange it with”.

For premium space, Norwegian’s single supplements on regular balcony cabins run 50-100% of the per-person fare, They also offer Solo Balcony staterooms up to 367 square feet on select ships.

Good for: Anyone wanting the option to be social with instant community, or to completely disappear with a book.

The Innovation Leader: Celebrity’s Edge Single Infinite Veranda

Found on: Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Xcel

In its newest Edge class ships, Celebrity has introduced solo inside and balcony cabins. Celebrity’s Edge Single Infinite Veranda cabin is 176 square feet plus a 42-square-foot transforming balcony. The floor-to-ceiling window disappears at the touch of a button, creating an instant outdoor suite. Recent cruisers report: “While these cabins aren’t for everyone, we absolutely loved the extra space in the cabin and the floor to ceiling view”.

Celebrity has 32 dedicated solo cabins on their newest Edge-class ships, avoiding supplements entirely. However, Celebrity faces criticism for charging single supplements up to 200% on regular staterooms. Forbes specifically called out Celebrity for “penalizing solo travelers” with one example showing a solo traveler paying $4,346 vs. $1,461 per person for double occupancy – that’s nearly triple, not double.

As for the social experience, Celebrity hosts solo-specific mixers and dining arrangements,

Good for: Innovation-focused travelers who book dedicated single cabins

The Adults-Only Social Hub: Virgin Voyages

Found on: Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady

Virgin Voyages eliminated family cruising entirely, creating an adults-only environment where solo travelers never feel out of place. Their Solo Insider cabins measure approximately 110 square feet, designed with serious style despite compact size. Virgin includes WiFi, all specialty dining, tips, drinks, and fitness classes in their rates, eliminating nickel-and-diming.

The social experience is where Virgin shines. They host multiple solo meetups daily with their Happenings Cast – cruise staff specifically trained to facilitate connections between passengers. The first solo mixer happens before the Sailaway Party and “features flowing bottles of champagne and an icebreaker activity for everyone to introduce themselves”, then the group moves together to join the ship-wide party.

Virgin’s Grog Walk is a guided bar crawl that one solo traveler described as having “a caboose – they’ll have one of the happenings cast members assigned to if you need to use the bathroom, and we will wait for you”. At Gunbae Korean BBQ, strangers sit together and play drinking games, creating natural conversation opportunities.

Virgin’s single supplements run about 100% but they regularly offer promotions with reduced or waived supplements. For premium space, Sea Terrace balcony cabins can be booked with a reduced solo supplement during promotional periods.

Good for: Social travelers who want organic connections in an entirely child-free environment with built-in conversation starters.

The Luxury Option: Explora Journeys

Found on: All Explora ships

Explora Journeys has been running multiple zero solo supplement promotions throughout 2025, making their luxury suites accessible without penalty. The downside is that the inventory for such deals is limited, and can be tough to snag. When available, these deals offer Ocean Suites starting around 280 square feet with no single supplement – significantly larger than mass-market options.

The all-inclusive experience includes nine culinary experiences, unlimited beverages, spa access, and WiFi.. The ships carry fewer than 250 guests, creating intimate yacht-like atmospheres.

Good for: Luxury-minded solo travelers

The Premium Balcony Champion: Royal Caribbean Studios

Found on: Quantum and Anthem-class ships including Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, and Ovation of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Studio Ocean View Balcony cabins measure 119 square feet plus 55 square feet of genuine balcony space – offering real outdoor premium space for solo travelers. These 12 cabins per ship sell out quickly but represent true premium solo accommodations.

Royal Caribbean’s single supplements run 100-200% on regular cabins, making the dedicated solo options valuable when available. Solo travelers have access to Cruise Connections Lounges for WiFi and relaxation.

Good for: Solo travelers prioritizing genuine balcony space in premium accommodations.

The Reality of Solo Cruise Value

The cruise industry has evolved from tolerating solo travelers to actively designing experiences around independence. Norwegian pioneered the community-building framework, Celebrity innovated space design, Virgin created the ultimate social environment. Whether you’re someone who thrives on group activities or prefers to enjoy solitude with ocean views, there’s a cruise line designed for your solo travel style.

Ready for your next adventure?
Bjarni & Drake would love to work with you

Disclaimer

The information provided on this blog is for general informational purposes only. It should not be considered as professional travel advice. While we strive to keep the content accurate and up-to-date, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or availability of the information contained herein. Travel conditions, cruise itineraries, pricing, and industry regulations are subject to change without notice. Readers are advised to verify all information independently before making any booking decisions. We disclaim any liability for actions taken based on the information provided on this blog.

Images courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line