Why is there a single supplement?
Cruise lines argue that even if there is only one person in a cabin, that room still has to be cleaned, so lone travellers have to pay extra to cover the cost.
With some lines, that can mean paying twice as much as the person sharing a cabin for the privilege of travelling alone. However, they can get lucky and find a line that charges a more reasonable 25-50 per cent. Better still, some lines have either waived the supplement altogether or have regular no-supplement offers.
Most single solo cabins these days have their own price category so there is no supplement as such. The lone traveller invariably still pays more for a similar (but often smaller) cabin as the person sharing but at least the price you see is the price you pay. There will still be a single supplement for all other accommodation.
Where can I go?
With so many lines getting in on the solo act, it is possible for lone travellers to sail the seven seas without paying a single supplement. The Mediterranean, Baltic, Canary Islands, Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the polar regions, even around the world.
On the rivers, there are vessels with single cabins sailing through Germany, Austria, Hungary, eastern Europe, France and Portugal. Many will have single supplements. Solo specialist One Traveller has river cruises on the Nile in Egypt and Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia.
What’s new
Riviera Travel has more dedicated solo sailings on offer for 2025, with a new spring sailing through the Netherlands and Belgium in April, and Christmas market cruises on the Rhine and Danube in December taking the total to 11.
Starting with the Arctic 2026 season, polar specialist AE Expeditions is putting aside 10 solo cabins with no single supplement on all sailings on its three ships, the Greg Mortimer, the Sylvia Earle and the Douglas Mawson.
River cruise newbie Riverside Luxury Cruises has scrapped solo supplements on all 2024 and 2025 cruises for those staying in the Harmony or Melody suites on its river ships Riverside Mozart, Riverside Ravel and Riverside Debussy.
