02.04.2010

The Love boat was a fantasy television series. The real deal for single cruisers is not so simple.

The Truth about Singles Cruises I have sailed a solo cruiser on a cruise ship, and I have to tell you it isn't a picnic, largely because of how challenging it is to find the other singles on the ship. I find cruising to be an experience that is best shared with others. Dining, watching shows, discussing vacations options, sharing memories - these are all things best accomplished in groups of two or more. Being the "odd man out" is not a situation I relish for a week in the Caribbean.

That is why I am thrilled that NCL has given some thought to improving the experience for single cruisers. Their new Studio Staterooms will be available to singles on a "no singles supplement required" basis. For those who do not know what a singles supplement is, it works like this; most cruise ship staterooms are built for two people, aka "double occupancy." The bed can be configured as one larger bed or two single beds, but either way the room is sold to two people, each one paying a full cruise fare. Unlike a hotel room, if you want a cabin all to yourself, you have pay the "singles' supplement", which is basically the fare for another person (even though you’re not bringing anyone).

But the Norwegian Epic, which will debut in May 2010, has an entire category of cabins called "Studio Staterooms" that are perfect for singles. All they have is a bed and a bathroom, with little room for lounging around. This is fine for one person, but would get awfully crowded for two people. Originally NCL planned to sell these staterooms like any other single cabin - to two people (double occupancy), but just last month they announced the cabins will be sold to singles for the simple rate of $799 per cabin for one person.

These Studio Staterooms, so named because they resemble a New York studio apartment, all share a common public area only accessible to the Studio residents. This shared area offers a bar, snacks, big screen televisions, DVD players, etc. All of the Studios look out into this area through one-way glass. Only the Studio residents can access it through a magnetic strip reader for your room key card.

The beauty of this arrangement is that it makes it easy for the single passengers to meet one another. They are essentially roommates - at least for the shared living room area. The passengers can mingle amongst themselves if they so choose, or keep to ones self. Options!

During my one cruise as a single, I was seated at a table with others that I had virtually nothing in common with. Should I have had the opportunity to meet some fellow single travelers in the setting that NCL has created, my dining experience, and my overall cruise experience, might have been completely different. I may have even hit it off with someone, or better yet, made a friend.

Therefore I give major mega-kudos to NCL for inventing the "Studio Stateroom." Whether you need to be alone, or off on a single adventure to make new acquaintances, NCL has changed the face of singles cruising. Let’s hope this trend catches on.

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