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It looks like single travelers are finally going to get a break from the cruise industry with Norwegian Cruise Line’s recent announcement that its newest ship will feature 128 cabins that are specifically designed and priced for solo sailors.

For those not familiar with the way most cruise lines currently treat single travelers, here’s how it works.

Cruise lines build cabins that are big enough for at least two people and price them accordingly.  So if you see a cruise advertised for $799 per person, that price is based on two people sharing the same cabin for a total cost of $1,598.  

If you’re traveling with a spouse, partner, friend, etc., the double occupancy policy is no problem. But if you’re travelling alone, the cruise line requires you to pay a single supplement which normally ranges between 150 to 200% of the per person fare. In other words, solo sailors can end up paying double the per person fare.

There are some exceptions among the major cruise lines. For example, Holland America has a handful of single cabins on the Prinsendam. P&O Cruises will have 18 of them on the Azura when it is launched.  And Cunard Line used to have some single cabins aboard the old QE2 and Caronia when they were still in service (originally built to accommodate nannies traveling with wealthy families).

But beyond that, single travelers have had to rely on cruise lines or online message boards to find someone with whom to share a cabin. Or, if they’ve been willing to sail on less-popular cruises or travel at the last minute, solo sailors have sometimes been able to book a cabin with little or no single supplement.

Why the cruise industry has ignored the single traveler for so long is puzzling. After all, there are more than 100 million single adults in North America, 35 million of whom take a vacation alone every year. But less than 5% of them take a cruise.

So what has NCL done to take advantage of this potentially huge and lucrative new source of business?

The cruise line is building its latest ship, the Norwegian Epic, with the single traveler in mind. For example, the ship will feature 128 single cabins on two decks with private access to a common lounge area.

The studio-style cabins will have 100 square feet of living space, a full-size bed, and separate bathroom with sink and shower. Guests in these “studio cabins” will also have access to an exclusive lounge area where they can grab a coffee, meet up with fellow singles, and relax with a cocktail in the evening.

These single staterooms will also be competitively priced. For example, when the Norwegian Epic begins service this July, fares on the ship’s alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries will start at just US$799 for a seven-day voyage. And more importantly, because these are single cabins, there will be no single supplement charge!

So hats off to the very creative folks at NCL. After leading the way on cruise industry innovations like anytime dining and incorporating brand-name groups into its shipboard entertainment, they’re blazing another trail with single cabins.

Let’s just hope the rest of the industry is paying attention.

It’s wonderful to see cruise lines building bigger and better ships that come with everything from ice skating rinks and public parks, to mini-golf courses and rock climbing walls. And let’s not forget the spectacular shopping promenades that are enclosed in beautiful atriums.

But the one thing the cruising industry seems to have overlooked is the single cruiser.

There are thousands of people who travel alone because they are single or occasionally take separate vacations from their spouse. Most are avid travelers and well suited to cruising because a ship is a great place to meet people and it’s a safer environment that many land-based locations.

And yet, most cruise lines don’t seem to be building new ships with any single cabins. And they are charging their solo sailors a hefty supplement just to walk up the gangplank.

For example, in the entire Holland America fleet of 14 vessels, only one ship has single cabins – the Prinsendam. And there are only three single cabins on the Prinsendam: two outside and one inside.

Furthermore, many lines are charging a premium for single cruisers to book a standard-sized cabin that borders on punitive. For example, single supplements with Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity run between 180 to 200 per cent. And Princess advertises single supplements of between 150 to 200 per cent. That means single sailors can end up paying twice as much as the per person fare for a couple occupying the same stateroom.

To be fair to the cruise lines, the cost of operating a ship is based on putting at least two people in every cabin, and generating on-board revenue from them. One person usually doesn’t spend as much as two people, and the cost of running the ship does not decrease much because it has fewer people on it. In addition, most land-based resorts operate the same way – their rooms are based on double occupancy because it doesn’t cost any less to have just one person in it.

So the issue isn’t that single travelers shouldn’t pay a premium to take a cruise, but rather how much of a premium is fair. And, what should cruise lines be doing to help reduce the financial burden on solo cruisers.

A number of cruise lines offer “guaranteed share” programs, where they find single travelers of the same sex to share a cabin. If the line can’t find a suitable person to share, the single cruiser gets the whole cabin without paying a premium.

Some cruise lines still have ships with a handful of single cabins on them – they are priced at a premium, but cost far less than the normal single supplement charge. And a number of lines have set single supplement fees at more reasonable levels.

For example, at Holland America and Star Clipper, supplements start at 150 per cent of the per person, double occupancy fare (e.g. $1,500 if the per person fare is $1,000). With Crystal, it begins at 125 per cent. And on Regent, it starts at just 110 per cent. The one caveat is that cruise lines with reasonable supplements for singles usually have a limited number of cabins available at these rates. In addition, the percent of supplement will vary depending on the cruise selected.

The bottom line is that while single cruisers still have to pay a premium to sail alone, some cruise lines are making a bigger effort than others to get their business. That’s a smart way to build loyalty with single travelers, some of whom may return one day with a companion, a spouse or even the kids!