Cruising Single

by Chris Dikmen

A cruise has long been regarded as one of the most desirable vacations for single adults. Remember The Love Boat television series? There was no shortage of single guys and gals who "hooked up" on the Pacific Princess each week. Even though I traveled alone on my first three cruises, I can honestly say I did not have any romantic experiences worthy of a Love Boat episode. Nevertheless, after my first cruise I was hooked.

When deciding on a cruise vacation, today's single adult has many more choices than I had back in the 70's. There are more ships, bigger ships and, believe it or not, much lower prices available today. In 1979, I paid $1,278 for a single berth in the lowest category cabin for a 7-night Caribbean cruise on the SS Norway. Today, it is not uncommon to see cruise fares as low as $599 for a 7-night Caribbean cruise.

Here are a few things to consider when cruising as a single adult:

Cruise Fares Are Based on Double Occupancy

When you see an advertised cruise fare, realize that those rates are based on double occupancy (2 people per cabin or stateroom). Therefore, if you plan to travel alone and have your own private stateroom, you could pay as much as double the advertised rate!

Check the Single Supplement Rates

Each cruise line has its own policy on Single Supplement rates, the percentage they tack onto the double occupancy rate. For example, some cruise lines may advertise a single supplement of 175%, which means that a single adult occupying a stateroom would pay 175% of the double occupancy rate. Supplement rates will vary from as little as 110% to as much as 200% and these can vary from one sailing to the next. There may also be different supplement rates for different cabin categories.

Consider Taking A Friend

The best way to get the best deal on your cruise is to take a close friend with you to share the stateroom and the cost of the cruise. By taking a friend, you will each only pay the double occupancy advertised rate. Not only do you save money, but you will probably have a lot more fun.

Use a Travel Agent That Specializes in Singles Cruises

There are travel agencies that specialize in singles cruises. They can better advise you on which cruise lines are best and may be able to suggest cruises that have been set up specifically for singles. There are even forums and message boards for single cruisers where you can post your questions.

Single Share Cabins 

Some cruise lines maintain a few staterooms on a "single share" basis. This means the single cruiser agrees to share a stateroom with another single guest of the same sex and pays the per person, double occupancy rate. In the event that the cruise line does not find a cabin-mate for you, the solo cruiser still only pays the per person, double occupancy rate. Single shares are offered on Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line and Orient Lines.

Chris Dikmen is the President and Managing Editor of CruiseReport.com and is the author of The Perfect Cruise - How To Find, Plan and Enjoy The Perfect Cruise Vacation.  If you have any questions or comments about this article you may write to Chris Dikmen at cdikmen@cruisereport.com.

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