I have been on Norwegian Cruise Lines four times with two more cruises booked next year. The first was in 2012, a short, three-day cruise from Miami roundtrip to the Bahamas. The most recent was this year on the Getaway from NYC to Bermuda and back. Each time, I experienced a different ship and different cruise experience.

Choice of Experiences

NCL has been a real innovator in the solo travel space and currently provides three different experiences for solo cruisers. I have been fortunate to try each of them in the last three years.

Solo Cabins and Lounge

In 2010, NCL launched the brand new Studio with Studio Lounge concept. This paired an inside studio stateroom built with a solo traveler in mind with a lounge that was only accessible with a keycard from the studio staterooms. The lounge was to provide a feeling of community and opportunity for gatherings for solo travelers. The concept was highly successful and has led to an expansion from the inside (studio) cabins to solo ocean view and solo balcony staterooms with access to the lounge.

On most NCL ships today, solo travelers can choose from a nice variety of staterooms. In addition to the solo studio cabins, solo ocean view staterooms (category OT) are found that are comparable in size to the general ocean view cabins (category OF). There are also solo balconies (category BT) that are pulled from the general balcony inventory (categories BA and BF) with the same size and amenities within the stateroom.

I booked a solo balcony cruise on the Getaway for my July cruise to Bermuda. The lounge was nicely done, with an excellent espresso machine that I used every morning around 6 am. There were pastries available as well, which were handy to get the day started. At that time of day, I didn’t find any fellow travellers. To be honest, I didn’t really want to see anyone before I had one or two of those espressos!

Insider Tip: If the Solo Lounge is not a requirement for you, be sure to compare prices and location for available balcony and solo balcony cabins. You may find that the solo supplement is reduced to the point that the regular balcony stateroom is less than the designated solo cabin.

Cabin Booking with Solo Supplement

For those who do not want or need access to the Solo Lounge, booking in general cabins with a single supplement is a great option. The solo traveler can choose any available cabin and access all of the amenities associated with the cabin class. This is a good option for the solo cruiser who desires a cabin in a certain location on the ship or wants the perks associated with the spa or club suite. balcony class and access all of the amenities that are associated with the balcony. It can also be a good option if the price is lower and you have no use for the lounge.

My experiences in this category have been just as pleasant as the Solo Balcony, allowing me to participate or relax as much as I chose.

The Haven

I ventured into a totally different world in 2023 when I decided to take a Transatlantic cruise on a new ship, NCL Viva. I had read quite a bit about the Prima class ships and had researched The Haven. Though way outside my day to day world, The Haven introduced me to the “ship within a ship” concept, complete with a butler…I know, I couldn’t believe it either!

Cruising in The Haven provides the chance to truly unwind and not deal with a lot of decision making. The rest of the world is shut out behind The Haven Door. Dedicated elevators take you to your destination. The Haven lounge, bar, and restaurant are available if you choose to have an upgraded evening experience. The cabins are truly spacious and luxurious with high end linens and bath products. I have noticed in the last year or so that The Haven experience has increased significantly in price. Honestly, not sure if I would do it again at the current prices.

Pro Tip: If you do want to splurge a bit, the Transatlantic or repositioning voyages often provide lower fares giving the solo traveler access to longer cruises or higher end cabins.

Regardless of which experience you choose, travel with an open mind and know that any of these is a great option for solo travelers.