Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has revealed plans to add nearly 1,000 dedicated single occupancy rooms across its 19-ship fleet. As of OCT 2023, the cruise line will start offering three new solo stateroom types: Solo Inside, Solo Oceanview, and Solo Balcony, with bookings available for cruises beginning on 02JAN 2024. Depending on the destination and market demand, the pricing for these rooms will typically be less than double occupancy accommodations.
David J. Herrera, NCL's President, commented, "We strive to provide our guests with diverse offerings to create their dream vacation," said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. "Since we first launched our solo staterooms in 2010 with Norwegian Epic, they have been quite popular with single travellers. We are continuously listening to our guests to deliver the experience they want. After realizing the growing demand of individuals looking to travel on their own, we have now expanded single occupancy staterooms across our fleet." He further highlighted that between 2019 and 2022, there was a spike in bookings for single occupancy in non-studio cabins.
Guests who choose the new solo cabin categories will gain access to the exclusive Studio Lounge, available on specific ships. This lounge, which can be entered only with a key card, offers a relaxed social environment, daily snacks, and a bar stocked with beer and wine. Additionally, special events for solo cruisers to socialize will be organized. The company emphasizes that with the expansion of solo staterooms from nine to all 19 ships, solo travellers can now explore destinations like Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand on ships that previously didn't offer such accommodations.
Citing a Travelport study, NCL shared that almost 18% of global bookings in the travel sector were for solo travellers. Radical Storage further showcased the growing trend, reporting a significant 267% surge in online searches for 'solo travel' from DEC 2020 to APR 2022.
More information on NCL's website.
