Cruises have often been the travel mode of choice for solo travelers, and yet so many cruise lines still do not fully cater for them. With single travelers often having to pay hefty supplements to stay in a double room on their own, and therefore missing out on most of the cruise deals on offer, it is no wonder that many have been put off.
When NCL first set out their plans to have a series of solo cabins onboard the Epic, many were sceptical. However, a few months down the line and these are actually the cabins which are selling out the quickest! Royal Caribbean appear to have taken this message onboard and are now also planning to introduce cabins for solo travelers.
The ship which they are planning to add the solo cabins in first is the Radiance of the seas. To start with, just three cabins will be introduced for singles, however if it goes well, it is likely that this will be rolled out across the fleet and perhaps extended further.
In the past, cruises have been seen as a kind of holiday that couples would enjoy, or perhaps even family travel with the introduction of Disney ships and more entertainment options being added on some of the larger liners. However, the introduction of solo cabins could change the image of cruising and attract more and more single travelers. Cruises could become one of the best ways for singles to meet other singles (cruise dating has got to beat speed dating anyday!).
Royal Caribbean are one of the biggest names in the industry, and after they make this move, it is likely that other cruise lines will follow in their footsteps. In a few years time, solo cabins will just be another standard feature of cruise ships.