FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Cruise Lines Adapt Policies to Accommodate those Traveling Alone

by Kristy Alpert

Mar 28, 2022

PHOTO: © KRISTY ALPERT

March 2022

As the crew lined the gangway, glaciers and mountains filled my view, and I snapped a selfie to document the surreal moment from where I stood at the north bank of the Beagle Channel in Ushuaia, Argentina. I was destined for Antarctica, and the ship in front of me would be the vessel that brought me to my seventh continent.

That solitary picture proved I had chosen to venture beyond my comfort zone, but more importantly, it served as a stark reminder I was completely alone: no friends, family members or loved ones to hold my bags or take photos for me. I had come alone and was about to embark on my first solo cruise of my life.

I prepared for my first solo journey by assuming I would be the only single traveler on board that Polar Latitudes ship. Little did I know I would soon be surrounded by a group of six other solo cruisers — of all ages, races and life stages — who would form our own little cruise family during that 13-day voyage. Together we shared in the excitement of our Antarctic journey, rejoiced alongside one another as we celebrated birthdays and life changes and, yes, took pictures for each other without having to ask.

Although solo travel on cruises has risen in popularity over the decades, historically it has been reserved for the wealthy or those willing to pay nearly 125–200 percent of the published per-person price (also known as the single supplement). But all that is changing as savvy cruise lines welcome solo travelers with new amenities and increased incentives. Today nearly half of all people taking trips with Intrepid Travel are going solo, and luxury tour operator Adventure Life reports a dramatic increase in its single traveler cruise bookings.

“The rise in solo cruising has followed the rise in solo travel in general,” explained Monika Sundem, CEO, Adventure Life, “and the trend has only grown as cruise operators have made their policies more solo-friendly. They now understand that by reducing or waiving single supplements, ships will be closer to fully booked than with a strict single supplement policy. Four cabins with solo travelers in them is much preferred to four unoccupied cabins.”

Sundem notes many of the cruise operators Adventure Life partners with have begun to offer single share programs as a way solo cruisers can avoid the single supplement altogether. These programs include an option to share a cabin with another traveler of the same gender for half the price of the room, even if a cabin-mate can’t be found.

Many cruise lines — like Windstar and Princess Cruises — offer a reduced single supplement, with solo travelers paying a fraction of the full price for a private cabin, while Norwegian Cruise Line was the first to build staterooms and common areas specifically for single cruisers, launching its studio staterooms in 2010. The studios measure about 100 square feet but come with perks like access to the singles lounge and plenty of meetups, happy hours and solo traveler bar crawls. Other cruise lines quickly followed suit, and now Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, P&O, MSC, Cunard and Holland America Line all offer single cabins on some or all of their fleet.

Not only staterooms get more solo traveler-friendly; shore excursions and onboard entertainment are getting in on the single fun, too. Riviera River Cruises, for example, now tailors programming to solo travelers that includes options like walking tours with expert local guides or guided wine tastings in Burgundy.

Cruise

© RIVIERA RIVER CRUISES

RIVIERA RIVER CRUISES

River cruises ride the solo traveler wave as well, with Riviera River Cruises currently the only cruise line to offer a dedicated solo traveler cruise. On those cruises, every cabin on the ship is reserved for solo travelers, without any single supplement or extra fee.

“We entered the North American market about four years ago and wanted to differentiate ourselves from other river cruise lines,” said Marilyn Conroy, executive vice president of sales and marketing in North America, Riviera River Cruises. “One of the ways to do that was to focus on a growing market that our competition wasn’t focusing on: the solo traveler. In addition to having at least five cabins on every departure with no single supplement, we decided to offer our solo traveler cruises, with no single supplement across all cabin grades throughout the ship.”

Conroy notes single travelers come from all walks of life; and although a number of its solo cruisers are single, many of them aren’t. “They may have different interests than their spouse and want to go on a trip on their own, or they want to go with a friend but not share a cabin,” she said.

“In my view, the solo cruise trend will continue and grow,” added Conroy. “More and more people want to travel with friends but have their own cabin or want to travel on their own and be around other solos. The single population has grown significantly over the past five years, and there’s no reason why this trend won’t continue.”

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
September 2023
Sep 23, 2023

When the Sun Goes Down, the Party Begins on Mykonos

There is something magical about sipping a glass of local wine while watching the sun slip into the Aegean Sea as the afterglow tinges traditional, white-washed Cycladic houses with glorious shades of rose, purple and gold. Ancient Greeks believed Helios, the Sun God, caused sunsets by driving his fiery chariot into the sea. Standing at water’s edge in Mykonos, watching the sky slowly turn from purple to inky black, you almost believe it.

Reconnecting the World: GBTA Convention 2023 Spotlights the Vital Role of Business Travel and In-Person Connection

In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Convention remains an indispensable platform for business travel industry professionals seeking to make the most of the power of face-to-face connections. Taking place August 13–15 in Dallas, the 2023 GBTA Convention provides the unique opportunity for professionals and companies to join visionaries, thought leaders and industry experts for meaningful networking, cutting-edge insights and inspiring innovation.

Daily
Sep 22, 2023

Portraits of Some of Europe’s Most Unique Museum Shops

The prospect of a post-visit treasure hunting session inside the shops of landmark museums such as the Louvre in Paris, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and The British Museum in London can be irresistible. However, some of Europe’s smaller and more unusual museums boast retail spaces with a surprising “wow” factor, often as well-curated as the galleries.

Daily
Sep 22, 2023

Hyatt Has Much in Store for North America Through 2025

Hyatt Hotels recently announced plans to add more than 30 new luxury and lifestyle hotels and resorts to its U.S., Canada, Latin America and Caribbean portfolio through 2025. These new hotels and resorts span many of Hyatt Hotels’ brands including Park Hyatt, Dream Hotels, Thompson Hotels and Destination by Hyatt.

Share Your Travel Preferences with Global Traveler in a Short Survey & Win

Learning more about our readers’ travel habits and preferences ensures Global Traveler delivers the content you desire. As the travel industry has adapted and changed over the last few years, it’s more important than ever to connect. To best meet your short- and long-term travel content needs, please help us!

September 2023
Sep 22, 2023

Cruise Alaska for Awe-Inspiring Adventures to Delight All Ages

I hadn’t even made it to my first cup of coffee when I got an early phone call from my sister, who lives two time zones away. “OMG, Kristy, Patsy Cline came on twice while I was driving the kids to school today,” she laughed. “You know what that means, right?” We both gasped and then instantly began singing the lyrics to “La Bamba,” an inside joke we’d shared since our family’s Alaskan cruise decades ago when we, unintentionally, won the ship’s karaoke contest among a sea of Patsy Cline tributes.

eFlyer News
Sep 20, 2023

The Woodward Geneva Partners with Swiss International Air Lines for Culinary Journey

The Woodward Geneva and Swiss International Air Lines recently launched a new collaboration to transport passengers to the counter of Michelin-starred restaurant L’Atelier Robuchon. As part of the SWISS Taste of Switzerland inflight culinary program, the partnership provides Business and first-class travelers on SWISS long-haul flights departing from Geneva and Zürich carefully curated menus inspired by the restaurant.

IHG® Hotels & Resorts Introduces Effortless WiFi Connection for Guests Worldwide

IHG Hotels & Resorts is thrilled to announce the launch of a new mobile product feature for members: IHG Wi-Fi Auto Connect. This feature is now available exclusively in the IHG One Rewards mobile app for both iOS and Android users and will automatically connect IHG One Rewards members to WiFi upon arrival at more than 5,000 IHG hotels worldwide — no separate passwords or log-ins needed. This is in addition to the exciting benefits of being an IHG Business Edge member. IHG Business Edge provides small- and medium-sized businesses access to a user-friendly portal that displays comprehensive spending and savings data while providing the convenience of direct booking with a guaranteed discount.

eFlyer News
Sep 20, 2023

Nobu Hospitality Enters Egypt with 2 Luxury Hotels, Restaurants and Residences

In partnership with Nobu Hospitality, SODIC, Egypt’s leading real estate developer, recently announced plans on the expansion of the Nobu brand in Egypt. This expansion entails the development of luxury hotels, branded residences and the acclaimed Nobu restaurant.