Sailing solo isn’t a problem on Epic

Passengers can avoid single supplement

Q: I’m a single woman, have never been on a cruise ship and want to try one this year. I will likely be travelling alone, so what are the best options for single adults who don’t want to pay double for a cabin and don’t want to room with a stranger?

— Hope, Houston, Texas

A: You can room alone and avoid the dreaded single supplement fee by cruising with Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship, the Epic, which offers 128 "studios" for solo travellers. The cabins are small — 100 square feet — but have a full-size bed, a sink, a toilet and a shower and a one-way window that looks out onto the corridor. You can book directly with the cruise line (866-234-7350; ncl.com) or through a travel agency.

Vickie Meeuwsen, marketing communications director of SinglesCruise.com, a travel agency that plans cruises for groups of singles, said it can often be cheaper to book cruises through a travel agency because agencies block space for their groups in advance and lock in prices that are sometimes lower than rates booked directly with the line.

The advantages of cruising with a group can go beyond price. SinglesCruise.com provides groups with two to four directors, depending on the number of passengers; they host a variety of daily events on and off the ship, like dances, sports events and wine tastings. And singles might feel more comfortable travelling as part of a group cruise even if they don’t want to take part in the events, Meeuwsen added. If you want to take advantage of the more affordable double occupancy cabin rate, SinglesCruise.com will match you with a roommate based on gender and age, or with friends. If you wish to room alone, you must pay the single supplement the cruise line imposes (unless you book a studio on the Norwegian Epic).

SinglesCruise.com is offering a seven-night Caribbean group cruise on the Epic, departing from Miami on Nov. 12; prices for the studios are US$969; or a solo traveller can book an inside cabin at the double occupancy rate of US$859 a person. Earlier cruises are available with SinglesCruise.com, but not the studios on the Epic.



By The New York Times