10 Best Cruises for Solo Travelers in 2026

What Is a Single Supplement on a Cruise and How Do You Avoid It?

Before diving into the best solo cruise options, it’s worth understanding the single supplement because it’s the biggest financial hurdle for solo travelers like you if you want to book a cruise.

 

Most cruise fares are priced based on two people sharing a cabin. When you travel solo, you’re occupying a cabin by yourself, so the cruise line charges a “single supplement” to make up for the “missing” second passenger. This typically ranges from 50% to 200% of the base fare, which can effectively increase the cost twice as much

 

The good news: the cruise lines on this list have either eliminated the supplement with dedicated solo cabins, or regularly offer promotions where it’s significantly reduced or waived. Here’s what to look for:

 

• Dedicated solo cabins — purpose-built single-occupancy rooms priced for one person from the start (Norwegian, Virgin Voyages, Celebrity, Cunard)
• No supplement sailings — select departures where solo travelers pay the same per-person rate as couples (Hurtigruten, Riviera Travel, Ponant)
• Reduced supplement promotions — regular deals that cut the standard supplement significantly on select sailings (Virgin Voyages, Royal Caribbean, Crystal)

Quick tip: If avoiding the single supplement is your top priority, start with Virgin Voyages or Norwegian’s studio cabins.

 

1. Virgin Voyages Singles Cruise  

Virgin Voyages singles cruises are some of the best party options for singles in their 30s. This line is adult by design, with no kids allowed and singles welcome. They’re also known as one of the best cheap cruises for singles that still feel luxurious. While many cruises tend to skew older, Virgin tends to attract a younger crowd, including hot, professional individuals in their late 20s to mid-30s.

 

It is hard to decide how to spend your day with many options on this cruise line. Onboard features include private karaoke rooms, arcade areas, spas, gyms, fitness classes, live performances, restaurants, and bars.

 

Many cruises limit Wi-Fi to encourage you to unplug and relax. But if you prefer staying connected and posting on social media, Virgin Voyages offers high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the ship.

2. Royal Caribbean Solo Cruise

This is perhaps the best and most affordable 3-day Royal Caribbean single traveler vacation option on the market. While there are many affordable cruise lines, this one gives you the best value for your buck.

 

You can’t talk about the best party cruises for singles under 30 without talking about Royal Caribbean’s solo cruise options. Royal Caribbean specializes in adventure-packed trips for young singles. Although there are kids on board most Royal Caribbean ships, if you book around Halloween or school time, you’re likely to see fewer kids.

 

These cruises have active nightlife clubs and activities. You can expect themed parties, where you can dress up as a 20s flapper or enjoy a mystery masquerade. There are also casinos, sports bars, nighttime pool parties, and cruise shows.

3. Norwegian Cruise Line Singles

Norwegian cruise line singles options are some of the most popular for solo travelers. NCL singles offerings include stylish solo cabins, which are rare on most cruise lines. Unlike many ships that charge double occupancy, Norwegian cruise single rooms and Norwegian cruise line single rooms are perfect for avoiding high supplements.

 

If you’re curious about NCL single rooms, they are some of the most luxurious on the market. Choosing these solo packages can save money while still providing comfort.

4. Inspiration Cruises

If you are a Christian or just looking for an experience that caters to more spiritual Christian activities, consider Inspiration Cruises, a travel company that creates the best custom-designed Christian cruise events for singles in extraordinary destinations. Activities in these groups can include speakers, workshops, panel discussions, live Christian music, and personal enrichment events.

 

Whether you are looking to foster friendships or find love, everyone has an opportunity to enrich their relationship with Jesus Christ.

 5. Ponant Cruises

Ponant is a French luxury cruise line that focuses on small ships and unique destinations. Many of their sailings don’t charge a single supplement, which makes them a great option if you’re traveling solo.

 

You get elegant ships, excellent food, and a calm, upscale atmosphere, with routes to places like the Arctic, Antarctica, Asia, and the Mediterranean. It’s ideal if you want a quieter, more refined cruise instead of a party vibe.

6. Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises is a luxury cruise line known for spacious ships, high-end service, and a relaxed, refined atmosphere. On select sailings, Crystal offers reduced or waived single supplements, making it a solid option if you want to cruise solo without paying double.

 

You get fine dining, enrichment programs, and longer port stays, with routes in Europe, Asia, and beyond. It’s a great fit if you value comfort, space, and a quieter onboard experience.

7. Hurtigruten

Most cruise lines take you to the same beaches and port towns. Hurtigruten takes you somewhere completely different. Think Arctic fjords, Antarctic ice shelves, the Galapagos, Greenland — destinations that feel like actual expeditions rather than a floating resort.

 

For solo travelers, the pricing is refreshingly straightforward. On dozens of sailings throughout 2026, there’s no single supplement. You pay the same rate as everyone else on board. The ships are smaller, which means fewer people and a much easier environment to actually meet them. If ticking off another Caribbean island doesn’t excite you anymore, this might.

8. Cunard

There’s a reason people have been crossing the Atlantic on Cunard ships for over 180 years. It’s not just transportation, it’s an experience that doesn’t really exist anywhere else. White-gloved service, formal dinners, a ballroom, and the kind of unhurried pace that makes five days at sea feel like a gift rather than wasted time.

 

Solo travelers can book dedicated single staterooms on Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria. No supplement, no awkward pricing math. Shared dining tables mean you’ll rarely eat alone unless you want to. Book early, though, solo cabins on popular sailings disappear fast.

9. Riviera Travel

A river cruise is a completely different type of cruise from an ocean cruise, and for some solo travelers, it’s a much better fit. You’re on a smaller ship, moving through the heart of Europe at a pace slow enough to actually take things in. Cities like Budapest, Vienna, Amsterdam, and Bordeaux are right outside your window.

 

Riviera Travel runs sailings specifically designed for solo travelers, where the single supplement is dropped entirely. No sharing required, no pricing penalty, just your own cabin and a group of fellow independent travelers doing the same thing. And if you want to be an early adopter, their first ship, built entirely for solo travelers, launches in 2027.

10. Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity sits in an interesting spot — more upscale than Royal Caribbean or Norwegian, but not as formal or expensive as Cunard or Crystal. It’s the kind of cruise where the design actually makes you stop and look around when you board.

 

On the Edge-class ships, solo travelers get their own purpose-built staterooms with an Infinite Veranda: a full glass wall that slides open to turn your room into an open-air space. It’s genuinely one of the better solo cabin designs in the industry. Routes cover the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Alaska, and the line runs solo mixer events onboard, so meeting people doesn’t have to feel like work.

 

How to Choose the Right Solo Cruise for You

 

The best solo cruise depends entirely on what kind of traveler you are. Here’s a quick breakdown by travel style:

 

Best cruises for solo travelers in their 20s and 30s: Virgin Voyages and Royal Caribbean are the clear leaders here. Both offer a vibrant social scene, nightlife, and activities designed to get passengers mingling. Virgin’s adults-only environment is particularly good for solo female travelers who want to feel safe and social at the same time.

 

Best cruises for solo travelers over 50: Cunard, Crystal, and Ponant all offer refined, quieter onboard experiences that appeal to mature solo travelers. Cunard, in particular, is excellent if you want the classic ocean voyage experience with dedicated solo cabins and no supplement.

 

Best cheap cruises for singles: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Studio Cabins offer the best value for budget-conscious solo travelers — you pay for one person, get access to the private Studio Lounge, and have a genuine community of fellow solo cruisers on board. Royal Caribbean is also worth checking for short 2–3 night sailings at low entry prices.

 

Best solo cruises for women: Virgin Voyages consistently ranks as one of the top choices for solo female travelers. The adults-only environment, strong community vibe, and solo-focused events make it feel genuinely safe and welcoming. Norwegian and Celebrity are also strong picks for women traveling alone.

 

Best solo expedition and adventure cruises: Hurtigruten is in a category of its own for travelers who want to explore remote corners of the world solo, with no supplement on select sailings and destinations that most cruise lines never reach.

Final Thoughts

Planning a solo cruise in 2026 has never been easier. From Virgin Voyages and Norwegian’s purpose-built solo cabins to luxury experiences on Cunard and Celebrity, the best cruise lines for solo travelers now actively design for independent adventurers, not just accommodate them as an afterthought.

 

Whether you’re after a no-single-supplement deal, a social party cruise in your 30s, or a quiet expedition to Antarctica, there’s a solo cruise out there that fits. Once you know what you want, booking that first trip is the hardest part and also the most exciting.

 

Happy cruising!

 

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