Norwegian Cruise Line Single Cabins: My Solo Bliss Experience

Traveling alone doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort or paying excessive fees. I took a solo cruise on the Norwegian Bliss to review their solo cabins and studio amenities. While it wasn’t my first solo cruise, I was surprised that Norwegian Cruise Line’s approach to single travelers contrasted with competitor lines.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) was a pioneer in specially designed solo staterooms. While other lines are slow to add staterooms for solo guests, NCL has captured the market for travelers wanting to take an adventure alone.

Their ingenious studio rooms, while small, are carefully designed to maximize space. I found the design pleasing, and while they lacked windows or balconies, they had “virtual windows” that live stream the views outside.

So, if you have no travel partner and don’t want to pay for two, I’m sharing the solo stateroom options and the benefits of booking one.

Overview Of Norwegian Cruise Line Solo Cabins

Norwegian Cruise Line launched its first solo cabins on the Epic in 2010, eliminating single supplement fees. With solo category expansion, some vessels provide access to an exclusive studio lounge. It’s a place to eat, drink, and meet other solo travelers.

NCL Studio Cabins

Studio cabins are Norwegian’s signature solo traveler accommodations. Typically measuring around 99 square feet (smaller in their newer ships), these compact spaces were created specifically for one.

Each studio cabin features a larger-than-twin bed, a private bathroom, and thoughtful storage solutions. On the wall, a small screen live streams the views outside. The early studios have showers and sinks as part of the sleeping area and a separate water closet.

On Norwegian Viva and Prima, the studios have a separate compact bathroom. They also added drawers, which were lacking in the earlier models.

Types Of Solo Cabins Available

With the demand for solo cruising in single-occupancy cabins, Norwegian has expanded its solo traveler options beyond the original studios. They now offer solo inside, solo oceanview, and solo balcony staterooms across various ships.

These new solo staterooms are repurposed from double occupancy staterooms. I booked a solo balcony on the Norwegian Bliss and liked that I had a living area with a couch and a private balcony. Also, I appreciated having a queen bed over the slightly larger twin in the studio category.

All solo category cabins are priced for one without the dreaded single supplement. The type of cabin chosen might depend on budget and cabin location. The studios have the best location, directly surrounding the studio lounge.

On the Bliss, the solo inside and oceanview rooms are on deck five, six decks below the studio lounge. Some travelers might not find this location very convenient if they visit the studio lounge often. The solo balconies are across the hallway from the lounge and studio rooms.

My Norwegian Bliss Solo Balcony Cabin

When I booked my solo balcony stateroom, I expected to be assigned one on deck 11 or 12 near the studio lounge. However, due to the large number of single travelers on my sailing, I was assigned one of the new balconies created by taking away part of the Observation Lounge.

My room was on deck 15, which, in NCL’s eyes, is an upgrade, but I preferred the location four to five decks down. If you’re assigned an upgrade like me, take proof that you booked a solo cabin. Sometimes, as in my case, guests moved to non-solo spaces weren’t given access to the studio lounge.

My room was lovely, spacious, and had lots of storage. It was bigger than I needed. Even though my stateroom was big enough for more than one, I could not add another person. I had plenty of storage, USB plugs on either side of the bed, and a stool that doubled as a table by the desk.

I had a full-size bathroom, as opposed to the bathroom that is partially integrated into the studio cabins. Of course, the biggest bonus of having a balcony in Alaska is the front-row seat to the wilderness, which I enjoyed daily.

Solo Inside Vs. Studio

Solo Inside and studio cabins vary slightly, although both cater to one guest. Each has its advantages. The benefits of a studio:

• Conveniently located on decks 11 and 12 (on the Bliss) with easy access to the studio lounge. Many have adjoining doors if cruising with a friend.
• Cost savings. These are generally priced 10% less than a solo inside.
• Higher deck.
• They have LED windows which live stream the outside views.

The benefits of a solo inside:

• Larger size of 135 square feet, compared to the 99 sq. feet of a studio.
• Lower down, so they are best for guests sensitive to motion sickness.
• Mini fridge, which is not included in studio spaces.
• A separate bathroom.

Studios feature distinctive mood lighting and unique decor elements that set them apart from standard cabins.

Design And Features Of Solo Cabins

Since studios are smaller than double occupancy rooms, their spaces are compact. The bed, desk, sink, shower, and overall storage are limited. The cabins themselves are equipped with standard cruise amenities including:

• Flat-screen TV that can be angled to watch in bed.
• Closet and storage space.
• Climate control.

Solo Studios feature unique LED “windows” that display real-time views outside. It’s an enhanced feature to bring the outside in. This innovative touch helps prevent the rooms from feeling claustrophobic. The bedside panel, holds the phone, reading light, USB plugs, and light controls.

NCL’s solo accommodations come in several configurations to suit different preferences and budgets. The studio staterooms (T1) are the smallest and, despite their size, sell out quickly. I initially tried to book one of these, but they were sold out.

Solo inside cabins are about 35% larger, offering a more traditional cruise cabin layout. Since solo insides are repurposed double occupancy cabins, these have more storage.

NCL offers solo balcony and solo oceanview options on select ships for those seeking larger space. These provide the added perks of natural light or private outdoor space.

Benefits Of Booking A Solo Cabin

No Single Supplement

The biggest advantage of booking a solo cabin is not paying for two. Traditional cruise bookings often hit solo travelers with hefty single supplement fees, sometimes doubling the cost when one person occupies a room designed for two.

I’ve cruised solo on Princess Cruises, Holland America, and Carnival Cruises and always paid a 100% single supplement. It was refreshing paying for one this time around. While I had the largest solo cabin on the Norwegian Bliss, I found other benefits to cruising solo.

Studio Lounge Access

One of the highlights is the exclusive access to the studio lounge, a communal space where solo travelers can connect and socialize. Only guests in studio and solo cabins have keycard access. While the Bliss has a studio lounge, not all Norwegian vessels have one.

The lounge is open 24/7, and many guests use it as an extension of their cabin space. Since I had a large solo balcony, I didn’t use it as much as those in smaller studio spaces.

It serves as a communal living room with complimentary refreshments and comfortable seating. Complimentary refreshments include tea, coffee, espresso, water, juice, fruits, and snacks.

In the evenings, the lounge transforms into a gathering spot before dinner. If I didn’t want to dine alone, I could arrange to share a table with several other single travelers.

Solo Coordinator

Martin was my solo coordinator. On the first night, I met him in the Cavern Club, and he gave me a printout of the week’s events. 

At 5 pm each evening, we met in the studio lounge, where passengers could dine with other solo guests. I participated one evening and dined on the Bliss with 25 other single travelers.

There were other organized social events, such as theater shows, go-kart racing, and onboard parties. These organized opportunities create an instant community for solo travelers concerned about feeling isolated.

Shore Excursion Credit Goes Further

When cruising solo, your vacation budget often stretches further on activities and experiences. My Norwegian Bliss booking included a USD 50 shore excursion credit towards EVERY tour booked.

While the excursions offered in April were limited and I had done most of them, I took advantage of doing some again. For inexpensive tours up to USD 69, Norwegian applied the credit and didn’t charge me the difference. So, those tours were complimentary.

For my Alaska itinerary, I took the following:

• Ketchikan – Potlatch Park Trolley, which was complimentary.
• Juneau – Goldbelt Tram, another complimentary option.
• Skagway – White Pass Summit Drive, which cost me zero.
• Skagway – White Pass Scenic Railway, where I got USD 50 off the price.

The money saved on the complimentary excursions offset the one I paid for. While I had done the White Pass & Yukon Railroad before, I wanted to see the snow in the mountain before it melted.

I had previously done the Mount Roberts Tramway and White Pass Summit Drive. However, since they cost me nothing this time, I took advantage of the cost-free options.

If you’re cruising in another destination and have shore excursion credit, look for complimentary tours in your area.

Comparing NCL Solo Cabins To Other Cruise Lines

Norwegian Cruise Line stands out in the industry when providing for solo travelers. Their studio lounge is an excellent addition for singles.

Traditionally, most major cruise lines that have solo staterooms offered them in the inside or oceanview categories. However, Norwegian has balcony rooms without a single supplement.

Royal Caribbean has some studio balconies on its Quantum class vessels, but they are much smaller at 119 square feet. In comparison, my Norwegian Bliss solo balcony room was 176 square feet.

I received some perks with my solo cabin; the USD 50 credit towards all shore excursions and 150 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi.

When cruising on lines without single occupancy cabins, some companies give a discount on the single supplement. Instead of paying 100% more, you could pay 50% or less.

A benefit to booking a double occupancy stateroom for one is that some lines give you double loyalty points. This is true of Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruises. This is not the case with Norwegian Cruise Line.

What Sets NCL Apart

Norwegian pioneered the concept of purpose-built solo accommodations over a decade ago, while many competitors still offer limited or no dedicated single cabins. This first-mover advantage has allowed them to refine their solo offerings across their fleet.

The solo studio layout is thoughtfully designed with efficient storage solutions and functional bathrooms configured specifically for one person. On newer ships like Norwegian Prima and Viva, the solo cabins continue to evolve with improved designs.

NCL’s solo cabins are more than just a place to sleep. With exclusive studio access, single guests can relax, mingle, and enjoy complimentary refreshments without hitting the buffet.