Solo single cabins for NCL Norwegian Epic

When Norwegian Epic launches in June, she’ll be appealing to a cruise audience that is growing in numbers, even if it’s shrinking in size – the solo traveller.

Norwegian Epic who will accommodate 4,200 passengers and makes her first cruise on 19th June, will have a generous 128 Studio cabins, which are around nine metres square and specifically designed for single occupants. Not only are they designed for solo travellers, the two deck complex in which the Studios are housed also contains the Studio Lounge, a singles-dedicated communal area that has coffee and drinks bars so that solo travellers can get to meet each other easily.

Even better news for solos – there will be no single supplement added to the cruise fare. Of course bigger travel groups are not ignored, there are double berths, four berth cabins and the Deluxe Owner suites which can sleep six.

An NCL spokesman said, ‘We are breaking the mould of traditional cruising once again by offering a stateroom designed and priced specifically for solo travellers, making cruising a more attractive travel option.’ They may be wise, as the average age of cruisers finally seems to be dropping, with younger people either choosing to cruise as a group, or often taking a multigenerational first cruise with grandparents or parents and thus getting the ‘cruise bug’. The cruise industry has already increased its appeal to the younger cruise passenger by adding to the number and range of bars and clubs, picking more up-to-date acts for entertainment options and running a lot more short cruises that fit better with those who can’t take two weeks or more off work.