I also want to add……I so appreciate all the work you are doing to research and improve what I already think is the very best cruising channel. You are first class and top notch and I just want you to know that you are truly appreciated!
Cruise companies should have a buddy site on their website where solo travellers can find someone with whom they can share a cabin. They can get to know each other beforehand and see if they will match. I'd have a questionnaire to start with showing things like, do you like an early night?. Can you sleep if your buddy likes to read? It won't suit everyone, but it could be great fun.
Well done Gary, appreciate all the research that goes into your videos. In an age where we are inundated by every man and his dog with a camera claiming to be a cruise blogger it's refreshing to see your professionalism
I completely agree with the point of solo cabins - it's so frustrating how few solo cabins are available out there. I really dislike when cruise lines get away with charging SUCH a solo premium, but efforts from lines like MSC recently have been amazing - I think they're finally waking up to the fact that they shouldn't be ripping off the solo market...!
Going to say the elephant in the room: those ultra premium lines SHOULD have at least 20% single cabins. Let’s face it. With the cost of their fares often it’s the retired that can afford and that means people over 65. Which also means often one of the couple dies before the other. But that doesn’t mean the other person suddenly wants to stop going on a holiday or cruise. And yet they do not cater for what actual is a HUGE part of the over 65 market that they could attract that would be extremely profitable. Short sighted younger people running cruise lines as always never thinking they will age.
That’s true, many people by the time they’re 65 or older are either widowed, divorced, separated, single for other reasons or the other person doesn’t like traveling but the other person still wants to travel sometimes
When Norwegian started with the single studio cabins, they were designed thinking younger folks, 20 to 30, would book them. Ended up that they were mostly booked by 45 +. I’ve done a Western Med cruise on the Epic in a studio. Best sleep I ever had.
I'm a solo traveller and just booked a Caribbean cruise on NCL and it was actually more expensive to book the Solo Studio cabin than an Inside Cabin. Really am discouraged on how few perks there are for us solo travelers. I would've paid only about 1/2 the price if there'd been a second person traveling with me. So frustrating. Thank you for your videos; they're so helpful and informative. Congrats on your 100th cruise!
Discriminating against singles or solo travelers is so common and way too accepted. It's the second person in a cabin who should be charged a supplement, not a single. A cabin (or room at a resort) should cost one fixed price for ONE person to cover the room and their food, services, and included amenities. A second (or even a third/fourth) person should be charged for the cost of their food, services, and amenities. The use of the room is covered in the one person charge. The second person supplement should cover the additional housekeeping costs due to a second person. Now that would be more equitable.
The NCL Studios on their ships that have them are sometimes higher priced for several reasons. 1. Their popularity…they sell out. 2. The easy access to the Studio Lounge offered to those in “solo” cabins and 3. Deck location- studios being on upper decks 10, 11, 12) closer to things versus solo inside cabins down on deck 5 requiring lots of stairs or waiting for elevators. Although a little smaller, I prefer the studios for the benefits stated above. NCL is my cruise line of choice(as well as Cunard) for their desire to appeal to solo travelers.
For single cabins you missed Saga, where 20% of the cabins are solo. OK you have to be over 50 and all their cruises depart from the UK so it's a subset of the market, but might be useful for some people.
As a disabled person this is disheartening to hear that they all have so few cabins that are accessible, I’m disabled not dead. 😂 I still love to travel with my wife and sometimes the kiddos. And at times it’s very difficult to do so. We recently went on carnival glory and they were very accommodating to my needs and what I required for my cruise to be fun and enjoyable. But they also still have areas that’s needed upgrading for awhile now. Thank you for the video and congrats on the 100th cruise that’s impressive.
Our first cruise was on the Song of Norway after it had been “stretched”. Some of the public areas were a bit cramped since they weren’t designed for additional passengers, but it still got me hooked on cruising forever.
We've cruised 20 times and knew much of these but not all and the information is appreciated. We have had cavernous balconies on Celebrity and MSC. On MSC Divina the balcony was almost as large as the cabin. We've also had a Lido deck balcony cabin as it is convenient to the pool and buffet. We did not find it noisy at all most of the time.
Here,here on buying complete travel insurance. My parents where flying to Italy to leave on a three week cruise. They had gone to the airport they we leaving from the day before their flight. The date of their afternoon flight to Europe the next day was 9/11 !!!! It took awhile, but they were refunded everything. Buy insurance!!
Well, my wife and I did it again, We just booked a cruise on Celebrity Silhouette for next year. And since my wife needs it, we managed to book an accessible Aqua class stateroom. On our first cruse, we didn't even know about the existence of these but we were upgrade free to an accessible Sky suite on Celebrity Constellation, just because a custom relation agent thought my wife could need that. That spoiled us on the spot. We made three more cruises after that, all in accessible staterooms. The stateroom on the (again) Constellation on our transatlantic cruise was at the aft of the ship and had indeed a huge balcony. We're looking forward to next year!
Although I felt my NCL cruise this year was so-so, what I do like is their 2-bed family suite. We had one on Norwegian Star 7 years ago; Norwegian Dawn this year, and Norwegian Jade next year. Our daughter was a teenager on the first one, but is now in her 20s. It's just so nice that she can have a little room to herself for a bit of privacy and to block out some of our snoring which curtains just wouldn't achieve.
Way, way back in the 80’s my husband and I cruised from Tahiti to Sydney for two weeks on a ship that had been cut in half and reconfigured. We had one of the suites that had been added…..a dressing room with 11 closets, two bathrooms, living room and bedroom. I believe the ship was the Viking Star? It was amazing and as a 30 year old obsessed with The Love Boat I was introduced to my current love of cruising.
Sounds like you sailed the Royal Viking Star. One of the original trio of RVL ships, the Star, Sea and Star. They were all chopped in two and “stretched” by adding a midsection
@@johnsaxton5281 it was the Star….I look back at videos of that trip and I am amazed at the differences between it and the suites that we travel in on Oceania now. I’ll take Oceania any day! Cruise lines have come a long way 😉
I have always been put off cruising as a result of the extra solo cost, especially for the lengthier Panama Canal cruise I would like to go on. So a solo cabin, if it was a possibility, would encourage me to take the plunge. Thank you for the video.
New cabins are more modern - exactly what I found on Queen Mary 2. Where every body seemed to complain in their reviews about shower curtains and missing USB sockets I had a solo cabin with a door to the shower as well as American, European, British and USB sockets - most just beside the bed.
I was originally under the thinking that handicap accessible rooms were held for a small amount of time for people disabled like myself. I attempted to book a Norwegian cruise shortly after it was advertised and I had to take an inside accessible cabin because all the other accessible cabins were already taken. But to my surprise two of the rooms I asked about ( I also do my homework) were sold to able bodied people ( since I knew the room numbers my wife and myself went to check the rooms out and the people were standing there when we passed. So I asked them and they were first time cruiser’s and did not understand that they had a handicap accessible room) This was completely heartbreaking for me and my family. I asked Norwegian why and they did not give me any answers that made sense. I have never had this problem with carnival or princess.
I use a walker and have once or twice looked for an accessible cabin on Princess, I can book it, but they then send me a notification stating that I certify that I have a condition that requires this.
@@chriswilliams6568 Exactly what sort of certification did Princess ask you to provide? Did you have to get a signed medical certificate from your physician?
Some not mentioned but great for budget cruisers is first floor at midships, basically as low and as close to the centre as you can find. These experience the least pitching and rolling possible in a ship. This is pretty great, especially if you are doing Transatlantic, Transpacific or Hawian cruises or any other cruise with a high chance of experiencing large waves; you will have the lowest chance of being Sea Sick in those. Since these are Inside Cabins on the First Floor, they are also some of the cheapest possible cabins to select.
@@owensmith7530 Each to there own I guess. I really liked mine I love to sleep in a Pitch black room in fact usually I'm complaining about Hotel rooms with poorly implemented or non existent Blackout curtains.
I definitely agree on choosing low midships, but we prefer the oceanview cabins since they're usually only a few more bucks. Having said that, we'll be trying our first inside cabin soon for a last minute booking at a crazy cheap price. It was literally the last cabin available on board, way in the back, and one of the smallest ones I've ever seen... We're a little dubious but it was $100 for a week so we couldn't refuse. :D
@@owensmith7530 Only my first cruise i booked premium balcony cabin ...i found that there is always so many stuff on ship or you are out off ship that i only sleep in cabin and take a shower.. i simple dont have time to sit in cabin..so it felt like waste off money...after that i only booked interior cabins and never regret ..i just sleep and shower there...also sea is pitch black in night so makes no difference if you have window .Maybe if i go to some longer cruise like 20 days would be different
Another good cabin is the 'Deluxe Oceanview' variety which is found on a few Carnival ships. We love them because they have split bathrooms - A standard shower/toilet/sink one and a second with a bath and sink. The cabin space is still very good and we've found they're usually the same price or only a little more than a standard Oceanview.
We had one on our last cruise and I loved it. Enjoyed a couple of hot bubble baths which was nice. It was a nice change of pace from a regular shower. Price was same as ocean view.
I'm SO tired of the discrimination against solo travelers! Cabins should be priced per person, SINGLE occupancy with a second (even third) person supplement! This goes for all-inclusive resorts and organized tours, as well. What is so difficult about that pricing model?
@dmitripogosian5084 It costs what it costs. Charge accordingly for individuals without gouging solo travelers and assuming everyone comes as a pair. And showing prices as "per person, double-occupancy" is a bait and switch practice. The caveat is usually in small print at the bottom of the page. When a price is quoted as $4,999 person, what it means is your cruise/tour is going to cost you nearly $10,000, unless you share a room with a companion who is paying separately. In reality, that "per person, double occupancy" is geared to married couples or significant others.
All Cunard ships have a Britannia Club category of cabin - we had one on the Queen Elizabeth last June, and have booked one on the new Queen Anne in August this year. They come with their own dining room - it's kind of in between the Grills and Britannia dining rooms in that there is a slightly superior menu from the Britannia and you are allocated the same table, and waiter, for the entire trip.
We had stern cabins on Viking from Istanbul to Athens and they were nice. No bigger than standard, but the balcony was a bit deeper and the views were great. It meant we could see things regardless of which side of the ship they were on as we sailed past. The deck 5 stern cabins are in the shade of the infinity pool above overhanging them so if you want shade go for it (but I don't know what the noise situation from the pool is). My mum loves sun so we had the pair of stern cabins on deck 4. Viking does charge more for these stern cabins, category DV1.
I love the aft cabins and large balconies. There is a bit of noise especially on the deck just below the lido deck, but I will take that for the larger balcony and amazing view.
Only a problem on a long trans-ocean voyage where the ship has to cope with plenty of waves, which cause the props to cavitate and create sudden bursts of strong vibration.
I've gotten "Accessability cabins" in the past by just booking a "guaranteed" cabin. I think cruise lines hold them for people who need them, even up to the few days before sailing, and if they aren't claimed, they will release them to people who have booked guaranteed cabins...but...I'm just assuming this based on experience.
So far the most accessible rooms are Disney or holland and princess and Viking said they are not going to follow or be available to the accessibility group because they talked to them ❤😊
I was on Windstar’s Star Pride last year and was surprised to see that the new “inserted” cabins reversed the order of the sleeping and sitting areas. I’d rather sit closer to the view and the “balcony” than snooze next to the view. JMO.
Thank you for the tips Gary! I appreciate your videos. I am a solo traveler most of the time and enjoy cruises but rarely take them because of double the cost. However, I found Princess Cruise on The Ruby Princess out of Galveston for Jan 2023 is offering cabins for 1 for the same cost as double occupancy for most categories. Which is fantastic. Royal Caribbean and Carnival for the same month are not doing that.
Thanks to watching your videos I bagged a ‘side bulge’ cabin for our first ever cruise on Princess next summer. Extra balcony space to enjoy the scenery!
I tried sharing with a cruise buddy... Was an unmitigated disaster, never again. My buddy smoked and drank, but failed to mention these when communicating with me. The cabin stank of stale smoke and cheap perfume trying to mask the smell. Have travelled solo a couple of times, but costing is prohibitive. I feel for solo travellers
This is why I’ve never tried cruising , I’d rather be in a solo room but they charge a lot but if I get a roommate I’d have to deal with that sort of nonsense . Now that the city I’m close to ( Baltimore) has built up their port for cruise ships I’m thinking about it
On my recent RCL cruise, I had asked for an accessible cabin, but got a regular balcony cabin, which was very nice, but there wasn’t enough room to use my walker in the cabin, which meant that I couldn’t get onto the balcony☹️☹️☹️ Can I also mention that when the queen bed was split into two singles, the space between the beds was less than 8 inches… meaning that I had no chance of being able to sleep in the bed closest to the window… so disappointing ☹️ my travelling companion and I are friends, but not THAT friendly… 😂
One time my family was booked, by the resort, in a very odd condo where nothing was the right height. I quickly realized we were in an accessible unit and it really was not going to work for us. We were switched. My point is that these cabins are (duh) designed for people with those needs and able people will most likely not be comfortable, so they might as well leave them for those who really need them.
If they had solo cabins for more expensive rooms, that wouldn't make economic sense for the cruise lines. If you want a balcony cabin you've got the choice of saving a little more or travelling with a friend
Only my first cruise i booked premium balcony cabin ...i found that there is always so many stuff on ship or you are out off ship that i only sleep in cabin and take a shower...i simple dont have time to sit in cabin..so it felt like waste off money...after that i only booked interior cabins and never regret ..i just sleep and shower there.Maybe if i go to some longer cruise like 20 days would be different
@dzonikg I can quite understand that... however, me and my good lady like to chill on our balcony for an hour or two before going out for the evening... or perhaps to have room service bring our breakfast and have it on the balcomy... so nice!
@@teecee1567 Yes but i just need 1 minute to come to some sun deck and do the same..different people different stuff...i am also not married yey so i go with friends or family
Be aware of cabins with connecting doors next to your cabin. Happened to me and i had to talk to the stateroom attendant because it was extremely loud there.
River cruise ships have a similar set of hard to get cabins. Some river ships have single cabins but it's often only one, and other lines will sell up to two normal cabins with either no single supplement or 50% supplement rather than double. All of these are the first to sell when river cruises are listed. Accessible cabins are rare on river cruise ships, some have none and some have only one.
Check out MSC. They have excellent pricing for solo travelers . . . in the regular cabins, not the tiny broom closets. Their customer service is horrible but if you don't ever need to call them, they can be a great option.
Aft cabins? No, I like to see where I’m going, not where I’ve been. One of my favourite things is being at sea and then coming into land early in the morning. The twinkling lights look so inviting. 😎🇨🇦😎
As we found out on a HAL cruise we have booked there is a price downside to the special rooms. There was a price drop in our room categorgy, but we couldn't take advantage of the lower price because the room was waitlisted. The only way we could get it at a lower price was to drop the room and rebook, but then we risked losing the room to someone else who booked it before we could rebook.
Fascinating! I had no idea about most of this! If I ever get the opportunity to Cruise, I'll keep this stuff in mind! Especially the 'accessible' cabins; I have a medical condition that puts limits on what I (sometimes) can do. I get around on two feet, but do use a cane, and stepping down can be problematical at times ... in fact, is part of my exercise/PT routine. Again, thanks for the info! P.S. - I like your 'tip-of-the-hat' to your fellow 'pro-cruisers'!
I snagged my lvl 12 aft suite on Spectrum of the Seas as soon as bookings were opened. Lvl 13 is highest for aft but just below noisy public spaces with a somewhat obstructed balcony. So lvl 12 cabins are better to go for. I don't mind the movements. The more the ship rock, the better i sleep. Not a fan of bulge cabins because of privacy issues. You can see a lot but others can also see you.
Accessible cabins should be ONLY for people with canes, crutches, walkers and wheelchairs. It's a cabin to help with mobility problems like stepping over the lip into the bathroom. Cruise lines are too lax in the assignment of these cabins. :(
Our last cruise, on Princess, was a cheaper solo price so we saved money by booking two cabins. We did get them next to each other so we had separate bathrooms (And I had to behave or could have been sleeping by myself).
@@salina02us It was a cruise out of L.A. to Cabo San Lucas. You have to watch for a particular sale for single cabins that will run for a set time only. When we booked it, the sale was in effect and it was less for the single, by $30 each, than booking both of us in one cabin.
In talking about Solo cabins you did not mention Saga. Saga have 105 Solo cabins out of a total of about 550 cabins - 20%. A far greater proportion than Norwegian. AND unlike on Norwegian these are not interior cabins, no window and a single bed. They are proper balcony cabins with a double bed. Although they don't have a solo lounge they do have solo events at least once a day.
I took my first NCL Alaska Cruise in Oct. 2023. I sailed on the Encore in room 12535. The room is on 99 square feet but it was not claustrophobic at all. It was actually very accommodating and met my needs. I would recommend trying a solo cabin at least once
Those xx700 forward-facing oceanview cabins you mention on the NCL Breakaway class of ships are twice the usual size because they are handicapped-accessible cabins. So those are not cabins that someone who doesn't need an accessible cabin should be swooping in and reserving just because they are bigger. You need to demonstrate that you require an accessible cabin.
Would you say that the family cabins on Royal Caribbean are about the same as a handicapped cabin would be on Royal Caribbean? Are the doorways wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair?
You need to consider more than door width such as floor space for the wheelchair, are there steps or high lips into bathroom, grab bars, shower seats, toilet height, etc. Some lines can provide portable assistive devices.
Vibration in the AFT? OMG! my last trip to Bermuda I got up at midnight and went to the Service desk and requested the change of the cabin. It was unbearable! I will never take a cabin in the AFT any more. Only in the middle of the ship.
New to the channel here and new to cruising. Does anyone have any tips or information regarding Celestyal cruise ships? They are based in greece. They recently bought a another ship from another company and our renovating it but I've read some bad reviews so I wanted to find out if anybody had any other information to share?
We frequently ask to be seated, when we dine, on the very aft of our ships. On some ships, this is much noisier and has much more vibrations; so we would never book a room low and aft.
(For those of us who don't extend Garry's excellent info comment which has this info) 00:00 Start 00:39 Accessible 01:31 Going Solo 03:38 Going Back 04:01 Battle Of The Bulge 04:58 Bonus Cabins 06:10 Spa Time 07:15 For The Gang 10:17 One Of A Kind 12:20 Added On
We made a huge mistake on MV Azura for our P and O cruise. We were accommodated right for'ard on the starboard side on deck 8. The noise of the bow thrusters woke us up very early when the ship was docking. We ate in the buffet Verona for Breakfast on deck 15.. but there was the constant vibration of the screws (Verona is right aft) which made breakfast a little annoying If we ever sail on Azura again (unlikely as we never really enjoyed it... 3 thousand pounds down the drain) we'll get a midships cabin a little higher up and will NOT eat in the Verona!
On a carnival ship we had a ocean basin but right outside was this huge balcony. It was located above the bridge and we had access to it. Our Personal Travel Agent got it for us.
For Carnival you may need to call to get accessible cabins. On the Carnival Miracle there is an obstructed balcony accessible cabin that is huge. The balcony is about 3x as big. The "obstruction" is just the top of the lifeboats are about half way up the rail.
Whenever I get a balcony I have cigarette smoke coming onto my balcony area from neighbors….so I can’t enjoy it. Nothing is ever done about it either. It’s difficult to enjoy the balcony and has me now staying in window cabin room. I dont want to pay extra for a balcony and then not get to use it. Has anyone else noticed this?
My first cruise was with my family on the Disney Wish, and I was in an aft cabin with my aunt and grandparents. It was SO much bigger and the balcony was awesome. The engine noise and vibrations were really minimal and didn't bother us at all. Only thing was the lack of wifi over there lol
Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean drinking at the bar that was open looking at the Wish's Funnel Suite my only thought was "It's a fishbowl if the blinds/curtains are open. It has to have blinds/curtains, and when would I open them if I were staying in there?"
It is so frustrating that accessible cabins often are taken up by people who just want the extra space but are not wheelchair bound. Videos like this that seem to suggest that they are premium cabins for no extra cost and you should book them quickly even if you don't require one infuriates me. We would cruise more if we could get wheelchair accessible cabins. My daughter went on a cruise with a friend and they took the "guaranteed" cabin. When she was given her cabin number (3 months before the cruise) she realized that it was an accessible room, quickly called them and let them know she did not need an accessible cabin. We had tried to book on that same cruise letting them know we needed an accessible room and was told that none were available.
A few of the balcony cabins on ships like Nieuw Statendam in the 4044 range have a different layout. The couch is in a nook around the corner and the bed is next to an extra window.
Hi, for your single cabin list you can add the two upcoming ships from MSC: Euriba (Meraviglia Plus class as Grandiosa and Virtuosa) having single inside and balcony cabins and MSC World Europa having single inside and seaview cabins.
the rooms on Celebrity Summit on deck 3 starboard side towards the back have much larger windows which were very nice to have. I think this area was open and something else and then they did a retro and added rooms, which is why they have a larger window than the other rooms.
Lowest deck possible and as close to the middle of the ship as possible. Think of it like a teeter totter. The point in the middle is going to experience the least amount of movement.
I recommend an interior cabin midway between front and back and midway in deck levels up and down, also. Has been my choice after my first cruise, and worked well for me.
I also want to add……I so appreciate all the work you are doing to research and improve what I already think is the very best cruising channel. You are first class and top notch and I just want you to know that you are truly appreciated!
I agree. This is THE BEST RUclips channel for cruises. Thank you Gary!
Cruise companies should have a buddy site on their website where solo travellers can find someone with whom they can share a cabin. They can get to know each other beforehand and see if they will match. I'd have a questionnaire to start with showing things like, do you like an early night?. Can you sleep if your buddy likes to read? It won't suit everyone, but it could be great fun.
Well done Gary, appreciate all the research that goes into your videos.
In an age where we are inundated by every man and his dog with a camera claiming to be a cruise blogger it's refreshing to see your professionalism
I completely agree with the point of solo cabins - it's so frustrating how few solo cabins are available out there. I really dislike when cruise lines get away with charging SUCH a solo premium, but efforts from lines like MSC recently have been amazing - I think they're finally waking up to the fact that they shouldn't be ripping off the solo market...!
Going to say the elephant in the room: those ultra premium lines SHOULD have at least 20% single cabins. Let’s face it. With the cost of their fares often it’s the retired that can afford and that means people over 65. Which also means often one of the couple dies before the other. But that doesn’t mean the other person suddenly wants to stop going on a holiday or cruise. And yet they do not cater for what actual is a HUGE part of the over 65 market that they could attract that would be extremely profitable. Short sighted younger people running cruise lines as always never thinking they will age.
That’s true, many people by the time they’re 65 or older are either widowed, divorced, separated, single for other reasons or the other person doesn’t like traveling but the other person still wants to travel sometimes
Saga have 20% solo.
@@davidslee1085 yes they are good. Forgot about them.
When Norwegian started with the single studio cabins, they were designed thinking younger folks, 20 to 30, would book them. Ended up that they were mostly booked by 45 +. I’ve done a Western Med cruise on the Epic in a studio. Best sleep I ever had.
Crikey, when we retire, I can't imagine us affording cruises any more! Surely few retirees have that much pension?
I'm a solo traveller and just booked a Caribbean cruise on NCL and it was actually more expensive to book the Solo Studio cabin than an Inside Cabin. Really am discouraged on how few perks there are for us solo travelers. I would've paid only about 1/2 the price if there'd been a second person traveling with me. So frustrating. Thank you for your videos; they're so helpful and informative. Congrats on your 100th cruise!
Discriminating against singles or solo travelers is so common and way too accepted. It's the second person in a cabin who should be charged a supplement, not a single. A cabin (or room at a resort) should cost one fixed price for ONE person to cover the room and their food, services, and included amenities. A second (or even a third/fourth) person should be charged for the cost of their food, services, and amenities. The use of the room is covered in the one person charge. The second person supplement should cover the additional housekeeping costs due to a second person.
Now that would be more equitable.
The NCL Studios on their ships that have them are sometimes higher priced for several reasons. 1. Their popularity…they sell out. 2. The easy access to the Studio Lounge offered to those in “solo” cabins and 3. Deck location- studios being on upper decks 10, 11, 12) closer to things versus solo inside cabins down on deck 5 requiring lots of stairs or waiting for elevators. Although a little smaller, I prefer the studios for the benefits stated above. NCL is my cruise line of choice(as well as Cunard) for their desire to appeal to solo travelers.
For single cabins you missed Saga, where 20% of the cabins are solo. OK you have to be over 50 and all their cruises depart from the UK so it's a subset of the market, but might be useful for some people.
As a disabled person this is disheartening to hear that they all have so few cabins that are accessible, I’m disabled not dead. 😂 I still love to travel with my wife and sometimes the kiddos. And at times it’s very difficult to do so. We recently went on carnival glory and they were very accommodating to my needs and what I required for my cruise to be fun and enjoyable. But they also still have areas that’s needed upgrading for awhile now. Thank you for the video and congrats on the 100th cruise that’s impressive.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't book an accessible cabin if you don't need it. Please.
Our first cruise was on the Song of Norway after it had been “stretched”. Some of the public areas were a bit cramped since they weren’t designed for additional passengers, but it still got me hooked on cruising forever.
We love the aft cabins. I personally like the rolling feeling and having beautiful ocean views.
We've cruised 20 times and knew much of these but not all and the information is appreciated. We have had cavernous balconies on Celebrity and MSC. On MSC Divina the balcony was almost as large as the cabin. We've also had a Lido deck balcony cabin as it is convenient to the pool and buffet. We did not find it noisy at all most of the time.
Love it when the cruise content creators shout out each other and collaborate!
Here,here on buying complete travel insurance. My parents where flying to Italy to leave on a three week cruise. They had gone to the airport they we leaving from the day before their flight.
The date of their afternoon flight to Europe the next day was 9/11 !!!!
It took awhile, but they were refunded everything. Buy insurance!!
Side budge scenic and larger , aft so cool ! When I get the money one day, I will call you . I really desire to go on a nice cruise!
Well, my wife and I did it again, We just booked a cruise on Celebrity Silhouette for next year. And since my wife needs it, we managed to book an accessible Aqua class stateroom.
On our first cruse, we didn't even know about the existence of these but we were upgrade free to an accessible Sky suite on Celebrity Constellation, just because a custom relation agent thought my wife could need that. That spoiled us on the spot. We made three more cruises after that, all in accessible staterooms. The stateroom on the (again) Constellation on our transatlantic cruise was at the aft of the ship and had indeed a huge balcony. We're looking forward to next year!
Solo cabins are more and more in demand, I am always looking for them!
I loved my solo cabin on the Encore
Although I felt my NCL cruise this year was so-so, what I do like is their 2-bed family suite. We had one on Norwegian Star 7 years ago; Norwegian Dawn this year, and Norwegian Jade next year. Our daughter was a teenager on the first one, but is now in her 20s. It's just so nice that she can have a little room to herself for a bit of privacy and to block out some of our snoring which curtains just wouldn't achieve.
Way, way back in the 80’s my husband and I cruised from Tahiti to Sydney for two weeks on a ship that had been cut in half and reconfigured. We had one of the suites that had been added…..a dressing room with 11 closets, two bathrooms, living room and bedroom. I believe the ship was the Viking Star? It was amazing and as a 30 year old obsessed with The Love Boat I was introduced to my current love of cruising.
Sounds like you sailed the Royal Viking Star. One of the original trio of RVL ships, the Star, Sea and Star. They were all chopped in two and “stretched” by adding a midsection
@@johnsaxton5281 it was the Star….I look back at videos of that trip and I am amazed at the differences between it and the suites that we travel in on Oceania now. I’ll take Oceania any day! Cruise lines have come a long way 😉
I have always been put off cruising as a result of the extra solo cost, especially for the lengthier Panama Canal cruise I would like to go on. So a solo cabin, if it was a possibility, would encourage me to take the plunge. Thank you for the video.
Same here ... though I notice a lot of the solo cabins are inside. I would want a solo balcony.
@@lizcademy4809 Go Saga. There are 105 solo cabins on each ship, proper balcony cabins. There are also dedicated solo activities
MSC has some excellent solo pricing on regular cabins. Depending on the cruise, it's as little as 10%.
@@lizcademy4809 Take a look at Celebrity Beyond. I had a wonderful solo balcony last fall to Alaska.
We always go at the back of the ship,you see so much more from the cabin and we love the noise of the propellers cutting through the water 😊
As always Gary, the most concise, to the point, and easy to understand info! You Rock!
Thanks so much. Appreciate you watching!
New cabins are more modern - exactly what I found on Queen Mary 2. Where every body seemed to complain in their reviews about shower curtains and missing USB sockets I had a solo cabin with a door to the shower as well as American, European, British and USB sockets - most just beside the bed.
Agree! The older cabins definitely need all those added !
Please stress that those accessible cabins are ONLY for those of us who genuinely need them.
Our TA said she would book one because my mom needs a walk in shower, not a tub. I said no, leave those cabins for people that really need them!
I was originally under the thinking that handicap accessible rooms were held for a small amount of time for people disabled like myself.
I attempted to book a Norwegian cruise shortly after it was advertised and I had to take an inside accessible cabin because all the other accessible cabins were already taken. But to my surprise two of the rooms I asked about ( I also do my homework) were sold to able bodied people ( since I knew the room numbers my wife and myself went to check the rooms out and the people were standing there when we passed. So I asked them and they were first time cruiser’s and did not understand that they had a handicap accessible room) This was completely heartbreaking for me and my family. I asked Norwegian why and they did not give me any answers that made sense.
I have never had this problem with carnival or princess.
I use a walker and have once or twice looked for an accessible cabin on Princess, I can book it, but they then send me a notification stating that I certify that I have a condition that requires this.
@@chriswilliams6568 Exactly what sort of certification did Princess ask you to provide? Did you have to get a signed medical certificate from your physician?
@@LouisianaGatorGirl No, I just had to certify myself that I had a condition. They will surely see when I arrive.
@@chriswilliams6568 I am sorry to hear about your condition. Thank you for your reply.
@@LouisianaGatorGirl thank you for the kind reply. Take care
Some not mentioned but great for budget cruisers is first floor at midships, basically as low and as close to the centre as you can find. These experience the least pitching and rolling possible in a ship. This is pretty great, especially if you are doing Transatlantic, Transpacific or Hawian cruises or any other cruise with a high chance of experiencing large waves; you will have the lowest chance of being Sea Sick in those. Since these are Inside Cabins on the First Floor, they are also some of the cheapest possible cabins to select.
I cannot imagine sailing in a cabin with no natural light, it feels like such a dismal enclosing option.
@@owensmith7530 Each to there own I guess. I really liked mine I love to sleep in a Pitch black room in fact usually I'm complaining about Hotel rooms with poorly implemented or non existent Blackout curtains.
I definitely agree on choosing low midships, but we prefer the oceanview cabins since they're usually only a few more bucks. Having said that, we'll be trying our first inside cabin soon for a last minute booking at a crazy cheap price. It was literally the last cabin available on board, way in the back, and one of the smallest ones I've ever seen... We're a little dubious but it was $100 for a week so we couldn't refuse. :D
@@GunnerHillTX what cruise ship was this on?
@@owensmith7530 Only my first cruise i booked premium balcony cabin ...i found that there is always so many stuff on ship or you are out off ship that i only sleep in cabin and take a shower.. i simple dont have time to sit in cabin..so it felt like waste off money...after that i only booked interior cabins and never regret ..i just sleep and shower there...also sea is pitch black in night so makes no difference if you have window .Maybe if i go to some longer cruise like 20 days would be different
Another good cabin is the 'Deluxe Oceanview' variety which is found on a few Carnival ships. We love them because they have split bathrooms - A standard shower/toilet/sink one and a second with a bath and sink. The cabin space is still very good and we've found they're usually the same price or only a little more than a standard Oceanview.
We had one on our last cruise and I loved it. Enjoyed a couple of hot bubble baths which was nice. It was a nice change of pace from a regular shower. Price was same as ocean view.
I'm SO tired of the discrimination against solo travelers! Cabins should be priced per person, SINGLE occupancy with a second (even third) person supplement! This goes for all-inclusive resorts and organized tours, as well. What is so difficult about that pricing model?
Less income for the cruise ship ?
@dmitripogosian5084 It costs what it costs. Charge accordingly for individuals without gouging solo travelers and assuming everyone comes as a pair. And showing prices as "per person, double-occupancy" is a bait and switch practice. The caveat is usually in small print at the bottom of the page. When a price is quoted as $4,999 person, what it means is your cruise/tour is going to cost you nearly $10,000, unless you share a room with a companion who is paying separately. In reality, that "per person, double occupancy" is geared to married couples or significant others.
All Cunard ships have a Britannia Club category of cabin - we had one on the Queen Elizabeth last June, and have booked one on the new Queen Anne in August this year. They come with their own dining room - it's kind of in between the Grills and Britannia dining rooms in that there is a slightly superior menu from the Britannia and you are allocated the same table, and waiter, for the entire trip.
My favorite is class C double port hole wide cabin towards the front of DCL Fantasy and Dream decks 5 & 6?.
I didn’t know there was a solo cabin. I cruised by myself a lot when I was younger.
We had stern cabins on Viking from Istanbul to Athens and they were nice. No bigger than standard, but the balcony was a bit deeper and the views were great. It meant we could see things regardless of which side of the ship they were on as we sailed past. The deck 5 stern cabins are in the shade of the infinity pool above overhanging them so if you want shade go for it (but I don't know what the noise situation from the pool is). My mum loves sun so we had the pair of stern cabins on deck 4. Viking does charge more for these stern cabins, category DV1.
I love the aft cabins and large balconies. There is a bit of noise especially on the deck just below the lido deck, but I will take that for the larger balcony and amazing view.
Only a problem on a long trans-ocean voyage where the ship has to cope with plenty of waves, which cause the props to cavitate and create sudden bursts of strong vibration.
I've gotten "Accessability cabins" in the past by just booking a "guaranteed" cabin. I think cruise lines hold them for people who need them, even up to the few days before sailing, and if they aren't claimed, they will release them to people who have booked guaranteed cabins...but...I'm just assuming this based on experience.
I got upgraded from
So far the most accessible rooms are Disney or holland and princess and Viking said they are not going to follow or be available to the accessibility group because they talked to them ❤😊
I was on Windstar’s Star Pride last year and was surprised to see that the new “inserted” cabins reversed the order of the sleeping and sitting areas. I’d rather sit closer to the view and the “balcony” than snooze next to the view. JMO.
We stayed in one of the new cabins on Star Breeze on a recent Alaska cruise, and it was fantastic. I think you will really enjoy it.
Thank you for the tips Gary! I appreciate your videos. I am a solo traveler most of the time and enjoy cruises but rarely take them because of double the cost. However, I found Princess Cruise on The Ruby Princess out of Galveston for Jan 2023 is offering cabins for 1 for the same cost as double occupancy for most categories. Which is fantastic. Royal Caribbean and Carnival for the same month are not doing that.
Thanks to watching your videos I bagged a ‘side bulge’ cabin for our first ever cruise on Princess next summer. Extra balcony space to enjoy the scenery!
I tried sharing with a cruise buddy... Was an unmitigated disaster, never again. My buddy smoked and drank, but failed to mention these when communicating with me. The cabin stank of stale smoke and cheap perfume trying to mask the smell. Have travelled solo a couple of times, but costing is prohibitive. I feel for solo travellers
This is why I’ve never tried cruising , I’d rather be in a solo room but they charge a lot but if I get a roommate I’d have to deal with that sort of nonsense . Now that the city I’m close to ( Baltimore) has built up their port for cruise ships I’m thinking about it
Some Carnival ships have inside cabins forward on low decks with a window.
On the 4th deck, great views of the lifeboats and you’ll have people working right next to your window, but very quiet otherwise
Need cruise ship info for singles
Solo cabins are NOT a good buy on a cost per square foot. The NCL solo cabins are absolutely claustrophobic. Remember the Diamond Princess.
Is it me or is the link to the video he suggests at the end not showing up? On my phone he’s pointing to nothing. 🤷♀️
PLEASE.....if you aren't handicapped, please don't ask for an accessible cabin! Those of us who need them, really, really need them!
agree 100% !!!!!
On my recent RCL cruise, I had asked for an accessible cabin, but got a regular balcony cabin, which was very nice, but there wasn’t enough room to use my walker in the cabin, which meant that I couldn’t get onto the balcony☹️☹️☹️ Can I also mention that when the queen bed was split into two singles, the space between the beds was less than 8 inches… meaning that I had no chance of being able to sleep in the bed closest to the window… so disappointing ☹️ my travelling companion and I are friends, but not THAT friendly… 😂
One time my family was booked, by the resort, in a very odd condo where nothing was the right height. I quickly realized we were in an accessible unit and it really was not going to work for us. We were switched. My point is that these cabins are (duh) designed for people with those needs and able people will most likely not be comfortable, so they might as well leave them for those who really need them.
I don't want a solo interior cabin though. They should have solo cabin in every cabin category.
I agree I want a balcony so I can get fresh air anytime I like
P & O Iona and Britannia have solo balcony cabins .
If they had solo cabins for more expensive rooms, that wouldn't make economic sense for the cruise lines. If you want a balcony cabin you've got the choice of saving a little more or travelling with a friend
Only my first cruise i booked premium balcony cabin ...i found that there is always so many stuff on ship or you are out off ship that i only sleep in cabin and take a shower...i simple dont have time to sit in cabin..so it felt like waste off money...after that i only booked interior cabins and never regret ..i just sleep and shower there.Maybe if i go to some longer cruise like 20 days would be different
@dzonikg I can quite understand that... however, me and my good lady like to chill on our balcony for an hour or two before going out for the evening... or perhaps to have room service bring our breakfast and have it on the balcomy... so nice!
@@teecee1567 Yes but i just need 1 minute to come to some sun deck and do the same..different people different stuff...i am also not married yey so i go with friends or family
Thanks!
Thanks for this!!
Would you recommend a bow cabin? Larger balcony, but is wind a problem?
Be aware of cabins with connecting doors next to your cabin. Happened to me and i had to talk to the stateroom attendant because it was extremely loud there.
I thought the cabins with connecting doors was for groups of people who wanted to be close to each other.
River cruise ships have a similar set of hard to get cabins. Some river ships have single cabins but it's often only one, and other lines will sell up to two normal cabins with either no single supplement or 50% supplement rather than double. All of these are the first to sell when river cruises are listed. Accessible cabins are rare on river cruise ships, some have none and some have only one.
I'm always on the lookout for cove balconies when I book cruises.
What is a cove balcony? And is the roo. Listed as having a cove balcony?
I must have a solo cabin. My Husband died and none of my Friends want to go or can afford to go.
I am the same. It makes it so expensive. If they had more we would be able to go more often.
Check out MSC. They have excellent pricing for solo travelers . . . in the regular cabins, not the tiny broom closets. Their customer service is horrible but if you don't ever need to call them, they can be a great option.
Aft cabins? No, I like to see where I’m going, not where I’ve been. One of my favourite things is being at sea and then coming into land early in the morning. The twinkling lights look so inviting. 😎🇨🇦😎
As we found out on a HAL cruise we have booked there is a price downside to the special rooms. There was a price drop in our room categorgy, but we couldn't take advantage of the lower price because the room was waitlisted. The only way we could get it at a lower price was to drop the room and rebook, but then we risked losing the room to someone else who booked it before we could rebook.
Really interesting and informative video Gary. Thank-you.
Fascinating! I had no idea about most of this! If I ever get the opportunity to Cruise, I'll keep this stuff in mind! Especially the 'accessible' cabins; I have a medical condition that puts limits on what I (sometimes) can do. I get around on two feet, but do use a cane, and stepping down can be problematical at times ... in fact, is part of my exercise/PT routine.
Again, thanks for the info!
P.S. - I like your 'tip-of-the-hat' to your fellow 'pro-cruisers'!
I snagged my lvl 12 aft suite on Spectrum of the Seas as soon as bookings were opened. Lvl 13 is highest for aft but just below noisy public spaces with a somewhat obstructed balcony. So lvl 12 cabins are better to go for. I don't mind the movements. The more the ship rock, the better i sleep. Not a fan of bulge cabins because of privacy issues. You can see a lot but others can also see you.
Accessible cabins should be ONLY for people with canes, crutches, walkers and wheelchairs. It's a cabin to help with mobility problems like stepping over the lip into the bathroom. Cruise lines are too lax in the assignment of these cabins. :(
Our last cruise, on Princess, was a cheaper solo price so we saved money by booking two cabins. We did get them next to each other so we had separate bathrooms (And I had to behave or could have been sleeping by myself).
I want to know more about solo on Princess which route you took and how to book it? thanks
@@salina02us It was a cruise out of L.A. to Cabo San Lucas. You have to watch for a particular sale for single cabins that will run for a set time only. When we booked it, the sale was in effect and it was less for the single, by $30 each, than booking both of us in one cabin.
Hi as a new traveller to cruising I’ve found your site extremely helpful. You don’t often seem to mention P&O cruises and I wondered why. Thanks again
Excellent advice again! Thanks!!
Thanks for the info Gary. Very useful.
Glad it was helpful!
In talking about Solo cabins you did not mention Saga. Saga have 105 Solo cabins out of a total of about 550 cabins - 20%. A far greater proportion than Norwegian. AND unlike on Norwegian these are not interior cabins, no window and a single bed. They are proper balcony cabins with a double bed. Although they don't have a solo lounge they do have solo events at least once a day.
I took my first NCL Alaska Cruise in Oct. 2023. I sailed on the Encore in room 12535. The room is on 99 square feet but it was not claustrophobic at all. It was actually very accommodating and met my needs. I would recommend trying a solo cabin at least once
Those xx700 forward-facing oceanview cabins you mention on the NCL Breakaway class of ships are twice the usual size because they are handicapped-accessible cabins. So those are not cabins that someone who doesn't need an accessible cabin should be swooping in and reserving just because they are bigger. You need to demonstrate that you require an accessible cabin.
Would you say that the family cabins on Royal Caribbean are about the same as a handicapped cabin would be on Royal Caribbean? Are the doorways wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair?
You need to consider more than door width such as floor space for the wheelchair, are there steps or high lips into bathroom, grab bars, shower seats, toilet height, etc. Some lines can provide portable assistive devices.
Vibration in the AFT? OMG! my last trip to Bermuda I got up at midnight and went to the Service desk and requested the change of the cabin. It was unbearable! I will never take a cabin in the AFT any more. Only in the middle of the ship.
New to the channel here and new to cruising. Does anyone have any tips or information regarding Celestyal cruise ships? They are based in greece. They recently bought a another ship from another company and our renovating it but I've read some bad reviews so I wanted to find out if anybody had any other information to share?
Good video. Aft cabins are subject to diesel exhaust if the Captain sails into the wind/quartering wind.
I have never ever smelled diesel fumes when I have been aft of the funnel on any ship.
We frequently ask to be seated, when we dine, on the very aft of our ships. On some ships, this is much noisier and has much more vibrations; so we would never book a room low and aft.
Thanks , Gary!
(For those of us who don't extend Garry's excellent info comment which has this info)
00:00 Start
00:39 Accessible
01:31 Going Solo
03:38 Going Back
04:01 Battle Of The Bulge
04:58 Bonus Cabins
06:10 Spa Time
07:15 For The Gang
10:17 One Of A Kind
12:20 Added On
We made a huge mistake on MV Azura for our P and O cruise. We were accommodated right for'ard on the starboard side on deck 8. The noise of the bow thrusters woke us up very early when the ship was docking.
We ate in the buffet Verona for Breakfast on deck 15.. but there was the constant vibration of the screws (Verona is right aft) which made breakfast a little annoying
If we ever sail on Azura again (unlikely as we never really enjoyed it... 3 thousand pounds down the drain) we'll get a midships cabin a little higher up and will NOT eat in the Verona!
I'm first? Wow, great topic Mr Gary as always!!
Fab! Thanks for watching
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If there was some sort of thing where you could get matched up with another solo traveller, I might be up for that.
What cabin are you on onboard QE, I’m going in January!!!
On a carnival ship we had a ocean basin but right outside was this huge balcony. It was located above the bridge and we had access to it. Our Personal Travel Agent got it for us.
For Carnival you may need to call to get accessible cabins. On the Carnival Miracle there is an obstructed balcony accessible cabin that is huge. The balcony is about 3x as big. The "obstruction" is just the top of the lifeboats are about half way up the rail.
Lots of information to take in.
Dude... that "Rockstar Suite" is EPIC!! (Yes, I'm a guitarist...or "wannabe rockstar"...whatever. Hahaha)
What’s your opinion of The 7Seas ships.?
They are great. I have a video on them and going back in fact next week on them!
Whenever I get a balcony I have cigarette smoke coming onto my balcony area from neighbors….so I can’t enjoy it. Nothing is ever done about it either. It’s difficult to enjoy the balcony and has me now staying in window cabin room. I dont want to pay extra for a balcony and then not get to use it. Has anyone else noticed this?
It was very sad to see that the new Princess Sun in 2024 will continue the tradition of having zero solo cabins
My first cruise was with my family on the Disney Wish, and I was in an aft cabin with my aunt and grandparents. It was SO much bigger and the balcony was awesome. The engine noise and vibrations were really minimal and didn't bother us at all. Only thing was the lack of wifi over there lol
Thanks. I still have to work when I go on vacation and I need wifi. Not aft for me!
Really? I had wifi in my aft suite when I was on the Wish.
Do these ships have elevators or all stairs?
Elevators
Usually both....
Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean drinking at the bar that was open looking at the Wish's Funnel Suite my only thought was "It's a fishbowl if the blinds/curtains are open. It has to have blinds/curtains, and when would I open them if I were staying in there?"
Lots of good info in this presentation. Thanks.
It is so frustrating that accessible cabins often are taken up by people who just want the extra space but are not wheelchair bound. Videos like this that seem to suggest that they are premium cabins for no extra cost and you should book them quickly even if you don't require one infuriates me. We would cruise more if we could get wheelchair accessible cabins. My daughter went on a cruise with a friend and they took the "guaranteed" cabin. When she was given her cabin number (3 months before the cruise) she realized that it was an accessible room, quickly called them and let them know she did not need an accessible cabin. We had tried to book on that same cruise letting them know we needed an accessible room and was told that none were available.
A few of the balcony cabins on ships like Nieuw Statendam in the 4044 range have a different layout. The couch is in a nook around the corner and the bed is next to an extra window.
Hi, for your single cabin list you can add the two upcoming ships from MSC: Euriba (Meraviglia Plus class as Grandiosa and Virtuosa) having single inside and balcony cabins and MSC World Europa having single inside and seaview cabins.
Just curious, have you ever done a Great Lakes Cruise?
No, but did a St Laurence Seaway cruise from Montreal to the Atlantic and loved it.
the rooms on Celebrity Summit on deck 3 starboard side towards the back have much larger windows which were very nice to have. I think this area was open and something else and then they did a retro and added rooms, which is why they have a larger window than the other rooms.
Thank you for your advice.
Great video, Gary!
Glad you enjoyed it!!
What ships have casinos.?
I'm no expert, but don't all of the ocean cruise ships have casinos?!🎉😊
I think Disney is the only cruise line that has no casino.
Do you have a recommendation as to cabin location if you have really severe issues with motion sickness?
Lowest deck possible and as close to the middle of the ship as possible. Think of it like a teeter totter. The point in the middle is going to experience the least amount of movement.
I recommend an interior cabin midway between front and back and midway in deck levels up and down, also. Has been my choice after my first cruise, and worked well for me.
Another masterpiece Gary!
Thanks, great to hear you enjoyed!
Another plus to the cabins in the aft section is cabins in the back will be the first to go under after the ship hits an iceberg.
I bet Tony was pretty hype to hear his name mentioned!