Queen Mary 2 will offer cabins for singles when it relaunches.
Cruising can be a great option for single travellers, particularly those who are going out on their own for the first time. Cruise ships offer lots of social activities, organised shore excursions and, increasingly, special onboard meet and greet events for solos.
Some of the major cruise lines are now building ships with dedicated single cabins, or adding them to older ships when they are refurbished, but the biggest drawback for most solo cruisers is having to pay the single supplement. As in hotels, this charge can be anything from 10 to 100 per cent of the fare for single occupancy of a double room – however, some lines are more solo-friendly than others and you can shop around for cruises that waive or reduce the single supplement.
Holland America Line's MS Koningsdam is the line's first ship to offer cabins for solo cruisers; it will have 12 oceanview cabins. P&O's Britannia, which set sail just over a year ago, offers 27 single cabins, including the line's first purpose-built single cabins with balconies. Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ships have Studio cabins plus a Studio lounge for singles; Epic has 128 studios, Breakaway and Getaway 59 each while the line's biggest ship, Escape, has 82 in a complex set over three decks.
Tomislav Ivanovic.
Queen Mary 2 will have 15 new single Britannia staterooms when it emerges from dry dock in June; Cunard has been a favourite with single women cruisers for many years because it offers "gentlemen hosts" as dance and dinner companions. Crystal, Regent Seven Seas and Silversea also have similar programs on select voyages.
Single cabins sell out quickly as there is such a limited number of them, so be prepared to book well ahead – Scenic has just released reduced single-supplement fares for a selection of cruises on board its first ocean-going ship, Scenic Eclipse, which is due to launch in August 2018. See scenic.com.au.
If you're looking for good deals, check out Your Solo Zone on Cruise Express International's website. It is dedicated to special offers for single cruisers, and also provides a useful overview of single-friendly cruise lines and ships; see www.cruiseexpress.com.au/solo-cruising
MTC Sea Dream Marina.
Another way to avoid paying the single supplement is to share a cabin with a friend, or find another like-minded solo cruiser with an agency such as Companion Cruising. However, managing director Erin King, who established the agency three years ago, says that feedback from solo travellers suggests that sharing a cabin is not always a preference. Companion Cruising is now "extending its focus" by making its solo clients more aware of single cabins discounts; see companioncruising.com.au
MEET THE CREW
NAME Tomislav Ivanovic, from Croatia
Curtis Stone in SHARE on Ruby Princess.
POSITION Maître d'Hôtel, SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream I
MY JOB… involves close supervision of passenger service in the Dining Salon and Topside Restaurant, including special requests. I manage all the waiters and bartenders.
A TYPICAL DAY… begins with checking the restaurants, bars and passenger decks to ensure everything is ready for our guests. There are staff meetings before each meal to discuss service and handle any special requests.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands is to christen Holland America Line's new flagship, MS Koningsdam.
FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT Sailing through the Corinth Canal (Greece) at sunset and serving your favourite cocktails on the open deck at the Top of the Yacht bar.
FAVOURITE CRUISE PORTS Hvar, Dubrovnik; Santorini, Greece; Amalfi Coast, Italy; St Barts, Caribbean; Puerto Banús and San Sebastian in Spain.
INSIDER TIP Book a Balinese Bed for sleeping under the stars. Go ashore to explore the beautiful ports of call and try local restaurants and their specialties of the day.
TIP
If you wear glasses and you're cruising in sunny climes, consider investing in polarised prescription sunnies to cut down glare from sea and sky.
NEWS
Share by Curtis
Local cruisers can now enjoy Curtis Stone's new SHARE restaurant on board Princess Cruises' Sun Princess, following the ship's recent multi-million-dollar refurbishment. As part of the chef's exclusive partnership with the cruise line, SHARE by Curtis Stone has been added to select Princess ships overseas and Sun Princess is the first to offer the signature restaurant Down Under. Emerald Princess, which arrives in Sydney in November for its first Australian season, also features SHARE. "It will feature menus of my signature dishes that are, obviously, designed to share and maybe take you out of your comfort zone," said Chef Stone. Menus include a charcuterie plate and appetisers, mains, side-dishes, desserts and cheeses; a cover charge applies. See princess.com
Royal christening for Koningsdam
Holland America Line ships are traditionally christened by Dutch royalty and Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands will do the honours for the line's new flagship, MS Koningsdam, on May 20. The 2650-passenger ship is the first in HAL's Pinnacle class. "We chose Rotterdam as the location for the official ceremony because of the deep historic connection between Holland America Line, the city and the people of the Netherlands," said company president Orlando Ashford. "May 20 will be a very special day in our company's 143-year history as we officially dedicate MS Koningsdam." Queen Máxima christened MS Nieuw Amsterdam (when she was Princess Máxima) in 2010; the next Pinnacle class ship is due in 2018. Koningsdam will spend the European summer sailing to Norway, the Baltic and Iceland from Amsterdam. See hollandamerica.com.au
Azamara overnights
Azamara Club Cruises, the line that coined the phrase "Azamazing Evenings" to describe the special events it organises for passengers, has introduced a multi-day Overnight Adventures program. This allows passengers to disembark, take fully guided two- to three-day tours in selected ports, then rejoin the ship at the next port of call. Examples of Overnight Adventures include a two-day tour of the ancient temples of Bagan, from Yangon in Myanmar; a day each in Venice and Florence in one package; and a "desert night in Oman", which includes a journey to the country's lagoons, waterfalls and seaside retreats, a desert trek to a Bedouin camp for an evening of drinking, dancing and traditional barbecue, and overnight stay in a tent. See azamaraclubcruises.com
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Cruise the Spice Route and Suez Canal on Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas with ecruising's new 36-night fly/stay/cruise package. Departing Australia May 1, 2017, you'll spend three nights in Singapore before embarking on the 30-night cruise to Venice. Legend will visit ports and cities in Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Dubai, Oman, Israel and Greece. Return international flights, accommodation and tours in Singapore and Venice included. From $6399; phone 1300 106 466, ecruising.travel
MORE DEALS
TRAVELMARVEL is offering free return flights with Singapore Airlines on 15-day Yangon to Mandalay cruises on board RV Princess Panhwar in any suite category departing September 2017 to April 2018. From $6295; phone 1300 196 420, see travelmarvel.com.au
CRUISE 1st has a 21-night fly/stay/cruise package combining a nine-night Greek Islands cruise on Jewel of the Seas with seven nights in the Western Mediterranean on Norwegian Epic. Departing Australia for Rome on October 16; from $3999. Phone 1300 596 345, see cruise1st.com.au.
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