The single supplement is the most complained-about cost in cruising, and Australians cop it just as hard as anyone. You find a cruise you want, the per-person fare looks reasonable, then you realize you’re expected to pay for a cabin built for two. The good news is that more cruise lines are responding to the growing number of solo travelers, and if you know where to look and when to book, there are genuine ways to reduce or sidestep the supplement entirely.
What Is The Single Solo Supplement And Why Do Cruise Lines Charge It?
Cruise fares are priced per person based on two people sharing a cabin. When you travel alone, the cruise line adds a single supplement to cover the empty berth. On most mainstream lines it means paying double the advertised fare. So if a cabin is listed at AU$1,500 per person, you pay AU$3,000. Port taxes and fees are the exception — you only pay those once.
The Best Ways To Avoid Or Reduce The Single Solo Supplement
Book A Dedicated Solo Stateroom
| Some ships have cabins built specifically for one person, priced without a supplement. Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered this with their Studio cabins, and Royal Caribbean has followed on several ships in their fleet. The catch is that solo cabins are limited in number and sell out well before standard cabins, so if this is your preferred route, book early! |
Look For No-Supplement Deals
| Cruise lines regularly run promotions that reduce or waive the supplement entirely, particularly during wave season (January to March) when lines are pushing hard for bookings. |
Use a Cruise Specialist
| This is underutilized. A good cruise specialist knows which lines are running reduced supplements before those deals hit the public and can often negotiate on your behalf. It costs you nothing extra and can save you hundreds. |
Consider a Guarantee Cabin (With Realistic Expectations)
Some cruise lines offer “guarantee” cabins where you book a category at a lower price and let the line assign your specific cabin. Solo travelers sometimes use this hoping to be upgraded to a larger cabin for the same fare. It does happen, but it’s not a strategy to rely on — you could just as easily end up in the lowest cabin in that category. Worth considering if price is the priority and you’re flexible about where you end up on the ship.
Cruise Lines Departing Australia That Offer Solo Cruise Benefits
Norwegian Cruise Line
| NCL remains the benchmark for solo cabin availability. Their Studio cabins carry no supplement and include access to a private Studio Lounge where solo passengers can meet before dinner or unwind after a port day. The ships most relevant to Australian travelers are those that deploy to the region seasonally, so check which vessels are actually sailing from Australian ports in your travel window before assuming Studio cabins are available. |
Royal Caribbean
| Royal Caribbean has added solo cabins to several ships in their fleet, including Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas which operates regularly from Brisbane and Sydney. Studio cabins here are usually inside cabins, compact but well designed and perfect for the solo traveler, they often come with reduced solo supplement pricing. Availability is limited so the same early booking advice applies. |
Princess Cruises
| Princess has a strong and loyal following among Australian solo travellers, with regular departures from Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle. They don’t have dedicated solo cabins across the fleet but do reduce the supplement on select sailings, particularly during promotional periods. |
Looking for current solo cruise deals departing Australia?
We keep an updated list of reduced and no-supplement sailings on our solo cruises page.
Things To Check Before You Book Solo Cabins
- Solo cabins sell out fast: On ships where they exist they’re the first category to go, often months before standard cabins fill up.
- The supplement applies to the cruise fare only: Port taxes, fees and gratuities are charged per person regardless, so the saving when a supplement is waived is real but not always as large as the headline figure suggests.
- Promotional pricing can obscure the supplement: A discounted fare sometimes still carries a supplement on top. Always check the solo fare explicitly rather than assuming a sale price applies to single occupancy.
- NCL has been quietly reducing its solo cabin inventory: Always confirm availability on the specific ship rather than relying on the line’s general reputation.
- River cruises often have more generous supplement policies: Deals can appear with little notice and are worth keeping on your radar if you’re open to the idea.
| ⭐ Early access to solo cruise deals ⭐ Reduced single supplement fares ⭐ Solo cabin availability alerts ⭐ Hand-picked cruise shortlist ⭐ Australia & worldwide departures |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does the single supplement apply to port taxes and fees?
No. Port taxes and fees are charged per person regardless, so you only pay those once. The supplement applies to the cruise fare itself, which is where the real cost difference sits. - When is the best time to find no-supplement deals from Australia?
Wave season, which runs from January to March, is when cruise lines push their hardest on pricing and solo promotions are most common. New itinerary releases are also worth watching, as lines often price aggressively to fill ships early. Signing up to fare alerts or working with a cruise specialist means you’re less likely to miss them. - Are solo cabins available on cruises departing Sydney or Brisbane?
Some are, but availability depends entirely on which ships are deployed to Australian ports in a given season. Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas are the best options for Australian departures with dedicated solo cabins. NCL’s Studio cabins are excellent but their Australian deployment changes year to year. - Can a travel agent negotiate the single supplement?
Not always, but a specialist who works with cruise lines regularly will know which sailings have flexibility and when supplement reductions are coming before they’re advertised publicly. It costs you nothing to use one and the advantage is real. - Is it worth waiting for last-minute deals or will solo cabins sell out?
It depends on what you’re after. Dedicated solo cabins on popular sailings will sell out well in advance. Last-minute deals work better when you’re flexible on itinerary and willing to book a standard cabin at a reduced supplement rather than a dedicated solo room. If a specific sailing or destination matters to you, don’t wait. - What is the cheapest way to cruise solo from Australia?
Booking a dedicated solo cabin during wave season on a line that has committed to no-supplement solo pricing is the most reliable approach. For mainstream ocean cruising, watching for NCL and Royal Caribbean promotions on ships with Studio cabins will get you closest to a fair solo fare. - Do all cruise lines charge the single supplement?
No, but most mainstream lines do on standard cabins. The exceptions are lines with dedicated solo cabins priced for single occupancy, or specific sailings where the supplement has been waived as part of a promotion. The landscape is improving but it pays to check explicitly rather than assume.
