Single Cabins

After many years of travelling with my son I have decided that it is time to venture off on my own. Having been widowed ten years ago I am used to doing things myself but I also know that there are really friendly people on cruises to chat too.

Has anyone got any good recommendations of single Cabins across the fleet then when 2019 itineries are published I can see what's available.

Many thanks:)

I met an American who was from the cruise industry press while on Britannia. He said the Britannia single, inside and balcony cabins were the best he had come across on any cruise line. Only downside is that if you do not click "no upgrades" you may well end up upgraded to a normal cabin. I found that we were the only cabins on the top deck, no twins and we were allocated the "Bay Tree" bottom deck on the stern. A pleasant table with only solo cruisers on it, an indicator to many that you need to specify "Club Dining" first or second sitting.

Regards John

You will probably find that booking a normal double cabin for single occupancy is not a lot more expensive than booking a single with the choice of hundreds of cabins, all with a lot of extra space.

I have had single cabins on Britannia and Ventura. The Britannia one was good but the Ventura ones were awful. There were so many creaking and squeaking noises from the walls and ceiling I found it impossible to sleep. They moved me to a single outside without argument. It was better but still IMO unfit for purpose. On Ventura I would now choose an ocean view double.

I had one of the single cabins on Arcadia, same floor as the Crows nest - became my venue of choice! It was on an itinerary to Iceland, so not an issue, but there was a sunbathing space above - so it may be a very different experience on a warm cruise. The cabin was really big.

I agree with dave Don't assume that a single cabin will be the cheapest option on all lines. P&O normally have a 60% single supplement and Cunard 75%, both on cabins up to and including balconies. Once you get to the final saver fares - around 3 months before departure, the single supplement goes up to 100%.

I've just returned from a cruise on Britannia in one of her single balcony cabins. It was my first cruise so nothing to compare against but in general I couldn't fault the cabin - small but perfectly formed and an ideal size for me. If I were a 6ft tall man then I might have found it a little snug but for a short middle-aged woman it was spot on :)

I was in L253 - Deck 16, very close to the lifts, stairwell etc and very handy for the buffet and Crow's Nest - and the only note of caution I would sound would be to consider taking a cabin further down the row. They cleaned the stairwell around 05:20 each morning - it meant I got to see a lot of dawns! (I get up 05:15 for work every day so am used to it but hey, it would have been nice to be able to sleep through occasionally.)

I've always thought that the single cabins would be quite small, but by the sounds of it that's not the case.

Or is it just a matter of what ship its on? ie. Britnannia being newer, she has larger single cabins.

I've always thought that the single cabins would be quite small, but by the sounds of it that's not the case.

 

Or is it just a matter of what ship its on? ie. Britnannia being newer, she has larger single cabins.

The single cabins I've had on Aurora have been a good size. ISTR that the floor area for each category of cabin is given somewhere in the brochure and/or the web site.

Has anyone left it til the last minute , say 2-3 weeks before , to book a single and would they be more likely to give you a double for the same price?

I suppose it would depend on how sales were going on each cruise? I am more of a last minute booker than a long way in advance.

Has anyone left it til the last minute , say 2-3 weeks before , to book a single and would they be more likely to give you a double for the same price?

I suppose it would depend on how sales were going on each cruise? I am more of a last minute booker than a long way in advance.

I did get a balcony cabin on Arcadia in June for a Baltic cruise at the late saver rate with no single supplement one week before departure. Wasn't advertised, I just did a check on the P&O website and made a dummy booking. Pure luck and the only time I've seen it. £999 for 14 nights:)

Apart from Azura & Ventura, the single cabins are all in some of the least desirable locations - extreme forward or aft and in Arcadia & Britannia's case very high up the ship as well. The only good thing about Oriana's two (yes, just two) single cabins is that have pretty immediate access to the aft deck with seating and the Terrace Pool & Jacuzzi.

Apart from Azura & Ventura, the single cabins are all in some of the least desirable locations - extreme forward or aft and in Arcadia & Britannia's case very high up the ship as well. The only good thing about Oriana's two (yes, just two) single cabins is that have pretty immediate access to the aft deck with seating and the Terrace Pool & Jacuzzi.

Aurora's four single cabins are all right at the bow but, being a good sailor, I rather like that. It means that they are quiet and, when coming into or leaving port, it means that you are guaranteed good views regardless of whether the land is to port or starboard. In does mean quite a long walk to the Alexandria dining room, though, but at least it keeps me fit!

I did get a balcony cabin on Arcadia in June for a Baltic cruise at the late saver rate with no single supplement one week before departure. Wasn't advertised, I just did a check on the P&O website and made a dummy booking. Pure luck and the only time I've seen it. £999 for 14 nights:)

That is really good. A friend and I were on that cruise and paid for a restricted view twin cabin £1,600 each. I may well try a very late deal like that. Cannot get OH to go on a cruise but would book a solo one if I really wanted to go.:D

Aurora's four single cabins are all right at the bow but, being a good sailor, I rather like that. It means that they are quiet and, when coming into or leaving port, it means that you are guaranteed good views regardless of whether the land is to port or starboard. In does mean quite a long walk to the Alexandria dining room, though, but at least it keeps me fit!

I had a single-occupancy cabin on Aurora, and it was my favorite cabin in all of my 20-something cruises. I loved the forward-facing window, the settee, and I found the location to be quite all right as the ship isn't that big.

That said, the cabin was right below the bridge, and an alarm sounded intermittently and persistently throughout the cruise. Even in the middle of the night. BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP. Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. Beep, boop. Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. I don't know what the system was, or why the guy who acknowledged the alarm wasn't stationed closer to it, but I managed to not let it bother me too much.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP. Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. Beep, boop. Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp

That's probably the system which makes sure someone is awake on the bridge all night ;p

I had a single-occupancy cabin on Aurora, and it was my favorite cabin in all of my 20-something cruises. I loved the forward-facing window, the settee, and I found the location to be quite all right as the ship isn't that big.

 

That said, the cabin was right below the bridge, and an alarm sounded intermittently and persistently throughout the cruise. Even in the middle of the night. BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP. Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. Beep, boop. Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp. I don't know what the system was, or why the guy who acknowledged the alarm wasn't stationed closer to it, but I managed to not let it bother me too much.

Was your cabin one of the two on C deck? Mine was one of the two on A deck, and so I think above rather than below the bridge. At any rate I didn't hear any beeps or stomping.

Was your cabin one of the two on C deck? Mine was one of the two on A deck, and so I think above rather than below the bridge. At any rate I didn't hear any beeps or stomping.

The cabin (A103) was on A-deck. The bridge is just above on the Lido deck. C-deck has cabins above it.

Thankyou everyone for all your replies and suggestions. Now it's just a case of waiting for the new itineries to be released.:)

I've just come off the Azura and had a single cabin on F deck. I had chosen a late saver fare rather than select as there was a tremendous jump in price for select. I don't know if I am correct in thinking that if I had gone with select I would have been able to have a double for single occupancy (from doing a dummy booking this seemed to be the case). So the price would have reflected a larger cabin not just the select aspect of it. I was allocated an actual single cabin and was really worried beforehand as it was right next to the casino and the bar. I had visions of the sound of slot machines all night! I needn't have worried - I didn't hear a thing. The sound-proofing must have been really good. Also it was a perfectly decent size for one person with plenty of storage and the bed was larger than single. It was right near the lifts and the atrium and I felt a very good location.

Hi JoJoA

I'm booked on Azura for the October TA - F308. Does this cabin ring a bell?

Cheers

Mel

I've just come off the Azura and had a single cabin on F deck. I had chosen a late saver fare rather than select as there was a tremendous jump in price for select. I don't know if I am correct in thinking that if I had gone with select I would have been able to have a double for single occupancy (from doing a dummy booking this seemed to be the case). So the price would have reflected a larger cabin not just the select aspect of it. I was allocated an actual single cabin and was really worried beforehand as it was right next to the casino and the bar. I had visions of the sound of slot machines all night! I needn't have worried - I didn't hear a thing. The sound-proofing must have been really good. Also it was a perfectly decent size for one person with plenty of storage and the bed was larger than single. It was right near the lifts and the atrium and I felt a very good location.

Hi JoJoA

I'm booked on Azura for the October TA - F308. Does this cabin ring a bell?

Cheers

Mel

Hi Mel

I was in F314 - an inside cabin. Don't know the logic of their numbering system but looking at the plan yours looks next door! When you are in the atrium it just looks like another corridor so you don't have to go into the casino at all. People would only really go through this corridor if they had a cabin there so no passing traffic. However on my cruise (and assume it will be the same on yours) they used the gangway next to the door to the corridor for disembarking at ports and blocked that entrance to the corridor. But it was no problem at all because there is a door at the other end of the corridor (which opens onto the lifts, theatre and another entrance to the casino, all very convenient) so you just nip through there!

Have a lovely time!

Hi Mel

 

I was in F314 - an inside cabin. Don't know the logic of their numbering system but looking at the plan yours looks next door! When you are in the atrium it just looks like another corridor so you don't have to go into the casino at all. People would only really go through this corridor if they had a cabin there so no passing traffic. However on my cruise (and assume it will be the same on yours) they used the gangway next to the door to the corridor for disembarking at ports and blocked that entrance to the corridor. But it was no problem at all because there is a door at the other end of the corridor (which opens onto the lifts, theatre and another entrance to the casino, all very convenient) so you just nip through there!

 

 

Have a lovely time!

Hi JoJoA,

Many thanks. That's very useful info. It definitely makes my mind a little easier. I was very happy with the mid forward position and the lower deck, remembering the old saying "The more you pay, the more you sway". Now, I much more relaxed about any possible Casino and thoroughfare issues.

You're right 314 is next door to 308. So, obviously, I trust it will be as good an experience as you enjoyed. As there's not too much disembarking on a Transatlantic I don't think disembarking will be an issue! Also with the current devastation at Barbuda and St Martin, I'm not sure the ship will do it's St Martin disembarking - it doesn't seem appropriate to visit these places when they must still be doing disaster recovery.

Many thanks again, and happy cruising to you.

Best wishes

Mel

Hi JoJoA,

 

Many thanks. That's very useful info. It definitely makes my mind a little easier. I was very happy with the mid forward position and the lower deck, remembering the old saying "The more you pay, the more you sway". Now, I much more relaxed about any possible Casino and thoroughfare issues.

 

You're right 314 is next door to 308. So, obviously, I trust it will be as good an experience as you enjoyed. As there's not too much disembarking on a Transatlantic I don't think disembarking will be an issue! Also with the current devastation at Barbuda and St Martin, I'm not sure the ship will do it's St Martin disembarking - it doesn't seem appropriate to visit these places when they must still be doing disaster recovery.

 

Many thanks again, and happy cruising to you.

 

Best wishes

 

Mel

Oops! I only realised after posting that TA meant Transatlantic - I'm not a very experienced cruiser!

Yes was very sorry to see the devastation that is being suffered.

I`ve had Azura Cabin F508 - Its a great cabin - I wouldnt hesitate to book it again to be honest !!

My dining companions on that cruise wanted to see each others cabin and I showed a couple of them what my cabin was like and they commented on the space in F508

You can hear high heels on the tiled floor in the casino but no didnt bother me - I had the cabin for a week when I went to the Norwegian Fjords (beautiful) !!

I really loved the spacious open wardrobe area (which the single outside cabins have aswell )

I would book both single inside and single outside again in a heart beat on Azura - I`ve also had a single balcony cabin on Britannia which I loved aswell

The single cabins corridor between the outside/inside cabins has ends which look very anonymous and virtually 99% of through traffic will go through the casino and not the non-advertised corridor.

Regards John