Solo travelers: Norwegian Bella will feature the largest areas in the NCL fleet

On the occasion of Singles’ Day last November 11th, the Italian travel tech company Salabam Solutions confirmed the strong growth of solo travel: +21.4% compared to 2025. In short, traveling alone is no longer a fallback, but a way to indulge in relaxation and total freedom of choice, without compromises on schedules or itineraries.

For about ten years now, solo-format travel has also become a reality on large cruise ships, whose traditional target audience, as is well known, is quite different: mostly couples of all ages and families, with or without children. Over time, however, the space dedicated to solo travelers has been increasing. One of the pioneering companies in this regard is the American Norwegian Cruise Line.

The solo areas on board Norwegian Aqua…

In 2025 we boarded Norwegian Aqua and visited the ship’s wings reserved for solo travelers, on decks 12 and 13. On deck 12, mid-ship, there is the Studio Lounge, a private and exclusive space, accessible via keycard, designed specifically for solo travelers to relax, socialize, or grab a drink/snack. Also on deck 12 and deck 13 are the cabins for solo travelers: 73 rooms, all offered without a supplement. The removal of the so-called “single occupancy supplement” is spreading: with the increase in this type of traveler, all major cruise lines are progressively moving past what was once a fixed rule, namely the classic surcharge required to occupy a double cabin alone.

…and Norwegian Bella

2028 will be an important year for NCL, with the christening of the latest addition to the Prima class, Norwegian Bella, whose sales are already open. If the solo areas on board Norwegian Aqua were spacious, those on board Norwegian Bella are expected to have an even larger surface area. Indeed, the analysis of the ship’s deck plans suggests that on board there will be the largest area ever dedicated to accommodations for singles.

Out of a total of approximately 1,964–1,997 overall cabins, the offering for solo travelers will be divided into four different categories, for a total of over 100 cabins. Specifically, there will be:

• 73 Studio cabins (Category T1): the classic inside cabins custom-designed for one person (approx. 9 m²), located forward on decks 12 and 13, with direct access to the private Studio Lounge.
• 3 Solo Oceanview cabins (Category OT): oceanview cabins with porthole/window (approx. 17 m²), located mid-ship on deck 5.
• Approximately 10–15 Solo Balcony cabins (Category BT / 0Y): cabins with private balcony (approx. 14–15 m²), mainly located on deck 12.
• Several Solo Inside cabins (Category IT / IY): standard inside cabins designated for single use (more spacious than Studios, approx. 15 m²), distributed across various decks including 12, 14, and 16.

Traveling in the Mediterranean

According to the schedule, Norwegian Bella will set sail on May 2, 2028, the embarkation date for the inaugural 5-night cruise scheduled to depart from Malta. Mediterranean cruises between Italy, France, and Spain will follow.