Cruising Solo with Virgin Voyages - my full review of cruising in a Solo Cabin…
One thing’s clear: the demand for single-occupancy cabins on cruise ships, and solo travel in general is absolutely on the rise! There can be a number of reasons for someone looking to book a solo cabin: single travellers looking for their own private escape, those in relationships where their other half isn’t available, or perhaps it’s a person travelling as part of a group who wants a bit of space. Whichever of these brackets you might fall into, there’s a high chance that you’ve landed on this post because you’re interested in learning more about the solo cabins on offer onboard the various Virgin cruise ships. I’m always really clear with anyone thinking about cruising solo: being a ‘solo cruiser’ is a very different thing to a ‘single cruiser’ - think about it - don’t worry about getting on that ship on your own!
Virgin Voyages offer a small number of cabins specifically designed for a solo traveller, and these are referred to as ‘solo cabins’. You’ll find both Inside (no window) and Oceanview (with a window) options available, but you won’t find solo cabins available with balconies on these ships. It’s worth noting that, as a solo passenger, you absolutely can book a room designed for two, but you’ll probably need to pay more than the solo room rate to secure one of these - only fair, I guess, since that room could have been sold to two passengers.
I’ve been lucky enough to see the solo cabins on all of Virgin’s cruise ships, and have stayed in them on both Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady, so I’m probably in a decent position to help you understand what you can expect from this cabin type.
First off, let’s talk about the SIZE of these rooms, because it’s really important you book these with really clear expectations. When I first arrived to my solo cabin, I was caught off guard with just how small the room really was - I had expected it to be a small room, but was still surprised with what I found when I opened the door! Thinking about numbers, a solo cabin with Virgin will be around 100 sq ft if you’re booking an Inside cabin, or about 130 sq ft if you’re booking a room with a window.
So, is a solo cabin with Virgin Voyages too small? Absolutely not! While these rooms are small, you’re not going to be spending a huge amount of time in there - these ships are beautiful with lots of public spaces to relax in, so don’t worry about the room being on the ‘neat’ side. My top tip for booking any small cruise ship cabin, but especially these ones, is that you MUST be really organised in there - if you adopt the mindset that everything has a place, and you keep the room tidy and orderly, you’re not going to have any issues in here! It’s really clever how Virgin have designed this space - you’ve got all of the comforts of a regular cabin squeezed into a much smaller space with this cabin type!
Let’s think about some of the top questions that I get asked about solo cabins onboard Virgin cruise ships…
What did I love about my solo cabins with Virgin?
Full access to the ship’s facilities, but without the additional price of paying for a premium cabin grade
The price - I hate paying full solo supplements, so it’s great to save some money by booking a smaller cabin, rather than forking out the full price for two passengers!
In-cabin facilities are the same as regular cabins: mood lighting, air conditioning, room service etc are all exactly the same as when you stay in the other cabin grades!
Having my own escape from the ship, and other passengers! I’m a bit of a social butterfly at times, but I also really love having somewhere to relax and have some ‘down time’ when I cruise!
Peace and quiet - I’ve only stayed in Inside solo cabins, and their position in the middle area of the ship makes them lovely and quiet!
The fact that solo cabins are often located beside other solo cabins - it’s nice to know that you’re not alone with your solo journey, and you’ve got like-minded travellers staying around you, too!
What did I not love about my solo room?
The bed - I don’t like travelling solo and not getting to sleep in at least a Double bed - I haven’t slept in a single bed at home for years, and so I don’t enjoy doing it on holiday!
Very little else really - I’m a fan!
Was a solo room more basic than a regular cabin onboard?
Absolutely not! A solo cabin with Virgin has the same facilities and luxuries (even the same toiletries and bath towels!) as the regular cabins that are designed for two people, so don’t worry at all about feeling like a ‘second class citizen’ when you stay in one of these! The main difference is size, but once you’re over that hurdle, you’ll be absolutely fine in there! One point to note when comparing this cabin type to the others available is storage - the amount of storage available in the solo cabin in actually the same as in the regular 2-person cabins. This is because the storage runs along the wall facing the bathroom in most of the cabins, and this isn’t where Virgin has cut space in the solo rooms - a big thumbs up!
What was the solo experience like when cruising with Virgin?
The solo experience is much more than just a cabin - it’s about what goes on out and about onboard the ship. If you’d like to learn more about my recent experiences cruising solo with Virgin Voyages, I’ve put together a post to cover exactly this. Head to the Virgin Voyages section of the site to learn more, or click here to go straight to that post!
Thanks for checking out this page! If you enjoyed, please do subscribe to my FREE e-mail newsletters, and also come and subscribe to my YouTube channel - I’ve got so much more to show you!