Expeditions to Antarctica are packed with intrepid travellers who are passionate about exploring untouched destinations, getting up close to wildlife and getting just about as close to visiting another planet as possible. And, yes, some of them do so alone; not having a trouble buddy doesn’t need to stop you from visiting.
Some cruise lines say up to 20% of travellers aboard their ships are going solo. Some even have dedicated cabins for singles. So if you do decide to go on your own, you’ll never actually be alone.
Of course, there are expedition companies out there that better cater for single travellers than others, and we want you to know about them.
Best Antarctica cruises for solo travellers
Most Antarctica expedition companies will allow you to book as a solo traveller, but some do cater for singles a bit more than others. For example, some companies will offer to pair you up with a fellow solo traveller to help save on cabin costs, while others ensure welcoming and social sailings are offered at all times.
Aurora Expeditions
Travel style: Premium
Why it’s good for solo travellers:
- Every sailing offers 10 cabins for solo travellers without any single supplement required.
- Beyond the 10, you can be paired up with a like-minded traveller of the same gender to save on supplements
- Ships are designed to be small, social and welcoming
Ponant
Travel style: Luxury
Why it’s good for solo travellers:
- Free solo supplements are offered on a select, rotating group of sailings to Antarctica (and other destinations around the world)
- Plenty of educational lectures and experiences are offered to meet like-minded travellers
- Dine your way, on your time, with buffets, sit-down restaurants or in-room dining options
Quark Expeditions
Travel style: Mid-range
Why it’s good for solo travellers:
- If you’re travelling on Ocean Endeavour, select rooms are priced for singles
- Join the “Request-Share” program to be paired up with another solo traveller of the same gender to share a cabin with (if there isn’t one, the cabin is all yours with no supplement!)
G Adventures
Travel style: Budget-friendly
Why it’s good for solo travellers:
- You’ll automatically be paired up in a cabin with another solo traveller (and at any pre-post cruise hotels)
- Opt for the ‘My Own Room’ option if you’d rather have your own space (supplement applies)
- Creating happiness and community is one of the brand’s values, and that’s reflected on its adventures
Antarctica cruises with single cabins
If you’d like the guarantee of your own space without trying your luck at having no one to be partnered up with, or to save on the expense of a single supplement, there are a few expedition companies that offer solo cabins:
- Aurora Expeditions (10 cabins per sailing)
- Quark Expeditions (Solo Panorama)
- Polar Latitudes Expeditions (Single cabins)
What are single supplements?
Like the majority of hotel rooms, cruise cabins are designed for two (or more) passengers. When just one person occupies the room, they’re often charged more than the price of a single traveller, but not quite the amount for two.
Why? It’s because the other bed(s) in the room are essentially going unused, and the passenger that could have slept there would have been more income for the ship.
Unlike hotels, cruises are priced per person rather than per cabin. If we look at a hotel room that’s $200 per night and two people are sharing it, they each pay $100, essentially. But on a cruise, that other 50% of the income for the cabin is lost if there’s no supplement.
Since the lack of a second passenger allows the ship to save on costs like food, drinks, excursions and other activities, it’s rarely the full cost of another passenger. On most lines, it ranges from 25-50% of the fare.
Which Antarctica cruises have no single supplement?
Fortunately, not every Antarctica cruise line charges a single supplement, or offers a way for passengers to avoid it. Here’s a few examples of lines that don’t charge single supplements.
- Aurora Expeditions (limited to 10 cabins per sailing)
- G Adventures (if you’re happy to share a cabin)
- Intrepid Travel (if you’re happy to share a cabin)
- HX Expeditions (on select bookings within six months of departure)
- Quark Expeditions
- Polar Latitudes Expeditions
