Solo cruisers get new perks as cruise line revamps ships

Holland America Line guests will soon have new options when they sail solo.

Holland America Line is expanding its single-occupancy cabin inventory as part of a more than $500 million enhancement of six ships. The multi-year, ship-by-ship renovation process will start with Oosterdam, which will get 30 Solo Verandah staterooms and other new features debuting in the fall of 2027.

"Our guests have been very clear about what they love about our ships and what they want to see more of, and Holland America Evolution is our answer to that," Holland America Line President Beth Bodensteiner said in a news release. "This investment allows us to introduce experiences and venues that are new to the fleet, add Pinnacle-class favorites like Grand Dutch Café, and create new stateroom categories designed for the way people travel today, all while preserving the perfectly sized ship experience that defines Holland America."

The company has 12 Solo Ocean View staterooms on each of its Pinnacle Class ships – Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam – but Oosterdam’s will feature a private balcony. The company made the change in response "to strong and growing guest demand," according to the release.

Solo travelers represented 12% of cruise passengers in 2024, up from 6% the year before, according to Cruise Lines International Association’s 2025 State of the Cruise Industry Report. Susan Guthrie, a travel agent and owner of Cruisin' with Susan and More, affiliated with Travel with Sparkle, said that along with first-time cruisers, solo passengers are "a major growth segment."

She told USA TODAY that companies are using space differently on new ships as a result of that trend. "Cruise lines see the opportunity to allocate smaller spaces for solo travelers," Guthrie said in an email.

What other new features will Oosterdam have?

The Solo Verandah cabins – measuring 200 square feet each – aren’t the only new stateroom category. The ship will emerge from its makeover with two 900-square-foot Bridgeview Suites, named for their views that "emulate the perspective that can be seen from the ship’s bridge," according to the release.

The suites will have panoramic windows and wraparound balconies.

The ship will also gain 24 Vista Suites, which are available on Pinnacle Class vessels, and the Pinnacle Suite will be "reimagined" with 1,550 square feet of living space. Oosterdam will get a total of 76 more staterooms.

The Pinnacle Class passenger-favorite Grand Dutch Café, an all-day venue for coffee, sandwiches and more, will make its Vista Class debut aboard Oosterdam, as well.

The company is also renovating with sustainability in mind.

"The line is refreshing and replacing interiors with a strong focus on waste reduction and circular design, prioritizing upcycling and material reuse while bringing greater lightness and an elevated, timeless look and feel," the release noted.

What other ships are being enhanced?

The other Vista Class ships, Zuiderdam, Noordam and Westerdam, will undergo upgrades, along with Signature Class vessels Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam. Holland America will share more information about Oosterdam – including details on voyages following its enhancements – on its website "in the coming weeks." Travelers can also find updates about plans for the other vessels there as they’re revealed.

This story was updated to add new information.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].