Pavlus Travel Expands Solo Travel Focus!

Do you travel solo on cruises, tours or independent vacations? Would you like a new resource to help you corral the best deals for traveling solo? We’re thrilled to announce that Pavlus Travel is expanding its focus to do more to assist solo travelers in planning their cherished vacations.

Yes, of course, we’re still happily serving couples, families and special interest groups in creating fabulous vacations across the globe. That’s definitely a priority too.

But now our skilled personal travel planners will also focus on further enhancing service to solo travelers by enhancing communications and showcasing the latest and greatest solo offers.

(Shown above, a solo traveler enjoys a Tauck river cruise in Europe as she’s curled up with a good book and great views. Photo by Tauck.)

Best for Solo Travelers

Pavlus Travel strives to ensure all travelers receive all the benefits that they deserve — the best price, amenities and top-notch service with Pavlus! So, as part of that commitment, moving forward, solo travelers will discover:

• More solo travel tips and highlighted offers: Look for those published here in The Meandering Traveler blog and also on the Pavlus Travel website. Not all may be what every soloist desires. We’ll simply offer a range of options, and you can feel free to contact us and explain what’s you’re seeking.

• On-site, first-hand solo travel reviews: After experiencing solo trips across the globe, some Pavlus team members and our chief blogger will provide reviews and insightful feedback.

• Travel supplier “solo travel intel” from top executives. Many participate in our consumer-friendly virtual events. So, we’ll ask these experts as a segment of their presentations to chat about solo travel offers, trends and amenities. So, they may detail some offers or ways that soloists can get discounts or added value.

• Updates on single supplement or new solo cabins: Since some cruise lines do offer solo cabins, we’ll talk more about those. In addition, we’ll provide updates on reduced or waived single supplements.

• And more to come!

Solo Travel Focus: Single Supplements

Now for the “elephant in the room.” Yes, those traveling alone know that a room, cabin or suite often requires a “single supplement.” That’s when a travel supplier charges the solo traveler one fare, PLUS a second one — called the single supplement.

Of course, from the supplier’s side, the thinking is that the same room, stateroom or suite could be booked by a couple or two friends traveling together. So, it typically would be more lucrative financially for the supplier. So, often solo travelers pay two fares as if two people are staying.

But fortunately, as the solo market expands — and more people for various reasons are traveling solo — some travel companies are taking more proactive steps to enhance options for solo travelers, reduce or waive supplements and enhance pricing flexibility.

Some cruise companies, for instance, now offer reduced or even waived single supplements, particularly during Wave Season. For instance, Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers reduced solo supplements on select sailings right now.

Definitely chat with Pavlus today about the range of possibilities. Consider your Pavlus personal travel planner as a valuable resource.

At no added charge (never a service fee to make your booking), they’ll assist you — first by learning about your vacation style and “likes.”

Then, based on their wealth of knowledge of the various cruise products, they’ll narrow the choices and help match you with the best offers in the marketplace.

Going Solo at Oceania

First, it’s worth noting that Oceania’s four “R” ships (Regatta, Nautica, Insignia and Sirena) plus Vista nicely offer single staterooms. They’re located on Deck 6 and are approximately 143 square feet.

But they tend to book up quickly, so whenever you plan to cruise, talk early with your personal travel planner. “Our advice, based on our experiences with booking these, is that it’s imperative to move quickly,” Shelby Steudle, Pavlus’ president, says.

“As soon as a cruise line, tour operator or hotelier announces a deal for solo travel, definitely book early,” she adds. “In today’s marketplace, deals sell out quickly, given the escalating popularity of solo travel this year,” she adds.

Solo Travel Focus: Reduced Supplement

Oceania Cruises currently has a solo travel offer through March 31, 2025. Those booking by that date have opportunities to receive a reduced single supplement, IF they book on select voyages and in certain cabin categories.

The offer has many sailings listed for Marina, Insignia, Nautica, Regatta, Sirena, Riviera and Vista. The percentage of supplement reduction varies sizably — from 5 percent to 20 percent in category S, for example.

But for those planning on traveling solo, it’s certainly helpful. Chat with a Pavlus personal travel planner about the accommodations available, and voyages with the best solo discounting. Based on that discussion, you’ll have a better sense of the price savings.

ACL: Solo Cabins with More Space

Small-ship American Cruise Lines will sail America’s rivers and waterways this year with 21 U.S.-flagged ships. Their fleet ranges from coastal catamarans or “Coastal Cats” as they’re nicknamed, to modern riverboats and other vessels too.

In fact, the line recently doubled its capacity for Alaska cruising in summer 2025. It sails myriad itineraries from the “Great Rivers of Florida” to voyages on the mighty Mississippi, the Ohio River, the Snake and Columbia rivers of the Pacific Northwest, the Hudson River in New York and along the Maine coastline, among other waterways.

One unique nuance? They have some solo cabins priced at solo fares, which many guests like as a concept. That said, these can be slightly more expensive than the price per person for two people sharing a cabin, BUT — and this is important — they have more “per person space.”

So, if you want solo accommodations that are actually a bit larger with more space than what a couple might have in certain cabins, it’s one option to consider.

ACL tells us that the only time it charges a single supplement is if a solo traveler occupies a designated double occupancy cabin.

Explora Journeys: Waived Supplement

Now, here’s a great deal! Currently, Pavlus Travel is able to offer its solo travel clients a fully waived solo supplement if they book in Ocean, Grand Terraces and Ocean Penthouses on select Explora Journeys sailings.

Plus, there are also special solo supplements on select journeys for that luxury cruise line in 2025.  So, give us a call today at 800-528-9300.

Solo Travel Focus: Tauck 

In a recent virtual discussion with Pavlus’ clients, Steve Spivak, global vice president of sales and service, Tauck, emphasizes that solo travelers are “a very important and growing part of our business.”

Single travelers may be those who’ve never married and happily enjoy heading out on their own. Other solo travelers may have lost a spouse or partner and are now vacationing alone.

Also, some couples who often take vacations together may also at times head out as solo travelers without their spouse or partner. Why?

They may simply desire to explore destinations they love and activities that they’re personally passionate about. And that may differ from what their partner or spouse would enjoy.

For instance, one racing fan may absolutely love Formula One racing and seek out a trip to a major race with tickets included. In contrast, his or her partner or spouse might instead enjoy a culinary-focused sailing, spending time in cooking classes and interacting with famous chefs.

In addition, Janet Anderson, Pavlus‘ director of luxury sales development, says that the agency is “increasingly seeing guests who like to travel together but want separate accommodations. So, the solo cruise and/or tour opportunities make that happen.”

Words of Wisdom – From Vicki Freed