7 Days in the World's SMALLEST Cruise Ship Stateroom (NCL Studio Review)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ค. 2024
- I sailed in the world's smallest cruise ship stateroom onboard Norwegian Encore! This Norwegian Studio Review will tell you all you need to know about the Studio Staterooms onboard Norwegian cruise ships. The Studio cabins are made for solo cruisers and are only 99 square feet! The staterooms come with exclusive access to the Studio Lounge. The Studio Lounge is only for guests of Studio Staterooms and is a great place to hang out onboard a Norwegian cruise ship. If you are a solo cruiser, a cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line or Norwegian Encore would be fun in one of these Studio staterooms.
For help booking your next trip with my official travel partner: travelwithzach.com/
I enjoyed sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line for the first time onboard the beautiful Norwegian Encore. The NCL Encore debuted in 2019 and is currently sailing Alaska Cruises from Seattle, Washington.
Check out the luggage featured in this video: tinyurl.com/zachthetravelingman
I will have many videos to come from Norwegian Cruise Line and Norwegian Encore, including a full dining and food review. This will include honest opinions on Q Smokehouse, Los Lobos, Cagney's Steakhouse, Ocean Blue, Le Bistro, Taste, Savor, The Local, and more!
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#norwegiancruise #solocruise #norwegianencore
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00:00 Introduction
00:55 NCL Studio Cabin Tour
14:22 Studio Lounge
It’s small, but instead of paying for a larger room I used the money to upgrade my drink package, buy my Vibe pass or even the thermal spa pass. I learned not to bother trying to dry my hair …..the room was like an oven after a minute of the dryer! The space is adequate, if money wasn’t an issue, sure I’d have a balcony. But as a solo cruiser, there’s lots of outdoor space on Encore.
Blow dryers are bad for your hair anyway. Your hair can be much healthier just from cutting it out.
Wouldn't be spending all that much time in the room anyway. Sleep, showering etc. Enjoy the view on deck.
No AC?
@@lynnevecchitto7584I believe she’s saying the blow dryer made the room warm
You missed it. Controls were shown in the video near the entry door. No mini bar; that is odd.
So great to see cruise lines catering for solo passengers.😊
My single ass prefers sleeping diagonally
@@20PINKluvrPerhaps that’s why you’re single. 🤷🏻♂️😉😁
I love my studio rooms on NCL. The new Prima lounge is amazing ! Solo shouldn’t have to pay for two people to travel so this is amazing.
I would do more cruises if I didn't have to pay double. It puts the cruise out of reach cost wise.
I agree, and also singles don’t eat twice the meals, you need to consider that a couple would be eating some meals with lobster and other meals twice and still a single paying twice. It’s really saving the cruise ship.
Holy crap. I stayed in 537! That was my stateroom last October! I was super impressed with the studio concept, and enjoyed it immensely. The studio lounge, along with having our own Cruise Director was completely awesome.
Very cool!
I think this room looks lovely for a solo traveler that doesn’t mind not having a balcony or window.
I loved staying in these rooms and the lounge. My escape from the rest of the cruisers and the out of control kids that were not supervised!
I stayed in a studio cabin back in January on the Bliss. I loved the room. I’m extremely claustrophobic and I never got any anxiety in this cabin. I liked hanging out in the lounge talking to fellow travelers. The other good thing about these cabins is that it is keycard access to get into the Studio. Not a lot of foot traffic or noise. I have this cabin booked again next year for an Alaskan cruise.
It’s not a bad room and I’m glad to see cruise ships finally starting to acknowledge solo travelers but why do they assume that we like to be in the bowels of the ship somewhere with no porthole or balcony?
Its purely a cost consideration. They can get a lot more money for space with portholes and/or balconies. I think a fair assumption is that a single person is not going to be spending lots of time in their cabin.
When NCL introduced the Norwegian Epic in 2010 it was the world's largest cruise ship. That ship has an odd design (hence why there's only one of that class) and it had a lot of interior space to fill in the middle. They knew they would not be able to regularly sell that many interior cabins and had heard solo travelers complain for years about being required to pay double for cruises. That's when they invented the studio cabin. There are over 100 of them on the Epic. They proved to be very popular and almost all the ships NCL has built since (except the Joy) have studio cabins.
@@cruisingwitheric As a solo traveler, I do appreciate that more ships are now recognizing that some people do enjoy traveling alone. Thanks for the information.
Even standard cabins have in board cabins with no balcony which cost less. My sister used to go on cruises and while she enjoyed them she was also afraid of heights and deep water so she was happy to pay less for an inboard room.
@@Robert-yp9zsave a cruse booked on the Queen Mary2, 21 days. In 2017 they added 15 ocean view solo rooms in the best location on the ship. These rooms are not cheap and sell out, very, very early. I booked almost 2 years ahead. Plus, the Queen Mary 2 makes extraordinary efforts for solo activities. Respectfully, I don’t think your reasoning holds up. Also, these are some of the LARGER square footage cabins. 178 sq. ft.
This could be good for friends who want to travel together but don't want to share a cabin.
Didn't think of it that way.
Spent 15 days in a studio cabin on the Encore in May. The rooms are pretty small compared to others. The studio lounge made up for this disadvantage. Great place to meet other solo travelers. And they always had coffee (expresso, latte, cappuccino) tea, juices, water, fruit and baked goods.
I was on the Encore for the May 14th sailing to Alaska. I was also in a Studio cabin on Deck 12. It was my first cruise ever. I really loved the room and slept very well as it was quiet and peaceful. Being a solo traveler, I especially liked the added security that section offered. I have booked three more cruises all in studio cabins including a return trip to Alaska on the Encore in May of 2025. I really am enjoying this video series as I am reliving my trip all over again! Thank you, Zack!
Thanks for watching! Glad you had a great trip.
It is nice to see solo rooms like that. I tend to travel alone and that makes much more sense to me than a larger room.
I'm horrifically claustrophobic and spent 10 days in a solo room on the Getaway. I found the room to be quite comfortable. Wasn't cramped at all.
Then you're not horrifically claustrophobic. I'd be freaking out unable to breathe properly due to panic.
@@zammymynakersnackstbmoth That was my point. I am and I didn't. 😉
Thanks so very much for showing us the entire studio room. My daughter did not enjoy the cruise we took last December. This gives me an opportunity to enjoy cruising! I’m going to check current prices, to see just how affordable the studio is!
I hope you get to try it!
Figure listed price pp plus $500 - $700 depending on cruise lenth /date / age of ship. That's my experience. THEN add in taxes, port fees, crew tip, drink pkg.
Ex: Dec 1 - 12 /2024 Breakaway miami to 9 ports pp $950 inside plus fees + alcohol
Solo (no alcohol) $1,450 plus fees = $2,000
Thanks for showing the solo stateroom, first time I see this. It looks good and well functioning to be honest, I wouldn't mind staying there if i travel solo for few days.
I love that there is a cruise line that embraces solo travelers.
As a former crew member on a 6 star line. This cabin is fantastic! It’s all about who you hang with and the sights you see.
That shower is still a lot bigger that you’d find on a narrowboat! 😊
Looks like a well setup room. I like the tv window.
I worked on a cruise ship for many years, and this would be a great cabin to get as a crew member.
But for us crew any single cabin is a top tier get.
Thanks for all of your hard work!
That would be awkward to watch TV from that angle.
Very nice set up and the “window” is cool! Nice that they really consider all travellers! Thanks Zach! 😊
Thanks for watching!
Good to see more options for solo travellers. Of course its cozy. If you want space for two you book a standard cabin. Hope other ships refit some too.
I hope so too!
You're not going to see older (Jewel class) ships being refitted with studios anytime soon but all (except the Joy) the ships NCL has built since 2010 (Epic, Breakaway Class, Breakaway-plus Class, and Prima Class) have studios.
I like to travel alone and I never would have considered one of these rooms. Even though it’s small it looks comfortable and quiet.
I didn’t mind it and loved having a host, the coffee machine and snacks.
Thanks for the overview. I have a NCL transatlantic solo room booked in April '24, My agent told me they were very small and he had traveled in one and didn't know if I would like it. To me, it looks very cozy and perfect for one. I'm so tired of having to pay double for a cabin since I travel solo. Hopefully, the lounge will be a good place to meet other solo travelers. Always nice to have a bud around.
Glad it was helpful! I really enjoyed the room and it didn’t feel small at all after a few days.
@@ZachtheTravelingMan thanks
Attend the evening meetup before dinner
People there in the lounge always a few there before breakfast, and some in the evening before dinner for the meet up
Very cool room. Reminds of a room I might see on a space ship in a sci-fi flick.
FANTASTIC!! I had no clue about these studio rooms! I'll definitely do one next time. THANKS
love the tv with the view of the water, very smart, makes it almost ok
Today I learned that there's an option for me as a solo traveler now should I want to go on a cruise....neat!
I am a Balcony only kind of guy....but I LOVE THIS ROOM!!! I would book this for sure if I were on a solo cruise! Great Video! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've taken about 10 solo cruises on NCL and I love these rooms! Plenty of space, quiet, and safe. You can grab snacks in the lounge 24x7 and drinks like juices. They have a wine vending machine that I didn't use as I had the drink package. They also have meet-ups there, so if you want to get together with other solo travelers for dinner or drinks, or even an excursion, you can easily do that. I highly recommend these cabins.
Good video and I cruised on the Encore to Alaska last year, staying on deck 12 in one of those cabins. It was awesome and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’m mildly claustrophobic but not at all bothered by the size of the cabin (the screen showing the view outside was very cool and helped for sure). As you showed it’s very efficient and I actually didn’t find the shower or toilet crazy small. Definitely tight but much bigger than say an Airstream or similar setup (for those that camp).
I'm taking my first cruse in October 2023 on the NCL Bliss and I'm booked in a studio cabin. I can't wait! Thank you for the very informative video.
Aw, this is actually the first time I’ve seen the tv screen window with a live view outside the ship:) that’s actually a really cute idea!!
I sailed on the Encore in a solo cabin in March this year for a Caribbean cruise. I loved it and I used the cubbyholes to store my t shirts and shorts. I booked another solo cabin on the Norwegian Escape for this fall, a New England, Canada cruise. Great video, glad you experienced the solo cabin and Norwegian.
This is a bit more of a traditional commercial ship cabin and I kinda appreciate that.
Been waiting for a detailed review of this cabin😊
Nice, modern, neat and clean. Quiet place to rest. Fantastic.
I admire you that you can make 16 minute video from that small room.
I booked one for my cruise next year! I can’t wait to get there, drop my stuff off and start exploring the ship! I don’t plan on being in my room much as I am quite active so I am not concerned about the space. I love how private the area is (and seemingly quiet). And I like how I can ease into being social for the day by hanging out in the lounge area for a bit. So excited!
Thank you for the tour of the stateroom. Although I will never get on a cruise ship, it’s very interesting to see the inside of one.
Good Review. I've stayed in the Studio cabin several cruises, all on the NCL Escape. Your review is on-point. I love the Studio Lounge, especially in the mornings when everyone is getting their snacks and coffee (even the high-ranking officers and crew come in for a snack). It gave us an opportunity to discuss what each of us are doing. I haven't been back since the pandemic shutdown, and I really miss cruising. Your video had given me the incentive to return to cruising. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Excellent tour and review of a Studio Room. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Just watched Zach for first time. Your descriptions are on point and really informative. I enjoy small spaces so this looks great!! I subscribed and this will now be my go to fix for a small space lover! Thanks Zach!!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed. :)
Except for his description of a “full sized bed”.
I really love the phone on the wall, what a great use of space and wish all rooms had this feature.
I sailed NCL Getaway in 2022 and am booked on the Escape 2023. I LOVED my studio-very private-perfect size and I felt safe. I wish the cabin had the fancy lighting and the live feed window which neither have. There was plenty of storage, I felt it was about the same as compared to interior cabins on Carnival. The closet space was great, the shower was perfect and I was happy to see the shower was glass enclosed vs those gross shower curtains. Its great that NCL has these cabins-and there is no supplemental charge. The studio lounge on the Getaway has a limited bar with service from 5-7 pm.
I was on Escape back in January of this year the room small but it still good for me
I will be on an 12 day transatlantic cruise next year on the ncl epic. Save over $700 for a studio cabin vs an inside cabin. A big plus is the super great unlimited speciality COFFEE machine. Fill a thermos of espresso and get buzzed out for the rest of the morning.
Good job on showing the room and all the amenities! 😊
Thank you!! 😊
I’m a solo cruiser and the studio rooms are perfect for me! There was plenty of storage with 2 closets! There are drawers and shelves as well. I totally overpacked and there was room for everything! NCL’s commitment to solo travelers won me over!
Great review. They give you a lot for being a solo traveler. That cabin looked great.
Hi hon, I just found your channel this morning and subscribe that was a really interesting tour of that room. I have never been on a cruise. In fact I really haven’t been anywhere the last few years and so I kind of just live my life through watching TH-cam videos at the moment I lost my husband two years ago and my dad three months ago, so I’m kind of alone in the world now and I’m just trying to find my way and right now I am in a hotel apartment hunting so I am just enjoying your videos. Are used to fly to Canada and spend my summers in Alberta. It was so wonderful and I hope I can travel again soon. Looks like you have a lot of fun. I can’t wait to check them all out. Have a great day. This is CATHRYN♥️🙏🌈🦋😀🍁🪵❤️💜in Utah…
I'm SO excited to cruise in a studio cabin on Escape later this year - it's the cabin type that started my whole addiction of years ago, ha! These rooms look really lovely - I just think they're SO well designed - so clever how they've squeezed all of this in there!
I think you’ll enjoy it. I would stay in one again without hesitation!
I stayed in a studio room on the escape in May. I loved it very spacious and had all I needed
👍 yep. I have booked this room type 3 times. The added security and 2 added drawers are good for me
This was my first-time cruising was one of these rooms. I loved it. We have upgraded to Havan penthouse balconies since then.
Good vlog. Thanks. I’m cruising soon on Bliss in a Solo Studio. Now I know what to expect and not expect. 👍
Hope you enjoy it!
Hey I have the cabin next to the one you had on Aug, 23 to Alaska! Thanks for the views! I can't wait!
Have fun!
Thank you. This was very informative!
I had heard that some of the cruise ship lines were accommodating solo travellers with solo rooms. I appreciate you showing this cabin. My only problem is I'm a big girl and I don't think I would fit in that shower or in the toilet closet.
all i do is sleep,shower,toilet on these boats so i love this room
Hi Zach! Interesting video and interesting concept.
Glad you liked it!
I say COMFORTASTIC! Mine Mine All Mine! A room with no one else! Excellente!
I booked one of these studio rooms for a 10 night cruise. I was very happy with it.
I know these are very popular. I’m glad it’s there for them.
All this is very interesting because I travel alone also and usually get an ocean view cabin. I know that NCL was the first to do this single cabin thing and I wish other cruise lines would do that. I would be just fine in one of those cabins, but I kind to stick to the smaller ships, so I do not have that option. I loved this tour. Thanks
Great! We have a window. If the ship sinks we can then see all the amazing aquatic life that swims by!
Love this room ❤
It looks fine. It’s well laid out. You only sleep and wash in the room.
We need more accommodations for solo travellers 🧳
looks great to me! Id book it in a second.
Looks cozy. I wouldn't mind the room.
It felt much bigger once I got used to it. I really enjoyed it!
Excellent accommodations for a Solo traveler. The cruise Director assigns someone from his or her staff to help the Solo guests with reservations to the included dining rooms. Sometimes theatre reservations. Some of the cabins have adjoining doors.
I really enjoyed the room! Never met or was assigned a solo concierge, though.
@@ZachtheTravelingMan I have meet 5, great hosts. My 6th solo cruise will be on the Epic (2nd time) in February. Owen.
This was going to be my question. I thought I saw somewhere that there's a cruise director for the solo studios and that they arrange some group dining and/or activity
I love these rooms. I’ve been on the Escape and Breakaway solo areas, then next year I’ll be on the Encore and Epic. My opinion these are the best price and convenience for solos.
Nope. I had a studio inside cabin on the Norwegian Getaway in 2017 for a 9-night cruise in the Baltic. I really liked it - nice and cozy, the lounge was used and sociable, and there was lots to do. You didn't do much there besides sleep! I'd travel in one of these again in a heartbeat. Two tips for handling the cabin size - 1. bring an LED nightlight. 2. bring one of these Febreze small spaces thingies for the bathroom, the toilet can get stinky.
Hi Zach! First time on your videos! Subscribed ! I was on the Epic on 5/6 Med cruise from Barcelona. My third time staying 1:53 on the studio. I’ve cruised 15 times with NCL. Good review nut the lounge in Epic was no where near the lounge you showed! Beautiful lounge. Actually in my 3 studio stays there is not much activity. Aside from this Med cruise the other two were Caribbean. I think on the is particular cruise there were many all day excursions. One sea day. I won’t do studio on the Greek Isle cruise I’m planning. I just needed more space but it was ok! Don’t regret it! Thanks for the info! Enjoyed it!
Thank you and welcome!
I stayed in the solo cabins twice, but in a different Norwegian ship. If you want a cabin steward, to bring you a canister of ice they will for free. Of course it’s nice to tip. them a bit.
I personally enjoyed my stay in the solo cabin, because it emptied out into the lounge just for solos, and I could meet people to go to events with or to the island with, and I’m still in contact with one of those people
If you’re prone to see sickness and don’t want to take medicine, I suggest a cabin with a balcony. I take care of my sickness with ginger, but that doesn’t work for everyone plus the time I was taking the solo cabins I was in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean, which usually is a not very rough. The one time I was almost getting seasick was in the Atlantic or the bay of Biscay.
Very nice but I need to smell the salt water. Thank you so much for sharing. Amen
You are so welcome. Thanks for watching!
I love NCLs Studio Cabins. Ive been on the Bliss and recently the Epic so far. That room looks identical to the bliss. Definitely makes the price much less . It was a great experience
It really is!
I never put my room key in for the power to stay on and I left a note for the room attendant to leave the power on and they did!
I'd love to try this. Usually I have to pay for 2 people (as a solo traveler). This could be a nice, more affordable option. Also, I subscribed!
I liked this solo room. I was afraid it would be a bed in a broom closet. Thank you for the tour.
Be nice if theme parks had a super budget hotel with rooms like this , except maybe with a bathtub after all.
Looks cozy. I've been in B&B rooms this small.
Thanks it’s very nice 😊
Very cool room.
that lounge makes all the difference !!!
Yes! It was so nice to have that space.
great rewiew,looking to go on my 1st cruise and i would like that wing with maybe a bit bigger room!
Jealous! Great video. My idea of heaven. Thanks
I was on the GETAWAY on 11th deck and I had plenty of room. Very comfortable. Wasn’t in room that much but enjoyed cruise very much. Never saw anyone in lounge area when I went but saw evidence of people using. Had a very hard time room every night!!!! Inside the inside!!!
That room looks small but very nice. I think it's so smart of them to have this unique offering for solo travelers. Especially with the lounge available which gives you somewhere else to go. Did you meet other passengers there? Or do people prefer to go elsewhere on the ship?
I met a few there. However there didn’t seem to be many in there at any given time I walked by.
If you can get ice maybe make that drawer with the metal lining into a frig of sorts. Also under the first vanity can you put a mini fridge.
More than what I had in the Navy.
The bottom drawer next to the shower looks like a ice-bucket kind of space, with its thick metal walls suggesting insulation. I personally appreaciated the ethennet plug. Very well done, sir.
On the Getaway the drawer was marked garbage and was cleaned out every day.
The tongs clued me in on that.
Thanks for sharing. I was looking at maybe renting one of those, but I think that amount of space for the toilet would be a deal breaker for me.
Zach…..hit the snowflake on the thermostat! You may not have engaged the air. Plus the blanket is just too hot in my opinion.
X crew member of 7 years... Top tip put 1 shoe that you will use in the safe with your passport money etc. You will never forget all your stuff ever again much love mate great channel.
Great tip!
It’s perfect..one doesn’t stay in their room a lot anyhow! I like it! Better than paying double occupancy fees as one travel company charges
Love these solo cabins, but wish they were just randomly interspersed among the traditional cabins. I’d rather have anonymity instead of being in a special solo traveler area.
That cabin is perfectly lovely! The only issue I’d possibly have would be the “window”…I can get very claustrophobic.
That's just too small for my liking. I do like the option on some other ships of a solo balcony room.
The hallway where your room is located reminds me of a modernized King novel setting
I am booked in a solo cabin on the NCL Viva. There has been some changes to the solo cabins on that ship. Cannot wait for my trip next year.