Once, cruise lines shunned them or charged them twice for the same trip. Now, as solo sailor numbers grow, lines are embracing the trend with special deals.

Competition is increasing, and the result is discounted deals to ‘no solo supplements’ – and even entire vessels reserved purely for independent travellers.

It’s a dilemma for the cruise lines who still make more money from couples cruising – especially when you consider the onboard spend with extras like drinks and shore excursions – but simply cannot ignore the rise of singles who want to cruise for a fair price.

This is a selection of what various river cruise lines are offering for 2020 for solo travellers:

Avalon Waterways

Avalon is waiving the single supplement across their 2020 Europe river cruises – with savings of up to $6,700 on offer (based on the ‘Jewels of Central Europe’ departing 05 August 2020).

The offer ends 31 January 2020 and includes:

Riviera Travel

Riviera actually have European river cruise departures that have been exclusively reserved for solo travellers. There are no additional single supplements across the entire ship on selected cruises and departure dates, so you can book high end cabins, without the double price-tag.

Across seven separate European itineraries on offer for solo cruisers in 2020, prices and itineraries range from:

5 days departing Amsterdam from $2,289 per solo traveller to 8 days on the Rhine river from $4,049 per solo traveller.

Prices are per person, based on one person in a cabin for sole occupancy. The price includes:

  • Full board from dinner on day of arrival until breakfast on final day
  • Morning/afternoon tea and coffee
  • All visits and excursions as mentioned
  • Coach travel as mentioned

Riviera River Cruises

Uniworld

Uniworld offers detailed itineraries designed for for solo travellers, with open seating at every meal, small group excursions, and like-minded travellers. They’ve reduced the Single Supplement by 50% on select departures of 10 of their most popular 2020 itineraries.

Itineraries range from cruises along the Danube, Rhine, Bordeaux, Provence, Venice, Burgundy and more, with journeys ranging from 8 to 16 days, with prices starting from $8,059.

Uniworld solo traveller in Italy

Scenic

Scenic are also offering 50% off for the Solo Traveller if you book a suite on selected Scenic Space-Ship departures of 11 days or longer.
European Space-Ship itineraries range from 11 to 15 days and cover destinations such as The Danube, Rhine and Moselle. Prices start at $10,750 for a solo traveller on the 11 day itinerary from Prague to Budapest.

Included:

  • Scenic Freechoice provides a diverse range of activities for you to choose from.
  • Scenic Tailormade App allows you to explore on your own, either by foot or on two wheels with e-bikes, in more than 140 locations.
  • Personal butler
  • Scenic Fleet
  • Some of the largest suites on the river
  • Dining & Beverages

Evergreen

Offering no single supplements across a variety of our Europe and Mekong river cruises, Evergreen even have two Single Staterooms on board the Danube, Rhine, Main & Moselle Star-Ships as well as on board the France Star-Ship Emerald Liberté. Itineraries either offer the discounted cruise rate, or a half price return airfare deal.

Destinations include:

Europe, Mekong, France, Canada, South America and Japan and range from 8-15 days.

Book and deposit as a Single Traveller on selected 2020 France River Cruises in an Emerald Stateroom and pay no single supplement or, in an Emerald Balcony Suite, Category A and save up to $4,645 off the single supplement.

Emerald Sun
Evergreen Tours’ Emerald Sun in Europe

Pandaw

Pandaw offers cabins with no single supplement on a wide selection of sea & river cruise expeditions and departure dates, offering solo travellers the chance to travel in a twin room at no extra cost.

Itineraries range from 3 nights from Phnom Penh for $1,699 to 14 nights in the Upper Ganges for $7,217.

Prices include:

  • Entrance fees,
  • guide services (English language),
  • gratuities to crew,
  • main meals,
  • local mineral water,
  • jugged coffee,
  • teas & tisanes,
  • transfers from Meeting Point.
Onboard a Pandaw ship on the Mekong
Onboard a Pandaw ship on the Mekong