Meet the first-ever river ship just for solo travellers

In recent years, solo travel has grown in popularity, with more people choosing to see the world on their own terms. Several brands are rising to the occasion, such as Ponant Explorations, which has removed solo supplements from more than 160 cruises, including luxury voyages to Antarctica.However, when it comes to river cruising, Riviera Travel has long set the bar for what cruise operators can offer those sailing alone. Today, it offers sailings reserved entirely for independent travellers across the Danube, Dutch Waterways, Douro, Rhine, Rhône, Main, Moselle, Seine and Nile.In 2024, their offering was recognised at the Wave Awards, where they won ‘Best River Cruise Line’ and ‘Best for Solo Travellers’. But more than that, the soaring demand for their solo cruises speaks for itself. As our sister publication Cruise Trade News reports, they’ve seen a 66 per cent year-on-year increase in solo river cruise bookings via trade partners, with solo travellers now making up nearly 13 per cent of all bookings.In response to the popularity of solo cruising, Riviera Travel has announced the first-ever river ship in the world dedicated solely to single travellers. Meet the MS George Eliot, named after the pioneering 19th-century English novelist. From June 2027, all 70 of the luxuriously appointed suites and cabins on this five-star vessel will be dedicated to those travelling alone.As well as the promise of a double cabin all to yourself, the ship will offer other advantages for solo sailors. Crucially, there will be no single supplement, opening up more opportunities for independent travellers. Onboard, guests can also expect a higher staff-to-guest ratio, including expert tour managers, on hand to make thoughtful introductions and lead curated excursions.Riviera Travel CEO Phil Hullah described the new ship as a landmark moment not only for the brand, “but for the river cruise industry as a whole.”“The launch of MS George Eliot, the first river cruise ship to operate exclusively for solo guests, allows us to offer independent travellers a choice and focus that no other operator provides,” he added.Solo travellers looking to experience MS George Eliot for themselves can look forward to a full season of solo-exclusive departures, including two new 15-day itineraries – the longest solo river cruises ever offered. Fares for the Budapest to the Black Sea cruise start from £5,699 at the time of writing.
Appeared first on: Worldofcruising.co.uk