The Best River Cruise Lines For Solo Travelers
March 13, 2026 21 Comments
Traveling solo is liberating, but sometimes it comes at a cost. Updated for 2021, we have compiled a list of all single supplement fees and solo travel deals and offers.
Two years ago, I posted The Moselle: Europe’s Most Beautiful River – At Least During The Fall. The Moselle was just as enchanting when I cruised on Crystal Debussy earlier this month. The wine harvest was in full swing, with workers plucking grapes from vineyards that seemed to run straight up the steep hillsides. The weather was stunning along the Moselle, with sunny days and blue skies. The Rhine, by contrast, was rainy and overcast as we cruised it (both ways) between Amsterdam and Koblenz.
When I cruised Crystal Bach on the Moselle two years ago, I visited the wheelhouse early one morning as Captain Douwe was navigating the misty river. “It’s my favorite river,” said the captain, who added that he had been sailing for 48 years, ever since he was a young teen. He told me that when there is low water on the Rhine, he’ll sometimes deviate to the Moselle. He informs guests, of course, telling them that although the planned route needs to change, they would not be disappointed. “The Moselle is almost always a pleasant surprise for the guests,” he said to me.
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Traveling solo is liberating, but sometimes it comes at a cost. Updated for 2021, we have compiled a list of all single supplement fees and solo travel deals and offers.
Not all travelers want to dine communally every night. Here’s which river cruise lines offer room service, tables for two and other private dining options.
Celebrity River Cruises has unveiled a four-part destination discovery program for its 2027 and 2028 sailings. Here’s what’s genuinely new — and what’s familiar in a new wrapper.
AmaWaterways’ new City Escapes program offers extended overnight stays and 24-plus hours in Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Strasbourg and Budapest — with sailings timed for quieter travel periods on the Seine, Rhine and Danube beginning in 2026.
Viking has taken delivery of the Viking Eldir, its newest 190-guest Longship, which will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. The ship brings Viking’s signature Scandinavian design, Aquavit Terrace and two-room suites to itineraries including the Grand European Tour and Christmas on the Rhine — part of a fleet expansion that will bring Viking to 112 river ships by 2028.
Uniworld has always done things a little differently in river cruising. Its ships are among the most recognizable on Europe’s rivers, with interiors that feel