Solo river cruising is one of the best ways to travel, but it can also be one of the most expensive if you book with the wrong cruise line. I did my first solo river cruise more than a decade ago and have been helping travelers find solo-friendly options ever since. The good news: several river cruise lines have policies that work well for solo travelers, with reduced or waived supplements on every departure. The bad news: others will charge you nearly double without making much of it.
When you book a cruise solo, you’re often still paying for a cabin built for two. The single supplement is the extra charge that covers that empty second spot, an additional percentage on top of the base fare. In practice, that means paying anywhere from 125% to double the base fare just to have a cabin to yourself. A few lines have figured out a better way.
Most river cruise fares are priced per person based on double occupancy, which means solo travelers often get hit with a single supplement, an additional charge on top of the base fare. This guide tells you exactly which is which — so you can book smart and spend that saved money onboard.
Single supplements aren’t just a solo traveler issue. If you’re going with a group of friends and everyone wants their own cabin, these same programs can save the whole group money. It’s worth looking into even if you’re not technically traveling alone.
Which River Cruise Lines Are Best for Solo Travelers?
The cruise line you pick matters a lot when you’re traveling solo. Some have built their whole approach around making it easy and affordable to go it alone. Others will quietly charge you nearly double without making much of it. Here’s how they break down.
Riviera River Cruises
Riviera is our top pick for solo travelers, and it’s not close. Every single departure has 4–6 cabins held back with no single supplement. They also run dedicated solo sailings where nobody pays extra. Great if you want to meet other solo travelers too.
Riverside Luxury Cruises
If you’re looking to splurge, Riverside is the move. Their Harmony and Melody suites come with no single supplement, which is almost unheard of at the luxury level. Availability is limited, so don’t wait.
Avalon Waterways
Avalon holds back a set number of category one cabins with no single supplement on every departure. There are also select sailings where the supplement is waived across the board. These spots go quickly, so book early if you have your eye on a specific itinerary.
Tauck
Tauck keeps it simple: no single supplement on category one cabins, full stop. No fine print, no “select sailings” asterisk. Just know that category one cabins are the entry-level option, so manage expectations on the room itself.
Those four are your best starting points, but they’re not the only options. Several other lines offer solo deals on specific sailings that are worth knowing about. Here’s the full picture.
Best River Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers: Single Supplement Comparison
Policies change, and cabin availability on no-supplement sailings can be limited. Use this as a guide, but always confirm the current policy directly with the cruise line or your travel advisor before you book.
| Cruise Line | Solo Traveler Policy | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| AmaWaterways | Reduced single supplement on select sailings; solo occupancy cabins with no supplement on certain ships. | ~ Good |
| Avalon Waterways | Single supplement waived on select sailings; plus, a set number of category one cabins with no single supplement on every departure. | ✓ Solo Friendly |
| American Cruise Lines | Single occupancy cabins available; 50–75% single supplement for double occupancy cabins. | ~ Good |
| CroisiEurope | No single supplement on select departures. | ~ Good |
| Emerald Cruises | Designated single cabins on certain ships with no supplement; reduced supplement on select sailings. | ~ Good |
| Riviera River Cruises | 4–6 cabins with no single supplement on every sailing; dedicated solo-only itineraries also available. | ✓ Best Overall |
| Riverside Luxury Cruises | No single supplement on Harmony and Melody suites, subject to availability. | ✓ Solo Friendly |
| Scenic | No single supplement or reduced supplement on select sailings — check availability early as these spots go fast. | ~ Good |
| Tauck | No single supplement on all category one cabins — guaranteed on every departure. | ✓ Solo Friendly |
| Uniworld | Waived single supplement on select sailings. | ~ Good |
| Viking River Cruises | 150–200% single supplement on most sailings — the highest in the industry. | ✗ High Supplement |
Which Solo-Friendly River Cruise Line Is Right for You?
The right line really comes down to the kind of trip you want. If you love the idea of sailing with a boat full of fellow solos, Riviera’s solo-only departures are hard to beat. If you’re joining another couple or a group of friends, a line with reduced supplements — like Avalon or Riverside — might make more sense. And if you want someone to handle every detail from start to finish, Tauck is one of the best lines out there for that, which can be especially appealing when you’re traveling on your own. If a specific river or itinerary is driving your decision, check whether AmaWaterways, CroisiEurope, Emerald, Scenic or Uniworld have solo deals on those sailings — several of them do.
- Best overall for solos: Riviera River Cruises — waived supplements on every departure, plus dedicated solo sailings.
- Best luxury option for solos: Riverside Luxury Cruises — no supplement on Harmony and Melody suites, a rare find at the luxury tier.
- Best for budget-conscious solos: CroisiEurope — no supplement on select departures at some of the lowest base fares in river cruising.
- Worth considering: Avalon and Tauck — both offer no-supplement cabins on every departure, though availability is limited.
- Least solo friendly: Viking — 150–200% supplement makes it the most expensive line for solo travelers.
Solo river cruising is wonderful, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The single supplement is the thing that trips most people up, but it’s avoidable if you know where to look. Riviera is the clear leader here. Riverside is the one to beat if budget isn’t the main concern. Avalon and Tauck are solid if their routes match where you want to go.
Pick your destination first, then see which of these lines sails it with a solo-friendly policy. A bit of research upfront makes a real difference to what you’ll pay and how much you’ll enjoy the trip.
Read When You’d Rather Dine Alone: River Cruise Lines That Give You That Option
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22 Responses
I am looking for small waterway trips for singles.
Will you be updating this information? Information on 2024 sailings doesn’t help too much in May 2025. So much appreciated.
Hi, I could help you plan your trip.
With more solo travellers cruis operators should begin to offer single rooms.
Prefer companies with tours I la d and are fares to solo travellers
I would like prices and choices of river cruise plus air fare for the Rhine River 10-15 days
What is the best cruise for a senior traveling alone specifically to Rome, Florence, and Venice and other ports in Italy?
I WANT TO AVOID SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS. I ALSO AM A SENIOR TRAVELING ALONE. I WOULD LIKE A CRUISE FOR SENIORS.
Yes
Want to avoid single supplements
Is there a Nile River cruise that waives the single supplement?
Do you sell wholesale to travel agents or are you just retail?
James-Did you enjoy your Vantage River Cruise? Which one did you take?
Thank you. Sandra
We agree. I don’t think the cruise companies discriminate against those who are hard of haaring.
For me, so far, river cruising has been the only way to go. I have traveled solo on most of my 24 river cruises. I now am hard of hearing and wonder if I would be accepted by these cruise lines because of that disability.
thanks for this solo traveler information. it is the first time i have had this information in front of me. i will use it in the future to plan solo trips. i have cruised solo on american cruise lines and vantage.
Most cruise fares are based on double occupancy. This means that if a single supplement is 150 percent, it is 150 percent of the per person fare based on double occupancy.
How can a single supplement be greater than 100%? That would mean paying more than the fare for 2 people in a double occupancy cabin.
Our site was hacked some time ago and we’re still cleaning it up. The nefarious links at the bottom of each page require a programmer to remove them. Kinda like Colonial Pipeline being hacked …
Why do you have links to cheap sex toys and imitation watches on the bottom of the pages?
Be sure to check where the boat will be docking. Often I found that it is not close
to the city so you will need to call a taxi if wanting night life.
Hi MarE,
I have been on three river cruises and with each, there was at least one port where the ship docked in the evening to allow passengers to explore at night. I’ve experienced Vienna, Phnom Penh, and Libourne, France–whomever sets the itinerary gets it, they make sure the passengers know how late at night they can stay out (Phenom Penh was 11 p.m. as I recall).
Have not had the pleasure of going on a river cruise yet, just want to know what kind of sleeping arrangement are there on a “river cruise”. Have heard that the boat stays on the river port so the passenger can enjoy the night life where they are at while on a cruise.