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<\/a>It\u2019s important to know that these waivers may be limited to certain departure dates or cabin categories; typically, if you\u2019re going after the top-of-the-line suites and balcony staterooms on a river cruise ship, you\u2019ll always pay the full single supplement that is the equivalent of paying for you and your phantom guest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, some companies offer solo traveler savings only if you choose to be paired with a roommate (of the same sex) or if you stay in a stateroom designed exclusively for single occupancy – and there aren\u2019t many of those on the rivers just yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Industry juggernaut Viking River Cruises<\/b><\/a> doesn\u2019t offer single-occupancy staterooms on any of its popular Viking Longship<\/b><\/a> river cruise vessels, but the line does offer single supplements that range between 150 percent (mostly riverview staterooms), with 200 percent being the norm for the more-desirable balcony staterooms and, of course, the line\u2019s massive Explorer Suites<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of the major river cruise lines \u2013 AmaWaterways<\/a>, Avalon Waterways<\/a>, CroisiEurope<\/a>, Scenic<\/a>, Tauck<\/a>, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection<\/a><\/b> and Vantage<\/b><\/a> \u2013 frequently offer specials that will either reduce or eliminate the single-supplement on select sailings. Much of this is capacity-controlled, and offers can sometimes be regional in nature. For example, guests booking their cruise from Canada, the United States or Great Britain will frequently be offered different deals and pricing schemes, so it always pays to check with your local travel agent, who will have a better idea of what specials are currently running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these specials used to be uniquely-timed to be available only during select periods, we\u2019ve found that most river cruise lines always have some sort of special going on. If a particular cruise doesn\u2019t offer a substantial single supplement, it may offer other value-added perks, like reduced or free economy class airfare, beverage packages, or pre-and-post-cruise hotel stays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While pairing guests is more common on the ocean cruising front, some river cruise lines still offer to match up solo travellers with a roommate. For example, American river cruise and tour operator Grand Circle<\/b><\/a> will waive its single supplement fee for guests who participate in the \u201c<\/b>FREE Roommate Matching Service<\/b><\/a>.\u201d<\/b> With this program, you agree to be matched with a same-gender roommate in exchange for the elimination of the single supplement. If the river cruise line can\u2019t match you with someone of the same sex, you get to occupy the stateroom as a single occupant but won\u2019t have to pay the supplemental fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grand Circle\u2019s standard single supplement is about 125 percent of the regular per-person rate for European river cruises; a modest increase that doesn\u2019t penalize the solo cruiser. Some itineraries, like Grand Circle’s Yangtze River cruise, carry no single supplement (likely due to the fact that this multi-week cruisetour takes place primarily on land).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other river cruise companies will provide some type of discount if you are traveling solo, but some are not quite as generous with their single supplement rates as the previously mentioned companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n