Good news for anyone who prefers to travel solo but hates paying extra for the privilege: Riviera Travel is launching the world’s first cruise ship dedicated entirely to single-occupancy passengers.
Starting June 2027, the MS George Eliot will sail the Danube, Rhine and Moselle rivers with only solo travelers on board. No couples, no families and, most importantly, no supplement fees. Just 68 like-minded guests on board a luxury river vessel designed to make independent travel feel effortless.
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Riviera Travel has been running ultra-premium river cruises, ocean yachts and land tours for more than 40 years. The company has offered occasional solo-only departures since 2018, but this is the first time a ship will devote its entire season to the growing market of independent explorers.
The ship itself was originally built to accommodate 140 people, so with less than half that number on board, passengers can expect serious breathing room. All cabins are doubles, and 83 percent feature French balconies. Add in communal spaces like a sun deck, lounge and bar, and the atmosphere is set up to be relaxed, social and—when you want it—private.
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Programming is designed with solo guests in mind. There will be welcome dinners and cocktail receptions for easy mingling, live entertainment every night and excursions led by local guides. And because Riviera is keeping the experience all-inclusive, your fare covers meals, excursions, an all-day drinks package. Guests will get all this without the supplement fee typically charged for traveling alone.
Service levels will also be dialed up. With a crew-to-guest ratio of one-to-two, you’ll get the kind of attentive treatment usually reserved for much pricier cruises.
Prices vary, but currently a seven-night sailing round-trip from Cologne on September 15, 2027, starts at $5,199 per person. Not cheap, but considering what’s included—and the fact you’re not footing the bill for an imaginary travel partner—it could be worth the splurge.
As Stuart Milan, Riviera’s president of North America, said in a statement, “With growing demand for solo departures, we knew it was time to dedicate an entire ship.”
Finally, a cruise where solo travelers don’t just fit in, they’re the whole point. Find more information about solo cruises on Riviera Travel's website.