The 140-passenger ship will sail on the Rhine and Danube rivers with up to 70 guests during that period and will also operate two new 15-day itineraries for solo passengers. The deployment means Riviera will offer 19 departures for solo passengers in 2027.

This year, Riviera has seen a 66% year-on-year increase in solo river cruise bookings via trade partners, with nearly 13% of all bookings coming from guests cruising on their own and revenue jumping 52% year-on-year.

UK and Ireland director of trade and partnerships Vicky Billing said: "We want to be known not only as the market leader for river cruise, but also the market leader for solo cruising. These sailings are for people who want the best of both worlds – it's not just for people who are single."

Asked if George Eliot would yield less revenue during its 2027 summer season than if it sailed at double occupancy, Billing said: "We had a look at a like for like Blue Danube sailing there was a £150 difference in price but it really depends on the departure.

"Being a river cruise line, we want a 100% load factor. Everyone wants a full ship but for these particular sailings we want customers who want to travel on their own and for them to be comfortable."

Prices for The Blue Danube for Solo Travellers – Vienna, Budapest & Salzburg itinerary start from £2,899 per person, while the lead-in price for the new 15-day Budapest to the Black Sea itinerary is £5,699pp.

'Number one choice for solos'

Billing added "everything" is included in the fare. "From the beginning of June to the end of November, there will be a solos sailing every week," she said. "We will do whatever it takes to look after our solo passengers."

Roxy Glendon, channels marketing manager at Riviera Travel, said: "Our ambition is to be the number once choice for solo travellers."

Billing confirmed Riviera would look at dedicating another ship to solo passengers if the George Eliot deployment in 2027 is successful. "We're confident that it is going to sell well," she added.

(Credit: Riviera Travel)

Riviera Travel chief executive Phil Hullah said: “This is a landmark moment not only for Riviera 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."

Meanwhile, Riviera will also launch its first ship outside Europe in 2027. The 50-passenger Riviera Alba ship will operate two itineraries on the Mekong River with "panoramic windows, open decks and a high crew-to-guest ratio".

In 2027, Riviera is also introducing three new long-haul river cruises including a Vietnam, Cambodia and Mekong River cruise; Panoramas of China (Yangtze river cruise with Beijing and Shanghai); and India'a Golden Triangle and Ganges River cruise.