
I know I'm not alone in impatiently waiting to return to solo travel. I hear it day in and day out from members of the Solo Travel Society on Facebook, in emails from readers, in conversations with friends and family. Over the course of the past year or so, many of us have been quite focused on the loss of our ability to travel.
Travel Companies Work on the Return to Solo Travel
It's not just travelers who have lost out. The entire travel industry has been hit extremely hard and many companies have suffered huge losses. Rebuilding will be a lengthy process.
We've worked hard to maintain and strengthen our relationships with companies who treat solo travelers well so that when we are all ready to return to solo travel, we will continue to be able to bring you great deals through our Deals page on Solo Traveler and our monthly email of trips with no or very low single supplements.
I'm also not alone in feeling a sense of optimism and anticipation. I thought this might be a good time to hear directly from travel companies how they are preparing to welcome back solo travelers, what they are doing to ensure our safety on their tours, and what new trips they are most excited to be offering when travel resumes.
Over the next few months, I will be interviewing executives from some of the travel companies that are most popular with the Solo Traveler community. I'm starting today with Riviera River Cruises, Active Adventures, and Overseas Adventure Travel.

Riviera River Cruises
Interviewee: Marilyn Conroy, Executive Vice President
Riviera River Cruises parent company is a 37-year-old British based company. Four years ago they entered the North American marketplace and have already been the recipient of many prestigious awards and accolades. We are the top of the premium line but less than premium prices – our unique selling proposition is price value – we offer superior spacious accommodations, food, and service with really innovative itineraries on the youngest fleet of ships in Europe. Riviera is the only company that offers at least five cabins on each departure with no single supplement as well as entire departures dedicated to the solo traveler where there is no single supplement across all grades.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the travel industry extremely hard. Tell us how you're rebuilding and preparing to welcome back solo travelers who are eager to continue exploring the world.
In addition to adhering to all the guidelines in each country and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) we have taken additional steps to ensure the health and safety of our guests on board by hiring Ian Greaves who is a member of the Chartered Institute for Health. We do not propose right now to require a vaccine for guests to travel but a negative test before they board the ship. Social distancing will be adhered to during embarkation. Of course, all of these protocols are subject to change at the time of sailing.
Travel is going to look different when it resumes. As we prepare to return to solo travel, what policies and protocols has your company put in place to ensure the health and safety of customers on your trips?
We will no longer be offering buffet meals for breakfast and luncheon. All meals will be served to our guests. Each cabin is disinfected twice daily and of course before embarkation. Hand sanitizers will be placed in cabins and around the ship. The use of mouth masks is mandatory when walking around as well as adhering to and 6 foot social distancing. Tours will be smaller in group size and of course any coaches used will be thoroughly disinfected before guests embark.
Among the tours/cruises that you have coming up in 2021/22, what are you most excited to be offering for solo travelers?
We are the only cruise company to offer solo departures, we will have at least 12 departures in 2022 as well as some this fall which are dedicated exclusively to the solo traveler.
Finally, can you give us one insider tip for solo travelers who may be considering booking a trip with you?
We currently have an offer that for any new bookings this April, solo travelers will receive one hundred euros onboard credit. We offer prices on our website that have already had a ‘spring forward’ discount taken off them, that is why we are able to offer such fantastic rates to our solo clients – no single supplement instead of the usual 100% add on.

Active Adventures
Interviewee: Wendy van Lieshout, CEO
Active Adventures is New Zealand’s most globally diverse adventure travel company. We applied our pioneering spirit back in the 90s and began offering incredible, fully guided, outdoor adventures in New Zealand to just a small number of guests. Fast forward 25 years and we now offer our unique style of Kiwi adventuring across the globe to thousands of guests every year, through all the best outdoor destinations.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the travel industry extremely hard. Tell us how you're rebuilding and preparing to welcome back solo travelers who are eager to continue exploring the world.
We are already operating trips in the Galapagos, and we’re preparing to open more and more destinations as borders begin to relax. It’s so exciting seeing the photos of our happy guests back on the road again! To make that happen, we’ve been working extremely hard with our local support crews in each destination to understand their entry and exit protocols as well as how to comply with local regulations. It’s a moving target but we’ve become extremely agile through COVID and also very resilient! Sometimes we’re changing things behind the scenes almost daily, but the Active team takes care of it all, so our solo traveler guests can just relax and enjoy looking forward to their adventure, knowing that we’ve taken care of all the details.
Travel is going to look different when it resumes. As we prepare to return to solo travel, what policies and protocols has your company put in place to ensure the health and safety of customers on your trips?
There are different requirements in every destination which we stay abreast of and fully adhere to. Plus, we ensure that we adopt the highest levels of hygiene and deep cleaning, as well as supplying hand sanitizer and masks. If required, we are also well versed in social distancing requirements, and of course we’re very hot on contact tracing – we’re always on top of exactly where we’ve been and where we’re going. Any suppliers we use are also strictly vetted to ensure they align to our internal high standards. In New Zealand we’re also proud to display the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, a globally recognized World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) initiative which verifies that we are following the New Zealand Government COVID-19 regulations.
Among the tours/cruises that you have coming up in 2021/22, what are you most excited to be offering for solo travelers?
We have so many great trips to choose from, and they’re all amazing! But the ‘jewel in our crown’ will always be our Ultimate South Island Adventure ‘Rimu’, our classic 8-14 day adventure in the South Island of New Zealand. Particularly great for solo travelers, this intimate multi-activity adventure includes kayaking in Milford Sound, hiking in Mt. Cook National Park, walking some of the best sections of our famous Great Walks, cycling a section of the Alps to Ocean Trail, heli-hiking on Franz Josef Glacier, and so much more! We stay in locally owned accommodation, and our guides are outstanding chefs, so it’s really easy for us to cater to everyone’s needs, no matter how remote we are. We have a lot of bookings and some waitlists in place already, so get in quick if you want to get this bucket-list trip checked off!
Another destination that is getting a lot of interest because of how well the COVID situation has been handled is Iceland: our Iceland Hiking Adventure ‘Stelkur’, however brand new, is almost full for 2021 already. This 11-day trip is the perfect balance between the must-sees around the Golden Circle and the lesser known villages and hiking trails of the Eastern Fjords.
Finally, can you give us one insider tip for solo travelers who may be considering booking a trip with you?
The best way to help with your planning is to sign up for our email newsletters, or follow us on Facebook. We promise we’ll inspire you and you’ll catch some great specials, and let you know which destinations we start to explore again, and when. And last but definitely not least, don’t be afraid to secure a spot now (even if you’re not certain you’ll be able to travel on that trip), as it’s the best way to get ‘in the line’ and make sure you’ll get first choice on dates. We’ve launched our Active Adventure Assurance, so if your plans change, or if you decide to travel to another destination, you can change your trip to any of our departures in any destination or request a refund (less deposit) up to 30 days out from your original trip start date. Your deposit is good for life, so you'll never lose it.

Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.)
Interviewee: Harriet R. Lewis, Vice Chairman
Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) is the leader in solo-friendly travel for women 50 and over. Established in 1978, Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) is part of Boston-based Grand Circle Corporation's family of travel companies, which also include Grand Circle Cruise Line and Grand Circle Travel. In 1992, owners Alan and Harriet Lewis established the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation to support communities in which Grand Circle works and travels, including some 300 humanitarian, cultural, and educational endeavors worldwide. The Foundation is an entity of the Lewis Family Foundation, which has pledged or donated more than $200 million since 1981.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the travel industry extremely hard. Tell us how you're rebuilding and preparing to welcome back solo travelers who are eager to continue exploring the world.
Based on feedback from our solo travelers, we’ve added more free single spaces to all of our adventures to give travelers more opportunity to travel independently. In 2022, we will have 30,000 single spaces available—an increase of 96% from 2019—with free or low-cost single supplements. This includes an additional 1,000 spaces aboard our small ships for 2022. We have also added new extensions on most of our trips to give travelers more options.
Travel is going to look different when it resumes. As we prepare to return to solo travel, what policies and protocols has your company put in place to ensure the health and safety of customers on your trips?
The health and safety of our travelers is our #1 priority. We’ve been working closely with our regional associates to implement a number of new protocols—and we believe that full vaccination is an integral part of ensuring the safety of all of our travelers. As we prepare to announce when we will begin traveling again, the latest government guidance suggests that travelers will be able to receive full vaccination before our first adventures depart.
For that reason, we are requiring that all travelers joining us aboard our small ships must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure of their adventure—and provide proof of their vaccination upon boarding the ship—by one of the three vaccines currently being distributed throughout the U.S. from Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson & Johnson. Our local Trip Experience Leaders, ship crew and staff, and drivers will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as well. As we continue to work closely with our regional offices and associates, we will update travelers by May 1 with any changes.
To help travelers be confident in making travel plans, we’ve extended our Risk-Free Booking Policy through to December 31, 2021. When travelers make a new 2021, 2022, or 2023 reservation, we guarantee them the flexibility to change their plans—no matter what the reason. Travelers can transfer to another departure date up until 24 hours prior to their original departure, and we will waive any change fees.
Among the tours/cruises that you have coming up in 2021/22, what are you most excited to be offering for solo travelers?
O.A.T currently has 70,000 travelers who have reserved travel for 2021 and 2022 – 38,000 of them women who will be traveling solo. We are excited to offer these adventures, currently the Top 5 chosen by solo travelers:
- Morocco Sahara Odyssey
- Sicily's Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions
- Crossroads of the Adriatic: Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia
- Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private, Classic River-Yacht
- Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari
Finally, can you give us one insider tip for solo travelers who may be considering booking a trip with you?
We encourage solo travelers to look at our Arrive Early, Stay Later options. If you arrive early or stay later in the first or last destination of your adventure, we will help with your hotels, air arrangements, and transfers to and from the airport. Also, solo travelers can request a complimentary copy of our NEW 101+ Tips for Solo Travelers. There’s a wealth of advice primarily from O.A.T.’s most experienced solo women travelers about solo travel safety; money matters; etiquette, dining, and culture; and much more.
You can look forward to more interviews with travel executives about our return to solo travel next month.