Europe is the hottest destination in cruising, whether it’s ocean cruising along the Mediterranean coast or river cruising along the continent’s historic inland waterways.  Far less popular – at least for solo travelers – are the customary “single supplements” that cruise lines are forced to impose (because their standard pricing is calculated using a two-people-per-cabin model).

However, tour and cruise operator Tauck World Discovery has great news for solo cruisers heading to Europe in 2009.  The company is once again reducing its single supplement, offering savings on a total of 28 departures of 10 different ocean and river cruise itineraries.  The value is substantial, with supplements reduced by as much as 86% resulting in out-of-pocket savings of up to $3,000.  On average, Tauck has reduced the supplements on the special departures by 65%, for a typical savings of nearly $2,000.

Tauck has reduced the single supplements on selected sailings for a number of years, but the savings come with a small caveat.  “These special departures usually sell-out quickly,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar.  “Our solo guests always appreciate the cost savings, but they also enjoy knowing that they’re virtually guaranteed to have other solo travelers aboard these same departures.  It’s a win-win for our guests who travel alone.”

The ten European cruise itineraries offering singles savings are evenly divided between five intimate small-ship ocean cruises, and five luxury riverboat cruises.  The ocean cruises are aboard either the 60-passenger Le Ponant, which combines the romance of sail with the reliability of motorized power, or the sleek 90-passenger Le Levant, which boasts the refined ambiance of a private yacht.  The river cruises feature Tauck’s all-new fleet of luxury vessels, including the MS Swiss Jewel (launching in April, 2009), MS Swiss Sapphire (launched in April, 2008) and MS Swiss Emerald (launched in 2006).