In the world of luxury river cruising, Riviera River Cruises stands out as a value leader, without compromise. Offering well crafted itineraries along some of Europe's most iconic waterways, Riviera River Cruises has earned a reputation for excellence, blending comfort, culture, and adventure seamlessly. From the grandeur of the Rhine to the romance of the Danube, Riviera River Cruises invites travelers to embark on unforgettable journeys through history, culture, and natural beauty.
In Summary, Riviera is quintessentially British with a focus on value.
In most recent years, this UK based company has broadened their marketing reach to North American passengers with their English speaking river cruises.
Fleet: Operates 12 Luxury River Cruise Ships. The company's fleet includes a variety of chartered ships, ranging in size from intimate vessels accommodating just over 100 guests to larger ships capable of hosting up to 200 passengers. This diversity allows Riviera River Cruises to offer a wide range of experiences, from intimate and exclusive voyages to more social and lively cruises.
Ownership: Established in 1984 by cruise industry veterans with a passion for European travel, Riviera River Cruises has since become a leading player in the river cruising market. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, the company's founders aimed to provide discerning travelers with a more intimate and immersive way to experience Europe's rich tapestry of destinations.
Riviera River Cruises is privately owned and operated, allowing the company to maintain a high level of quality and attention to detail in every aspect of its operations. This dedication to excellence has garnered numerous accolades and awards over the years, solidifying Riviera River Cruises' position as a trusted name in luxury river travel.
Rivers Sailing: As of 2024, Riviera River Cruises offers river journeys through Europe on the Danube, Douro, Main, Moselle, Rhine, Rhone and Seine rivers. The company also offers small ship ocean cruises in the Adriatic.
Brand Niche: Riviera distinguishes itself by offering a significantly lower price point. This strategy involves "unbundling" certain features, such as inclusive drinks. While passengers may incur additional charges for items like bottled water and alcoholic beverages, Riviera asserts that the overall cost savings make river cruising more accessible to a broader range of individuals who may be deterred by the steep fares charged by other cruise lines.
Family Cruises: Riviera River Cruise Company welcomes families with children ages 12 and older at the time of departure.
Theme Cruises: Riviera offers a selection of Christmas Market Cruises annually.
Fitness Center: Wellness area with sauna, steam room and fitness equipment for you to use at your leisure. There is also a small splash pool on the sundeck.
Restaurants: Variable based upon the ship, but commonly 2.
Bicycles: None are available
Gratuities: There are no compulsory gratuity add-ons with Riviera Travel river cruise – any thank you for excellent service is entirely at your discretion.
Solo Travelers: Riviera River Cruises has one of the most progressive programs for solo travelers, offering 8 itineraries (at the time of this article) specifically for solo travelers with no single supplement charges. Other Riviera river cruises have availability of solo staterooms with no or low single supplement.
Staterooms: Staterooms and Suites are stocked with luxury toiletries, and all rooms have beds that can be set up as either two twins or one queen. Owing to Riviera’s English origins, tea and coffee-making facilities are present in all accommodations across the fleet.
While there are some differences between the ships of the Riviera fleet in terms of size and layout, all feature classic, elegant décor; 24-hour tea and coffee stations; spacious sun decks; and two dining venues: a traditional restaurant and a more casual, stern-facing bistro that serves up light fare throughout the day.
WiFi: Included
Alcoholic Beverages: All 2024 river sailings are on special with an included superior beverage package.
Here are the non-promotion details: While we include everything you might need in our prices, we never charge for something you might not. If you prefer to pre-order your drinks, you can purchase our drinks package which offers superb value and includes a selection of drinks during lunch and dinner. Simply relax and when it’s time to dine in the restaurant, take your pick from a range of: draught beer; non-alcoholic beer; sodas; juices; red, white and rosé house wines; and wine recommendations from the menu by the glass.
8 day cruises: $179 per person (single example)
Drinks packages must be purchased by all guests in the same cabin or suite, and do not include drinks from the bar. To book the drinks package please call the reservations team. If you choose not to purchase a drinks package, there is a vast selection of drinks on board each ship available for individual purchase.
Spa & Salon: A full service Spa and Salon is onboard.
Pre & Post Land Packages: Offerings are available that include transfers to pre-arranged stays, but do not include escorted tour options.
Transfers: Available
Final Payments: Due 100 days prior to departure. Deposits are non-refundable.
Mobile Disabilities: River cruise ships are not ADA compliant and most river cruise destinations are also not ADA compliant. River cruises have the perfect blend of cruising and ports. River cruising is all about taking in the sights along the river and exploring fascinating cities and villages while in port. It is not uncommon to visit more than one port a day on a river cruise with cruising the river and its ambiance midday.
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