Riviera Travel set to launch two new river cruise ships in Europe

Riviera Travel launches two next-generation ships in 2025, marking a moment of change for the boutique cruise line.

The two ships launching next year will stand out from the brands existing ships, with a departure from the line’s tradition of naming ships after British authors.

Proudly bearing the line’s own name for the very first time, the new ships will be called Riviera Radiance and Riviera Rose.

A look inside Riviera Rose

Riviera Rose will be the smaller of the two ships to launch next year, with room for 114 passengers in 57 cabins.

Measuring in at 80m and laid out over four decks, Riviera Rose carries many of Riviera Travel’s admired characteristics into a new age of ship design.

The top deck features plenty of space to lounge in the sun, or relax in the sky lounge, with its bar and open-deck pool. There’s also a dedicated fitness centre and three different restaurants to choose from, including a new speciality restaurant not yet seen onboard the line’s existing fleet.

The largest cabins – Balcony Suites – offer spacious living quarters, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that slide seamlessly out of the way and lead onto your private balcony, with plenty of space for outdoor seating – far beyond the usual Juliette balcony more common on river ships.

Riviera Rose will be launching with a season exploring the heart of Portugal. The ‘Highlights of the Douro Valley & Salamanca’ river cruise is an eight-day journey from Porto that sails through the Douro Valley, eastward first, towards the border with Spain and then returning to Porto for a simple return flight home.

With a couple of optional land tours included – to Castelo Rodrigo, Mateus Palace and Guimaraes, and across the Spanish border to Salamanca – this river cruise takes you deeper into Portugal than most travellers experience, and all in the boutique luxury of a brand-new ship.

Looking ahead at Riviera Radiance

The slightly larger of Riviera Travel’s two upcoming ship launches, Riviera Radiance accommodates 178 passengers, with a total of 89 cabins.

Served by a crew of 44, this five-star boutique floating hotel will feature the largest cabins in the Riviera Travel fleet, with four out of five cabins featuring floor-to-ceiling French balconies.

Up on the Diamond Deck, Riviera Radiance’s Grand Suites offer 32 square metres of elegant living space, with beautiful private balconies to match.

Capturing the essence of Swiss elegance and fine service, the ship’s range of restaurants, from fine dining to casual, brings the flavours of the region onboard with authentically prepared local ingredients.

As a cutting-edge ship, Riviera Radiance’s environment credentials are industry-leading, qualifying for the Gold Standard on the Green Awards, giving peace of mind to environmentally conscious travellers who want to see the world and ensure its beauty is preserved for future generations too.

Riviera Radiance will call the Danube home, with three voyages currently available to explore. The Blue Danube is perhaps the most iconic of all European river cruises, starring Vienna and Budapest along with other lesser-known gems of the region such as Esztergom, Durnstein and Melk. A solo traveller version of this voyage is also available, offering the best value for solo cruisers and the company of others sailing alone.

If you’ve already enjoyed the Blue Danube itinerary and want to explore this majestic river further, Riviera Radiance can take you further east towards the Black Sea. This magnificent 14-night itinerary showcases the very best of south-east Europe, with visits to riverside towns in Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. You haven’t seen the Danube until you’ve seen it all… and the Iron Gates Gorge is not to be missed.