With two new river cruise ships launched in 2025 and two more scheduled for 2027, U.K.-based Riviera Travel has amplified its presence in the North American market in an effort to reach new customers seeking an elevated yet affordable river cruise experience. The company, which was founded in 1984, offers European river cruises, ocean yacht cruises, and Grand Tours (which combine cruises and land tours). Its growing presence on Europe’s rivers — more than a dozen ships navigating the Danube, Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Moselle, Main, and Douro — now means English-speaking travelers have a well-priced alternative to river cruising’s major players.
Riviera’s river vessels were all built from 2013 onward and accommodate 114 to 178 guests, with the two newest European ships, 2025’s Riviera Radiance and Riviera Resplendence, being the largest (2027’s Riviera Reflection will also carry 178 guests). These new ships offer spacious staterooms and suites, which range from 172-square-foot Double Cabins with a window to 344-square-foot Grand Balcony Suites with separate sleeping and living areas. They also feature three restaurants, a panoramic lounge, and a Spa & Wellness Center with a massage room, sauna, and steam room, as well as a pool on the sun deck (small splash pools on Riviera Radiance and Riviera Resplendence and a larger one on 114-guest Riviera Rose, which cruises the Douro River in Portugal alongside two older ships).
Nine ships launched between 2013 and 2019, all named for writers — ms William Shakespeare, ms Oscar Wilde, ms Jane Austen, ms Emile Brontë, ms George Elliott, ms William Wordsworth, ms Thomas Hardy, ms Geoffrey Chaucer, and ms Lord Byron — feature just one or two dining options. The 2027 debut of the 50-guest Riviera Alba on the Mekong River adds Vietnam and Cambodia to the dozen or so European countries where Riviera already operates. Five ocean yachts accommodating 36 to 40 guests and offering Adriatic cruises along the Croatian coast round out the fleet.
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Contemporary European Design: The public spaces on Riviera’s newest ships blend traditional and modern design elements to create an immersive European ambience, while cabin and suite décor is a more contemporary in an airy gray-and-white palette with textural accents. What’s more, 80 percent of the staterooms on these ships (Riviera Radiance, Riviera Resplendence, and Riviera Rose) feature floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with French balconies that let in light as they provide views of passing scenery. Bathrooms feature marble countertops and roomy, glass-enclosed walk-in showers.
Dining Options: Meals served on board Riviera’s river ships feature international favorites but also focus on culinary traditions in the region where they are sailing — including using locally sourced ingredients accompanied by wine and beer from the region. In addition, many of its ships feature both a main dining room and one or more smaller specialty restaurants (open for both lunch and the nightly four-course dinner), offering guests a choice of where to eat.
Wi-Fi is Included: Paying a daily rate for Wi-Fi access — or incurring a daily charge from your cell provider for local access in Europe — can quickly add up, but Riviera guests can count on having complimentary web access for browsing, email, messaging, and internet-based calling.
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Value: Taking a river cruise isn’t a budget vacation, but Riviera has designed its ships to offer an elevated setting that looks and feels luxurious while packing a lot of value into its cruise fares, which start at under $2,750 per person for a seven-night itinerary. Some five-night sailings are priced at less than $1,500 per person.
Accommodating Solo Travelers: Riviera, which already offers more than 30 cruises a year with no single supplement for solo travelers, will be the first river cruise line to dedicate an entire ship to solo travel. In 2027, ms George Eliot will offer 68 solo cabins for all of its cruises on the Danube, Rhine, and Moselle.
Themed Cruises: Travelers who love gastronomy, art, gardening, music, and more can book a cruise that offers curated immersion in their favorite passions through expert-led tours of top landmarks, museums, restaurants, and gardens. Examples include Art and Music of the Blue Danube, Music, Gastronomy of the Seine, Gardens and Natural Beauty of the Rhine, and History of the Douro — From Portugal to Spain.
Who It's Good For
Anglophiles: While Riviera experienced 100 percent year-over-year growth with American guests from 2024 to 2025, 85 to 90 percent of its guests are from the U.K., making its ships appealing to travelers with a fondness for (or curiosity about) British lifestyle. The average guest is in their late 60s, and while these cruises are popular with couples, the line’s solo offerings mean female travelers significantly outnumber males on many sailings.
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Cruise Fares Aren’t Fully Inclusive: While Riviera’s pricing offers good value — and there is a free all-inclusive beverage package on all 2026 and 2027 European river cruises — guests do have to spend a bit extra for certain key experiences. A complimentary shore excursion is offered in every port, but more immersive activities (wine tastings, castle tours, or museum visits, for example) must be booked at an extra cost. Gratuities for the crew are also not included and are left to guests' discretion (although $10-$15 per person per day is suggested).