As the United Kingdom’s leading river cruise operator, Riviera River Cruises has been in business for four decades. Its current fleet of 12 ships showcases spacious cabins and suites, a relaxed atmosphere, sumptuous onboard meals and captivating excursions, all at an exceptional value. In short, Riviera considers itself to be a leading premium brand — without the premium prices.
Contributing to its value proposition is the line’s inclusion of superior-quality shore excursions as part of 36 innovative itineraries available on 10 European waterways. What’s more, for 2024 and 2025, Rivera will sail over 40 departures dedicated entirely to the solo guest, with absolutely no single supplements across the board. And there will be more than 500 beds this summer in middle- and upper-deck accommodations with no single supplements.
Also on the radar for 2025 are two new riverboats set to launch along Europe’s Danube and Douro rivers. Based on the Danube, Riviera Radiance will sail six routes, including an itinerary just for solo travelers and a trio of holiday cruises. Riviera Rose, meanwhile, will be based on the Douro in Portugal.
Riviera is further enhancing the onboard experience by bundling a superior drinks package that serves guests unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks during lunch and dinner, and extends to an open bar for mixed drinks, wine, beer and more from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Clients may also be interested in Riviera’s extended voyages of up to 29 days in length, as well as eight new themed cruises for 2025 specializing in art, history, wine, food and music.
Riviera is seeing interest in extended voyages.
Credit: 2024 Riviera River Cruises“I believe clients are looking for longer trips to help justify higher air costs, and that is why we have four new 10-night itineraries this year and many longer cruises,” said Marilyn Conroy, executive vice president of sales and marketing for North America at Riviera.
In particular, she says the line’s Douro sailings have been booking especially well since the line put a new vessel on the river this year, with another coming next year.
Best of all, Riviera prides itself on being fully supportive of the travel agency, as the only river cruise company to accept bookings exclusively from advisors. The line does not market directly to clients, but rather only offers consumer marketing in conjunction with the agent.
Conroy explains that when Riviera receives a direct booking, it takes the deposit and turns the reservation over to a partner who is located near the guest and has a proactive relationship with the line.
“We turn the booking over at full commission to the agent,” she said.
And the line is so confident that clients will love its experience that it even guarantees guests will be happy; if they’re not satisfied by day two, Riviera will return them home with a full refund.
Sweetening the pot even further, the line has just collaborated with TourCrafters and Auto Europe to provide agents with the means to book a Riviera cruise in addition to hotels, transfers and land experiences — or simply book commissionable air.
“This way, agents can complete the entire trip with Riviera,” Conroy said.
