In 2025, Riviera River Cruises will add two new ships to its fleet, offering river voyages on Europe’s Danube and Douro rivers. Riviera Radiance will operate on the Danube and present six distinct itineraries—one designed specifically for solo travelers and three special holiday sailings. Riviera Rose will be based on the Douro, sailing a scenic itinerary through Portugal and into Spain.
© Riviera River Cruises
“We’re excited to welcome these two ships to our river fleet,” said Marilyn Conroy, executive vice president of sales and marketing for North America at Riviera River Cruises. “Riviera Radiance will sail classic and holiday routes along the Danube through Hungary, Slovakia and Austria, and will also offer a longer voyage to the Black Sea and back. Riviera Rose will bring guests along a new Douro itinerary through Portugal and Spain. We look forward to hosting travelers aboard these beautiful vessels.”
The Danube itineraries for Riviera Radiance include a mix of cultural highlights, historic sites and seasonal market visits:
- The eight-day Blue Danube (available as a solo traveler departure as well), with guided visits to Esztergom Basilica, Bratislava, Dürnstein, Melk Abbey, Linz or Salzburg, and Budapest.
- The 15-day Budapest to the Black Sea itinerary, which visits Kalocsa, Belgrade, Pleven, Bucharest, Constanta, Novi Sad, Vukovar, Osijek, Budapest, Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanassi. Highlights include the medieval rock churches of Ivanovo, the Belogradchik Rocks, the Mesolithic site at Lepenski Vir, a scenic Puszta drive with an equestrian show, passage through the dramatic Iron Gates Gorge and entry into the Danube Delta.
- The six-day Danube’s Imperial Cities & Yuletide Markets cruise, calling on Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna and featuring festive Christmas markets at each stop.
- The eight-day Christmas on the Danube sailing, with visits to Esztergom Basilica, Bratislava, Melk Abbey, Linz and Salzburg, Budapest, and Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace.
- The six-day New Year on the Danube cruise, celebrating the season with stops in Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna, including Schönbrunn Palace and its yuletide market.
© Riviera River Cruises
Riviera Rose will operate the eight-day Highlights of the Douro Valley & Salamanca itinerary. This route includes visits to the Mateus Palace Gardens, Castelo Rodrigo, Lamego, Pinhão and Porto, plus two guided stops at local quintas with meals and wine tastings. The program also features a traditional flamenco performance with lunch in historic Salamanca and offers a choice of guided excursions to either Vila Nova de Gaia or Guimarães.
Both ships emphasize immersive regional experiences, combining onboard comfort with guided shore excursions that highlight local culture, history and cuisine. Riviera River Cruises aims to provide a variety of options for different travelers—whether they seek extended exploration, seasonal festivities or an intimate solo-traveler experience—on two of Europe’s most iconic waterways.