Riviera River Cruises to Launch New Ship, Itineraries in 2026
Riviera River Cruises will launch a new ship, five new themed itineraries and a new departure exclusively for solo travelers in 2026.
Board a new ship that features a third restaurant and the line’s largest-ever suites, marvel at the natural beauty of the Rhine River, savor food and wine across Europe, enjoy the music and art of the Danube River, and cruise on your own in Germany. Additionally, all 2026 European river cruise departures, which are now available to book, are 50% off through Nov. 30.
“As we launch sales for 2026, we have a lot to offer that’s new, from a spacious ship with a third dining venue to itineraries focused on nature, gardens, gastronomy, music and art, and a cruise through Germany for solo travelers,” said Marilyn Conroy, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing North America for Riviera River Cruises. “And through November, all 2026 departures are available for half off. If your clients are considering a European river cruise, now is a great time to book.”
New ship:
The 443-foot Riviera Resplendence will feature amenities and cabins spread over four decks, including a new split-level bar and restaurant that provides an airy ambience, a third restaurant and Riviera’s largest-ever suites. The third restaurant, Mosaic, will offer menus with tasting courses inspired by the rivers of Europe. Amenities will also include a sun deck with pool, a bistro with open kitchen, a fitness center, and a spa and wellness area.
Its 89 cabins will accommodate 178 passengers and have double beds that can be converted to twin beds, a bathroom with rain shower, desk with chair, flat-screen TV, individually controlled air conditioning, coffee machine, tea kettle and more. Grand suites will be Riviera’s largest at 344 square feet and will have a balcony with sliding doors and outdoor seating, and a seating area with sofa, lounge chair and small table. Superior suites will be 258 square feet and will have a French balcony with sliding doors and a seating area with lounge chair and small table.
Double cabins will be 172 square feet and will have a seating area with lounge chair and small table. Upper- and middle-deck double cabins will have a French balcony with sliding doors, while lower-deck double cabins will have a smaller fixed window.
New themed itineraries:
Gardens & Natural Beauty of the Rhine: Eight days with 11 included experiences, departing May through October 2026 and starting at $3,599 per person based on double occupancy. Marvel at the beauty of the Rhine Gorge, the vineyards around Rüdesheim on the Winzerexpress tour, the Four Lakes View from Gedeon’s corner in Boppard, castle gardens in Heidelberg and Schwetzingen, Koblenz’s Schlosspark and the Butterfly Garden of Sayn Palace, Rheinaue Leisure Park and its Japanese Garden and Apiary in Bonn, and the Rose Garden of Saverne.
Gastronomy of the Danube: Eight days with 15 included experiences, departing April through October 2026 and starting at $3,399 per person based on double occupancy. Savor Leberkäse, Linzer Torte and a local beer in Linz, strudel at a traditional confectioner at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Hungarian and Austrian wines in the cellars of Esztergom Basilica and Dürnstein, Slovakian beer and local specialties in Bratislava, and a tasting at the Central Market and traditional herb liqueur Unicum in Budapest.
Gastronomy of the Rhine & Moselle: Eight days with 11 included experiences, departing April through August 2026 and starting at $3,649 per person based on double occupancy. Savor a tasting at the Lindt Chocolate Museum or local beer and snacks in Cologne, a wine tasting in Bernkastel, a winery visit and tasting in Rüdesheim and a wine tasting at the Koblenz Wine and Sparkling Wine Museum.
Gastronomy of the Seine: Eight days with 13 included experiences, departing April through October 2026 and starting at $3,199 per person based on double occupancy. Savor a tasting at a farm and cider house that turns apples into an array of apple-based products, a tasting at the oldest crêperie in Honfleur, macarons in the Latin Quarter of Paris, a tasting of Normandy’s wines and cheeses at Bizy Castle in Vernon.
Music & Art of the Blue Danube: Eight days with 12 included experiences, departing April through October 2026 and starting at $3,199 per person based on double occupancy. Enjoy a string quartet, traditional Hungarian folklore show and classical music performances on board; follow in the footsteps of famous composers like Mozart in Vienna, Dürnstein, Bratislava and Salzburg; cruise through the pretty Nibelungengau, immortalized in the music of Wagner; take a behind-the-scenes tour with the Vienna Boys Choir; and choose between a visit to the House of Music or the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest.
New solo traveler departure:
Medieval Germany for Solo Travelers: Eight days with 10 included experiences, departing in August 2026 and starting at $4,699 per person. See St. Martin’s Cathedral and the beautiful stained glass windows of St. Stephan’s Church in Mainz, the impressive Marienberg Fortress and the famous Baroque palace in Würzburg, the old town of charming Rothenburg, traditional fachwerk buildings in the medieval villages of Miltenberg and Wertheim, pretty Bamberg and its exquisite old town, and the Church of Saint Lawrence and the bustling Hauptmarkt in Nuremberg.
Riviera River Cruises offers a variety of cruises on rivers and waterways across Europe, including dedicated departures for solo travelers with no single supplement, as well as themed and holiday season itineraries.
Its cruises include fine dining experiences, a free drinks package and expert-led excursions to iconic sights and hidden gems aboard one of the youngest fleets of ships in Europe, with spacious cabins and suites.
Riviera guarantees exceptional value, promising never to add hidden surcharges or fees, and it doesn’t automatically include gratuities, so the choice is up to guests.
(Riviera River Cruises to Launch New Ship, Itineraries in 2026 – Riviera River Cruises)