Riviera Travel
PremiumSee how Riviera Travel describes itself vs how we list it
What to say on a call
Best for
- 1Drinks package from 10am to midnight on European river cruises (Riviera says it is included for all 2026 and 2027 bookings; liqueurs excluded), plus all onboard meals, guided excursions, Wi-Fi and port charges
- 2Strong solo offer: solo departures with no single supplement on selected sailings, and from 2027 the solo-only MS George Eliot
- 3Swiss-built ships that Riviera calls some of the youngest in Europe, with French or full balconies on over 80% of cabins
Payments & cancellations
Final payment
Per cruise line101 days prior to departure
The balance of the payment is due one hundred and one (101) days before the departure date, or at time of booking if the departure date is within one hundred and one (101) days.
Deposit
Per cruise line$200 pp (European river cruises less than 7 nights); $300 pp (over 7 nights); $450 (Cruise and Tour combos)
A non-refundable deposit is required to confirm a booking: European river cruises less than 7 nights $200 pp; European river cruises over 7 nights $300 pp; Cruise and Tour combos $450. 'Once confirmed, your deposit is non-refundable.' A booking is not complete until the deposit payment clears.
Cancellation penalties
Per cruise lineSee details below
Cancellation fee per person, by when written notice is received: more than 101 days: deposit; 100-61 days: 50%; 60-31 days: 70%; 30-15 days: 90%; 14 days or fewer: 100%. 100% for no-shows or cancellation after travel begins. Riviera charges a $20 administration fee on all cancellations and changes, including name and date changes. Written notice by certified mail, overnight courier, or email to info@rivieratravel.com (with confirmation of receipt).
What's included on board
Prices are approximate, per person per day unless noted. Always confirm the current price with the cruise line.
- Guests per ship
- Typically 160-180 guests (European ships); MS Riviera Rose 116; Riviera Alba (Mekong) 50Per cruise line
- Gratuities
- Not included (at guest's discretion; guideline EUR 8-12 pp per day)Per cruise line
- Beer & wine
- Included on European river cruises: all-inclusive drinks package 10am-midnight (house wines, draught beer, soft drinks, cocktail of the day, house spirits); on the Mekong, local wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinnerPer cruise line
- Premium drinks
- Liqueurs are excluded from the drinks package (house spirits only); other bar extras go on the cabin accountPer cruise line
- Wi-Fi
- Included (complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship)Per cruise line
- Dining
- Included (all onboard meals; four-course a la carte dinners)Per cruise line
- Premium dining
- Included on Riviera Radiance, Resplendence and Reflection: Riverview Kitchen grill and Mosaic restaurant at no extra cost; Rio restaurant on MS Riviera Rose (reservation via the Cruise Director)Per cruise line
- Included tours
- Included: most itineraries include a selection of guided excursions with English-speaking local guides, often with a choice of optionsPer cruise line
- Extra tours
- Optional extra-cost experiences available on most itinerariesPer cruise line
- Transfers
- Not included on European cruise-only fares; private or shared airport transfers can be arranged through Riviera. The Mekong cruise-tour includes all transfers.Per cruise line
- Air program
- Flights available through Riviera (return or one-way), booked by phonePer cruise line
- Pre/post land tours
- Pre- and post-cruise hotel stays available; Cruise & Stay packages add 3-night guided hotel staysPer cruise line
Accessibility & special needs
- How to tell the cruise line
- Guests must report any special needs to Riviera at the time of reservation; those with reduced mobility, a disability or an assistance dog should give as much detail as possible at booking. Per cruise line
- Wheelchairs & scooters
- There are no wheelchair-accessible cabins and ships are not adapted for wheelchairs; guests must walk on and off the ship without crutches or aids, gangplanks can be steep, and moored ships may mean crossing other ships. Wheelchairs and scooters can be used on excursions but must be stored in the cabin. Crew cannot give personal assistance, so a companion is needed. Per cruise line
- Blind / low vision, deaf / hard of hearing
- Not published: no vision or hearing accommodations are described on the US site; guests must report special needs at reservation.
- Service animals
- The booking conditions mention guests who need assistance dogs: they must give as much detail as possible at the time of booking. No further policy is published. Per cruise line
- Medical equipment & pregnancy
- No onboard medical personnel (some crew have basic first aid); the ship can stop to transfer guests to local medical facilities. Women past their 24th week of pregnancy at any stage of the cruise cannot sail. Per cruise line
Not on the line's site (or not confirmed yet): guests of size. Ask the cruise line's accessibility team.
Never promise an accommodation. Send the request to the line and let them confirm. How to handle these calls → Premium
Loyalty program
Military & veterans
We couldn't confirm a military rate on this line's official site. Don't promise one. If a guest asks, check with the line.
How military rates work → PremiumAirport transfers
Not included on European cruise-only fares; Riviera can arrange private or shared airport transfers (and home pick-up in select locations) when booked by phone. The Vietnam, Cambodia and Mekong cruise-tour includes all transfers.
Which ports: European itineraries are sold cruise-only (e.g. 'Budapest - Cruise Only'); itinerary pages list local airports and approximate transfer times.
What's offered changes by port and sailing. Check before you quote a price.
Good to know
Minimum age 12
Per cruise lineChildren under 12 at departure cannot sail; any minor must share a cabin with an adult aged 21 or over.
Solo-only ship from 2027
Per cruise lineFor 2027 the reimagined MS George Eliot carries solo travelers only, with every cabin for one guest and no single supplement.
River Cruise Assurance (Europe)
Per cruise lineOn European river cruises, Riviera's included River Cruise Assurance sets out what it does (extra nights moored, coaching to sights, ship swaps) and the compensation it pays when water levels or other disruption affect a cruise.
Mekong cruise is different
Per cruise lineThe 2027 Mekong cruise-tour on Riviera Alba includes all transfers and 6 hotel nights, but drinks are included only with lunch and dinner, plus a daily sundowner, not the European all-inclusive package.
Smart casual, no formal nights
Per cruise lineSmart casual is fine day and evening; men are asked not to wear shorts at dinner or vest tops in the dining room.
Vacation Happiness Guarantee
Per cruise lineIf guests raise a concern in the first 24 hours and it is not solved by the end of day two, Riviera flies them back and refunds the vacation cost; valid on vacations of 8 days or more.
Also sells tours, yachts and ocean cruises
Per cruise lineRiviera Travel is also a tour operator selling escorted tours, Croatian yacht cruises and ocean cruises; this profile covers its river cruises only.
Fleet
- Ships
- 13 European river ships in service (MS Riviera Reflection joins in 2027, MS Riviera Rhapsody in 2028; Riviera Alba on the Mekong from 2027)Per cruise line
- Newest ship
- MS Riviera Resplendence (built 2026, 178 guests); next: MS Riviera Reflection (2027), Riviera Alba (Mekong, 2027), MS Riviera Rhapsody (Rhine, 2028)Per cruise line
- Ship classes
- Riviera R-class (Riviera Radiance, Resplendence, Reflection, Rhapsody; 178 guests, 135 m), MS Riviera Rose (Douro, 116 guests, 80 m), Literary-named European river ships (e.g. MS Emily Bronte, MS Jane Austen, MS William Wordsworth), Douro ships (MS Douro Elegance, MS Douro Splendour), Riviera Alba (Mekong, 50 guests, from 2027)
Coming soon
All new ships- MS Riviera Reflection2027 · Danube Now sellingPer cruise line Preview
- Riviera Alba2027 · Mekong Now sellingPer cruise line Preview
- MS Riviera Rhapsody2028 · Rhine Now sellingPer cruise line Preview
Where they sail
Last full review: 6 Nov 2026·Last updated: 6 Nov 2026
A full review is when we re-check every fact on this page.
"Last updated" is the most recent check or change to any single fact.
Something wrong or missing?
"Per cruise line" = confirmed on the line's own site.
"Unofficial tip" = from an experienced travel professional; helpful, but not confirmed by the cruise line.