riviera travel river cruises tripadvisor

CAPTURED TRAVEL

Cruise Review: Riviera Travel – Rhine River Cruise

The Rhine River in Germany evokes romantic feelings, with each twist and turn taking you further into a fairy-tale land voyage. The banks are full of picturesque castles, quaint towns with towering cathedrals and formidable fortresses presiding over the river from the surrounding hilltops.

In the early morning, when a dawn mist wafts gently over the river, you can hear the sound of the birds twitter cheerfully from the riverbanks. Breaking through the mist are castles and ruins of heavenly towers. As the day breaks and the first rays of sunshine shimmer on the gently flowing waters of the Rhine, the sun’s sparkling highlights bounce off the fine droplets of dew covering the vineyards.

The magical and romantic atmosphere of the Rhine is almost impossible to resist. Even around 200 years ago, painters and poets of the Romantic period discovered the fairy-tale beauty of these river landscapes between Lake Constance and the Dutch border. Philosopher Friedrich von Schlegel was impressed by the “proud castles on wild cliffs”, while poet Heinrich von Kleist spoke of the “most beautiful expanse of land in Germany where our great gardeners have so clearly worked con amore”.

Painters such as William Turner picked up their brushes to capture the magic of these landscapes for posterity. Poets including Friedrich Hölderlin and Heinrich Heine were inspired to pen lyrical verses. With artists in the role of pioneers, the Rhine’s reputation as a travel destination grew. By the start of the 19th century, a visit to the Rhine region was the highlight of the “grand tours” by English high society.

The sight of the Middle Rhine between Bingen and Bonn, carving a narrow passage through the Rheinish Slate Mountains, with vine-covered slopes, knight’s castles, magnificent palaces and quaint fishing villages thrilled the hearts of the early romantics. Today, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley from Bingen to Koblenz is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Lorelei and the legendary slate rock near St. Goarshausen, on which the blonde-haired woman is said to have sat, are the epitome of Rhine romance. The legend was invented by poet Clemens Brentano, and made famous by his literary colleague Heinrich Heine. In the version widely known today, the hapless maiden sits high on a rock, combing her blonde hair and waiting for ships that she can lure to their doom. She is wreaking revenge on her lover, who had betrayed her and attempted to escape on the Rhine. The story also has a very real background.

The place where Lorelei is said to have wreaked her mischief sits at the narrowest and most hazardous point of the Rhine, and in days gone by countless mariners capsized here in their compact flat wooden boats known as “barks”. Today, the 132-metre-high Lorelei slate rock is a viewpoint with a visitors’ centre. Breathtaking panoramic views over the Rhine Valley, the towns of St. Goarshausen with Katz Castle, and the neighbouring town of St. Goar and Rheinfels Castle are guaranteed.

There is no better way to experience this captivating river region than with Riviera Travel on board a river cruise. The 8-day Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg cruise on MS George Eliot takes you on the Rhine River to explore on guided tours including Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Cologne, Rüdesheim, Boppard, Mainz and Koblenz, and a visit to Colmar.

With all cabins boasting river views, you only need to unpack once while visiting multiple destinations. Everything is taken care of with all meals on board from dinner on your day of arrival through to breakfast on your day of departure, welcome cocktails, a welcome dinner and the Captain’s Dinner.

If you are travelling solo, there are exclusive deals so you won’t feel left out, and between the other guests onboard and the friendly staff, you will never be alone.

Cruise Itinerary Name: Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg departing on 05 October 2022

Cruise Ship: MS George Eliot – Built in 2019 – 36 Crew – 132 Passengers – 5 Star Rating

Departing From: Cologne

Cruising To: Cologne on the Rhine River

Ports of Call: Koblenz, Boppard, Mainz, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Speyer, Strasbourg, Colmar, Rüdesheim, Cologne

Cabin Booked: Diamond Deck (Upper), Cabin Number – 307

Before your departure, Riviera Travel provides you with a detailed portfolio of your cruise. This includes the ship’s contact details, a map of the arrival port and how to get there, the daily itinerary and useful information like health regulations, money, phone, what to pack and more.

Checking in is done on the day onboard the ship, where you will receive your cruise card used as a room key and for going on and off the ship. Guests are asked to contact the ship on the arrival day to re-confirm the mooring point, as these are occasionally subject to change. In this instance, we were told that the ship had not reached the embarkation point on the day and we were to embark at a different city location. The Riviera Travel and ship staff were fantastic in keeping us up to date on this, contacting us constantly via phone and messages.

The five-star MS George Eliot gets her name from one of the leading English novelists of the 19th century. Measuring 110 meters long, the ship is like a luxury floating hotel with its elegant lobby and marble floor. Its exquisite furnishings include sustainable hardwood furniture, intricate wrought-iron work, polished copper and brass railings, soft leather seating and tasteful Italian fabrics.

With different seating areas, inside and outside, there is plenty of space to relax and enjoy your voyage.

The five-star ship is further enhanced by the five-star service from the English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides, including the Riviera Travel cruise director and concierge. In total, there are 36 staff onboard and when full, just 132 guests, making it an intimate cruising experience.

From anywhere on the ship, you have views of the spectacular scenery so you won’t miss a thing. I found the best place to get 360-degree views was the top deck. Here there is plenty of seating ranging from deck chairs to sofa lounges. There is even a plunge pool (heated) and a mini golf course for added entertainment.

Although it is a luxury cruise, there is a casual approach to the dress code with smart/casual acceptable. For those who like to dress up, the Captain’s Dinner offers the opportunity to wear dressier attire.

The electrical sockets on board are all European electrical sockets, 220 volts (except for the socket in your bathroom, which is both 120 and 230 volts). There is a gift shop onboard where you can purchase souvenirs and even a hairdresser, with bookings essential.

Cruising on MS George Eliot is a full-board service, with all meals included. You can purchase a drinks package, allowing the choice of draught beer, non-alcoholic beer, soft drinks, juices, red, white and rosé house wines; and recommended wines from the menu, all by the glass. Drinks on this package are available with lunch and dinner in the ship’s restaurants. Any drinks not listed above along with all drinks ordered in the bar are charged to your onboard account.

In the morning a full buffet breakfast is available, lunch is a buffet and dinner is served a la carte – all on a free seating policy. The welcome dinner and the captain’s dinner are served at a single sitting, whereas other dining times may vary according to your itinerary and daily excursions. The ship caters for most dietary requirements and a vegan menu is always available.

Located on the Diamond Deck (Upper), the Standard cabin is one of the Riviera Plus cabins (upper deck cabin, deluxe or superior suite). These include a little touch of extra luxury with L’Occitane en Provence toiletries in your bathroom, a bottle of chilled prosecco on arrival, a platter of fresh seasonal fruits during the cruise and drink vouchers each evening for a drink outside of the restaurants.

The cabin features floor-to-ceiling glass doors that slide away to create a French balcony to enjoy panoramic river views. At 16 square metres in size, these cabins are spacious and even include a small table and chairs alongside the giant double bed. The bathroom is just as spacious with plenty of room to shower and move around.

Also in the cabin is a smart handset, which is like a mobile phone, loaded with maps, a translator and currency converter and unlimited internet use. This helps when going ashore and using it as a wifi dongle when away from the ship wifi.

In total, there are 70 suites and cabins, which all feature an en-suite bathroom with shower, individually controlled air-conditioning, flat-screen TV, hairdryer, safe, minibar, telephone and facilities for making tea and coffee.

The itinerary begins in Cologne and journeys south to the historic town of Koblenz, sitting at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers before continuing to the beautiful old town of Boppard.  It is then time to wind through the beautiful world-famous Rhine Gorge onto Mainz, which is famous for the ‘Gutenberg’ Bibles. Taking in a guided tour of stunning Heidelberg, this journey follows the route of Europe’s ‘Grand Tour’, nestled by the picturesque river Neckar.

Crossing over from Germany into France, the next stop is Strasbourg, a city with its centre largely unchanged since the 14th century. Wander through the mosaic of winding alleys and lanes lined with quirkily crooked, half-timbered houses. Learn about the history of Strasbourg, which has been both German and French, and today you can see this influence in its language, cuisine and appearance, creating a truly individual city. A stop at Colmar is always a favourite, as this quaint medieval Alsatian town oozes perfection.

Returning downstream of the Rhine, the stops take in Rudesheim before continuing through the Rhine Gorge again to Cologne.

• Don’t forget to pack your swimwear as there is a plunge pool on the top deck that is heated – making it an ideal place for a dip while watching the scenery go by.
• I also recommend spending the day on the top deck when passing through Rhine Gorge as there is a high concentration of historical structures in this region.
• Lastly, don’t miss the famous Lorelei and the legendary slate rock near St. Goarshausen, on which the blonde-haired woman is said to have sat, singing sailors to their watery grave.

To book your Riviera Travel cruise, you can contact them directly at the below details or visit your preferred travel agent to book.

Website: https://www.rivieratravel.com.au/

Phone Number: 1300 857 437

The writer cruised as a guest of Riviera Travel. These opinions and words are a true representation of their experience and have not been endorsed.

Disclosure: The writer Kate cruised as a guest of Riviera Travel. These opinions and words are a true representation of their experience and have not been endorsed.

Book your travel now

Kate Webster

Kate Webster is the founder and owner of Captured Travel Media. She is a world traveller, ocean lover and conservation warrior who is determined to make every moment count for not only herself, but the world around her. An editor and travel journalist, Kate travels the globe in search of vivid imagery and compelling stories that capture the essence of the people and places she visits. She is a passionate conservation advocate, sustainable traveller and always travels with reason and cause.

Great article, Kate. Brings back memories of my trip to the Rhine region pre Covid. Wonderful experience. ❤️

Comments are closed.

Suggested companies

Titan travel, newmarket holidays, riviera river cruises.

Riviera Travel   Reviews

In the Tour operator category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 4.6.

4,313 total

Most relevant

The Medieval Cruise in Germany with Riviera Travel

The Medieval Cruise in Germany with Riviera Travel was excellent. The crew onboard were extremely helpful and friendly helping us at every turn. The two Rivera Cruise Reps went above and beyond to make sure everything was going smoothly with everyone and very efficient at letting us know what to expect and when to be at any certain point. Always checking to make sure we were okay. My special needs regarding what I could eat were met at every meal. Every meal had to be different with what everyone else was being served and the Chef came up trumps every time with my requirements. he cabin was well fitted out with everything you could need including air conditioning which was certainly needed on this trip. The trips every day were well organised and the guides allotted were excellent. One of the best holidays we have ever been on,

Date of experience : 26 August 2024

A Great Start

I phoned Riviera Travel several months ago and the member of staff told me the dates for the holiday I was interested in was not yet up for sale and he would email me when it was. Sure enough on the 4th September I got the email from him and the following day I booked. He was very helpful and it feels like I have found a company offering ‘customer service’, something I find to be an increasingly rare thing.

Date of experience : 04 September 2024

Professionally organised tours and cruises

Have just booked our third holiday with Riviera, two escorted tours and a river cruise. Delighted they were able to sort flights for our latest Classic China tour next year. Enjoyed the excellent service with friendly staff and guides throughout. Thankyou Claire

Date of experience : 03 September 2024

Riviera Travel telephone booking

Telephoned Riviera Travel to book another river cruise after a wonderful trip on the Danube. We were offered 10% discount for rebooking within two months of last trip. Customer services made the booking extremely easy.

Booking on the telephone with Gemma was very easy and pleasant to do

I spoke with Gemma who was west to communicate with and was also a great listener. She understood my requirements and helped me achieve the best for my booking. She was extremely knowledgeable and also sought further details to questions she was not fully able to answer.

Date of experience : 14 August 2024

Wonderful telephone booking experience

I booked my holiday on the telephone as I wished to add an extra and found the experience was excellent. I was given the advice I needed and all my questions were answered. Booking was a pleasure and I look forward to a wonderful tour of Malta with Riviera Travel. The tour includes fascinating ancient archaeological sites and beautiful natural areas and is very good value for the cost involved.

Date of experience : 29 August 2024

Yet another great river cruise

We have just come back from our 25th river cruise with the best company in the business. We went on one the new 11 day Paris, Normandy and Historic Treasures of the Seine with the added Versailles Timed Entry and was well what can I say than amazing and My mother felt the same. She had never been to Paris and this tour has it all form Paris itself to Monet garden the D-Day landings Joan of Arc cross in Rouen any many other highlights. We were on the Ms Jane Austen and the crew who were up to Riviera high standard and also Scyla who supply the boats thanks to you George and you crew who have been added to "Our Riviera Family ". Me and my Partner both have dietary needs and everything was done (as usual) to make sure we had the best food. My Mother is 83 years young and with the lift to all floor within the boat was able to get around great and being single she made a lot of new friends. I love the Question at the end of the cruise " Would you book another holiday with Riviera " Answer hell yes 2 more this year 6 next year and 2026 well lets see and Mother well Christmas and now 3 for 2025 so if Mother likes and we like it, ask yourself the Question "would you" well check out the website and find out for yourselves

Date of experience : 23 August 2024

Very slick operation and Riviera couldn't be better

The crew were fantastic and the Riviera staff were so helpful. We absolutely loved the trip on the Rhine and the other guests were super. A very slick operation which, bearing in mind we all came in from different airports, was superbly organised. This was our second river cruise and can't wait for another one

Date of experience : 21 August 2024

Booking holiday to the Basque Country

I was unable to book the holiday of my choice so I rang and spoke (I think) to Josh who advised there was still availability and very efficiently enabled me to book over the phone.

Date of experience : 05 September 2024

Excellent value for money and a caring company

Excellent value for money and there is a genuine culture of looking after the customer and making the experience as pleasurable as possible. BA cancelled our flight to Paris at short notice so we arrived there after our Seine cruise had sailed but the Cruise Director and Captain were able to arrange for us to be collected at a lock downstream, they really did go the extra mile. This was our eighth river cruise with Riviera, nothing quite like that happened before but we have always been impressed with the organisation, planning and delivery of their holidays. We have also been on several of their tours so, obviously, we are very satisfied customers and would have no hesitation in recommending Riviera

Very good customer service.

Laurie Matthieson made booking so easy for me. He was great and gave me all the information necessary. We're looking forward to our 2nd Riviera holiday.

Booking, the website wouldn’t take my payment. The agent I rang didn’t help and quoted me a higher price . I decided to solve issue myself and realised the website was only taking payment in full , despite showing a £250 deposit option. So I paid in full, reluctantly, as my holiday isn’t until November 2025. I hope I made the right decision .

First booking

This is my first trip with Riviera Travel. Laurie Mathieson has been helpful, informative, dealt with my booking very efficiently and assured me that help and support will always be available throughout the trip. First impressions have been impressive!

Reply from Riviera Travel

Thank you for you review Karen, we are really pleased that your experience was impressive and we much appreciate your kind words.

Hannah is great!

Tried to book online but, for some unknown reason, the website couldn't complete. We rang the number given and spoke to Hannah who was extremely helpful and answered our queries fully. During the booking she advised that the late dinner time was the only one showing. We told her that, because of dietary problems, my wife would have to eat on the first sitting. She said it was out of her hands but she would see what she could do. Just got notificaion that the early sitting has been approved for us. Hannah is great!

Date of experience : 02 September 2024

We found the holiday we wanted on your…

We found the holiday we wanted on your website and the online booking service worked fine

First experience with Riviera.

This was our first booking for a Riviera river cruise. Laurie Mathieson was so helpful and knowledgeable and made the whole process very easy. He kindly gave us his contact numbers and will keep us informed if there is an upgrade which becomes available. Thank you Laurie.

Dear Robert, thank you for you kind review and we are so pleased that Laurie's service was helpful and we thank you for first cruise booking. We look forward to the pleasure of your company soon.

Unable to set up online account & getting no help from Riviera travel to sort out

We booked a cruise a few weeks ago & paid a substantial deposit. However, I have been unable to set up an online account with Riviera Travel. I tried numerous times & phoned them & have messaged them a number of times to try to sort thus out. I don't want them sending confidential information over email which is not secure. But they keep repeating the same instructions that of course I have tried - and ignored my request to get IT to contact me or a manager and said I wish to complain (again - ignored). I assume they think that because I am an older person I want have a clue about doing something on the computer. I have set up hundreds of online accounts with no problems.

Thank you for your review. We sincerely apologise for the poor service you have encountered. This is not the level of service we strive to provide, and it is certainly unacceptable to us. We have requested your details via this review in order that we can look into this immediately for you. Kind regards Riviera Travel.

Happy Cruiser…

We have just returned from a Riviera cruise from Lyon to the Camargue. All aspects of the cruise were excellent. Today I spoke to Laurie Mathieson to make a booking for next year. He was very helpful and professional and a pleasure to deal with. As promised he sent through confirmation of the booking also giving me his contact details as the go to contact for "all things Riviera".

Dear Helen, we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your recent cruise. Thank you for rebooking and acknowledging Laurie. We look forward to welcoming you back.

Helpful, knowledgeable staff

My booking was made even more easier to arrange with the Riviera staff being most helpful and knowledgeable

Date of experience : 31 August 2024

A Captain's threat ruins lovely holiday...

This was a wonderful holiday which could have scored 5 stars had the Captain of the vessel Corona, on my Croatia holiday, not threatened to charge me for the cost to replace a sheet that had a mark on it caused by an accidental transfer of colour from my swimming wrap after a swim. As soon as I noticed this had happened, I duly reported it to housekeeping, who did nothing after I called her to the cabin. I spent the night scrubbing this sheet after the captain's threat - having had to go and purchase soap powder at my cost that night - surely threatening a single women in this manner is not what holidays are meant to be made of. My efforts got the stain out and the Captain commented on how he couldn't believe I had succeeded. This incident caused me stress and was really upsetting.

Date of experience : 27 August 2024

Suggested companies

Riviera travel, vikingrivercruises, emerald cruises uk.

Riviera River Cruises   Reviews

In the Events & Entertainment category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 4.3.

Most relevant

Absolutely fantastic cruise on Porto…

Absolutely fantastic cruise on Porto Mirante Duoro valley amazing views from the river,,,great excursions and Michelin Star food. We had a great time on this beautiful new ship. The cruise director Carmem was great,,,,,staff very helpful and always had time for us. We would like to thank you for looking after my husbands allergy to the kitchen staff specially chef Made Reinal comiss chef,,,your food was very high standard. Thank you to lovely staff Diane,Ivan,Vladimir,,,our cabin attendant Elvis,Priscilla and the receptionist for amazing job they doing. The all staff was 5*. Also thank you to our beautiful guide Philippa. Your care and help was absolutely amazing. Only one complaint we have,,,the included drinks. They not very good quality and not worth the money we’ve paid. We wish you all the best! And keep the fire burning. With lots of love for you all Margaret and Vlodek

Date of experience : August 08, 2024

Definitely a case of "horses for…

Definitely a case of "horses for courses." We accompanied my elderly father in law on this trip, and he thoroughly enjoyed it. For us, whilst there were things about the trip that we liked/enjoyed, it was not really our cup of tea. It seems strange to me that these trips are designed for retired people, but then do not really cater to the needs of these ones. For instance, the only activities that were available were walking tours. On one occasion there was a trip to a museum, but no mention of the fact that after the trip we would be left to our own devices for 3 hours, and no advice given on how to return to the ship before then for those who wished to do so. Not easy with an 88 year old with reduced mobility. Another trip, to Trier, involved a 90 minute coach journey each way. However the ship berthed late, and so it would have meant a 3 hour round trip by coach, for just 2 hours in Trier. We chose not to go. We chose instead to take a walk around the local area - slowly with grandpa - and then to come back to the ship and try the on-deck "pool" - big enough for 3 or 4 max. We had it to ourselves as most other guests had gone to Trier, and for us this was probably one of the highlights of the trip. Only one other activity was advertised, a wine tasting, and the one thing we would have liked to do. This was cancelled due to insufficient numbers. The tour manager had not experienced many of the trips herself and was not able to give sufficient information to assist us in making decisions about the best activities, either for us or for an 88 year old. On one night the ship could not dock at the advertised location, so the next day we were taken by coach to the place we should have berthed at. After just a couple of hours it was time to be herded back onto the coaches and returned to the ship in time for lunch at 1pm. We chose instead to stay for a few more hours and take a taxi back to the ship before it left at 6pm - but it set us back 68 euros to do so. Evening entertainment was ok, with a singer most nights, but then also a quiz night, and a "Name that Tune" game on another. The ship was immaculate everywhere. We frequently saw the staff cleaning the communal spaces whilst we were docked. The cabins were nicely decorated (if a little small/lacking in wardrobe and drawer space), and were kept immaculately clean by the Housekeeping team - hats off to all of them. The food and drink was exactly what you would expect for a trip such as this – there was PLENTY of choice - so it wasn't difficult to find something you liked at each meal. There is also a restaurant at the back of the ship that you can visit once during your stay, with a slightly more high-end menu/wine choices. We saved that for the last night and really enjoyed it. The thing that made me rate this a 4 was the staff - who absolutely did their best to make the week as enjoyable for you as they possibly could - nothing was too much trouble. There were efficient, but also fun. Rafa was great entertainment in the bar! It looks like it will be held w/c 25th November. If you would like to attend, please let me know if there are any days that week you are not available. So overall, it's probably just personal choice. If River Cruises are your thing, then this was probably as good as any other. If you haven't tried one, and think you would like to meet new people, have your meals provided, your cabin cleaned twice daily, with the odd walking tour thrown in for good measure, then this is probably as good a trip as any other. If you prefer independence, choosing when to get up, when to eat and what to eat, and where to visit, then you are probably not yet ready for a River Cruise!

Rhine Cruise Cologne to Basel

Aboard the MS George Eliot, my friends and I enjoyed a wonderful time, superb service on board and all well organised including our flights. Cruise Director Karen and Concierge Raoul kept us informed and entertained. Food delicious, plenty of it and lots of choice. We were made to feel welcome at all times and the ship was immaculate. We booked early and got an upgrade to the Diamond Deck. Free tea/coffee/iced water station included. There were off shore walking tours of Koblenz, Rudesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg and Breisach (with audio sets provided so that we could hear the guide at all times) or we could just walk as we wished, or stay on board. The excursion to Lucerne and into the alps meant quite a long time spent travelling by coach/local train but the view was spectacular. We had a couple of days of drizzle or rain but mostly good weather. We were very impressed with the whole experience and would certainly consider Riviera again.

Date of experience : August 02, 2024

Really? Can't bother looking it up yourself? Duoro river.

1. Overall boring. The story of port repeated daily ad nauseum. 2. Food was awful tasteless British cooking, no regional fare, not even the basic - linguisa or salt cod. 3. On ship entertainment was absurd. A phony cooking demo and origami towel folding. Fado? Never heard of it? 4. Several employees treated passengers like children, specifically a director whose name I can't remember - Anthony, Antonio? Childish himself and talked down. 5. Tour leader, male, also can't remember name. Enormous ego. Became rude on an excursion when asked to use the microphone unit before he thought it was needed. 6. All inclusive should mean just that. Don't tell me I must tip and and exactly how much.

Date of experience : November 04, 2022

Riviera River cruise on the Danube

We enjoyed our beautiful stateroom on our Riviera River cruise. The Staff is friendly and accommodating. The food was great. The tour director was helpful and informative. He and his team made sure we really enjoyed our Danube River cruise. We cruised past small Hungarian and Austrian villages, castles and vineyards. The October landscape was gorgeous with fall colors.

Date of experience : October 08, 2022

Fabulous relatively new ship

Fabulous relatively new ship, very comfortable cabin and beautiful food. Liked the separate bistro restaurant, and at breakfast cooked menu was freshly prepared. Wine also available reasonably by the glass. Initially I was perturbed that at most destinations arrival was not until after lunch. On reflection this was not a bad thing, we had plenty of time at each stop and allowed us to relax more. Two criticisms. 1. Soup without a soup spoon and cereal from a soup bowl is not what you expect from a five star claim (problems of the first world!). 2. More-so, I am majorly critical of the request for gratuities. Firstly most cruise liners include and secondly the cruise company should be paying a proper wage where the employee is not reliant on the generosity of guests. After all we pay substantially and this is the 21st century! Finally this type of river cruise is very much for the older less active clientele, so be warned!

Date of experience : September 20, 2023

Excellent with flawless customer service

Excellent! We took our 3rd Riviera Cruise. This time, we brought along my parents-in-law for a week long cruise along the River Douro in Portugal. The service, particularly that of the wonderful cruise director (Kassima), was nigh perfect from beginning to end. The tours were excellently selected and ensured that we got the most from the sites and port cellars we visited. We have since booked another tour with Riviera for the first quarter of 2024. Highly, highly recommended!

Date of experience : October 07, 2023

The entire staff was very polite and…

The entire staff was very polite and friendly, always smiling. They made us happy to be there. The tours were very interesting and each one led by knowledgeable, professional guides. The food was much better than on another river boat company I had chosen (because it was cheaper). It wasn't worth the saving; it's not something you do everyday. I'd choose and recommend Riviera River Cruises again.

Date of experience : October 24, 2022

Not as advertised

Sneaking in a major change to the itinerary, without a word of explanation or apology, meant the boat was berthed in the suburbs of Antwerp for three nights instead of one. The official explanation weeks afterwards ought to form part of their publicity blurb because I for one would not have booked had I known about the unreliability of their river management. Taxis (the drivers were pals of the ship’s crew and had neither sign nor meter) were essential to reach civilisation and cost a fortune. The restaurant staff were exceptional. The “entertainment” was dire as were the packed lunches. All in all, this was not so much a river cruise as a tortuous coach trip.

Date of experience : April 04, 2023

Reply from Riviera River Cruises

would you let me know which departure you are referring to or a booking number.

Fabulous !!!!!

We have recently been on the Budapest to Vienna river cruise. One word - wow!!!!! Loved every single moment - the best holiday ever. The staff were amazing - especially Raoul and Karen - the boat was immaculate and the food was superb. I cannot criticise anything and I wouldn't hesitate to book again- amazing 😻

Date of experience : April 21, 2023

A Wonderful First Timer Experience

The ship experience was fantastic. The crew were absolutely wonderful. We enjoyed the dining and were particularly impressed with the gluten-free options. The staterooms packed in the amenities and storage. As you are looking to grow the U.S. market, I would focus on pre-travel documents. Most lines will do luggage tags and pre-travel info will be specific to the U.S. My documents said, "As you head back to the UK. As small thing but something to consider for the future.

Thank you Carolyn for taking the time to give us your review. Very good point about the documents and the reference to travelling back to the UK vs US - we will get this implemented moving forward.

Exceptional experience

Just come off our first ever river cruise on the Emily Brontë from Budapest. It was exceptional from start to finish. From the superb cabin, the staff (lead by the attention to detail Christian and our fabulous tour director Peter) nothing was too much trouble. The excursions, food and amenities were everything we had hoped for. They even laid on shuttle buses to take us into Budapest on our last day, as our flight was late in the evening. Could not fault a thing. We are looking forward to sailing with Riviera again in hopefully, the not too distant future.

Date of experience : October 10, 2022

Riviera River Cruise is the BEST!

Riviera River Cruise is unbelievable well run from start to finish. The accommodations, the staff, the food and the tours were beyond belief. We HIGHLY recommend this cruise line and would be thrilled to travel with them again. There are no hidden fees or EXTRA cost other than if you want the beverage package for alcoholic beverages more than what is offered.

Date of experience : December 16, 2019

We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise on the MS Emily Bronte

We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise on the MS Emily Bronte from Budapest. The ship is gorgeous. Although we had done a similar itinerary on another cruise line, the excursions were unique enough we got to experience different sites. We loved the morning in Dürnstein, Austria, what a pretty medieval village. The food was plentiful, with lots of choices. Always delicious . The staff were friendly, attentive and eager to please. Looking forward to another voyage soon!

River Duro - Douro Splendour

Can't fault Riviera Travel for an efficient customer service. Through no fault of the Company our cruise had to be changed. All the re-arrangements were made swiftly and smoothly. Although our original dates were for special reasons, we were grateful for the delay as the weather was brilliant! The Cruise itself and excursions were what we had expected and will look to go again sometime in the future. Helena, Andrea, Jose and Daniella to name but a few made our trip so enjoyable and relaxing. The Douro Splendour crew and staff also looked after us well and most obliging. We even had personal message from Phil Hullah apologising for the disappointment of the delay but everything worked in our favour.

Date of experience : April 23, 2023

Thank you so much for taking the time to give us this review. Look forward to welcoming you bak again

We enjoyed the Douro Cruise very much

We enjoyed the Douro Cruise very much. Accommodation and food was very good. The only issue was upon disembarking there was confusion as we were travelling on our own Porto to Lisbon, being picked up at 8.30 a.m. We were told luggage was to be left outside our suite and they would be taken up to reception area. Even though we mentioned this to reception, our luggage was not brought up and we had to bring it up ourselves. To avoid this happpening to someone else, we suggest Reception and Tour Guide are aware of passnegers travelling on their own and not on the Riviera transportation.

Date of experience : May 22, 2022

Medieval Magic

Much enjoyed a week's cruising on the George Eliot - a new addition to the fleet and beautifully decorated. The crew were lovely, attentive and worked hard to make sure we kept safe (masks etc.) whilst giving us a good time. Food was out of this world - nothing too much trouble. Mostly enjoyed the guided tours but would have liked a bit more free time at some destinations but also appreciate that a schedule had to be kept as there are many locks en route. If you want less engine noise, make sure you book a room to the front of the ship.

Date of experience : October 09, 2021

last minute itinerary change

we are going on our first Riviera river cruise next week and very disappointed that the itinerary is already changed with 3 nights in Antwerp rather than cruising to Gent. if I had wanted a coach holiday I would have booked one. Hope the rest of our experience is better.

Date of experience : April 13, 2023

I am sure you will have a great time on board. Unfortunately the locks/water affects all river cruises not just Riviera. Please review again when you return.

Cruise ship: MS William Wordsworth

Cruise: Budapest to Black Sea: the ship was spacious, airy, very comfortable. Staff were professional yet friendly and very welcoming. Food was good, lots of options, and catered well for food allergies. Entertainment ok. Daily briefings plus information sheets were very useful, as was the 'daily news' sheets. It would have been nice if Riviera advertised the 'extras' on Deck 3 as we would have booked that rather than the drinks package which we felt was quite expensive for what and when you could use it. Also, the trip to Bucharest was a waste of time due to heavy traffic - not sure how they could get round this though. All in all a really enjoyable cruise.

Date of experience : May 26, 2023

First River Cruise

Althought not my first cruise, this was my first river cruise. The accommodations were very comfortable and bathroom was spacious. The food and wine was excellent! The staff was very friendly, fun and attentive!! The tours were amazing. I really enjoyed visting so many small towns and historical sites. I can't wait for my next river cruise experience :-)

Date of experience : July 19, 2022