MS Riviera Radiance has been gliding along the Danube since April as guests settle into the ship’s welcoming spaces. The Riviera company, one of the fastest growng in the rivercruise business, waited until season’s ends for their sustainable naming ceremony: a bottle of champagne poured over an ice scultupre of the ship, no broken glass in the Danube for this Godmother.
The 135-metre vessel carries 168 passengers on journeys through central Europe. Riviera Travel launched the ship in 2025 with a focus on comfort and views of passing landscapes. Staff greet arrivals with smiles and guide them to cabins equipped for smooth voyages.
Visitors step into reception on the Ruby Deck where the cruise director and team answer questions at the desk. The area includes comfortable seating and a small library with books on local history. Guests receive maps of upcoming stops and schedules for daily activities.
Accommodation fills the Emerald and Diamond Decks with 53 cabins and suites. Each space measures at least 16 square metres and comes with a king-size bed, en-suite bathroom and flat-screen television.
Over 80pc of rooms feature floor-to-ceiling French balconies that open to fresh air. Suites on the Diamond Deck add sitting areas and extra storage for longer trips.
Dining takes place in three venues that serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The main restaurant on the Ruby Deck offers open-seating tables with four-course à la carte meals using seasonal ingredients. Riverview Kitchen at the stern provides grill-inspired dishes like steaks and salads with al fresco options overlooking the water. Mosaic Restaurant presents multi-element courses from the Market Menu with meats and fish or the Garden Menu with produce selections, paired with sommelier-chosen wines.
Entertainment unfolds in the Panorama Lounge and Bar on the Diamond Deck, a split-level space with large windows. Guests enjoy live piano music, quizzes and crew shows most evenings. The bar serves cocktails and local beers until midnight. Daytime brings talks on river towns and cooking demos in the lounge.
Hospitality covers quiet corners for reading and the Sun Deck with loungers and a walking track. The ship includes complimentary Wi-Fi throughout and a small shop for essentials. A drinks package covers selections from 10am to midnight, with house wines, beers and spirits included. Bicycles wait for shore explorations, and the crew arranges laundry services on request.
Guests spend mornings on deck watching castles slide past and evenings sharing photos over dinner.
