British tour company Riviera Travel has offered guided vacations, mostly to travelers from Great Britain, for more than 40 years and in 2009 expanded its itineraries to include river cruises on the waterways of Europe. In partnership with Switzerland-based river cruise ship company Scylla, Riviera now markets sailings on more than a dozen chartered ships, including the beautifully designed 178-guest MS Riviera Resplendence, launched in July 2026 as the second vessel in its Radiance Class. This ship, which offers itineraries on the Rhine, Moselle, Danube, and the waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium, is similar in design to the newer vessels used by U.S. tour company Tauck, which also partners with Scylla to operate and staff its river ships. MS Riviera Resplendence is value-focused with an onboard ambiance that’s nonetheless quite sophisticated and polished — just without some of the inclusions and extras that come with Tauck’s higher prices.
MS Riviera Resplendence has a crew of 44, all employed by Scylla, while Riviera Travel supplies the Cruise Director and Assistant Cruise Director. The ship has four decks, and all but the Sun Deck with its shaded seating areas, walking track, and plunge pool are accessible via an elevator. There are 89 cabins and suites in four categories, the majority of which are 172-square-foot Double Cabins on the middle Ruby and upper Diamond decks. These cabins feature floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows with a French-balcony railing, twin beds that can be configured as a queen, a marble bath with a glass-enclosed walk-in shower, ample drawer and closet storage, a large-screen TV, and a Nespresso coffee machine. (Note: Double Cabins 335, 334, 239, and 238, which are located far aft next to a stairwell on both the Diamond and Ruby decks, feature a tighter layout with very limited storage/closet space, so they’re not ideal for anyone who doesn’t pack light.) The cheapest fares are for Double Cabins on the lower Emerald Deck, which have the same square footage but only an eye-level window.
Guests seeking more space can book one of the eight Superior Suites, located on the Diamond and Ruby decks, measuring 258 square feet and featuring a separate sitting area and an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling French-balcony windows. The largest option is one of the four Grand Balcony Suites. These airy, open-plan suites are located on the Diamond Deck, measure 344 square feet, and offer a private outdoor balcony with seating.
While Riviera guests mostly hail from the U.K., the company has expanded its marketing presence in North America since 2025 to welcome more travelers from the U.S. and Canada. There is a definite British sensibility aboard Riviera ships — and, yes, High Tea is served in the Panorama Lounge at least once per cruise.
Life on Board
See It for Yourself
What We Love
Warm & Inviting Décor and Layout: With MS Riviera Resplendence, the more subdued neutral gray palette of 2025’s MS Riviera Radiance has been swapped for decor featuring an eclectic mix of natural wood tones, geometric patterns, and warm shades of brown, gold, and blue. This creates a classic-meets-contemporary feel similar to what one might experience in a small boutique hotel. The spaces at the front of the ship feature a multi-level layout with curved staircases connecting the Panorama Lounge to its slightly elevated Bar (located far forward, making it a top spot for enjoying a drink with a view) and the Riverside main restaurant just below on the Ruby Deck. The result: Three spaces that feel open rather than closed off and feature multiple access points for better flow.
Three Terrific Dining Options: Another favorite feature is that MS Riviera Resplendence has three restaurants (rather than the one or two common on most river ships), each offering distinct menus and ambiance. The largest is Riverside, where breakfast and lunch are a combo of buffet and menu items, while open-seating dinner features an à la carte menu that changes daily and mostly international favorites, with a few regional specialties (such as wiener schnitzel and sauerbraten). Mosaic, tucked away on the lower Emerald deck, serves the same breakfast and lunch menus in a more subdued setting, but requires reservations for an elevated four-course dinner that remains the same throughout the cruise. Each course features four options inspired by European rivers — the Rhine, the Danube, the Douro, and the Seine — so guests can dine here more than once and enjoy different dishes. The third and smallest option is Riverview Kitchen, which is located aft on the Diamond deck and offers open seating for its casual lunch menu (burgers, salads, fish ‘n chips) as well as a reservation-only dinner menu that, like Mosaic, doesn’t change. It features options such as salmon tartar, Caesar salad, braised beef brisket, grilled swordfish, and vegan Pad Thai (in fact, all dining venues offer vegan and vegetarian selections). The food quality and preparation are quite good, and lunch and dinner are accompanied by the day’s wine selections, one white and one red, which are generally regional and enjoyable to drink.
Friendly Five-Star Service: The compact size of river ships means guests truly get to know the crew members. The internationally sourced staff who serve guests and operate and maintain MS Riviera Resplendence are exceptionally professional and friendly. Many hail from the Philippines, Turkey, Indonesia, and Eastern Europe and quickly and enthusiastically recall favorite drink orders, ask about food allergies, and always appear with a ready smile. They also stroll the Sun Deck during scenic cruising, offering glasses of local Riesling or, as the ship sails the Rhine Gorge in the morning, handing out mugs of brandy-infused, whip-cream-topped coffee.
Best Known For
Upscale Ambiance and Good Value: Offering 7-night Rhine, Danube, and Moselle cruises with fares that start at around $2,000–$3,000 per person, as well as longer sailings of 11-to 14-nights, MS Riviera Resplendence delivers high-quality cuisine, excellent service, and elevated design with great attention to detail. The ship’s eye-catching artwork and lighting, comfortable furniture, and cozy bedding create an upscale cruise experience at a value-oriented price that includes one excursion per port, select complimentary beverages, and free Wi-Fi.
Wellness Amenities: Riviera devotes space on the ship’s lower Emerald Deck to a small fitness center with cardio and weight machines, and a Spa featuring a massage room, steam room, and sauna. Guests can access the complimentary steam and sauna at their leisure and reserve extra-cost spa treatments (Swedish, hot stone, and couples massages). Free stretching and yoga sessions may also be offered on the Sun Deck, depending on the itinerary and the weather, and the ship carries bicycles that guests can reserve at the reception desk and take for a spin on local bike routes. A plunge Pool is located aft on the Sun Deck, but it is small (the size of a cruise-ship hot tub) and unheated.
Who It's Good For
Anglophiles: Those wishing to cruise alongside mostly Brits rather than the usual Americans aboard most U.S.-based river cruise lines will enjoy a warm welcome aboard MS Riviera Resplendence. As with most river cruises, the demographic is largely couples, groups of friends, and solo travelers — most aged 60-plus and the ship’s upscale but unpretentious ambiance creates easy camaraderie. Many tables in the restaurants seat four or six guests, and post-dinner trivia games are a fun way to make new friends.
Don't Say We Didn't Warn You
Excursion Options and Port Time Can Be Limited: While every port features at least one included excursion, it is typically a 90-minute guided walking tour (with a “gentle walkers” option for those who prefer a slower pace), and guests are given an additional 45 to 90 minutes of free time to explore. Select ports with a longer stay may offer an additional tour — such as a wine tasting, museum visit, or castle hike — at an extra cost, but in terms of variety and access to sites that are not within walking distance, Riviera falls short of what’s typically offered by several other river cruise lines. In addition, some itineraries (such as the 7-night Rhine & Moselle) have ambitious pacing, resulting in much more time spent cruising than ashore.
The Beverage Package Has Restrictions and Crew Gratuities Are Extra: The “Free All-Inclusive Drinks” offer isn’t actually all-inclusive when it comes to alcohol. Just four wines (a sparkling, a white, a rosé, and a red, as well as alcohol-free versions), a half dozen beers (mostly Warsteiner and König Ludwig), a cocktail and mocktail of the day, and a select number of house spirits, mixed drinks, liqueurs, and aperitifs (indicated on the bar menu by a star) are complimentary. If you want a Negroni, a classic gin martini, or a glass of bourbon, you’ll pay extra. Also, tips for the ship’s crew, Cruise Director, and Assistant Cruise Director are not included in the cruise fare. Guests are given envelopes on the final day to offer a gratuity (on average, $11–$12 per person per day, but the amount is at guests’ discretion) to be shared by the crew, and can offer separate gratuities for the Cruise Director and Assistant Cruise Director.