Riviera Travel hosted 10 agents on a seven-night fam trip along the Danube on its newest ship Riviera Radiance. Here’s what they thought of the service, the facilities and the onboard ambience:
First impressions?
With huge, panoramic windows, a silver-and-blue décor and a crystal chandelier in reception, agents felt the Radiance was refreshingly modern and elegant. “Some river cruises can feel a bit dated – but Radiance looked fresh from the moment we stepped on,” said Crui.se’s Rebecca Mann.
What’s onboard?
The ship spans four decks and includes three restaurants, a bar, lounge with a resident pianist, a small spa, fitness studio and a sundeck with loungers, hammocks and a plunge pool large enough for four guests. Agents said it never felt crowded on their cruise, even though the ship, which holds 178 passengers, was close to capacity, and there was no shortage of seats or loungers.
Afternoon tea and ice cream were served in the lounge, which turned into the evening entertainment hub – think local folk shows, classical concerts and quiz nights.
Cabin chat
Agents felt the Standard Cabins (pictured above) were spacious
Spacious cabins with plenty of storage and enough room to walk around both sides of the bed got a big thumbs up from the agents. “They’ve thought of everything in the cabins, including a phone docking station with an alarm clock, which I am sure lots of passengers will appreciate,” said first-time river cruiser Amy Sudell of Garstang Travel.
All cabins have USBs, UK/EU sockets, a dressing table, Nespresso machine, kettle, bathrobes and slippers. Bathrooms are compact but practical, said agents, with strong showers and Nuxe toiletries. There are three different cabin options to choose from, including Standard Cabins, Superior Suites, which have French balconies, and Grand Suites with a separate living space, private balcony and outdoor seating.
Pro tips: Amy suggested clients avoid the lower deck (Emerald) – ‘no proper windows’ – and don’t bother splurging on a balcony suite unless they really plan to use it. She’d recommend guests book the middle deck (Ruby).
Ones to avoid: Jo said her room on the upper deck (Diamond) near the back of the ship, almost above the engines, could be too noisy for some light sleepers.
Spa talk
There’s just one treatment room – a 25-minute back massage is €35. Treatments include a head, neck and shoulder massage, a full body massage, a swedish massage and a hot stone massage.
Dining highlights
There are three dining venues on Radiance, including a main restaurant, a casual bistro and the specialty Mosaic
There are three venues: a main restaurant, a casual bistro at the back of deck three, and the speciality Mosaic where tapas-style dishes are served. Breakfast was a hit across the board, with a laden buffet and the option to order dishes such as avocado toast and eggs Benedict.
Lunch and dinner options in the main dining room felt a bit limited to Amy, with only the choice between one vegetarian, one meat or one fish dish. However, the bistro’s made-to-order pizzas and halloumi salad got rave reviews from Rebecca. It also has an a la carte menu in the evening.
Also worth noting is that when Amy found she didn’t fancy anything from the menu in the main restaurant one evening, the chef rustled up a club sandwich.
The Mosaic restaurant, which is smaller, had the same menu every day. Rebecca enjoyed having breakfast there, as a quieter alternative to the main restaurant. It offered a small buffet of fruits, cheeses and eggs to order.
Gala night consisted of five courses, but, since it wasn’t mentioned in the brochure, Amy said clients need to be reminded to book a fancy outfit!
The drinks package (6pm–midnight) includes wine, beer, spirits and daily cocktails and is free on all European river cruises for 2025. Joanne Reece of Fred Olsen Travel was very impressed by the service: “By day one, they knew exactly what I was drinking.” However, she recommended telling clients what’s included in the package, for instance, she paid extra for an Amaretto.
Joanne Reece of Fred Olsen Travel
Excursions
There are two options included daily, which the agents described as ‘guided walks’, plus extra-cost excursions such as the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The city walks were well-paced, said agents, although some felt there was a mismatch of speed between older passengers who were less mobile and younger guests. They said the guides were friendly. “They shared personal stories, not just facts,” said Amy.
Little touches
Reusable water bottles in every cabin and water stations throughout the ship were a hit. The turn-down service came with chocolates and the next day’s itinerary, which was a nice touch.
Little surprises
Tipping envelopes are handed out with a suggested €12pp per night – which came as a surprise to Amy, though she said the service had been excellent.
From left: Amy Suddell and Rebecca Mann
Best for?
Clients aged 60+ with reasonable mobility. “You can’t really use wheelchairs as you wouldn’t be able to get off the ship,” said Jo.
Agents felt it was a great alternative to a land-based holiday for clients who want to see multiple cities in one trip, minus the hassle of packing and unpacking.
It has a luxury feel without the luxury price tag, they said. Jo felt it was on a par with Scenic Opal for style – but at a lower price “The decor is quite similar. Even though there’s a lot more included with Scenic Opal, such as champagne instead of prosecco, you’re going to pay more than double than you would on a Riviera. I think you generally get a bargain on Riviera.”
