Riviera announces new ship, adding to biggest river cruise line-up for 2026

Riviera Travel is preparing for a big couple of years with two new ships in the pipeline, multiple new themed itineraries and new solo departures.

With two new ships already slated to launch in 2025, the Riviera Radiance, the river cruise line announced last week, Riviera Resplendence will join its fleet in 2026.

As part of its new generation of ships, the 178-passenger Riviera Resplendence will feature the cruise line’s largest suites and the Mosaic tasting-menu restaurant, according to a Travel Weekly report.

The British cruise line’s new 443-foot ships will feature a split-level bar and restaurant, sun deck with pool, fitness centre, spa and wellness area and 89 staterooms, as well as Grand suites and Superior suites, both complete with balconies. These will be the line’s largest suites, measuring between 172 and 344 square feet.

A smaller ship joins the fleet

In addition, Riviera will launch a third smaller ship, the 114-passenger Riviera Rose, in 2025, which will sail the Danube and Douro rivers.

Alongside these new ships, the cruise line also revealed five new themed itineraries, as well as a new departure exclusively for solo travellers to launch in 2026, according to a report in TravelMole.

The new itineraries will focus on the splendours of European gardens, food, drink, music and art and will be across the Rhine, Danube, Moselle and Seine rivers.

Solo travellers can also take advantage of a new itinerary, Medieval Germany for Solo Travellers departing in August 2026, TravelMole reports. 

“As we launch sales for 2026, we have a lot to offer that’s new, from a spacious ship with a third dining venue to itineraries focused on nature, gardens, gastronomy, music and art, and a cruise through Germany for solo travellers,” Marilyn Conroy, executive vice president sales and marketing in North America for Riviera River Cruises told Travel Pulse.

Just last month, Riviera Travel’s International Sales Manager, Steven Taylor, was in Sydney attending the region’s largest industry cruise conference, Cruise360, cementing the group’s interest in Australian travellers.