Riviera Travel is one of the oldest and most reliable river cruise operators in the world, with 40 years of experience running guided and escorted tours, a land and water all around the world, including river cruises.
Riviera Travel operates a unique cruising experience, partnering with local guides and experts to create a programme of guided tours and river cruises, bringing like-minded travellers together and offering a selection of authentic and bespoke travel experiences.
The operator runs river cruises on European waterways like the Danube, Rhine and Douro, but also the Nile, Mekong and Yangtze. Championing escorted tours and guided holidays, Riviera Travel line also specialises in solo travel, providing a safe, friendly and social environment for travellers going it alone.
Arles lies where the Rhône begins to fan out into the Camargue. The city was once one of the most important Roman settlements in Gaul, and many of its monuments remain in everyday use. The vast amphitheatre still hosts events, while the nearby theatre is tucked between houses and narrow lanes. Beyond the Roman past, Arles became a hub for artists, most famously Van Gogh, who painted over 300 works.Walking through Arles feels like passing between centuries. Yellow shutters, terracotta tiles and sun-bleached stone give it a soft, Provençal warmth. The Romanesque Saint-Trophime church sits next to the Place de la République, while the twisting lanes nearby hide bakeries, galleries and small shops. Cruise excursions often include walking tours taking in the main sites.A more recent addition to the city is the LUMA Arles art complex, where contemporary art installations fill a former railway yard. The twisting tower designed by Frank Gehry has become a new landmark, contrasting sharply with the city’s more traditional buildings. For those with more time, the Camargue’s wetlands, flamingos and white horses are within easy reach.
Day 4
Ardèche
Day 5
Vienne
Vienne is one of the most historically layered stops on a Rhône River cruise. Once a major Roman settlement, today's city still bears the imprint of its imperial past. A walk through the centre reveals two of the best-preserved Roman sites in France: the striking Temple of Augustus and Livia and the vast Roman theatre, which continues to host concerts and performances during the annual jazz festival. The Rhône curves through the city centre, lined with cafés and markets. The Saturday market is one of the largest in the region and sprawls across several streets and squares.Cruise passengers often join walking tours, taking in Roman and medieval landmarks. Consider riding the funicular to Mont Pipet for sweeping views over the river valley. Around the cathedral and narrow lanes, you’ll find quiet courtyards, bakeries and hidden chapels.
Arles lies where the Rhône begins to fan out into the Camargue. The city was once one of the most important Roman settlements in Gaul, and many of its monuments remain in everyday use. The vast amphitheatre still hosts events, while the nearby theatre is tucked between houses and narrow lanes. Beyond the Roman past, Arles became a hub for artists, most famously Van Gogh, who painted over 300 works.Walking through Arles feels like passing between centuries. Yellow shutters, terracotta tiles and sun-bleached stone give it a soft, Provençal warmth. The Romanesque Saint-Trophime church sits next to the Place de la République, while the twisting lanes nearby hide bakeries, galleries and small shops. Cruise excursions often include walking tours taking in the main sites.A more recent addition to the city is the LUMA Arles art complex, where contemporary art installations fill a former railway yard. The twisting tower designed by Frank Gehry has become a new landmark, contrasting sharply with the city’s more traditional buildings. For those with more time, the Camargue’s wetlands, flamingos and white horses are within easy reach.
Vienne is one of the most historically layered stops on a Rhône River cruise. Once a major Roman settlement, today's city still bears the imprint of its imperial past. A walk through the centre reveals two of the best-preserved Roman sites in France: the striking Temple of Augustus and Livia and the vast Roman theatre, which continues to host concerts and performances during the annual jazz festival. The Rhône curves through the city centre, lined with cafés and markets. The Saturday market is one of the largest in the region and sprawls across several streets and squares.Cruise passengers often join walking tours, taking in Roman and medieval landmarks. Consider riding the funicular to Mont Pipet for sweeping views over the river valley. Around the cathedral and narrow lanes, you’ll find quiet courtyards, bakeries and hidden chapels.
It is extremely difficult to convey just how extraordinary this outstanding ship really is and exactly what distinguishes the MS Thomas Hardy from similar vessels.
It would be very easy to just say ‘luxurious’ but it’s much more than that; we have deliberately avoided the current trend for a minimalist style where you could be anywhere in the world, creating instead a unique yet exquisite blend of understated taste, style and elegance at the highest level. Immediately striking is just how exceptionally spacious this new vessel is as you enter a gleaming, richly coloured marble-floored lobby flooded with natural light from a stunning atrium above. Moving inside, exceptional creativity from Europe’s finest design studio has produced a superbly balanced masterpiece of onboard style, utilising sustainable rich hardwoods, gleaming brass and polished copper, sparkling glass and intricate wrought iron. The ship is beautifully illuminated throughout – including the exterior and imaginatively furnished with harmonious colour schemes, all designed to create the serene atmosphere reflective of the golden age of cruising which time after time you tell us you adore.
This was a first ever cruise for my wife and I (both recently retired), and it was an immense privilege and joy to experience the Blue Danube river cruise with Riviera Travel on one of their newest liners, the Riviera Radiance.
We were immensely impressed by the kindness and helpfulness of their Customer Service staff in making the cruise arrangements, and equally impressed by the amazing friendly, caring and efficient service of all the staff and crew throughout the 8 day cruise, which made the trip particularly enjoyable.
Throughout the voyage, the choice and quality of the food was outstanding (with several evening meals and 'tasters' themed around places we visited in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria), and the 'all inclusive drinks package' was exceptionally enjoyable! The evening entertainment on offer was varied and engaging, often reflecting local cultural expressions (e.g., the Viennese String Quartet, and Hungarian Folk Dancing), with informal quizzes and games on offer for late night fun with others.
Our middle (Ruby) deck cabin was well equipped and comfortable, with extremely dedicated and friendly service provided several times a day by staff who supplied a fresh supply of clean towels and kept everything pleasantly clean and tidy.
With interesting daily excursions (each led by a very knowledgeable local guide) and all of our flights and daily transfers included in the overall price, along with the joy of meeting many wonderful new friends from Britain and other countries along the way, Riviera provided us with an experience of a lifetime on this first ever cruise - we are happy to highly recommend them, and very much look forward to going on another cruising experience with them !
A very enjoyable 7 nights. The ship was very comfortable with excellent amenities. The staff were friendly and helpful. The tours were great with knowledgeable guides. The food was exceptional. Very impressed.
What's fantastic trip up the River Seine with Riviera last August.We went on the Gastronomy Seine tour which did not disappoint with food tastings of cheese, wines, ciders, cakes and meats from the Normandy region at our various stops. The variety of trips was excellent from Rouen and its majestic cathedral, the beauty of Monets Garden, the thought provoking DDay landings and WWII cemetery at Bayeux along with school history dream of seeing the Bayeux Tapestry.
The food was excellent, the staff helpful and cheerful and we enjoyed the inclusive drinks package and our spacious room with picture window to watch the world go past.
Not having river cruised for over ten years ,&with two other companies. This was a truly good holiday. Organisation, staff & ambience all excellent. Food was delicious with wide variety of choice too & service in dining room very good . Thank you to Riviera for this memorable trip.
A Rhine river cruise to the Christmas markets. Riviera take the strain out of travelling then you step aboard and drop all your cares. The ships are extremely comfortable and the service efficient but not intrusive. The cabins are basically hotel rooms that float! So nice to lie in bed and watch Germany pass by. The food was of a very high standard, well presented and the accompanying wines and drinks were fantastic.Riviera can always be trusted to organise excursions well and their tour managers are always prepared to go that extra mile to ensure your trip is perfect! Give them a try.
As above: excursions extremely interesting, with extremely knowledgeable guides,who made the history of their country come alive.
Food consistently excellent and housekeeping staff always smiling and polite. When things didn't go to plan there was always an alternative which was well thought out and put into action.
