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Riverside Mozart Deck Plans & Reviews

Riverside Mozart

Activities & entertainment.

• Rooftop Garden
• Covered Lounge Area
• Wraparound Promenade
• Connoisseur’s Club - Cigar Lounge
• Outdoor Seating Area
• Fitness Center
• Live Entertainment
• In-Room Entertainment
• Guest Speakers
• Large Outdoor Television Screen
• Waterside Restaurant - Main
• Vista Grill - Al Fresco
• Vista Bar - Panoramic Bar *
• Cove Piano Bar - Piano Bar *
• Bistro - Bistro
• Blue Bar & Grill - Deli
• Vintage Room - Private
• Room Service *
• Excellent 0
• Very Good 1
• All languages ( 1 )
• English ( 1 )

US: (877) 2GO-LUXURY (877-246-5898)   UK: 020 8133 3450  AUS: (07) 3102 4685   Everywhere Else: +1 530-562-92 32

• The Best of Goldring Travel’s Making Waves Blog
• Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part I
• Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part II (Anticipation)
• Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part III (South Georgia Island)
• Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part IV (Hope Bay, Cuverville Island, Lemaire Channel and the Iceberg Graveyard)
• Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part V (Paradise Bay, Torgersen Island & Half Moon Island)
• Seabourn’s Antarctica and Patagonia – Goldring Travel’s Third Expedition – Part VI (Patagonia)
• Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part I (Pre-Cruise Perspectives and Santiago)  
• Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part II (Desolation, Getting the Party Started and Perspective – Chilean Patagonia)
• Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part III (Ushuaia and The Drake Passage – Are We There Yet?)
• Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part IV (First Days in Antarctica: Revelations, Deception and Ansel Adams)
• Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part V (Antarctica Weather, Wonder & WOW!)
• Seabourn’s Antarctica Revisited – Part VI (The Falklands – It’s Ain’t Over Till Seabourn Says It Is Over!)
• Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part I
• Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part II (Falkland Island Penguins)
• Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part III (Drake Passage and Greenwich Island-Yankee Harbour)
• Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part IV (Torgersen Island/Neko Harbor – “The Lifting of the Fog!”)
• Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part V (Peterman Island)
• Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part VI (Captain Larsen and Class, Crossing the Southern Polar Circle & Breaking Records)
• Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part VII (Waterboat Point, Kayaking…and Sadness)
• Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part IX (Punta Arenas & Goldring Travel Goes Local and Culinary)
• Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part X (El Brujo Glacier, Galley Market Lunch and Castro, Chile)
• Antarctica and Patagonia: An Adventure on the Seabourn Quest – Part XI (Reflections + Puerto Montt and Heading Home)
• Seabourn Sojourn in Alaska – Part 1 (Getting There)
• Seabourn Sojourn in Alaska – Part II (Calm Seas, Great Views, but a Rough Start)
• Seabourn Sojourn in Alaska – Part III (A Seabourn Moment and “Such a Hike. Oy!”)
• Seabourn Sojourn in Alaska – Part IV (Tourism, Tracy Arm, Kayaking and a Duck)
• Seabourn Sojourn in Alaska – Part V (Seabourn Ventures: Inian Islands, Icy Strait and College Fjord)
• Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part I (Getting There…Oy Vey…and Copenhagen)
• Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part II (Seabourn Signature Suite & Gothenburg, Sweden)
• Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part III (Olso & Sandefjord, Norway…Getting Culinary – Norwegian, Sushi and Earth & Ocean…and Discussing Whaling!)
• Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part IV (Newcastle upon Tyne, Thomas Keller and Complimentary Wines)
• Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part V (Invergordon, Scotland – Glenfiddich Whisky!)
• Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part VI (Scrabster, Scotland and Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland – Who Knew?)
• Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part VII (Goldring Travel Grand – Scottish & English – Culinary Event, Galley Market Brunch & More)
• Goldring Travel’s 2019 Culinary & Cultural Cruise -Part VIII (Bremerhaven and The Kiel Canal, Germany)
• Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part I (Getting Ready and Looking Forward)
• Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part II (Barcelona and Mahon, Menorca)
• Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part III (Monaco and Portovenere, Italy)
• Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part IV (Rome and Amalfi, Italy)
• Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part V (Syracusa, Sicily and Crotone, Italy…and Chef David )
• Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part VI (Corfu, Greece – A Culinary & Cultural Day to Remember!)
• Goldring Travel’s 2018 Culinary & Cultural Cruise – Part VII (The Seabourn Chefs Let Loose! and Katakalon, Greece)
• Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part I (Getting There and Getting On With It)
• Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part II (Tangier, Morocco: Why It Is “Culinary & Cultural”; Not “Food & Wine”)
• Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part III (Cadiz and Portimao : Sherry, Cocktails, Cheese…and a Mixology Competition!)
• Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part IV (Incredible Private Cooking Demonstration and Fireworks in Gibraltar)
• Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part VI (Tapas…And I Mean Tapas!)  
• Goldring Travel’s 2017 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise – Part VII (The Famous Food & Wine Event: Chef’s Nine Court Tastin g)
• Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part I
• Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part II (British Wine Tour and More)
• Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part III (Torquay, Pokémon Go and Little Things)
• Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part IV (Stornoway, Scotland and Smoked Salmon)
• Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part V (Kirkwall, Ullapool, Whiskey and the Kindness of a Stranger)
• Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part VI (Oban, Greenock and Belfast – Seabourn Moments!)
• Goldring Travel’s 2016 Culinary & Cultural (Food & Wine) Cruise on the Seabourn Quest – Part VII (Belfast, Liverpool – And Another Seabourn Moment!)
• Part I (A Look Back and A Look Forward)
• Part II (Copenhagen & The First Day)
• Part III (Flam & Alesund)
• Part IV (Slovlaer and Tromso)
• Part V (Honningsvag) – Ventures By Seabourn
• Part VI (Sea Days & Private Culinary Events)
• ​Part VI (Bergen, Stavanger & The Last Two Culinary Events: Shopping with the Seabourn Chef and A Cheese Tasting)
• Preparations and a Plan…Sort Of! 
• Take Off…and A Fresh Perspective 
• Air Travel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Meat! 
• The First 24 Hours and Ihhabela, Brazil 
• The Little Things (Paranagua and Porto Belo, Brazil) 
• Seabourn Quest’s Chef Creates An Incredible Tasting Event 
• The Event: Montevideo, Uruguay- Caviar, Caviar and Sturgeon ​
• Part II (Perspective)
• Part III (Storms A Brewing…And A Double Rainbow!)
• Part IV (Fish & Chips…And A Great Beer)
• Part V (Cork, Ireland and a Lucky Leprechaun Named Darina Allen)
• ​Part VI (A Day at Sea with Special Events…And Then A Most Charming Port )
• Part VII (Bordeaux- Day 1)
• Part VII (Bordeaux- Day 2: Chateau Margaux and Chateau Lynch-Bages)
• Part VIII (Relaxing and “Basque”ing)
• Part IX (Shopping With The Chef)
• Part X (The Goldring Travel Food & Wine Tasting)
• The Beginning…Almost .
• The Beginning…Leaving On A Jet Plane
• Oy, Such Problems!
• Doing So Much and Doing Nothing
• A Sea Day and Some Thoughts About The Dining Experiences
• Shopping with the Chef and Sicilian Seafood Experiences
• Malta and Food for Thought
• Pizza or the Wintergarden Suite’s Spa? Let’s Try Both!
• The Food & Wine Tasting to Die For!
• Finding Pizza and What It Means to “Travel”
• 2009 Goldring Travel Food & Wine Cruise on the Seabourn Spirit
• Some Pre-Cruise Thoughts and My Plan
• The Start: It’s All About The Clothes???
• Walking With Wine In Venice
• Finally Onboard…Err, I Mean, Home!
• Split, Croatia: Shopping With the Chef & Chilling Out Seabourn Style
• Its About The Fish!
• Meeting Up With The Big Sister & Chef’s Surprises
• Some Final Thoughts
• Travelogue Part I
• Travelogue Part II
• Travelogue Part III (The Food & Wine Tasting!)
• Goldring Travel’s 2007 Seabourn Food & Wine Cruise
• Part VI – The Photos!
• The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue
• The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue – Part II
• The Inaugural & Maiden Voyage Travelogue – Part III (The Seabourn Sojourn Has Been Delivered!)
• Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage – Part VI
• Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage – Part XII – Some Videos and Photos
• The Ca’ Segredo Hotel Starts The Sojourn
• First Impressions
• Cuisine, Venues, People
• The Standard Suites – Part I
• The Standard Suites- Part II
• The Upper Suites
• (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part I
• (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part II
• (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part III
• (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part IV (Georg Breuer Riesling Tasting)
• (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VI
• (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VII (Bamberg Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting)
• (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part VIII
• (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part IX (Food & Wine Tasting on the AmaCerto)
• (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part X
• (Amsterdam to Budapest) – Part XI – The Tokaji Wine Tasting
• Goldring Travel Experiences Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part VI (Hualien, Taiwan and Okinawa – The Kindness of Strangers)
• AmaWaterways Mekong River Cruise – Radio Interview
• Part V (Getting There & Day 1: Hanoi)
• Part VI (Let the Tour Begin!)
• Part VII (Halong Bay…and A Monk)
• Part IX (The Ship)
• Part X (The Egg)
• Part XI (Happy Pizza)
• Part XII (The Killing Fields)
• Part XIII (Our Last Days)
• Review and Reflection of the 2012 AmaWaterways AmaLotus Vietnam and Cambodia Tour and Cruise

         – Avalon Myanmar – Myanmar River Cruise – April 2017

• Avalon Waterways Myanmar – Part I (March 2017
• Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part II (Getting Here & Getting It On)
• Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part III (Yangon – Day 2)
• Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part IV (Bhamo to Katha)

Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part V (Katha to Tigyang)

Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part VI (Kya Hnyat to Kyauk Myaung)

• Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part VII (Mingun to Mandalay)
• Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part VIII (Sagaing to Bagan)

Avalon Waterways – Myanmar – Part IX (The Ship: Avalon Myanmar)

Avalon Waterways – Myanmar (Burma) – Reflections: “Isn’t This Amazing!?”

   *Azamara Club Cruises – Azamara Journey – Singapore to Dubai (April 8, 2018)

• Azamara Club Cruises – Azamara Journey – April 8, 2018 (Singapore to Dubai) – Revisiting the (Upgraded) Experience
• Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part I (Getting There and Getting Set)
• Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part II (Initial Impressions and Myanmar)
• Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part III (“Cruise Global, Go Local” in Sri Lanka)
• Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part IV (The Culinary Experience)
• Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part V (Cochin, Goa & Mumbai, India)
• Azamara Journey Asian Adventure – Part VI – Reflections (Azamara Journey vs. Regent Seven Seas Voyager)

* Azamara Quest – Southeast Asia and Japan (February 2015)

•  Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part I
• Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part II
• Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part III (Bali and Komodo Island) 
• Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part IV (Upscale Meets ????)
• Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part V (Manila, Philippines – By Day and AzAmazing Evening) 
• Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part V (Perspectives on Experiencing Developing Ports)
• Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part VI (Hualien, Taiwan and Okinawa – The Kindness of Strangers)
• Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part VII (Doing It On Your Own – Part A – Dontonbori, Osaka)
• Azamara Club Cruises in Asia – Is it Amazing? Part VIII (Doing It On Your Own – Part B – Kyoto – Why You Can’t Rely Only On Guidebooks or TripAdvisor!)
• Celebrity Xperience – The Galapagos- Part I
• Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part II (Getting There, Pre-Cruise, Baltra & Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island
• Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part III (More Than You Expect)
• Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part IV (Sea Lions & Boobies & Penguins, Oh My!)
• Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part V (The Attack of the Flightless Cormorant…and Other Cool Stuff!)
• Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part VI (Incredible Birding, Baby Sea Lions and So Much More)
• Celebrity Xperience In The Galapagos- Part VII (Reflections & Updates on the Ships – Including the new Celebrity Flora – and What to Consider.)              

– How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? – Part I – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? Part II – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? Part III – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? Part IV – How Close to Luxury Can Celebrity’s Smallest Ship Get? – Some Final Observations and Thoughts

– The Prologue to the Travelogue – The Adventure Begins…With a Bump or Two – Settling In Made Easy – Luxury Touches Here, There and OK, Not, Everywhere…But There Are Lots of Them! – Asian Flair Onboard and On Shore – Private Tours, Israel and Conflicts in Perceptions and Perspective Celebrity Equinox 2009 – Egypt…Impressive and Depressing – Dining With the Captain and the Reidel Wine Seminar – The Last Dinner (Tuscan Grille) and Disembarkation – What Happens When A Class Act Meets Highly Discounted Cruise Fare

– How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? – Part I – How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? – Part II – How Upscale to Luxury is a Celebrity Cruise Experience? The Review – Part III

– Celebrity Solstice 2008 Inaugural Cruise – Part I – Celebrity Solstice 2008 Inaugural Cruise – Part II

Celebrity Summit “Solticized” – A Ship Inspection (2012)

– Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part I – Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part II – Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part III – Lisbon to Monaco: Crystal As a “Move Up” & “Move Over” Luxury Option – Part IV (Food & Wine!)

– Part I – Part II – Part III – Part IV – Part V – Part VI – Part VII – Part VIII – Part IX – Goldring Travel’s Pacific Exploration of Crystal Cruise’s Luxury Experience – “Reflections”

– Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 – A Winter Transatlantic Crossing on Her 10th Anniversary

– Immersing In fathom’s Social Impact Programs

– Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part I – Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part II – Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part III – Cruising the Peruvian Amazon With G Adventures – Part IV (What Group Travel Should Really Be About!)

– Norwegian Gem – Budget Cruises Pitching Luxury: You Don’t Get What You Pay For, You Only Think You Do.

– Paul Gauguin (2007)

– Princess Cruises Doesn’t Treat You Like Royalty; Celebrity Cruises Does! Which is a Better Value for the Upscale Cruise Guest? Part I – Celebrity Silhouette vs. -Royal Princess – Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part II: The Standard Veranda Staterooms – Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess – Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part III: Treating You Right From The Start – Celebrity Silhouette vs. Royal Princess – Which Is A Better Value For The Upscale Cruise Guest? Part IV: The Wine Lists Speak Volumes (As Do The Beverage Packages)

   Regent Seven Seas Voyager – August 2017

• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017)
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Getting There and First Impressions
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part III (Florence and Ajaccio: Starting to Drill Down on the Regent Experience)
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part IV (La Spezia and Monaco: Consistent Inconsistencies and Misses)
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part V (Antibes and Marseilles: The Ensemble Experience, Cultural Wine “Tasting” and Sette Mari – Luxury Experiences for Sure)
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: Rome to Barcelona – August 1, 2017) – Part VI (Palamos, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca & Valencia: Culinary Bliss..and Consistent Inconsistencies)
• Goldring Travel Revisits Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Seven Seas Voyager: August 1, 2017) – Caveat Emptor! Consistently Inconsistent: Not a “Six Star Luxury” Cruise Experience

– Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Travelogue – Prologue – Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas – My First 24 Hours – Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas – A Hurricane Runs Through It…Almost – Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas Travelogue – The Last Days …

– Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part I – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part II (Getting There, The Stateroom and First Impressions) – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part III (“You Can’t Teach Five Star Service” and Bonafacio, Corsica) – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part IV (Calvi, Monaco, Portofino, Porto Azzurro…and Stale Bread) – Italy and Corisca 2014 – Part V (My Last Day…and How The Chef’s Team Makes It Happen)

• Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part I
• Silversea Expedition Cruises –Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part II (Singapore & Raffles Hotel)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part III (Ship Happens: Singapore Day 2)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises –  Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part IV (The Ship Arrives)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises –  Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part V (The Expedition Begins – Orangutans & Jimmy Buffett)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part VI (What is an Expedition Cruise? Why am I Here?)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part VII (Myanmar – No Complaints!)
• Silversea Expedition Cruises – Silver Discoverer Indonesia/Myanmar Expedition: Part VIII (Myanmar – Developing Tourism & Finding Nemo Again)

• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part I
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part II
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part III
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part IV
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part V
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part VI
• Silversea Silver Shadow Alaska Cruise Review – Part VII

– A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part I – A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part II – A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part III (Spa, Beauty and Fashion) – A Few Days in Taipei, Taiwan – Who Knew? – Part IV (Cuisine: Street, Sublime & Surreal)

– Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise – Part I – Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise – Part II – The Transformation of A Cruise Line – Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze Inaugural Cruise – Part III – The Windstar Experience 2.0

– Windstar Cruises – Star Pride Black Sea Cruise – Part I – Windstar Cruises – Star Pride Black Sea Cruise – Part II – Windstar Cruises – Star Pride Black Sea Cruise – Part III

Windstar’s Wind Surf – Caribbean – January 2014

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Goldring Travel Blog – Making Waves

Cruise & travel news, reviews, opinions, deals & more.

• December 28, 2022

Goldring Travel

Riverside luxury river cruises – definitely worth a hard look.

Riverside Luxury River Cruises is a new, and somewhat unique, approach to luxury river cruises; definitely with an international flare…which you know I love!

Its first ship is the luxury  R iverside Mozart . You know, the former Crystal Mozart , which in many ways, set the luxury standard for river cruise hardware due, in part, to her being so wide with a unique – almost catamaran-style – hull.

Riverside’s approach is not to reinvent the ship and its offerings, but to appreciate what they are and use them to provide a wonderful river cruise experience.   But before I get into the ship, let’s discuss its new owner and its plans!

While the cruise line is a new startup, the owner is anything but. Riverside is part of the Seaside Collection (formerly Seaside Hotels), a very well-regarded hotel group owned by the German Gerlach family. They own numerous four-and-five-star properties in Germany, Spain, the Canary Islands, and the Maldives, but are now focused on diversifying their tourism portfolio…and their customer base, which is currently primarily German.

The Seaside Collection, and thus, Riverside Luxury Cruises, is not content with its acquisition of the former Crystal Mozart, but is looking to purchase the other former Crystal river cruise ships as well. 

Riverside has brought on Jennifer Halboth, a former longtime – and very well-known – Globus Family of Brands (Avalon River Cruises, etc.) executive – as CEO, as well as many highly experienced former Crystal Cruises folks, including Captain Bela Burjan, Hotel Manager Sonja Gruber, Chef de Cuisine Johannes Bar, and Director of Land Operations Ulrike Nehls.  With this backbone, the luxury experience (onboard service and cuisine as well as land-based) is assured.

With this background, Riverside Luxury Cruises intends to elevate the culinary, overall onboard, and off-ship, experiences with a philosophy of “ Money Can’t Buy Moments “.

The Riverside concept is to offer a variety of short (3-4 day) and longer (7-11 day) sailings – all of which can be combined – coupled with a unique pricing strategy, to attract both Europeans looking for a shorter getaway and North Americans interested in a short-stay moving hotel to guests looking for the more traditional seven-to-eleven-day (or longer) Danube River cruise. (Note: Because Riverside Mozart is essentially a double-wide river cruise ship, she cannot venture into other rivers…which is why the Seashore Collection is working to secure the other four former Crystal river cruise ships!)

It intends on providing the very best cuisine – changing menus as the ship sails to different regions – and wines onboard, with a focus on local and global vintages and spirits, delivered in four dining venues (Marketplace, Blue Bar & Grill, Vista Bar & Grill, and the more traditional Waterside) plus the Vintage Room culinary and wine experience!

Riverside’s 2023 itineraries are interesting, but one is most definitely my favorite…and one I am hoping to be on (and you may want to join me on it!) : From Vienna to The Iron Gates, visiting Austria, Slovakia, Hungary (including two overnights in Budapest) , Croatia, Serbia, and Romania (though the cruise through the Iron Gates – actually a spectacular series of gorges – there is no stop there).

Riverside is offering a wide variety of shore excursions, from vigorous bike rides and hikes to culinary experiences (including cooking classes), to religious, historical, art, walking, and other options. Clearly, delivering meaningful experiences to the intended guest demographic of diverse interests is a primary focus.

What I find very interesting is Riverside’s pricing approach. It offers four different prices – based upon inclusiveness – on every cruise.  Every fare includes meals, Wi-Fi, and port fees and taxes. All cruises of seven days or longer include a 10% Long Stay discount. But that is where the similarity ends! More specifically…and in line with “What is Your Luxury?”:

• Best Fare – This is the basic ala carte pricing. All beverages (except water), excursions, etc. are additional costs.
• Full Board Including Excursions – Adds to the Best Fare one Preselected Shore Excursion in each port. ($700 more than Best Fare per person on a seven-night cruise)
• Premium All Inclusive – Adds to the Best Fare the following: A Premium Beverage Package, Room Service, and Cake/Waffles/Ice Cream in the afternoon. ($525 per person more than Best Fare on a seven-night cruise) 
• Premium All Inclusive Including Excursions – Adds to the Premium All Inclusive one Preselected Shore Excursion in each port. ($1,225 per person more than Best Fare on a seven-night cruise)

If you are an independent traveler that doesn’t take many tours and is a modest drinker, the Best Fare is, well, clearly the Best Fare. If you are independent but enjoy Room Service and Beverages, then the Premium All Inclusive clearly is the way to go (and most probably what I would default to!) As I am not sure what preselected tours are included on a particular river cruise, I’m not sure there is great value in the excursion-included packages, but time will tell.

Riverside Mozart is known for her large and very well-appointed suites.  Starting with the fixed window Harmony Suites at 215 square feet, next are the Riverside and Symphony Suites with are about the same size, but have French Balconies. Penthouse Suites are an impressive 333 square feet with French Balcony. The largest suite, the Mozart Suite is 645 square feet with a separate bedroom and French Balconies; that can be combined with an interconnecting Riverside Suite to create a two-bedroom Owner’s Suite.

Riverside Luxury Cruises is currently offering a 20% Discount on bookings made before May 2023. So now is the time to give this new luxury river cruise line a hard look!

 Interested? Give me a call, send me an email, send me a direct message or even contact me on WhatsApp!

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This New River Cruise Line Launches Next Month in Europe — With Fantastic Food and Extra-spacious Suites

We were on board for Riverside Luxury Cruises' first sailing. Here's what to expect when the new line launches next month.

Courtesy of Riverside Mozart

“Caviar is my favorite food group,” one of my dining companions mused.

It was piled atop a lightly seared piece of flaky halibut, surrounded by a mouthwatering beurre blanc.

We followed the fish with seared foie gras, an herb-crusted beef filet, a blue cheese profiterole, and for dessert ( my favorite food group), a hazelnut sphere and petit fours. Each course was expertly paired with wines that all had a story, whether it was the Champagne that once graced the table of King Louis XIV or the white from South Tyrol, a region in Italy that’s been growing wine since the Iron Age.

This was the experience in the Vintage Room, the luxe, limited-access, 12-person dining room aboard the Riverside Mozart . 

Mozart is the first river ship launched by Riverside Luxury Cruises , a new cruise line and the sibling brand of Seaside Collection hotels. There is another ship coming this year , too: the Riverside Ravel . The ships are former Crystal river boats, placed back into use after the company’s bankruptcy in early 2022. While Mozart will sail the Danube, Ravel will bring passengers along the Rhine, Rhône, and Saône. Three more ships, Debussy , Bach, and Mahler , will be added in 2024, bringing the total to five — but for now, the first two will begin to officially sail in April.

Our itinerary sailed from Budapest to Vienna, a path Mozart will continue to take. From my stateroom — a Riverside Suite outfitted with a king-size bed, bidet, and palette of ocean and foam — I watched the wind pull the curtains out the French balcony door the first day, letting them billow in the breeze to announce our departure from Budapest. 

A few moments later, I was up in the Cove Piano Bar on the third deck looking for directions to lunch. 

“The basil and I are going to Blue,” the bartender said, referring to both the plant he was holding and the grill restaurant at the back of the boat. “Would you like to walk with us?”

I followed him up to the Vista Deck, the top of the ship. We took a route past the onboard herb garden, alongside early growth of rosemary, lavender, sage, and yes, that basil.

We walked from the bow to Blue’s spot at the stern. From this viewpoint atop the boat, you can see another aspect of Mozart that makes it truly special. The ship is double-wide, 75 feet across. While that may keep it on the Danube because of an inability to head through most locks, it also allows for every room to have a king-size bed; a fitness center with two rooms and Technogym equipment; one of the largest spas on a river ship today, complete with a hot tub, pool, lounge area, massage treatment rooms, and changing rooms with steam rooms and saunas; and a salon. 

The extra space also allows for an exemplary culinary program. The kitchen is double the size from other river boats — and so is the amount spent on food. Pasta and bread are made from scratch on the boat the day you eat it. And the menu changes daily, pulling inspiration (and wine selections) from the local ports of call. 

In addition to Blue and the Vintage Room, Mozart ’s dining options include the Waterside Restaurant, with daily gourmet a la carte meals; the Bistro, which turns into a tapas restaurant in the evenings; and the pop-up rooftop barbecue grill and bar (literally pop-up, it lowers into the deck for bridges). The true gourmands can take a break in the Connoisseur Club, where cigars and whisky are the stars. It’s like walking into an enormous humidor. 

“Wellness, wine, design, and space to move around,” Jennifer Halboth, the CEO of Riverside Luxury Cruises, told me. “That’s Riverside.”

It’s also a family affair. Mozart has no passenger age limit and offers conjoining rooms. So, parents staying in one of the 14 expansive multiroom luxury suites on the boat could join to one of the 67 other rooms, where a nanny and children could stay. That’s perfect for the demographic Riverside is targeting: late 30s and early 40s, those with young families who are potentially short on time but love to experience new things. The itineraries themselves can be linked together, allowing for a cruise as short as three days or as long as 14 or more. Essentially, you and your family can build your own river vacation, using Mozart or one of the other ships as your floating boutique hotel. 

It’s just another way Riverside is full of surprises. As I was drinking a milkshake (banana nutella, in case you were wondering) at the Bistro, I overheard another passenger sum up the Mozart experience after locating the ice cream station: “There’s always something new I’m discovering on this ship!”

Mozart ’s cruises start at $856 for three nights.

• River Cruising

Any experience with Riverside Ravel

By GetOnTheWater , October 16, 2023 in River Cruising

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GetOnTheWater

I am looking at Riverside Luxury Cruises for a river trip next year on the Ravel. They are a new cruise line and there are very few reviews or feedback on what they were like. Almost everything I have seen has been about the Riverside Mozart which is a very different ship. Is there anyone here who has had experience with the Riverside Ravel? How was the ship and the excursions they offered? Thanks

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The ship is going to be amazing because it was a former Crystal ship. I don't think the Ravel is sailing right now, so there won't be any reports. I had toured one of the other Crystal ships when on the Mozart - I don't remember which one. Hopefully, Riverside can give you a good feeling for the tours.

20 minutes ago, Coral said: The ship is going to be amazing because it was a former Crystal ship. I don't think the Ravel is sailing right now, so there won't be any reports. I had toured one of the other Crystal ships when on the Mozart - I don't remember which one. Hopefully, Riverside can give you a good feeling for the tours.

The Ravel started sailing between Lyon and Avignon France in August so has had a couple of months of travel. I have been trying to get info from Riverside on the excursions they offer without any luck. Their web site lists excursions for the routes for the Mozart and Debussy but no info for Ravel.

10 minutes ago, GetOnTheWater said: The Ravel started sailing between Lyon and Avignon France in August so has had a couple of months of travel. I have been trying to get info from Riverside on the excursions they offer without any luck. Their web site lists excursions for the routes for the Mozart and Debussy but no info for Ravel.

Thanks for the correction. 

I found this new review of a trip on the Ravel:  https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/first-impressions-of-riverside-luxury-cruises-just-back-from-riverside-ravel

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Riverside Ravel Luxury River Cruise Ship Review

Are you wondering about the new riverside ravel.

One of our favourite ways to enjoy a vacation is to combine a bit of relaxation with an opportunity to immerse ourselves in history, culture and great food.  We recently had an opportunity to do just that on a Rhône River cruise aboard the new Riverside Ravel.

Riverside Luxury Cruises is a brand new River Cruise line owned by the German luxury hotelier Seaside  Collection.  Seaside Collection is renowned for its exclusive 5-star luxury hotels in places like Grand Canary and the Maldives. 

Seaside got into the River Cruise business in 2022 when they bought Crystal Mozart from struggling Crystal Cruise lines in late 2022.  They followed that up by buying the rest of the Crystal Cruise River boats in 2023, including the spectacular Riverside Ravel.

Highlights of the Riverside Ravel

✅ A new ship with refreshed decor and a modern luxury feel

✅ Large, spacious staterooms with high-end amenities and all with a balcony

✅ Well planned community spaces including lounge, bar area and upper sun deck

About The Riverside Ravel

The Ravel was built in 2018 so is a relatively new ship.  In fact, because of the Covid-19 pandemic followed by the insolvency of Crystal Cruises in 2022, the Crystal Ravel only had a few sailings before being purchased by Riverside.

The previously named Crystal Ravel was officially christened “Riverside Ravel” in Viviers, France on August 16, 2023, before making her inaugural voyage on the Rhône.  We were fortunate enough to catch her second sailing from Lyon, France on August 27th.

With 55 suites and a passenger capacity of just 110, there is never a feeling of being crowded on this ship.  In fact, there were only 42 passengers on our sailing which made the ship feel like our private yacht.  It was a very relaxed atmosphere and we got to know the other passengers and crew quite early into the trip.

The Ravel is a sleek and modern river cruise ship with a length of 135 metres (443 feet) and a width of 11 metres (36 feet).  The ship has 4 decks – the lower Harmony Deck, the 2nd Seahorse Deck, the 3rd Riverside Deck and finally, the Vista Sundeck.

Deck 1 – Harmony Deck

The Harmony Deck is the lowest deck on the Ravel and is reserved for crew quarters as well as a self serve laundry, fitness centre and spa treatment room located at the front of the deck.  There is a spiral staircase that leads to the Harmony Deck near these common facilities. 

The free self-serve laundry is a nice touch especially if you pack light (as we tend to do).  We used it a couple of times on our cruise, including the day before disembarkation so we didn’t have to worry about doing laundry when we got home.

Deck 2 – Seahorse Deck

The Seahorse Deck is divided between guest staterooms towards the rear of the ship, the reception area near the middle of the ship and the Waterside Dining Room at the front of the ship. 

There is also a tender platform at the rear of the ships where kayaks and water toys are stored and deployed.

Deck 3 – Riverside Deck

The Riverside Deck is also divided into sections.  At the very rear of the Riverside Deck is the indoor pool. 

Next to the pool area moving toward the front of the ship is a section allocated to guest staterooms.  That is followed by an open area where the spiral staircase and central elevator are located. 

Just past the elevator is the bistro and café which is followed by the Palm Court Lounge – the main meeting area on the ship.

Deck 4 – Vista Deck

The Vista Deck is the ship’s popular sundeck and has 3 retractable canopied seating areas.  There is a retractable bar that serves snacks, fast food and drinks. 

This is also where the ship hosts its famous BBQ lunches.  The Vista deck can be accessed by the mid ship staircase that leads to the Bistro or by stairs at the back of the ship that lead to the pool area. 

The entire upper deck is enclosed by a glass railing which means you get unobstructed views no matter where you happen to be relaxing.

Riverside Ravel Accommodations

So you would expect a River Cruise company that is owned by a luxury hotelier to have exemplary accommodations for its guests and in this regard the Riverside Ravel does not disappoint.  While there are several sizes of suites on the Ravel, they all offer the same luxurious fittings and amenities. 

First of all, you don’t need to worry about whether or not you want a balcony because on the Ravel, every suite has a panoramic balcony window that goes from wall to wall and ceiling to floor.  There is a control on the wall near the window that lowers and raises the top pane of glass so you decide if you want to enjoy the great outdoors. 

There is even a retractable bug screen so you can enjoy the evening sunset without having to worry about mosquitos distracting your zen.

Every suite has a king size bed (convertible to 2 twins) with luxurious sheets and duvets with lots of puffy pillows. 

There are night tables on either side of the bed with electrical outlets (European and North American) as well as USB ports to charge your devices. 

The night tables also have some storage space for things you like to have close by.  A master light switch allows you to turn off all the lights without having to get out of bed.

Each suite has a desk and chair along with a siting area (depending on the suite size).  There is a Nespresso coffee maker in each suite and coffee, tea, cream and sweetener/sugar are replenished daily.  A minibar is also provided in each suite and both still and sparkling water are stocked daily.

A large closet with plenty of hangers, cubbies for storage and a safe complement each room.  Inside the closet you will also find 2 cozy bathrobes and 2 pairs of slippers to keep your feet warm.  There is also a set of binoculars that you have at your disposal.

Every bathroom on the Ravel is stocked with quality toiletries.  A marble and glass rain shower with hand held shower head is also common to every suite.  The bathrooms are bright and elegant with lots of light.

So now let’s look at the suite categories.

Melody Suite

The Melody Suite is the smallest of the Ravel suites and is located on the aft part of the Seahorse Deck (Deck 2).  These suites are 18 square metres (194 square feet) but still provide a comfortable space for 2 people. 

The bed in the Melody suite has the headboard against the wall and the panoramic balcony window is perpendicular to the bed so when you are lying or sitting in bed you are facing the opposite wall where the desk/workstation is located. 

The bathroom in the Melody Suite has all of the amenities of the other suites but it has a single sink vanity and may feel a little crowded for some.

The closet in the Melody Suite consists of a single row of shelves beside an open floor to ceiling space with hangers for your clothes.

While it is the smallest of the ship’s suites it is also the most economical so if you are on a budget and don’t mind giving up a bit of space, you still get all the comforts of a luxury suite. 

Keep in mind that there are lots of places on the ship to hang out and relax if you want to spread out a little.  And to be fair, 18 square metres is more than you get on a lot of standard ocean ship staterooms without all of the luxury that the Ravel provides.

Seahorse Suite

The Seahorse Suite is 22 square metres (237 square feet) and is located on the 2 nd Deck, the Seahorse Deck (surprise!).  This is the suite that we stayed in on our Rhône River cruise.

The Seahorse has a different configuration than the Melody Suite, with the bed facing the large panoramic balcony window .  The headboard of the bed is against the wall to the bathroom with the desk/workstation being on the wall beside the bed.  We found this to be nice because we could read or work in bed and be facing the balcony to see what we were sailing past.

The bathroom in the Seahorse Suite has a double sink vanity and a bit more space in general than the Melody Suite.

The closet is also slightly bigger with 2 rows of shelves instead of 1 for clothes and storage.

Symphony Suite

The Symphony Suite has exactly the same configuration as the Melody Suite but is located on the 3rd level Riverside Deck. Even though the rooms are identical, you will pay a bit more for a Symphony Suite than a Melody suite because you are one deck higher.

Riverside Suite

The Riverside Suite, located on the Riverside Deck (Deck 3) is identical to the Seahorse Suite on the 2nd Deck but is 24 square metres (258 square feet) instead of 22 square metres (237 square feet).  Again, because it is on deck 3 instead of deck 2, this suite will be more expensive than the Seahorse Suite. 

Ravel Suite

The Ravel Suite is a 1 bedroom suite on the Riverside Deck that is 47 square metres (506 square feet).  This suite has a separate bedroom with a king size bed that faces a panoramic balcony window and includes a walk-in closet.

A separate living space has a pull-out sofa, 2 armchairs, a dining table and a fireplace with a panoramic balcony window.

The bathroom is very spacious with double sinks and a large rain shower with a seat.

You also get some extra services when you book the Ravel Suite.  This includes complimentary ironing service, complimentary laundry service as well as complimentary limousine service on your embarkation and disembarkation days.

Owners Suite

If you want the ultimate in luxury on this already luxurious ship you can opt for the 2 bedroom Owners Suite located on the Riverside Deck.  This is the Ravel suite plus a connecting stateroom. This suite boasts 71 metres (764 square feet) of elegant living space and can accommodate up to 5 people. 

Each bedroom has a panoramic balcony window and walk in closet.  The master bedroom has a marble bath with a view of the river!  The second bedroom has its own mini fridge and height adjustable dining/coffee table.

The master bathroom has a glass-enclosed rain shower and double sink vanities. The second bathroom has a toilet and sink.

And you get complimentary ironing service, complimentary laundry service as well as complimentary limousine service on your embarkation and disembarkation days.

Things To Know About Suite Location

The less expensive suites are on the 2 nd level Seahorse deck.  This is on the same deck as the dining room which you will go to at least twice a day so you won’t have to worry about stairs or waiting for the elevator. 

The Seahorse Deck also tends to be quiet at night because you only have staterooms above and beneath you.  If you are on the Riverside Deck, you are on the same level as the café/bistro and the Palm Court lounge.  You also have the Vista Deck and bar above you.  Not that noise is an issue, but there may be the odd night when a few people decide to party a little.

The Palm Court Lounge

The Palm Court Lounge is the ship’s entertainment centre and central meeting place .  It is located on the Riverside Deck (Deck 3) just in front of the Bistro.  This is a very open and airy space with light coloured furniture, floor to ceiling windows and a glass roof that lets in lots of light.

There is a small stage for performances and lectures along with a piano and dance floor.  Comfortable chairs and sofas are strategically placed around the lounge area.  The large, curved bar is located on the aft side of the lounge and an outdoor seating area is located at the bow.

The Waterside Dining Room

The Waterside Dining Room is located at the front of the Seahorse Deck just past the main reception area.  This is a very elegant dining room with table settings located on both sides of the room.  At the very front of the dining room is the open kitchen.  This is where the breakfast buffet is served from.

The food on the Riverside Ravel is one of the ship’s true highlights .  The food and wines served at lunch and dinner are themed based on the location that you are sailing through.  The presentation of the plates is artfully done and serves to exemplify the quality and flavour of each dish. 

There was not one meal that left us the least bit disappointed, and we always looked forward to the next one.

The Vintage Room

The Vintage Room is Riverside Ravel’s version of Specialty Dining.  It is an intimate, closed space tucked behind the Palm Court Lounge on the 3rd Deck.  The room is quite small (cozy) with a long dining table and seating for 10.  This space can be reserved for private parties or events at an additional charge.

The Final Word on the Riverside Ravel

We really love river cruising because it combines so many of our favourite activities within a single trip. 

We get to meet new friends, enjoy great food and local wine, and immerse ourselves in the culture of the places we visit.  And the Riverside Ravel enhanced the experience for us by offering a comfortable and luxurious place to return to at the end of each day and just feel totally at home.

We have cruised other lines before and enjoyed the experience on those as well, but the Riverside Ravel is just a cut above with its attention to detail especially in the quality of the accommodations and care in making each meal a culinary experience.  We are looking forward to other cruises on the Ravel and her sister ships as we continue to add places to our bucket list.

If you are looking for expert advice on Riverside Luxury cruises, contact us to assist with your reservation.

Denis is always up for a new adventure and has aspirations to explore a minimum of 100 countries. He originally travelled for his work going to all but one of the United States. Now he enjoys travelling for fun and his first love is African countries including Rwanda, Tanzania and South Africa. Wherever he is, he loves to check out unique destinations, try all the local foods and of course, taste the beer and wine from the region.

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Chocolate & Windmills: Riverside Debussy Rhine River Cruise Review

Published 2nd April 2024 in Trip Reports By Helen Fensom /cruise-news/trip-report/riverside-debussy-cruise-review

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We are seeing more river cruise lines than ever offering the opportunity to try a shorter itinerary, making a river cruise on Riverside Luxury Cruises an ideal short break or taster cruise if you are new to river cruising. I recently returned from a great five-night Rhine river cruise sailing from Brussels to Amsterdam on board the Riverside Debussy, Riverside Luxury Cruises' second ship. Read my review below.

Formally Crystal Debussy, a river cruise on Riverside Debussy was simply the perfect short break trip for me at Easter. I travelled on the Eurostar from London to Brussels in only two hours before a short complimentary transfer - and then it was time to board.

Debussy offers 55 stunning suites which all vary in size and features; my home for five nights was a very spacious Seahorse suite boasting a large bathroom, kingsize bed and a panoramic window which drops to become a French balcony. Riverside offer a Premium All Inclusive Package which allowed me to explore at every stop with very knowledgeable and local guides.

Brussels was the first morning trip included with a choice of different areas to visit; a small group walking tour of the city showcased what the city has to offer. The unofficial capital of the EU showcased the Royal Palace and Grand Place Square along with many neo-Gothic style buildings.

Then we enjoyed a morning in medieval Ghent. The best way to see this simply beautiful city was via canal, and we enjoyed a private small boat just for Riverside guests, quietly navigating the narrow waterways and taking in castles, cathedrals and old merchant houses. Then we enjoyed some free time (as most river cruises offer), to stroll past endless chocolate shops and Flemish lace on display.

After a beautiful lunch on board, it was then off to explore Bruges in the afternoon; a four-hour trip taking in this superbly preserved medieval city which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We wandered with our guide through winding cobblestone lanes and explored the market before again having some time for an independent wander, this time taking in a local Belgian beer and of course some frites!

Of course, there was no unpacking or changing hotels needed on this trip - which is why a short river cruise for me appeals so much! Arriving next into the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands, the charming city of Middelburg awaited us for a morning visit.

Dating back to the late eighth century this city emerged as one of the most important centres for the Dutch East India Company, second only to Amsterdam. We enjoyed time to explore the 850-year-old abbey and some of the finest Gothic architecture in the country. The afternoon then took us to town of Veere, an old trading link with Scotland. A wonder around the harbour and the ancient city wall was finished off over a shot of whisky (a little nod to the town's historical connection to Scotland).

Optional bike tours are available at most stops if you prefer, and some are even electric so there are no issues with fitness levels of trying to keep up! A visit to the Netherlands would not be complete without a visit to see the Windmills of Kinderdijk, another UNESCO-listed site that's home to 19 windmills, the largest collection in the Netherlands.

These windmills were created to to keep the surrounding water at bay and to keep low lying areas dry for cultivation. I had my first ever look inside a working windmill and then a very steep climb to the top to see the mechanics at work!

Rotterdam then offered a variety of excursions including an architectural walking tour, harbour cruise or the interesting Schiedam Jenever Museum.

Rotterdam harbour is the largest seaport in Europe and is home to former Holland America Line ship SS Rotterdam, now a ship hotel. She was very impressive to sail past, and this was a great way to see the skyline of the city and appreciate the scale of this impressive port.

Back on Debussy for the final night on board, we enjoyed an a la carte dinner with varied menus and wine pairing followed by low-key entertainment in the Palm Court lounge. A short flight back to London from Amsterdam ended this memorable short break, taking in so many varied destinations from the luxurious environment of the Riverside Debussy.

If you are new to river cruising, a shorter itinerary would be a great way to give it a try, or for the hardened river cruiser this is certainly a great idea for a short break away with convenient UK connections and to tick off some more cities from your bucket list!

Helen is a Cruise Consultant at Mundy Cruising, having worked with the company for six years and in travel for over 30 years. Most recently she’s cruised on Regent Seven Seas and has also sailed with Seabourn, Azamara, Hebridean, AmaWaterways, Scenic, Hurtigruten, Riverside, Uniworld and Quark. Her favourite destinations is Italy however she’s also enjoyed cruises in the Mediterranean, Danube, Caribbean, Alaska, Arctic, Greenland, UAE, Red Sea, Svalbard and the British Isles. When she’s not travelling she loves cooking, trying new recipes and gardening.

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Riverside Ravel Cruise Review — Peter Knego Glides Along France’s Rhone River On A Former Crystal Vessel

Jan 23, 2024 | 2

Riverside Ravel Cruise Review

By Peter Knego

Among the Quirky cruising highlights of 2023 was the return of two of the former Crystal Cruises river vessels under the management of new luxury river line, Riverside Cruises.

In the spring, they brought the one-off, double-wide Mozart back into service on the Danube ( click here to see Quirky Cruises’ John Robert’s review of the Riverside Mozart ) and in August, the lovely Ravel returned to the Rhone.

Author Peter Knego (r) and hubby Mike Masino with the 110-pax Riverside Ravel in Lyon. * Photo: Peter Knego

I was one of the lucky guests to experience the Ravel’s 3-night inaugural cruise from Avignon to Lyon this past August.

This was a one-off sailing to introduce the Ravel to media and travel advisors, sampling a few of the ports the ship visits on the Rhone. Riverside has several itineraries from Avignon and Lyon that range from three to seven nights.

Along with the DeBussy, Bach and Mahler, the 110-passenger Ravel is one of four identical ships built for Crystal ’s European river operations and made her debut with Bordeaux-based cruises on the Garonne in 2018. After Crystal folded in 2022 , all four of these ships and the Mozart were laid up before being purchased by Riverside.

The Ravel is the first of this class to return, having been transferred from the Atlantic coast of France to the Mediterranean via a massive yacht transport vessel earlier this year before getting a stem to stern refurbishment.

Riverside DeBussy starts service in March 2024 on the Rhine River.

In October 2023, Riverside leased the Bach and Mahler to Uniworld for three years, to cruise as the Super Ship Victoria and Elisabeth , respectively.

READ MORE: Quirky’s Anne Kalosh reports on the Uniworld charter here.

Ravel, Deck By Deck

As with all inaugural sailings, especially in this post-pandemic era with hiring and the global supply chain challenges, it was far too early to fully assess and review the Riverside product during our short cruise but what they had to offer at that early stage was impressively promising.

The Riverside Ravel impressed. * Photo: Peter Knego

The staff were courteous, eager to please and efficient and the vessel is nothing short of stunning.

The 110-passenger Riverside Ravel is one of the most beautiful river cruise ships I have had the pleasure of experiencing thus far. Externally, she exudes a streamline “moderne” look with a vertical bow and sleek superstructure trimmed in green with shaded and green glass panels.

The Riverside Ravel switching berths at Lyon. * Photo: Peter Knego

There are four guest decks, beginning at the top with Vista Deck (4) which has a bar that can be lowered via hydraulics into the deck below when the ship is navigating low bridges.

The Vista Bar can be lowered into the deck below to clear low bridges. * Photo: Peter Knego

There is a shaded outdoor seating area with padded loungers and deck chairs. There is also a barbecue and grill area that can be set up for deck parties and dining events.

The sheltered seating area on Vista Deck. * Photo: Peter Knego

Riverside Deck (3) begins with an open observation terrace on the bow, continuing inside with the Palm Court Lounge that can seat all guests at once.

Riverside Deck has an open bow terrace, which is especially nice when Vista Deck (4) is closed due to low lying bridges. * Photo: Peter Knego

By day, a quiet lounge with full length windows on each side and bathed in natural light via large glass skylights, it becomes the main evening hub when its dance floor, bar and grand piano are put to use.

The Palm Court Lounge in an aft-facing view. * Photo: Peter Knego

The Bistro Cafe, which has a variety of snacks and freshly brewed specialty coffees, including some truly excellent cappuccinos, on a mostly round-the-clock basis, follows.

The Bistro Cafe in a forward-facing view along the starboard side. * Photo: Peter Knego

It was almost impossible to have just one cappuccino at the Bistro Cafe. * Photo: Peter Knego

Accessed on the forward port side of the Bistro Cafe, the Vintage Room is a 10-seat wine pairing dining experience that commands a€295 EURO cover per guest.

The Vintage Room, facing forward. * Photo: Peter Knego

An elegant spiral staircase descends from the  Bistro Cafe foyer, surrounding a glass elevator that  resembles a pod transporter from Star Trek in its center.

The tubular elevator aboard Riverside Ravel. * Photo: Peter Knego

Beyond the stairs, accommodations continue aft on Riverside Deck to a current-pool topped with a skylight and an enclosed lido with seating on either side.

The indoor pool area on aft Riverside Deck has cushioned loungers and a skylight. * Photo: Peter Knego

The pool was an especially nice retreat during our trip, which was beleaguered by a record-breaking heat wave that made the outer decks feel like roasting in an air fryer.

Seahorse Deck (2), begins with the aptly named Waterside Restaurant, which has full length windows framing water level views. There is a buffet style service area just forward where breakfast and lunch selections are laid out in various action stations.

The handsome Waterside Restaurant foyer. * Photo: Peter Knego

The Waterside Restaurant in an aft-facing view. * Photo: Peter Knego

The forward portion of the U-shaped restaurant spans the width of the ship, continuing on either side with galleries of seating.

Directly aft of the restaurant is the reception foyer, which surrounds the spiral staircase.

The reception area, facing aft. * Photo: Peter Knego

In the forward portion of the lobby, there is a self-service espresso and tea corner with pastries, cookies and other grab-and-go edibles as well as a fridge with bottled waters and soft drinks. Accommodations follow aft from here.

The reception’s self service espresso and refreshment corner. * Photo: Peter Knego

Harmony Deck (1), which is partially below the waterline, has a spa treatment room with a menu of massage therapies for purchase, a gym with Technogym equipment and a self-service laundromat with machines that might require an MIT doctorate to decipher.

The spa treatment room. * Photo: Peter Knego

The gym has free weights and Technogym machines. * Photo: Peter Knego

That said, once the operational mysteries were solved, the laundry room came in particularly handy for those of us who had combined the trip with a longer stay and needed fresh clothes for the second part of our journey.

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The Sweetest Of Suites Aboard Riverside Ravel

Guest accommodations on river vessels have come a long way in recent years and these are among the finest I’ve seen.

The smallest, 194-square-foot Symphony Suites (Deck 3) and Melody Suites (Deck 2), can be laid out with either a king sized bed or two twins.

They feature deluxe bedding sets (Scandinavian duvets, pillow menu, King-size pillows, fine Egyptian cotton linens and towels), vanity table/writing desk, armchair and closet (shelving, full-height hanging, removable lower rail).

Even the smallest suites, like this 194-square foot Symphony Suite, are beautifully appointed and comfortable. * Photo: Peter Knego

A Symphony Suite closet. * Photo: Peter Knego

Symphony Suite bathrooms are more compact with just one sink basin. * Photo: Peter Knego

All suites are furnished with:

• an espresso coffee maker,
• adjustable-extendable table (coffee/dining),
• refrigerator/mini-bar (stocked with complimentary soft drinks, beer, bottled water),
• wall-mounted 40-inch HDTV,
• alarm clock,
• direct-dial phone (satellite connections),
• personal safe (hidden in the closet),
• hand-made artworks,
• nightstands (bedside lamps, USB ports, wireless charge pad),
• individual air-conditioning,
• laptop Data Port,
• 110V/220V power sockets,
• welcome gifts (Champagne, chocolates, flowers),
• rechargeable Quietvox headphones for excursions,
• butler service (unpacking, packing, excursion reservations, in room dining, etc).

There are espresso machines in every suite. * Photo: Peter Knego

A most welcome sight, a bottle of bubbly and fanciful sweets! * Photo: Peter Knego

The Quietvox headphones are always a nice touch on excursion * Photo: Peter Knego

Private bathrooms in all suites come with:

• towel shelf,
• heated towel rail,
• heated floor,
• back-lit mirror,
• glass-door shower stall,
• overhead plus hand-held shower heads,
• brand hairdryer,
• 110V and 220V power sockets,
• terry bathrobes,
• plush slippers,
• shower caps,
• ETRO premium toiletries (shampoo, body lotion, conditioner).

The excellent illumination options in each suite bathroom. * Photo: Peter Knego

Glass-enclosed showers have hand-held and rainforest heads. * Photo: Peter Knego

The most numerous and popular accommodations, Seahorse and Riverside Suites, measure between 237 and 253 square feet and have all the amenities of the Symphony Suites but with more floor space, a walk-in closet and a larger bathroom with twin basins.

Beds face the windows in Riverside Suites. * Photo: Peter Knego

An inboard-facing view of a Riverside Suite. * Photo: Peter Knego

Riverside Suites have walk-in closets. * Photo: Peter Knego

Bathrooms in Riverside Suites have double vanities. * Photo: Peter Knego

At the top tier are a pair of spectacular 506-square foot Ravel Suites that can be combined with a neighboring Riverside Suite to form 759-square foot Owner’s Suites.

The spacious living room of a Ravel Suite. * Photo: Peter Knego

The bedroom of a Ravel Suite. * Photo: Peter Knego

Ravel Suites boast a large living room with an LED non-heat fireplace, a walk-in closet the size of a small cabin, a huge bathroom with a separate WC and even a private writing nook. When combined with a Riverside Suite, there is a second full bathroom, another walk-in closet and a second bedroom.

A Ravel Suite bathroom is worth writing home about. * Photo: Peter Knego

A Ravel Suite walk in closet. * Photo: Peter Knego

In addition to their size, Ravel Suite appointments are spectacular and include sophisticated soft fittings with muted colors and pleasing patterns, with a splash of crimson to liven things up. The fireplace is surfaced in carrara marble as are the bathrooms and the floor/deck tiling is most pleasing with its Escher-esque honeycombed cube pattern (that after a glass of wine almost looks three dimensional).

Escher-esque floor tiles make looking down a treat. * Photo: Peter Knego

We boarded on a sweltering August morning in Avignon , which is the ideal starting point on a northbound Rhone cruise.

Avignon from across the Rhone. * Photo: Peter Knego

Peter’s 3-night Rhone River Cruise Itinerary At A Glance

Day 1— Avignon, France (embark)

Day 2 — Pont Du Gard & Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France

Day 3 — Tournon, France

Day 4— Lyon, France (disembark)

Note: Ravel offers 3- to 7-night cruises between Lyon and Avignon visiting different combinations of ports along the way. More details HERE.

Riverside Ravel cruise map of the Rhone Itineraries.

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Day One — Roasting On The Rhone, Embarking In Avignon

Avignon, of course, is best known for Pont Saint-Benezet , the chapel-topped stone arch bridge that once had 22 arches and crossed the Rhone. Today, it is more of a jetty with only four of its arches remaining, although it is steeped in legend, many thanks to the French standard, “ Sur Le Pont d’Avignon .”

Pont Saint-Benezet, the inspiration for the famed French song. * Photo: Peter Knego

Possibly even more imposing, the 14th-century Palais des Papes looms over the cityscape and is just as impressive from within, sporting 14th-century frescoes and towering halls and chapels. Between 1309 and 1377, it was the seat of the Catholic popes.

Posing at the Palais des Papes. * Photo: Peter Knego

Having visited several times on prior occasions, I opted out of the afternoon walking tour and foolishly decided to go for a run, almost passing out in the 40 degree Celsius (104 Fahrenheit!!) temps.

One good thing was that my self-guided trek took me across the river, where I could get some nice photos of Avignon and our handsome ship, which was otherwise hard to capture with all the thick shrubbery impeding her starboard side.

The Riverside Ravel basking on her first afternoon in Avignon. * Photo: Peter Knego

Although it was a bit early to draw any conclusions about the cuisine at that stage in the ship’s return to service, I was captivated with the wines and several of that evening’s dinner courses, including a rare vegetarian French onion soup (not made with beef stock), a lovely brie-topped salad, seared scallops, a tender crispy chicken entree and a tangy, caramelized apple tart.

That rarest of rare vegetarian French Onion Soup. * Photo: Peter Knego

Summer Lettuce With Pistachio, Grapes and Brie. * Photo: Peter Knego

Seared Scallops With Porcini Ham. * Photo: Peter Knego

Grilled Chicken Breast With Baked Potatoes — one of the “Riverside Classics” choices. * Photo: Peter Knego

Caramelized Apple Tart. Photo: Peter Knego

During dinner, the Ravel had cast her lines and began her a short journey upstream. By the time we finished dessert, we were nearing the moorings of Roquemare, where she would tie up for the night.

The Riverside Ravel’s lovely ambiance on deck at night. * Photo: Peter Knego

Exhausted from our travels, we made it an early eve, especially since the heat index on deck, even without the brilliant sun, was nothing short of wilt-inducing.

Day Two — Of Oars, Arches And Vineyards … From Pont Du Gard To Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Breakfast was laid out buffet style with an omelet station and what I am told was some of the best bacon afloat (confession, I don’t eat red meat but some of my best friends do).

The bacon and omelet station for brekky. * Photo: Peter Knego

There were some excellent pastries and fresh melons but I have to confess for the level of product Riverside provides, the yogurt and cereal choices were disappointing. Especially in France, where some truly excellent and authentic yogurts and grains are available.

American-style yogurts and cereals. * Photo: Peter Knego

All was more than compensated for with the cappuccinos, which could be ordered from the Bistro upstairs and were utter, frothy perfection. Make it a double and then another, please!

On our way to the coach, we grabbed some bottled water and some of the protein bars I had brought from home, just in case. A 30-minute or so ride delivered us to a small farm area where a fleet of kayaks beckoned from the shores of the River Gardon.

The day’s heat index was even higher at 41 Celsius, so being close to and splashed by the soothing river waters was a most welcome way to spend the next three hours.

A kayak’s perspective of the verdant banks of the Gardon. * Photo: Peter Knego

Yes, three hours!

Here is where I should mention that the Riverside target demographic is active, fun-seeking and adventurous with a median age range in the 40s, versus the 60s of fellow luxury lines, including the now defunct Crystal River Cruises.

Were it not for the incessant sun and heat, I would have savored every second of this fascinating kayaking adventure along verdant shores, limestone formations and the spectacular Pont du Garde , a 160-foot-tall Roman aqueduct dating from the first century AD.

Pont du Garde passage. * Photo: Peter Knego

It is one of the most magnificent sights, especially when beheld from a diminutive kayak crossing underneath its limestone arches.

The pace of the three-hour tour was unrelenting and it was a bit harrowing at times when we got marooned in the shallows, clambering over slippery rocks to dislodge our stranded vessel. Near the end, our protein bars, which had been liquefied by the heat, came in very handy.

From what I gleaned on board that week, I’m pretty sure Riverside will be offering shorter versions of this adventure for those who would prefer something less intense.

I should also mention the Ravel has a fleet of complimentary bikes which are available for guests to use at their whim, although with all the excursions and our shortened itinerary, we weren’t able to partake.

That moment of truth. * Photo: Peter Knego

Our oars-manly efforts — no run would be needed that day — were soon rewarded with a delicious lunch and wine at the Panery winery.

The Panery winery. * Photo: Peter Knego

When we returned to the Ravel , she was berthed a bit farther upstream at Chateauneuf-du-Pape , where we had a chance to savor the air conditioning, shower and change for our next outing, a short trip to the local Bouachon Pavillon winery for a late afternoon tasting.

Sunset at Chateauneuf-du-Pape. * Photo: Peter Knego

Papal tasting at the Bouachon Pavilion winery. * Photo: Peter Knego

By the time we returned to the ship for dinner, we were a bit delirious from the heat, the earlier exertion and the double “wining.”

A very nice pesto pasta course stood out in that evening’s Waterside Restaurant offerings before we retreated to our air conditioned, Egyptian cotton-and-down-pillowed domain.

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Day 3 — tournon, tune in and time out.

After a nice sleep in, we headed to the Bistro for a pain au chocolate and a cappuccino that was almost immediately followed by a second as the Ravel ascended a lock.

It was another glorious but searing day outside that was slightly mitigated by a breeze as our handsome ship made her way past green banks and charming villages.

Enroute to Tournon from the vantage of port Riverside Deck. * Photo: Peter Knego

The Vista Deck in collapse mode to clear the Rhone’s low lying bridges. * Photo: Peter Knego

A nice touch with Riverside is that they offer an open bridge policy, navigation conditions permitting. With our short itinerary, this was my chance to pay the futuristic-looking wheelhouse a visit.

The wheelhouse of the Riverside Ravel. * Photo: Peter Knego

We proceeded to the Waterside Restaurant, watching from our window seats as the Ravel neared Tournon, passing underneath its beautiful Marc Seguin Bridge , one of the world’s first suspension bridges, built in 1849.

My daily lunch began with a delicious salad from the buffet.

A bit of salad to go with the shaved parmesan. * Photo: Peter Knego

There was a walking tour of Tournon — alas, it was just too hot for a walk in the midday sun, so we opted for the second choice, a tour to Cheval Palace , especially since we thought it might be air conditioned. Here is where I should add that at this early stage in the Ravel’s career, there was scant information available on the cabin televisions about the tours.

I discussed this with one of the line’s executives who told me that there would be no powerpoint presentations about the itineraries like those offered on typical cruise ships — it would be up to the guests to educate themselves on what they would like to do or ask at the reception for tour details.

The result of this was that only three people opted for this tour, which was one of the most delightful surprises of the week.

As our mostly empty coach meandered through the French countryside to the Dome Hills, we soon learned that our envisioned tour of a vast air-conditioned palace was actually an outdoor trek around the fascinating, fantastic creation of a 19th-century postman named Cheval.

Cheval’s Palais Real. * Photo: Peter Knego

For 33 years, beginning in 1879, he created a stone, fossil and cement castle he dubbed Palais Real, using bits of Mughal, Egyptian and other architectural influences. Visitors can walk into and around this magnificent creation, which can be likened to a cross between Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and Simon Rodia’s Watts Towers .

Spindly details of the Palais Real. * Photo: Peter Knego

Although once again wilted, we were inspired and captivated with this tour, which will hopefully not be the best kept secret of a Riverside Ravel Rhone cruise in the future.

Back at our sleek vessel that afternoon, we did manage to make it over to the Seguin Bridge , which is now used only for pedestrian traffic, then invigorated ourselves with another cappuccino.

Tournon’s historic Seguin Bridge. * Photo: Peter Knego

Dinner that evening was a gala barbecue on deck under the beautifully lit ramparts of Tournon.

Al fresco dinner set up on Vista Deck. * Photo: Peter Knego

The Vista Bar at night. * Photo: Peter Knego

The ramparts of Tournon. * Photo: Peter Knego

After dinner, we cast our lines and passed through a brilliantly lit lock, on our way to Lyon.

Nighttime lock passage en route to Lyon. * Photo: Peter Knego

Day 4 — The Lion’s Share Of Lyon

The next morning, we parted our curtains to a view of Lyon, which was bathed in the morning light. Alas, the heatwave was unrelenting, with temps hovering in that dreaded 40-degree (100+ Fahrenheit) range, but that was not to deter us from partaking of the city tour.

Melting in Lyon! * Photo: Peter Knego

Our first stop was the magnificent basilica — it sits atop a bluff overlooking Lyon, which is beautifully set within the convergence of the Saone and Rhone Rivers. While it was clear and the views were spectacular, we could barely make out the silhouette of the distant Alps, which can be seen on even clearer days.

Lyon’s towering Notre Dame basilica. * Photo: Peter Knego

The cathedral, itself, is of imposing dimensions and sports breathtaking stained glass panels.

The interior of Notre Dame du Lyon. * Photo: Peter Knego

From there, we were given a walking tour along the cobblestone streets of the old town, including some of its “secret avenues” that pass through residential buildings, then settled for lunch, which was included at a local restaurant.

Lyon’s spectacular old town, bathed in the early afternoon light. * Photo: Peter Knego

Looking up from one of Lyon’s “ secret avenues” that pass through residential buildings. * Photo: Peter Knego

After that, guests could either wander around town or take the coach back to the Ravel . After eyeing some of the boutiques earlier, we opted to wander a bit before returning to that cherished air conditioning.

Old versus new in Lyon, a modern city with an historic past. * Photo: Peter Knego

Once back, we enjoyed a glass of champagne in the rarified surrounds of Vintage and another farewell toast, hosted by the captain and staff in the Palm Court before dinner in the Waterside Restaurant.

Leaving In Lyon

It all went by too quickly as we disembarked and stepped into a cab that whisked us off to our hotel. The Ravel would spend another night in Lyon before embarking new guests for her first southbound voyage along the Rhone.

Riverside Ravel operates on three-, four- and seven-night cruises between Avignon and Lyon from spring to fall with rates beginning at € 1,847 Euros per person.

Riverside Cruises are available in four pricing tiers:

• Full Board (with excursions and beverages available for purchase)
• Full Board Including Excursions (with beverages available for purchase)
• Full Board Including Beverages (with excursions available for purchase)
• Premium All Inclusive (includes beverages and excursions)

Riverside’s website, www.riversidecruises.com is still a work in progress, so be sure to also contact your travel agent for details.

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© This article is protected by copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. All Rights Reserved. QuirkyCruise.com.

About The Author

Peter Knego

Peter Knego is a cruise journalist, as well as a historian and collector of ocean liner fittings and art (see his www.midshipcentury.com). He writes for top cruise and travel pubs, including USA Today, Travel Weekly and Ships Monthly, and has been interviewed and quoted as an expert in The New York Times, SeaTrade Insider and others.

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This looks like a gorgeous vessel with wonderful food and an inspiring itinerary. I could imagine being there for a sip or two of Champagne with Peter! Merci for all the vivid details and images that convey the experience. And the hyperlinks throughout are helpful, too.

If only you were there to share a glass of champagne with, dear Anne Kalosh! It is such an honor to read your kind words about this wonderful, sun-drenched missive. I’ve been a fan of yours ever since I began my cruise writing career. Thank you. 🙂

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I'm up to 78 countries and 110+ cruises worldwide, and it's the small ship journeys that I love writing about most. And so QuirkyCruise.com was born, an excellent research tool for planning your own unforgettable small ship trip.

I have traveled between all continents by sea and cruised along three dozen rivers. Ships and travel are in my blood, and so is writing. My journeys have translated into many books and many hundreds of articles.

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Riverside Ravel

Former name: crystal ravel.

Cruise line Riverside Cruises (River Cruises)

Riverside Ravel current position

Riverside Ravel current location is at Europe Inland (coordinates 43.94882 N / 4.79931 E) cruising en route to LYON. The AIS position was reported 26 minutes ago.

Specifications of Riverside Ravel

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Riverside Ravel Review

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The 2018-built MS Riverside Ravel cruise ship (fka Crystal Ravel) was ordered for Crystal River Cruises and constructed by the shipbuilder Lloyd Werft (MV Werften) in Wismar Germany . Mahler's fleetmates are the sisterships Riverside Debussy , Riverside Bach , and Riverside Mahler , as well as Riverside Mozart . These riverboats were advertised by Crystal as ultra-luxury "river yachts".

Since 2022, Crystal's entire river fleet is owned by Seaside Hotels and is under the management of Seaside's subsidiary and travel brand "Riverside Collection Cruises" (aka Riverside Luxury Cruises).

History - construction and ownership

Crystal Cruises Inc (1988-founded/USA-based) was a subsidiary of the Japanese NYK Line/Nippon Yusen Kaisha (one of world's largest container shipping companies ). In 2015, NYK Line sold it to Genting Hong Kong (GHK). Following the acquisition, the company was renamed to Crystal Ltd. The company grouped the ultra-luxury brands Crystal Cruises (ocean-going ships), Crystal River Cruises (European riverboats), Crystal Yacht Cruises (superyachts), Crystal Luxury Air (aircraft) and Crystal AirCruises (fly-cruise tours).

In January 2022, GHK filed for bankruptcy and all its assets were put on sale. In June 2022, Crystal Ltd was acquired by A&K Travel Group Ltd (Abercrombie & Kent). In October 2022, GHK Crystal Cruises' liquidator sold Crystal Bach (together with its sisterships) to the Hamburg Germany -based company Seaside Collection GmbH & Co KG. The ship (renamed "Riverside Mozart") is now operated by the UK-based (October 2018-founded) subsidiary company Riverside Collection Ltd.

Seaside Collection's subsidiary/core company Seaside Hotels GmbH is a 1970-founded (as Gerlach Wohnungsbau GmbH) luxury hotel group owned and run by the Gerlach family. The group currently owns and manages premium hotels and resorts in Germany, Spain, the Canary Islands, and the Maldives.

Crystal River Cruises was established/started operations in 2016 when the parent company GHK purchased and fully refurbished the riverboat MS Mozart (renamed "Crystal Mozart" and launched in July 2016). GHK additionally ordered for Crystal four new riverboats from the German shipbuilder Lloyd Werft.

The vessel Riverside Ravel (ENI number 4812710) is currently Malta- flagged (MMSI 248377000) and registered in Valletta .

Decks and Cabins

The riverboat Riverside ravel has 55 staterooms (capacity for 114 passengers/max 169 with triple occupancy) and top-luxury suites (ranging from 20-71 m2 / 220-760 ft2). All staterooms on the new series Riverside Collection ships feature the following industry-first cabin amenities - King beds, walk-in closets, and en-suite marble bathrooms with double sink vanities.

The riverboat has 4 decks , of which 2 are with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Onboard dining options include Waterside Restaurant (dining room), Vintage Room (10-seat wine bar / private dining room/party venue), Palm Court (show lounge), Cove Bar, Bistro (casual cafe/patisserie/coffee bar/Library), top-deck Vista Bar and Vista Grill (alfresco restaurant serving lunch/weather-permitting).

All dining venues are operated with open-seating.

The Bistro (midship on Deck 3) is open throughout the day and also serves late-raisers breakfast and dinner. The casual venue offers homemade pastries and waffles, brand coffee beverages (prepared by professional baristas), gourmet ice cream, milkshakes, wine by the glass. In the evenings, the Bistro transforms into a tapas restaurant also serving destination/itinerary-based local dishes and beverages.

Onboard dining menus include food prepared with freshest, locally sourced ingredients and itinerary-based traditional specialties - fresh seafood and fish, seasonal fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry from local farms, local draught and craft beers, regional wines and cheeses. Specialty coffees and teas served complimentary on the ship are by the Vienna Austria-based company Julius Meinl.

Vista Deck (deck 4) is the boat's Sundeck fitted with a large TV/outdoor screen, sunbathing areas (with padded loungers) and shaded areas with comfortable seating.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Ravel ship has 3 lounges and bars, 4 restaurants, 1 panoramic / glass elevator, gym, and spa facilities. Unique features are the glass-domed atrium area and the indoor infinity pool (resistance swimming pool). The ship's show lounge Palm Court has a stage for live performances, grand piano performances, singalongs. The lounge features a dance floor for themed dancing parties. The Palm Court Lounge features a glass-dome cover, floor-ceiling window walls, live plants for decoration, comfortable seating, full-service bar. The 24-hour open coffee-tea corner, The Pantry, offers complimentary fruit basket, pastries, cookies, sparkling water. The river yachts also have a Fitness Center and a full-service Spa.

One deck is dedicated to all onboard public spaces (including spa, gym, library, glass-domed Palm Court lounge). Each riverboat carries its own fleet of electric bikes, 2-person kayaks and jet skis for complimentary passenger use on individual or guided tours and excursions ashore.

Itineraries

Riverside Cruises' Ravel ship's itinerary program is based on voyages in France, on the rivers Rhone (Provence) and Saone (Burgundy).

Homeports and itineraries/destinations will be announced at a later date.

Crystal Ravel itineraries

Initially, Crystal Ravel's itinerary program was based on Dordogne and Garonne voyages leaving out of homeport Bordeaux France and themed "Bordeaux, The Wine Region, and Beyond". The 7-day itineraries (also including Gironde Estuary) offered 2-nights (overnight stay) in Bordeaux and visiting Pauillac, Blaye, Libourne.

However, for the inaugural 2018-2019 season, the boat had scheduled 7- and 14-day Moselle, Rhine and Danube river cruises leaving from Amsterdam Holland , Basel Switzerland , Vienna Austria , and Budapest Hungary . During season 2018 were operated cruises between Vienna and Basel. For season 2019 were scheduled itineraries between Vienna and Budapest.

Following the Coronavirus crisis (18 months pause), Crystal Ravel restarted voyages on August 29, 2021, from Vilshofen Germany .

The all-inclusive Crystal river cruise deals (as cruise price inclusions) offer the following complimentary amenities and services:

• Gratuities for all the ship's staff, including housekeeping, bar, dining, butlers
• All meals (featuring 6-star gourmet cuisine and regional specialties)
• Unlimited soft drinks, premium beverages (including champagne, fine wines, spirits, beers, bottled water)
• 24-hour self-service pantry (specialty coffees, teas, wines, nonalcoholic drinks)
• 24-hour room service
• 24-hour Wi-Fi access, free Wi-Fi and satellite Internet usage (60 min pp per day)
• interactive TV (infotainment system) with movies on demand and music library
• Airport-to-ship group transfers - luxury coaches to transport passengers from the airport to the riverboat on embarkation day.
• Ship-to-airport group transfers (on disembarkation day).
• Onboard daily yoga and fitness classes, daily choice of digital international newspapers
• Onboard entertainment and enrichment programming (destination / itinerary-focused), including lectures, destination expert (on each cruise), local experts and tour guides.
• Self-service guest laundry
• Twice daily housekeeping services (evening turndown service)
• In-cabin dining (hors d'oeuvres)
• Butler service for each cabin
• Two complimentary "Crystal Adventures" shore excursions in every port (curated). Additional excursions are available for purchase.
• Complimentary culinary tours to renowned local establishments

Atlanta eBikes, Nordic walking poles and audio headphones on all "Crystal Adventures" were also provided complimentary on all shore excursions/land tours.

Riverside Ravel - user reviews and comments

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Riverside Ravel ship related cruise news

Riverside Luxury Cruises launches 3rd all-inclusive, all-suite ship, Riverside Debussy

Riverside Luxury Cruises introduces its third all-inclusive, all-suite luxury river ship, Riverside Debussy. With 40+ departures planned for 2024...

Riverside Luxury Cruises' ship Riverside Ravel christened in Viviers, France

In a scene reminiscent of a medieval tale, the quaint town of Viviers (Ardeche, France) bore witness to a maritime celebration that echoed through...

Riverside Collection Cruises acquires the remaining 4 Crystal riverboats

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River cruise lines cancel European sailings after Austria locks down borders

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Crystal River Cruises restarts in Europe with the boats Debussy and Ravel

On August 29, the ultra-luxury brand Crystal River Cruises celebrated the resumption of European river operations and its restart on European rivers...

Crystal River Cruises introduces 2022 River Atlas

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Crystal River Cruises announces 2021 itineraries

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Crystal River Cruises ships earn Green Award certification

The Crystal River Cruises fleet of 4 sisterships (Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler, Crystal Ravel, Crystal Bach) was granted the Green Award...

Crystal River Cruises Unveils 2022 Itineraries

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Crystal Mozart to Be Transferred to Genting

Crystal River Cruises announced that its Crystal Mozart will be leaving the fleet as of the start of the 2020 season next spring.  The company...

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Other Riverside Cruises cruise ships

• Riverside Debussy
• Riverside Mozart

Riverside Ravel Wiki

Crystal Ravel riverboat is named after the French composer Maurice Ravel (1875-1937). The dual steel-cutting ceremony for Crystal Debussy (yard number 128) and Ravel yard number 129) was on January 9, 2017, held at MV Werften shipyard (Wismar Germany) . The first steel plates were flame cut. The special event was attended by Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (Genting Hong Kong's Executive Chairman), Edie Rodriguez (Crystal Cruises' President, CEO, and Chairman) and Harry Glawe (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Economics Minister).

The dual keel-laying ceremony (for Ravel and Debussy) was held on May 24, 2017, at MV Werften Wismar. The vessel's first sections were ceremoniously lowered into position on keel blocks. The special event was attended by Jarmo Laakso (MV WERFTEN's Managing Director), Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (GHK's Chairman and CEO), Josef Lumetsberger (Crystal River Cruises' General Manager of Operations), Harry Glawe (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Economics Minister) and other distinguished guests. Minister Glawe and Tan Sri Lim placed "lucky coins" on the keel blocks before the ship's first 2 sections (each one 170 tons) were laid down. The riverboat was launched on August 8, 2017, and officially delivered to Crystal Cruises on April 12, 2018, in Wismar.

Crystal Ravel's godmother was Mariann Peller (1983-born Hungarian TV presenter and actor). She is also the creator of the classical music show Virtuosos and the founder of the Young Virtuosos Foundation (2015-founded). The christening ceremony was held on July 11, 2018, in Budapest , during the 7-day "Danube Serenade" (cruisetour itinerary July 5-12). The naming ceremony was attended by Tom Wolber (Crystal Cruises President and CEO) and Walter Littlejohn (Crystal River Cruises managing director and VP). The special event took place during the overnight stay in Budapest, allowing passengers to participate in the festivities.

Crystal Ravel's Inaugural Cruise (Maiden Voyage) was scheduled for May 10, 2018.

Next table shows the itinerary's ports and port times.

Riverside Ravel was officially christened on August 16, 2023, dockside in Viviers (Ardeche, France), on the Rhone River. The special event was led by godmother Anouchka Gerlach (1980-born), the wife of Gregor Gerlach (Riverside Cruises' founders).

Note: You can see CruiseMapper's list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the "itinerary" section of our River Cruises hub. All companies and their fleets are listed there.

Riverside Luxury Cruises Unveils 2025 Sailings

Riverside Luxury Cruises has unveiled its line-up of 2025 European river cruises.

Next year, the company will offer more than 170 departures representing 52 itineraries aboard its three ships, Riverside Debussy, Riverside Ravel and Riverside Mozart. Cruises will range from three to 23 nights, and all itineraries will include some late departures or overnight stays so guests can spend longer exploring European cities and towns.

Riverside Luxury Cruises will offer sailings on the Danube, Main, Moselle, Rhine and Rhône rivers.

New for 2025, travelers will have the option of combining voyages aboard the Riverside Debussy and Riverside Ravel for longer vacations.

"No other line delivers Europe like Riverside Luxury Cruises," says Jen Halboth, chief executive officer of the new luxury river cruise line , which launched its first sailing in April 2023. "Our 2025 portfolio delivers more opportunities for luxury travelers to delight in the adventure of exploring new destinations, while being pampered with exceptional cuisine, high-touch service and spa. These are all aboard Riverside's most spacious and beautiful fleet cruising the rivers of Europe."

Riverside Debussy, which was recently christened at the American Society of Travel Advisor’s River Cruise Expo in Amsterdam, began sailing for the 2024 season on April 2. Riverside Ravel and Riverside Mozart, meanwhile, also began sailing earlier this month.

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LUXURY RETURNS TO THE RIVER

Our three luxury ships.

If personalized service, serene spaces with impeccable design and sumptuous cuisine top your list of favorite things, then Riverside Luxury Cruises is about to become your new favorite way to travel. Our gorgeous fleet of all-suite river ships will ensure you experience the culture and enchanting landscapes of Europe while delighting in the amenities and comforts provided in luxury hotels the world over.

Riverside Mozart

The Riverside Mozart is an exceptional phenomenon. As one of the most luxury river cruise ships on the Danube, and certainly the most well-appointed, she knows – just like her famous namesake – how to captivate and constantly surprise her guests.

Riverside Ravel

His music was known for its elegance, exquisite detail and exemplary finish. No wonder the Riverside Ravel bears his name. Sail the Rhône and Saone rivers aboard a ship that is bespoke. The design, the details, the sweet service, it all adds up to a perfectly honed experience that will make you smile for many years to come. We are meticulously crafting cruises that will match the splendor of the landscapes through which you will sail.

Riverside Debussy

Charming and poetic, the compositions of Debussy created a beautiful bridge between romanticism and the developing modern world. So too will your ship, the Riverside Debussy, deliver the rich history of Europe along with all the modern comforts that bring you joy. The best of both worlds await you on the romantic Rhine river, where we are creating unique journeys that will allow you to see the old world in an entirely new, and oh so luxurious way.

ONCE ABOARD YOU WILL HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO FIND YOURSELF.

We look forward to welcoming you.