Riverside Luxury Cruises introduces the fleet’s third ship, which offers sailings on the Rhine and Danube rivers, including Christmas market itineraries

Riverside Luxury Cruises, Europe’s newest river cruise brand, continues to grow. Its Riverside Debussy was christened in Amsterdam on March 13, the first day of the 2024 American Society of Travel Advisors’ (ASTA) River Cruise Expo. Alle Pierce, TV host, travel expert and producer, served as godmother and christened the new cruise ship. The Riverside Debussy started her inaugural season on March 23.

Features of the Brand New River Ship

The Riverside Debussy is the third ship in the line’s fleet. In March of 2023, Riverside Luxury Cruises entered the cruise industry with the Riverside Mozart. The Riverside Ravel was christened on August 16, 2023.

Accommodating 110 guests based on double occupancy, the 55-suite Riverside Debussy has 55 crew members. She measures 443 feet long and 36 feet wide. Guests enjoy round-the-clock dining options, premium wines and spirits, a welcome bottle of champagne, unlimited shore excursions and StarLink Wi-Fi.

Amenities include:

  • A fitness center, jet pool and FEHI Spa
  • 24-hour coffee and pastries at The Pantry
  • 6 e-bikes and 6 pedal bicycles
  • A self-service launderette

Waterside Restaurant

Diverse Food and Beverage Choices on Riverside’s Newest Ship

The Riverside Debussy provides gourmet cuisine made with high-quality, fresh ingredients. Dining options include the following:

  •  Waterside Restaurant – for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  •  Vintage Room – featuring a 7-course degustation menu & wine pairing
  •  Bistro – all-day casual dining &  Texas Restaurant for dinner
  •  Vista Grill, with 2 Big Green Egg grills
  •  Al Fresco lunch restaurant on Vista Deck 4

Bars and lounges include the Palm Court on Riverside Deck 3 and Vista Bar on Vista Deck 4.

All-Suite Accommodations on the Riverside Debussy

Suites are located on Riverside Deck 3 and Seahorse Deck 2. Every suite includes:

  •  Butler service
  •  A fully stocked mini-bar
  •  24-hour room service
  •  A French balcony
  •  Espresso and tea station
  •  Window-facing king-size bed
  •  A 40-inch flat HDTV
  •  A safe
  •  Natura Bisse bath amenities
  •  220/110 V & USB outlets
  •  Luxurious bathrobes and slippers

Suite categories on Riverside Deck 3 include:

  •  Owner’s Suite (2 of these) – 764 square feet
  •  Debussy Suite (2) – 506 sq. ft.
  •  Riverside Suite (16) – 258 sq. ft.
  •  Symphony Suite (8) – 194 sq. ft.

Suites on Seahorse Deck 2 include:

  •  Seahorse Suite (21 of these) – 258 square feet
  •  Melody Suite (8) – 194 sq. ft.

Seahorse Suite

Where the Riverside Debussy is Sailing

The Riverside Debussy began her inaugural year on March 23 with a five-night voyage from Brussels to Amsterdam. Then she started a series of seven-night voyages roundtrip from Amsterdam, visiting cities such as Ghent and Antwerp, Belgium; and Middleburg, Willemstad, Veere, Dordrecht, Rotterdam and Nijmegen, The Netherlands. The Riverside Debussy also has Rhine River voyages, with stops in Mannheim, Speyer, Rüdesheim, Cologne and other German cities.

Danube River cruises depart from Nuremberg and Regensburg in Germany and Budapest, Hungary. Guests visit historic capitals as well as quaint towns and villages, and cruise through the Austrian wine valley of Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage. The June 5 and September 24 departures will take guests on a special roundtrip itinerary from Budapest to Belgrade, Serbia.


From late November through the New Year, the Riverside Debussy will be offering three- to six-night itineraries, bringing guests to the festive Christmas markets of Germany. These depart from Vienna, Amsterdam, Nuremberg and Dusseldorf. Her 2024 season will end with a 10-night Christmas and New Year cruise from Basel to Amsterdam.

Riverside Luxury Cruises’ 2025 Sailings

Riverside Luxury Cruises’ 2025 voyages include more than 170 departures on 52 distinct itineraries on the Rhine, Moselle, Rhone, Danube and Main rivers. The all-inclusive sailings on the Riverside Debussy, Riverside Ravel and Riverside Mozart range from 3 to 23 nights. On all 2025 voyages, the ships will stay late or overnight in some of Europe’s most captivating cities and towns, giving guests a chance to immerse themselves in the cultures.

More About Riverside Luxury Cruises

In November 2022, the owners and operators of Seaside Collection, which had 11 boutique properties located in Europe and the Maldives, announced they were expanding into river cruising. They purchased ships that had been originally owned and operated by Crystal Cruises until the company went bankrupt in early 2022.

When planning your next group European river cruise, Riverside Luxury Cruises is definitely a great option to consider. Providing immersive and luxurious experiences as well as being all-inclusive, Riverside Luxury Cruises truly stands out.

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By Cindy Bertram