This sparkling new cruise ship will offer discriminating travelers a wealth of entertainment, enrichment and dining options as she sails the rivers of Europe
Riverside Luxury Cruises, a new cruise line, christened the Riverside Ravel on August 16, 2023, in the medieval town of Viviers, France. Anouchka Gerlach, co-founder of Riverside Luxury Cruises, serves as the godmother. The ship is starting with sailings on the Rhône and Saône in France.
The 55-suite Riverside Ravel, the line’s second ship, has a capacity of 114 guests based on double occupancy. She has four restaurants and a fitness center that includes a swimming pool, gym and spa.
Dining Options on This New Cruise Ship
The Bistro, a casual venue open all day, serves a late-riser breakfast and dinner. It offers pastries and waffles, branded coffee beverages prepared by professional baristas, gourmet milkshakes, ice cream and wine by the glass. In the evening The Bistro transforms into a tapas restaurant that serves dishes and beverages representative of places visited on the itinerary.
Waterside Restaurant
The Waterside Restaurant presents an extensive buffet for lunch; in the evening guests can enjoy fine dining.
Located on the port side of the Riverside Ravel is the Vintage Room, an a la carte- priced, wine-themed restaurant for dinner only on a reservations basis. The Vintage Room has a capacity of just 12 guests. Its wine bar hosts wine-tasting events with a dedicated sommelier. The Vintage Room can be booked for private dinners and parties.
Areas of the Riverside Ravel
The atrium is covered by a skylight that lets in natural light during the day. A glass-walled elevator connects the Riverside and Seahorse decks.
Aft is an indoor swimming pool that features an infinity pool. The tender platform serves as the watersports marina, deploying watercraft, kayaks and jet skis.
At the bow, an outdoor seating area is furnished with padded lounges and small tables.
Palm Court
Entertainment on the Riverside Ravel
The Palm Court is the ship’s show lounge, featuring local musicians and dancers, a resident pianist and singalongs. The lounge has a large dance floor for themed parties each evening. Covered by a glass dome, the Palm Court has its own full-service bar. It also hosts enrichment programs with daily lectures by experts, media presentations and port talks by the cruise director.
Festive Seasonal Sailings
The Riverside Ravel offers special seasonal itineraries. These include the weeklong “A Taste of Christmas” departing on November 27, 2023, and four-night “Christmas Spirit Along the Danube” with departures on November 29 and December 7 and 15, 2023. There are four-night “Delightful Danube Christmas” sailings on December 3 and 7, 2023.
Other offerings include the three-night “Danube Christmas Markets,” which sets sail December 19, 2023, and four-night “Festive Austria with Christmas in Germany” departing on December 22, 2023.
The Riverside Ravel is also doing some special New Year’s cruises. These include the eight-night “Austria to Hungary New Year’s in Slovakia” departing December 26, 2023. The four-night “New Year’s in Bratislava with Budapest and Vienna” departs December 30, 2023. The 12-night “Dazzling in Danube Celebration” will set sail on December 22, 2023.
The Vintage Room
Riverside Luxury Cruises – Details
Seaside Collection, the German hotel company that created Riverside Luxury Cruises, entered the cruise market in 2023 after acquiring the former Crystal Cruises’ river fleet. On March 17, 2023, the line launched its first ship, the Riverside Mozart, and it plans to introduce three other river ships in 2024.
Riverside Luxury Cruises is a Great Option to Consider
Diverse itineraries and a choice of dining venues, along with enrichment programs and a luxury experience, are reasons why you should consider Riverside Luxury Cruises for your next group cruise.
By Cindy Bertram
