Riviera Travel River Cruises has opened bookings for its 2028 European river cruise season, giving North American travellers access to departures earlier than any other market. The early release covers 5 of the company's most popular itineraries on the Douro, Danube, Rhine and Rhône rivers, offering a wider selection of departure dates, greater cabin availability and introductory savings of up to 50%.
The decision to launch bookings well in advance follows strong growth in demand from the North American market. Stuart Milan, President of Riviera Travel North America, stated that the company's expansion in the region over the past two years had generated significant interest among U.S. travellers, prompting the earlier release of the 2028 programme to provide guests with greater choice and booking flexibility.
Among the itineraries now available is the 8-day Highlights of the Douro Valley & Salamanca, featuring nine included excursions through Portugal's Douro Valley and the UNESCO-listed city of Guimarães, with fares starting from US$3,249 per person under the introductory promotion. The 8-day Blue Danube itinerary includes visits to destinations such as Salzburg and Vienna, together with 9 complimentary shore experiences, with promotional fares beginning at US$2,549 per person.
The programme also includes the 8-day The Douro, Porto & Salamanca itinerary, sailing from Porto through the Douro Valley with ten included excursions and promotional fares from US$2,899 per person. The Rhine Cruise to Switzerland combines scenic cruising through the Rhine Gorge with a rail journey into the Bernese Oberland and ten included experiences, with fares from US$3,349 per person. The collection is completed by the 8-day Burgundy, the River Rhône & Provence itinerary, featuring 11 included excursions through southern France, including the Ardèche Gorges, with fares starting from US$2,699 per person.
The early booking initiative provides guests with access to Riviera Travel's most sought-after sailings nearly two years before departure, allowing travellers to secure preferred departure dates and accommodation categories while taking advantage of limited-time promotional pricing.