Riviera Radiance

The 2025-built MS Riviera Radiance cruise ship operates Danube River voyages. The riverboat is owned by the Swiss company Scylla AG (shipowner) and is exclusively chartered by the travel brand Riviera Travel UK/fleet.

Riviera Radiance’s sisterships and fleetmates are Riviera Resplendence (2026) and Riviera Reflection (2027).

The vessel (ENI number 07002240) is currently Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057104) and registered in Basel.

Riviera Radiance's christening was held in Budapest from 25 to 27 November 2025. The naming ceremony was led by godmother Sarah Roberts, CEO of Practical Action (Riviera Travel’s official charity partner). Notably, during the event, she poured champagne over an ice sculpture of the ship rather than breaking a bottle against the hull.

Decks and Cabins

MS Riviera Radiance has a total of 89 passenger staterooms (accommodating up to 178 guests) located on 3 of the ship’s 4 decks.

All cabins are outside accommodations, and most measure 16 m2 (170 ft2).

Deck 1 (Emerald) cabins feature a long, fixed, non-opening, quarter-height window positioned near the ceiling. All Deck 2 (Ruby) and Deck 3 (Diamond) cabins are French Balcony staterooms with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open to a railing (false balcony).

The ship also offers 12 Suites, all located midship, each with a French balcony and a more spacious layout. The 8 Superior Suites measure 24 m2 (260 ft2), while the 4 Grand Suites are the largest accommodations at 32 m2 (345 ft2). Grand Suites feature the so-called “Twin Balconies,” consisting of a full-size open-air balcony separated from the lounge area by floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. Bathrooms include a separate WC and shower (no bathtub) and a double-sink vanity.

All cabin bathrooms have marble countertops, walk-in glass showers with large rain showerheads, and premium bath products by Crabtree and Evelyn.

Standard complimentary amenities in all staterooms include hotel-quality twin beds (lower single beds convertible to a queen-size double), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, towels, large mirror, toiletries including shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, soap, and shower gel), 40-inch HDTV (satellite channels, infotainment system, real-time bow camera views), radio, telephone, mini-bar/fridge, tea and coffee-making facilities (including a Nespresso machine), glass-top round table with two armchairs, mirrored dressing table/writing desk with chair, wardrobe, electronic safe, hairdryer, individual air conditioning, evening turndown service, and a daily newspaper.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

Riviera Radiance offers three complimentary dining venues: the Main Restaurant (Dining Room, forward on Deck 2), the Mosaic (Specialty Restaurant/Bistro/Bar Lounge, aft on Deck 3), and the Alfresco Lounge (Bar & Buffet on Deck 4/Sun Deck).

The Main Restaurant features single-seating capacity, open seating, and flexible dining times. The menu highlights regional dishes inspired by the itinerary, along with international specialties.

The aft specialty venue, Mosaic, serves as an alternative dining option (Bistro/Bar Lounge) with its own dedicated bar. Mosaic serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including themed buffets. During the day, it operates as a casual bar lounge. The venue includes a small terrace (wraparound balcony) with stern views. Due to limited seating, dinner reservations are required. Mosaic is designed as a tapas-style restaurant offering a variety of small plates and tasting menus inspired by the cruise region’s cuisine. Two outdoor staircases lead directly from Mosaic to the Sun Deck’s pool area (Jacuzzi).

On Ruby Deck is the Lobby area, which includes two entrances (port and starboard), the Reception Desk (24-hour guest services), the Travel Desk (Tour Office for the Cruise Director and Concierge, excursion bookings, and information), and the onboard Boutique (Gift Shop).

The wellness complex is located on Emerald Deck (Deck 1) and includes a Fitness Room (Gym), Spa (Massage Room), and Hair Salon (hairdressing, barber, and nail services).

The Sun Deck features the Wheelhouse (Navigation Bridge), retractable awnings providing shaded seating and loungers, a forward Alfresco Lounge (with full bar service from the Panorama Lounge below), and an aft games area with a Putting Green/Mini-Golf course and a Jacuzzi (spa pool and showers).

Complimentary electric bicycles (limited availability) are stored near the Wheelhouse.

All structures on Deck 4 (Wheelhouse, awnings, windscreens, railings) are collapsible and can be lowered to ensure safe passage under low bridges.

The Panorama Lounge & Bar is located forward on the Diamond Deck. This spacious venue features floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable seating (sofas, armchairs, tables), a dance floor, a grand piano (used for daily live performances), and a 24-hour coffee station. The lounge is served by its own bar. Entertainment includes daily live music by a resident pianist, cooking demonstrations, quizzes, bingo, crew shows, themed dance nights, enrichment lectures, and itinerary-related media presentations.

From the Panorama Lounge, guests can access the bow-facing Lido Terrace—an outdoor lounge with limited seating, protected by a wraparound glass windscreen. Two grand staircases connect the Panorama Lounge directly to the Main Restaurant below, while two outdoor stairways link the Bow Terrace to the Alfresco Lounge above.

All public areas (wellness center, dining venues, lounges, and lobby) feature floor-to-ceiling windows and provide unobstructed views.

One midship passenger elevator connects all cabin decks. Staircases link all decks, and a stairlift connects Decks 3 and 4 (Sun Deck).

Itineraries

MS Riviera Radiance cruises on the Danube River. The ship’s principal homeports are Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary.

Riviera Radiance’s inaugural itineraries (2025) included:

The 14-night/15-day "Budapest to the Black Sea River Cruise" (roundtrip from Budapest), visiting Kalocsa, Hungary (Day 2 – Paprika Museum or Puszta farm), Belgrade, Serbia (Day 3 – Kalemegdan Fortress and folklore show), Iron Gates Gorge (Day 4), Svishtov, Bulgaria (Day 5 – excursion to Pleven/Panorama Museum and guided old town tour), Giurgiu, Romania (Day 6 – excursion to Bucharest), Danube Delta cruising (Day 7), Constanta, Romania (Day 8), Ruse, Bulgaria (Day 9 – excursion to Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi, and Ivanovo), Vidin, Bulgaria (Day 10 – Baba Vida Fortress and Belogradchik Rocks), Iron Gates Gorge (Day 11 – Lepenski Vir tour), Novi Sad, Serbia (Day 12), Vukovar and Osijek, Croatia (Day 13 – guided tours or Kopacki Rit NP boat ride), and Budapest (Day 14 – guided city tour and folklore show). UK return flights operate on Day 15.

The 7-night/8-day "The Blue Danube River Cruise" (between Vienna and Budapest, both directions), visiting Budapest (Day 1), Esztergom, Hungary (Day 2 – guided tour), Bratislava, Slovakia (Day 3 – guided tour), Dürnstein, Germany (Day 4 – guided tour and Melk Abbey visit), Linz, Austria (Day 5 – guided tour or Salzburg excursion), Vienna (Day 6), and Budapest (Day 7 – guided tour).

Riviera Travel’s "Blue Danube River Cruise with Budapest Extension" combines the Blue Danube itinerary with a 3-day land program, including a 2-night hotel stay in Budapest.

The shorter 4-night/5-day "Budapest, Bratislava & Vienna: A Danube Discovery River Cruise" is a roundtrip from Budapest, visiting Bratislava (Day 3) and Vienna (Day 4). The cruisetour includes a UK-to-Budapest flight and an overnight onboard stay (Days 1–2) before sailing to Bratislava and Vienna.

Riviera Travel’s cruise fares include international round-trip flights to England, land transfers, the Superior beverage package (unlimited drinks, valued at GBP 400 per person per week on other Riviera Travel European river cruises), all onboard amenities and services (accommodation, meals, Wi-Fi, premium tea and coffee, Cruise Director assistance, enrichment program, live entertainment), and seven land tours. Flights from England are available from Leeds Bradford Airport (Yeadon), Liverpool, London (Gatwick, Luton, Stansted), and Manchester.

The vessel’s construction (hull and superstructure, ENI number 07002240) was completed at Vahali Shipyard in Zasavica (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia). The Dutch shipbuilding company Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek Vahali BV, founded in 1923, owns and operates shipyards in Serbia (Belgrade and Zasavica) and in the Netherlands (Gendt). Vahali Shipyard Zasavica officially opened in 2013.

Following construction in Serbia, the ships are towed to the Netherlands for final outfitting at Scheepswerf Vahali in Gendt.

Note: You can view CruiseMapper’s list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the “Itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are featured.