MS 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 sistership and fleetmate is Riviera Resplendence (2026).

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

Decks and Cabins

MS Riviera Radiance has a total of 89 passenger staterooms (for 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 opening to a railing (false balcony).

The ship also offers 12 Suites, all midship, each with a French balcony and a larger 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-shower heads 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, phone, mini-bar/fridge, tea/coffee facilities (including a Nespresso machine), glass-top round table with two armchairs, mirrored dressing table/writing desk with armchair, 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 Bistro (Specialty Restaurant/bar lounge aft on Deck 3) and the Alfresco Lounge (Bar & Buffet on Deck 4/Sun Deck).

The Main Restaurant provides single-seating capacity, open seating and flexible dining times. The menu features regional dishes inspired by the itinerary, as well as international specialties. The Bistro serves lunch and dinner (including themed buffets) and operates as a bar lounge during the day. It has a small wraparound terrace offering stern views. From the Bistro, two outdoor staircases lead directly 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 and assistance), the Travel Desk (Tour Office for the Cruise Director and Concierge, excursion booking 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 (hairdresser/barber and nail services).

The Sun Deck features the Wheelhouse (Navigation Bridge), retractable awnings with 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).

Electric bikes (complimentary, limited availability) are stored near the Wheelhouse.

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

The Panorama Lounge & Bar is located forward on the Diamond Deck. This spacious lounge 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 venue is serviced 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 access the bow-facing Lido Terrace—an outdoor lounge with limited seating, protected by a wraparound glass windscreen. Two grand stairways connect the Panorama Lounge directly to the Main Restaurant below, while two outdoor stairs link the Bow Terrace to the Alfresco Lounge above.

All public areas (wellness, dining, lounges and lobby) have 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, travel to Pleven/Panorama Museum and guided old town tour), Giurgiu, Romania (DAY 6, travel to Bucharest), Danube Delta cruising (DAY 7), Constanta, Romania (DAY 8), Ruse, Bulgaria (DAY 9, travel to Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanasi and Ivanovo), Vidin, Bulgaria (DAY 10, Baba Vidin 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 only Bratislava (DAY 3) and Vienna (DAY 4). The cruisetour includes a UK-to-Budapest flight and an overnight onboard (DAY 1–2) before sailing to Bratislava and Vienna.

Riviera Travel’s cruise prices include international return 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.

After 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.