Riverside Ravel

The 2018-built MS Riverside Ravel cruise ship (fka Crystal Ravel) was ordered for Crystal River Cruises and constructed by Lloyd Werft (MV Werften) in Wismar, Germany. Ravel’s fleetmates are her sisterships Riverside Debussy, Riverside Bach, and Riverside Mahler, as well as Riverside Mozart. These riverboats were marketed by Crystal as ultra-luxury “river yachts.”

Since 2022, Crystal’s entire river fleet has been owned by Seaside Hotels and managed by Seaside’s subsidiary and travel brand “Riverside Collection Cruises” (also known as Riverside Luxury Cruises).

History - construction and ownership

Crystal Cruises Inc (founded in 1988, USA-based) was a subsidiary of the Japanese NYK Line/Nippon Yusen Kaisha (one of the world’s largest container shipping companies). In 2015, NYK Line sold the brand to Genting Hong Kong (GHK). Following the acquisition, the company was renamed Crystal Ltd. The group included the ultra-luxury brands Crystal Cruises (ocean-going ships), Crystal River Cruises (European riverboats), Crystal Yacht Cruises (superyachts), Crystal Luxury Air (private aircraft), and Crystal AirCruises (fly-cruise tours).

In January 2022, GHK filed for bankruptcy, and all assets were put up for sale. In June 2022, Crystal Ltd was acquired by A&K Travel Group Ltd (Abercrombie & Kent). In October 2022, the liquidator of GHK’s Crystal Cruises sold Crystal Bach (together with her sisterships) to the Hamburg, Germany-based company Seaside Collection GmbH & Co KG. The vessel (renamed “Riverside Mozart”) is now operated by the UK-based (founded October 2018) subsidiary Riverside Collection Ltd.

Seaside Collection’s core company, Seaside Hotels GmbH (founded in 1970 as Gerlach Wohnungsbau GmbH), is a luxury hotel group owned and managed by the Gerlach family. The group owns and operates premium hotels and resorts in Germany, Spain, the Canary Islands, and the Maldives.

Crystal River Cruises was established in 2016, when parent company GHK purchased and fully refurbished the riverboat MS Mozart (renamed “Crystal Mozart” and launched in July 2016). GHK also ordered four new riverboats from the German shipbuilder Lloyd Werft for the Crystal brand.

The vessel Riverside Ravel (ENI number 4812710) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 248377000) and registered in Valletta.

Decks and Cabins

Riverside Ravel has 55 staterooms (accommodating 114 passengers, maximum 169 with triple occupancy), including top-tier luxury suites ranging from 20–71 m2 (220–760 ft2).

All staterooms in the Riverside Collection series feature industry-first amenities for river cruising, including king-size beds, walk-in closets, and en-suite marble bathrooms with double-sink vanities.

The riverboat has 4 decks, 2 of which accommodate passenger cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Onboard dining venues include Waterside Restaurant (main dining room), Vintage Room (10-seat wine bar/private dining venue), Palm Court (show lounge), Cove Bar, Bistro (casual café/patisserie/coffee bar/library), and the top-deck Vista Bar and Vista Grill (alfresco restaurant serving lunch, weather permitting).

All dining venues operate with open seating.

The Bistro (midship on Deck 3) is open throughout the day and also serves late-risers breakfast and dinner. This casual venue offers homemade pastries and waffles, branded coffee beverages prepared by professional baristas, gourmet ice cream, milkshakes, and wine by the glass. In the evenings, the Bistro transforms into a tapas-style restaurant featuring destination-inspired local dishes and beverages.

Onboard menus highlight freshly prepared dishes using locally sourced ingredients and itinerary-based specialties, including fresh seafood and fish, seasonal fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry from local farms, local draft and craft beers, and regional wines and cheeses. Complimentary specialty coffees and teas are supplied by the Vienna, Austria-based company Julius Meinl.

Vista Deck (Deck 4) is the ship’s Sun Deck, fitted with a large outdoor TV screen, sunbathing areas with padded loungers, and shaded seating areas.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Ravel features 3 lounges and bars, 4 restaurants, 1 panoramic glass elevator, a gym, and spa facilities. Distinctive features include the glass-domed atrium and the indoor infinity (resistance) pool. The Palm Court show lounge includes a stage for live performances, grand piano concerts, and sing-alongs, as well as a dance floor for themed parties. The Palm Court features a glass-dome ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows, live plants, comfortable seating, and a full-service bar. The 24-hour coffee and tea corner, The Pantry, offers complimentary fruit, pastries, cookies, and sparkling water. The river yacht also features a Fitness Center and a full-service Spa.

One deck is dedicated to public spaces, including the spa, gym, library, and glass-domed Palm Court lounge. Each riverboat carries its own fleet of electric bicycles, two-person kayaks, and jet skis for complimentary guest use during independent or guided shore excursions.

Itineraries

Riverside Cruises’ Ravel operates voyages in France along the Rhone (Provence) and Saone (Burgundy) rivers.

Homeports and detailed itineraries/destinations are announced seasonally.

Crystal Ravel itineraries

Initially, Crystal Ravel’s program focused on Dordogne and Garonne River voyages from Bordeaux, France, themed “Bordeaux, The Wine Region, and Beyond.” These 7-day itineraries (including the Gironde Estuary) featured two overnight stays in Bordeaux and calls at Pauillac, Blaye, and Libourne.

For the inaugural 2018–2019 seasons, the ship also operated 7- and 14-day Moselle, Rhine, and Danube river cruises departing from Amsterdam, Holland, Basel, Switzerland, Vienna, Austria, and Budapest, Hungary. During 2018, cruises operated between Vienna and Basel; in 2019, itineraries were scheduled between Vienna and Budapest.

Following the 18-month Coronavirus pause, Crystal Ravel resumed voyages on August 29, 2021, from Vilshofen, Germany.

The all-inclusive Crystal river cruise fares included the following complimentary amenities and services:

• Gratuities for all shipboard staff, including housekeeping, bar, dining, and butlers
• All meals (featuring six-star gourmet cuisine and regional specialties)
• Unlimited soft drinks and premium beverages (including champagne, fine wines, spirits, beer, and bottled water)
• 24-hour self-service pantry (specialty coffees, teas, wines, non-alcoholic drinks)
• 24-hour room service
• Complimentary Wi-Fi and satellite Internet access (60 minutes per person per day)
• Interactive TV (infotainment system) with movies on demand and music library
• Airport-to-ship group transfers on embarkation day
• Ship-to-airport group transfers on disembarkation day
• Daily onboard yoga and fitness classes, plus a choice of digital international newspapers
• Destination-focused enrichment programming, including lectures and local experts
• Self-service guest laundry
• Twice-daily housekeeping, including evening turndown
• In-cabin dining (hors d’oeuvres)
• Butler service for every suite
• Two curated “Crystal Adventures” shore excursions per port (additional excursions available at extra cost)
• Complimentary culinary tours to renowned local establishments

Atlanta eBikes, Nordic walking poles, and audio headsets for all “Crystal Adventures” shore excursions were also provided complimentary.