Riviera Resplendence

The 2026-built MS Riviera Resplendence cruise ship operates on the Danube, Main, Rhine, and Moselle rivers. The riverboat is owned by the Swiss company Scylla AG (shipowner) and is exclusively chartered by Riviera Travel UK.

Riviera Resplendence’s sisterships and fleetmates include Riviera Radiance (2025) and Riviera Reflection (2027).

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

Decks and Cabins

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

All cabins are outside accommodations, most measuring 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 (Juliet balcony).

The vessel also offers 12 Suites, all midship, each with a French balcony and a larger layout. The eight Superior Suites measure 24 m2 (260 ft2), while the four Grand Suites are the largest at 32 m2 (345 ft2). Grand Suites feature “Twin Balconies,” comprising 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 are fitted with marble countertops, walk-in glass showers with large rain-shower heads, and premium bath products by Crabtree & Evelyn.

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

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

Riviera Resplendence offers three complimentary dining venues: the Main Restaurant (forward on Deck 2), Mosaic (specialty Restaurant/Bistro/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 cuisine inspired by the itinerary, alongside international specialties.

The aft Mosaic venue serves as an alternative dining option and includes its own bar. It offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including themed buffets. During the day, it operates as a casual bar lounge. The venue features a small wraparound terrace with stern views. Due to limited seating, dinner reservations are required. Mosaic follows a tapas-style concept, offering a selection of small plates and tasting dishes inspired by the cruise region’s cuisine. Two outdoor staircases connect Mosaic directly to the Sun Deck’s Jacuzzi area.

The Lobby area on Ruby Deck includes port and starboard entrances, the 24-hour Reception Desk, the Travel Desk (Cruise Director and Concierge services, excursion bookings and information), and the onboard Boutique (Gift Shop).

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

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

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

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

The Panorama Lounge & Bar is located forward on 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 evenings, enrichment lectures, and itinerary-related presentations.

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

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

A midship passenger elevator connects all cabin decks. Staircases provide access to all decks, and a stairlift links Deck 3 with Deck 4 (Sun Deck).

Itineraries

MS Riviera Resplendence primarily cruises on the Danube River. Her main homeports are Amsterdam, Holland, Budapest, Hungary, Vienna/Wien, Austria, and Cologne/Köln, Germany.

Riviera Resplendence’s inaugural 2026 itineraries included:

The 4-night/5-day “Amsterdam, Kinderdijk and the Dutch Bulbfields River Cruise” (roundtrip from Amsterdam), visiting Enkhuizen (Day 2, Zuiderzee Museum, scenic Markermeer cruising), Rotterdam and Kinderdijk (Day 3), Keukenhof Gardens (Day 4), and Amsterdam (Days 4–5 overnight).

The 7-night/8-day “Bruges, Medieval Flanders, Amsterdam and the Dutch Bulbfields River Cruise” (roundtrip from Amsterdam), visiting Keukenhof Gardens and Amsterdam (Day 2), Arnhem (Day 3), Antwerp (Day 4, guided tour), Ghent (Day 5, guided tour or full-day excursion to Ypres), Bruges (Day 6, guided tour), and Amsterdam (Day 7, canal cruise on a glass-roof boat).

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, 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, Belogradchik Rocks), Iron Gates Gorge (Day 11, Lepenski Vir visit), Novi Sad, Serbia (Day 12), Vukovar and Osijek, Croatia (Day 13, guided tours or Kopacki Rit National Park boat ride), and Budapest (Day 14, guided city tour and folklore show). UK return flights depart on Day 15.

The 4-night/5-day “Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets River Cruise” (roundtrip from Cologne), featuring Rhine Gorge cruising and visits to Rüdesheim (Day 2, guided tour and Christmas markets), Koblenz (Day 3, guided tour), and Bonn and Cologne (Day 4).

The 7-night/8-day “Rhine Cruise to Switzerland” from Cologne, visiting Koblenz (Day 2), Rhine Gorge and Rüdesheim (Day 3), Speyer (Day 4), Strasbourg (Day 5), Breisach (Day 6, Black Forest excursion to Freiburg), and Lucerne (Day 7, rail journey to the Bernese Oberland).

The 7-night/8-day “Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg River Cruise” (roundtrip from Cologne), visiting Koblenz and Boppard (Day 2), Rhine Gorge and Mainz (Day 3), Heidelberg (Day 4), Strasbourg (Day 5, optional excursion to Colmar), and Rüdesheim (Day 6).

The 7-night/8-day “Rhine and Moselle River Cruise” (roundtrip from Cologne), visiting Cochem (Day 2), Trier (Day 3), Bernkastel (Day 4), Koblenz and Boppard (Day 5), and Rhine Gorge and Rüdesheim (Day 6).

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

Riviera Travel cruise fares include international return flights to England, land transfers, the Superior Beverage Package (unlimited drinks, typically 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 services, enrichment program, live entertainment), and seven guided land tours. Departures from England are available from Leeds Bradford (Yeadon), Liverpool, London (Gatwick, Luton, Stansted), and Manchester.

The vessel’s hull and superstructure (ENI number TBA) were 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 vessels are towed to the Netherlands for final outfitting at Scheepswerf Vahali in Gendt.

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