The in-depth voyages and dedicated solo options enhance the operators river cruise product, ahead of two new-build ships hitting the rivers of the continent in 2025.
Five new combination cruises will set sail in 2025, with a combined choice of 15 departures throughout the year.
Riviera's range of in-depth itineraries spans from 15 to 29 days, with prices starting from £3,449 per person for the 15-day 'Majestic Rhine, Heidelberg & Switzerland' option calling at Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Cologne, Rüdesheim, Boppard, Mainz, Speyer, Koblenz and Colmar, with visits to the Black Forest and Titisee.
Head of product Will Sarson said that "evolving product is what [Riviera Travel] do[es]... we're always making sure that we keep our range fresh, interesting and, most importantly, [aligned with] what the customers want."
The longest option, the 29-day 'Grand cruise through the heart of Europe to the Black Sea', cruises through Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava, Regensburg, Koblenz, Bamberg, Passau, Bucharest, Belgrade and Constanta, with prices from £7,399 per person.
Other options include the 18-day 'Grand cruise of the Rhine Gorge, Medieval Germany & Switzerland' from £4,949 per person, the 15-day 'Rhine, Moselle & Switzerland' from £3,949 per person, and the 18-day 'Grand cruise of the Moselle, Rhine, Luxembourg & Switzerland' option from £4,949 per person.
Combination itineraries are not limited in allocation, with Will explaining that "if the demand is there, [the ship's allocation for combination cruise guests] could be 100%."
Riviera Travel's solo river cruise programme for 2024 will almost double 2023's, with new options including 'The Danube’s Imperial Cities & Yuletide Markets' from £1,599 per person and 'Bruges, Medieval Flanders, Amsterdam & the Dutch Bulbfields' from £2,499 per person.
Reflecting on the first two months of peaks, recently-promoted head of trade partnerships Vicky Billing said the period "has been absolutely incredible," adding that the trade sales funnel has been "the fastest-growing part of the business throughout January and February," with year-on-year growth of between 50% and 55%.
Looking ahead
As the operator's turn-of-year campaign draws to a close, Vicky said the trade team is "looking at how we can support agents more and more – the fact that we have got our 40th birthday this year helps cement how exciting a time we're having."
Vicky also confirmed that the team is in the recruitment stage in its search for an account manager to look after homeworking agents across the UK.
On what is to come, Will concluded: "The industry is booming, things are going really well for Riviera... of course, we're always thinking about ways to grow and evolve. We are looking at future plans and vessels, although we don't have specifics to share."
