Riverside Luxury Cruises on the Rhône: A Week of Elegance and Discovery
I’ve just returned from a 7-night Rhône river cruise aboard Riverside Ravel, one of the newest names in river cruising. Riverside launched in 2023 with a fleet made entirely of Crystal Cruises’ former luxury river ships, and you can see that pedigree in the details, both on board and ashore.
Itinerary Riverside Ravel
Ultra-Luxury on the River
Riverside belongs firmly in the ultra-luxury segment—comparable to Crystal, Regent Seven Seas, or Silversea, but on Europe’s rivers. Their ships are intimate (just 110 guests on Ravel and her sister ship Debussy, and 162 guests on Mozart), all-suite, and all-butler, with one of the lowest guest capacities in river cruising. With a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:2, service feels both polished and personal. Another aspect that sets Riverside apart is its high level of inclusiveness, while still offering flexibility for guests who prefer to opt out of the premium beverage package or daily excursions.
5 Star Accommodation
Riverside Ravel features 55 suites in total. Uniquely, the majority—37 suites— are in the mid-tier categories, averaging 240 sq ft in size and featuring walk-in closets along with bathrooms with double-vanity sinks. Another 16 suites are slightly smaller, averaging 180–190 sq ft, and do not include those two amenities. It is worth mentioning that up to 5 or 6 of those entry level suites are generally reserved for solo travellers on each cruise. The remaining two suites are considerably larger, ranging from 500 to 760 sq ft, each with a separate living area and one or two bedrooms. Every suite is furnished with a king-size bed and a river-view French balcony.
Culinary Offerings
Food is one of Riverside’s strongest selling points. Ravel offers a variety of venues and dining styles:
Waterside Restaurant serves both buffet-style lunches and elegant four-course à la carte dinners.
The Atelier serves casual breakfast and lunch, complemented by all-day specialty coffees, freshly baked cakes and pastries—prepared by the ship’s dedicated pastry chef—and, on select evenings, a locally inspired dinner menu featuring multiple shareable dishes.
Top deck barbecues on sunny days were a highlight for me, with high-quality meats, seafood, and a fresh salad buffet.
Al fresco dinners were occasionally offered on the top deck, a welcome treat in good weather.
The Vintage Room, seating just 10 guests, hosts exclusive wine-pairing dinners (for an additional cost). I didn’t join on this trip, but it’s a unique option for those seeking something special.
The food itself was consistently excellent. Everything was freshly cooked daily, and the ship is resupplied weekly. It’s no coincidence: Ravel has one of the largest galleys of any river ship, and as the head chef explained, Riverside’s food budget is almost double that of most competitors. During my cruise, beef and caviar were sourced directly from Lyon’s Paul Bocuse market on embarkation day—a clear signal of their commitment to quality.
Drinks were equally impressive. Riverside offers, in my opinion, one of the best value drinks package of any ship: top-shelf spirits and Taittinger champagne are standard. For wine lovers, there’s also a long list of premium wines and champagnes available for purchase—either as part of the Vintage Room wine-pairing dinners or simply by the bottle.
Enrichment, Excursions and other facilities
Riverside also stands out in its enrichment program. The range of included excursions is vast and isn’t limited to one excursion per port, as is the case on most other all-inclusive ultra-luxury cruise lines—always small groups, capped at 15 guests but often much smaller (my excursions never had more than 7).
Options included walking tours, biking, hiking, picnicking, and even kayaking for those who wanted something more active. It was refreshing to see such a broad range of choices.
In addition, Riverside hosts “Signature Events” that are only for their guests, always in unique local settings. On my cruise, these included a wine-pairing event at a well-known winery in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and a farewell dinner at Domaine de Panéry, an olive oil and wine producer in the Gard region.
Onboard enrichment was just as thoughtful: a wine tasting led by a local expert, paired with regional delicacies; and a cooking demonstration with the ship’s head chef, where we were shown how to prepare beef and fish tartare before sampling them ourselves.
Other facilities onboard Riverside Ravel included a small but well-equipped Fitness Centre, an indoor Swimming Pool, a Spa and a self service Laundry Room.
Personalisation & Details
The high level of customisation extended to many other aspects of the journey:
Guests on inclusive packages enjoy complimentary transfers to and from airports, train stations, or hotels.
Dietary restrictions are handled with care, with menus tailored in advance if needed.
Room service is included for all guests, although some basic fares only include room service during restaurant hours.
Natura Bissé toiletries are provided in all suites.
Staff quickly learn and use guest names, while personal preferences are noted in passenger profiles.
Excursions can be privatised for families or affinity groups (for a small extra charge).
Groups of 10+ guests receive added benefits, including discounts and shipboard credits.
No single supplement for up to five or six solo travellers per voyage.
A Few Observations
While my overall experience was excellent, there are a few areas where Riverside could improve:
Entry-level suites are on the small side, with an average size of 190 sq ft. They’re cleverly designed, but guests used to larger ocean-cruise accommodations may find them a bit tight and, personally, I would only recommend them to solo travellers.
Evening entertainment was limited, mostly centred around a resident singer-pianist, with just two guest acts across seven nights. A bit more variety would have been nice.
While the onboard enrichment program was of a very high standard, I did find myself missing more destination-focused content, such as lectures on the history and culture of the places we were visiting.
Cocktails didn’t always match the otherwise excellent standard of the drinks program.
Having limited Spa facilities with only one treatment room and one therapist could prove challenging during busy periods. In addition, the ship does not feature any sauna/steam room facilities, unlike the larger Riverside Ravel.
These were relatively minor points in an otherwise highly polished experience.
Who Would Enjoy This Cruise
Based on my sailing, Riverside is ideal for:
Clients of top-end ocean cruise lines such as Crystal, Regent or Silversea.
Couples or solo travelers in their 50s and up, looking for an ultra-luxury cruise with a younger, more dynamic atmosphere than traditional river lines.
Food and wine enthusiasts who appreciate fine dining and premium beverages.
Active travelers who like the idea of small-group, curated excursions with more variety than the standard sightseeing tour.
Solo travelers who want to enjoy a luxury product without the barrier of a single supplement.
Final Thoughts
Riverside Luxury Cruises has brought a fresh approach to river cruising—combining space, service, fine dining, and immersive excursions in a way that feels both polished and personal. My week on the Rhône was marked by comfort, culture, and thoughtful details that made the journey feel special.
If you’re considering a river cruise, I’d be happy to guide you. With first-hand experience on Ravel, Expeditioner Travel can offer exclusive Virtuoso perks, tailored advice, and a seamless booking process to create your perfect journey. Click here to contact me!
