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All things Riviera Travel UK


notamermaid
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As the UK-based company moved onto the North American market last year I think it is time that past and future cruisers and all those interested in the company as such were given a "venue" to discuss and share info. You may also post as a present cruiser from a ship, of course. :)

 

Just a few basics. Riviera Travel has been around for some years, offers also land trips and is expanding with its river cruise section.

 

Their latest ships have all been given names of famous novelists and poets of the United Kingdom and this is the latest offering for river cruisers. The Robert Burns, soon to be christened: http://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Omega-World-Travel-CEO-named-godmother-river-cruise-ship

 

notamermaid

 

P.S.: the photo or rendering of the Robert Burns was taken in front of the Lorelei rock on the Rhine

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I agree, we have already been on two Riviera River Cruises, and will again be joining them in April this year. I really like their brand, they seem to have it just right, with included excursions, really nice boats and pleasant staff. It would be great to chat to others regarding Riviera to gain tips and info.

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Good to hear from you, Salad Muncher. Where will your trip take you? Hopefully some more travellers will ad some info to this thread soon. Meanwhile, although in German, I would like to give everyone a link to a shipping industry website: https://binnenschifffahrt-online.de/2018/01/schiffstechnik/1725/ The headline reads "shipping company Scylla - another poet ship" It refers to the Robert Burns. Scylla in Switzerland owns the ship and charters it mainly to Riviera Travel UK. I hope google translate does a satisfactory job...

 

Say hello to beautiful Cumbria for me. Carlisle is one of my favourite places in Britain.

 

notamermaid

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This is an article on the fleet (with a bit of advertising thrown in): https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/checking-out-riviera-river-cruises-fleet.html

 

The article does not mention the Swiss Ruby, also a Scylla ship. She is of shorter length as well, this year sailing on the Seine. She can therefore dock in Paris itself: https://www.rivieratravel.co.uk/the-seine-paris-normandy-river-cruise

 

notamermaid

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On 3/9/2018 at 12:36 PM, SALAD MUNCHER said:

I agree, we have already been on two Riviera River Cruises, and will again be joining them in April this year. I really like their brand, they seem to have it just right, with included excursions, really nice boats and pleasant staff. It would be great to chat to others regarding Riviera to gain tips and info.

SALADMUCHER, How was your cruise?

A friend is doing the Danube in May & we are doing same in October on William Wordsworth.

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Thinking of coming to the European (continent) Christmas markets? Riviera Travel have extended their offers: https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/riviera-river-cruises-expands-christmas-markets-cruises-for-2019.html

 

The Danube is a six-day, the Rhine a five-day return trip, starting and ending in Budapest and starting and ending in Cologne, respectively. A bit short? I recommend extra days if you can do your own air travel arrangements. Budapest certainly lends itself to some extra time. Cologne is an international airport of course but if Amsterdam is better for you why not fly to Amsterdam and take the train to Cologne? Especially if you can fit in Brussels for a quick stopover to see the market(s) there. And the Thalys train in first class is affordable luxury. Recommended over German ICE trains.

 

notamermaid

 

 

 

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We are sailing on the William Shakespeare in 10 days on the Rhone and Soane, having done this trip before with Emerald waterways it will make a very interesting comparison. 

Watch this space after the 24th of September. 

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Just had published my review of our recent Riviera Travel cruise.Budapest to the Black Sea on Thomas Hardy . Another great cruise with them, highly recommended. This itinerary was particularly interesting for the recent history of the places we visited and for birdwatchers the Delta cruising (although from what the guides said spring would be best for this) 

 

https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=668163&et_cid=3214772&et_rid=234335375&et_referrer=Boards_WAR_CC

 

 

Edited by jo-b
Inability to type!
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On 1/4/2020 at 1:01 PM, notamermaid said:

Riviera Travel UK have decided to market their river cruises in North America only through travel agents. Here is the story: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Riviera-River-Cruises-travel-agents-only?ct=river

 

notamermaid

 

 

 

This should not be a big problem for anyone. The fares and experience are the same. Riveria will have the contact information for US travel agents who have completed the Riviera training available for referrals. 

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The Geoffrey Chaucer is on her first proper journey after completion in the Netherlands. The guys from Binnenschifferforum have spotted her already. Here is the thread with the first photos: https://www.binnenschifferforum.de/showthread.php?99165-Geoffrey-Chaucer-KFGS-07002119&p=392003#post392003 

 

notamermaid

 

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With no cruises happening the Geoffrey Chaucer is sadly back in her home harbour in the Netherlands. But Riviera Travel are looking towards the future with optimism. Just announced have been the new itineraries for 2021 and a new ship, the Lord Tennyson! She will be named after Alfred Lord Tennyson, a 19th century poet: https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/riviera-river-cruises-offers-biggest-selection-of-itineraries-for-2021.html

 

notamermaid

 

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The Geoffrey Chaucer is currently busy on the Danube, sailing for German tour operators. Hopefully she will return to service for Riviera Travel soon.

 

Meanwhile, Riviera are marketing their increased number of solo travel opportunities: https://www.travelweekly.com/River-Cruising/Riviera-River-Cruises-touts-solo-itineraries

 

notamermaid

 

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The Robert Burns is leaving the services of Riviera this year. The Robert Burns was in long-term charter with the company, she is a Scylla company ship. The Robert Burns will be renamed the "Viva Moments" and join the fleet of Viva Cruises:

 

 

notamermaid

 

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Riviera Travel has new itineraries in its catalogue, three are described in this article: https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/three-new-itineraries-await-guests-aboard-riviera-river-cruises.html

 

I like the phrase "...and expert-led excursions to classic sights and lesser-known places." Expert-led I cannot judge, but what about classical sights and lesser known-places? I have had a look at this itinerary: https://www.rivieratravel.co.uk/river-cruises/vienna-bohemia-treasures-danube

 

My comments: starting in Vienna and doing an upstream, return, downstream, return itinerary without Budapest is unusual. And as the name says it has a different focus, so that is interesting and not a standard on the Danube at all. Vienna - classic. Lesser-known place in the itinerary - found it! Aldersbach. Never heard of it? Neither have I. To be fair, I have not been much in the area so that is no surprise. Aldersbach is an excursion from Passau on day 4. It is a small town on the river Vils which flows into the Danube at Vilshofen (yes, the port town). It has two palaces, a former Cistercian abbey and brewery. Now that looks a nice excursion and one I have not come across before. I could not find English info (which speaks for the place I find), so here is just some German text and a couple of photos: https://www.passauer-land.de/attraktion/ehemaliges-zisterzienserkloster-aldersbach-783f0c6755

 

360 degrees photos of the abbey: http://www.kloster-aldersbach.de/index.php/ct-menu-item-7

 

This is an attractive itinerary which I would also sail. Interesting theme, nicely put together.

 

notamermaid

 

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