First look inside Riviera Travel’s newest ship, MS Riviera Resplendence

Riviera Travel has released a first look at the latest ship in their Radiance-Class fleet, MS Riviera Resplendence, ahead of its maiden voyage along the Rhine River later this week.

The brand-new, 135-metre MS Riviera Resplendence will depart from Cologne on Saturday, July 4^th, for its inaugural sailing of Riviera’s “Rhine Cruise to Switzerland” itinerary.

MS Riviera Resplendence has been created to offer agents a distinctive new five-star river cruise option for guests seeking a stylish, design-led ship with a warmer and more atmospheric onboard feel.

Accommodating up to 178 guests across 89 cabins, with 44 crew, the ship introduces a richer visual identity for Riviera Travel’s fleet, with mid-century influences, deeper colour palettes and more textured interiors designed to make the experience feel noticeably different from home.

The interiors, developed by the design team at Scylla, Riviera Travel’s long-standing shipbuilding partner, move away from the paler tones used elsewhere in the fleet in favour of rich golds, warm browns and colourful wall coverings intended to create a more welcoming, luxurious ship environment.

The result is an onboard setting designed to feel relaxed and inviting, with split-level lounge and dining spaces in the main restaurant and floor-to-ceiling French balconies available in more than 80% of cabins and suites.

Michel van der Velden and Cathy Schroder, Interior Designers at Scylla, said: “When you come back on board, you truly have a new home for a few days. We hope Riviera guests look around and think, ‘That is a beautiful wall covering, we should do something like that at home!’, giving them that spark of interior design inspiration is what we strive for.”

Cathy Schroder, Interior Designer at Scylla AG, added: “I hope we can give Riviera guests a wonderful feeling and a beautiful vacation where they can just relax. I want them to love everything they see, and to feel that it is completely different from home. Something truly special.”

On the Diamond Deck, guests will find the Panorama Lounge and Bar, the ship’s social hub, as well as 12 new exclusive large suites, including four with dedicated dining areas that allow guests to enjoy breakfast or dinner privately in their room with family or friends.

The Grand Suites (32 m²) offer separate living and sleeping areas and a full balcony, while the Superior Suites (24 m²) provides additional space for guests seeking an upgraded cabin option.

At the stern, guests will find the Riverview Kitchen, offering a more intimate dining experience with an open kitchen, large panoramic windows and al fresco seating.

The Sun Deck offers space to relax on a lounger, enjoy cocktails while taking in the changing scenery, or cool off in the splash pool.

The Ruby Deck is home to the main restaurant, reception, lobby area, and boutique shop; while the Emerald Deck features the fitness centre, massage facilities and Mosaic Restaurant, where each course features a number of elements inspired by the rivers of Europe, paired with the perfect wine selected by our sommelier.

Designed with the latest technology and Riviera Travel’s environmental values in mind, MS Riviera Resplendence is on track to qualify for Gold Standard recognition as part of the Green Award programme. The ship has been built to help minimise its impact on the natural landscapes it sails through, supporting Riviera Travel’s commitment to more responsible river cruising.

Featured itineraries for 2026 include: “Rhine Cruise to Switzerland”; “Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg River Cruise”; “Rhine and Moselle River Cruise”; “Rhine Gorge Cologne Discovery River Cruise”; “Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets River Cruise”; and the “Christmas on the Rhine River Cruise”.