Riviera Travel unveils biggest-ever festive programme and river cruise extensions

Riviera Travel has launched its biggest-ever programme of Christmas and New Year cruises for December 2025.

The operator has also announced that six of its 2025 river cruises will include optional extended land stays.

The programme, available to book now, comprises:

• Enchanting Rhine & Yuletide Markets – five-days, visiting Rüdesheim, Koblenz, Bonn and Cologne. A total of 13 departures in December, with prices from €1149pp.
• The Danube’s Imperial Cities & Yuletide Markets – six-days, visiting Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava. A total of 11 departures in December, with prices from €1399pp.
• Christmas on the Rhine – eight-days, visiting Cologne, Koblenz, sailing through the Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Strasbourg, Boppard and Speyer, departing 21 and 22 December 2025, with prices from €2649pp.
• Christmas on the Danube – eight-days, visiting Budapest, Esztergorm, Melk Abbey, Salzburg and Vienna, departing 21 and 22 December 2025, with prices from €2649pp.
• New Year on the Rhine – six-days, visiting Cologne, Rudesheim, Frankfurt, Koblenz and sailing through the Rhine Gorge. Departing 28 and 29 December 2025, with prices from €2199pp.
• New Year on the Danube – six-days, visiting Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna. Departing 28 and 29 December 2025, with prices from €2199pp.

Riviera is also offering a series of extended land stays across six 2025 river itineraries. These were first introduced in 2023 and are available again following positive demand and feedback from guests and agents.

Extensions include:

• The Blue Danube with Budapest extension

Comprises a seven-night Danube river cruise and three-night post-cruise hotel stays in Budapest. The Budapest extension includes visits to the city’s Parliament Building, National Gallery and Palinka Museum; a scenic drive through the outskirts of the Puszta, Hungary’s Great Plain; and an afternoon at an equestrian park. Prices for the extension start from €619pp.

• The Blue Danube with Vienna extension

Comprises a seven-night Danube river cruise and three-night post-cruise hotel stay in Vienna. The Vienna extension includes a tour of the Vienna State Opera House, a visit to Schonbrunn Palace, a wine tasting with lunch, a horse-drawn carriage ride at Neusiedlersee and a traditional Heurigen evening. Prices for the extension start from €739pp.

• Rhine Cruise to Switzerland with Glacier Express extension

Comprises a seven-night Rhine cruise, and a three-night hotel stay in the Alpine resort of Zermatt. The extension is available pre- or post-cruise and includes the opportunity to experience the Glacier Express railway, which travels across the Alps. Available from May to October, prices for the extension start from €1119pp.

• Burgundy, the River Rhône and Provence River Cruise with Lake Geneva and Golden Pass extension

Comprises a seven-night Rhone cruise, and three nights in a centrally-located hotel in either Lausanne or Montreux. The extension has four additional visits and tours comprising Chillon Castle, a Lake Geneva cruise, a climb to Glacier 3000 and a journey on the Golden Pass train. Available from April to October, prices for the extension start from €979pp.

• Highlights of the Douro Valley and Salamanca River Cruise with Lisbon extension

Comprises a seven-night Douro cruise, and a three-night hotel stay in the heart of Lisbon. The extension includes a guided tour of Lisbon; visits to the historic town of Sintra and the Monastery of Jeronimos; a tour of Coimbra University; and the chance to experience a traditional Portuguese folk music show. Prices for the extension start from €499pp.

• Douro, Porto and Salamanca River Cruise with Porto extension

Comprises a seven-night Douro cruise, and a three-night stay in the centre of Porto. The extension includes guided tours of Brago, Guimaraoes, Porto and Aveiro, plus visits to the Portuguese Centre of Photography and Clerigos Tower. Prices for the extension start from €789pp.

All river cruises are full board with welcome cocktails, a welcome dinner and a Captain’s Dinner. Prices cover the cruise and hotel stays, and flights and transfers. Cruises have an expert cruise director and concierge throughout. The extensions have an accompanying tour manager at all times, with all hotels offering breakfast.

Will Sarson, Head of Product at Riviera, said: “There is something very special about celebrating the Christmas and New Year period on a river cruise, and at Riviera we have a wide selection of itineraries available to book. All are filled with endless opportunities to take in the festive atmosphere in some of Europe’s most enchanting cities.

“Our land stay extensions have proven very popular in recent years, giving guests the option to extend their holidays with a range of visits to historic and celebrated landmarks.”