ITTN’s Shane Cullen and the Irish travel trade were fortunate to be some of the first on board MS Riviera Radiance for the naming ceremony. Carrie Day (Country Manager for Ireland | Riviera Travel) hosted over a dozen members of the travel trade and media for a 2-night trip to Budapest.
Those in attendance from Ireland were: Sharon Harney – Cassidy Travel; Annette Hynes – Cruise Worldwide at Fahy Travel; Carolanne O’Neill – Worldchoice Ireland; Caroline O’Toole – JWT Travel; Gareth Beresford Cooke – Travel Counsellors; Jeff Collins & Ciara Foley – Best4Travel; Eoghan Corry – Travel Extra; Grace Byrne – Click&Go; Karen Kelleher – Barter’s Travelnet; Linda Jones – The Travel Boutique; Niall McDonnell – Killiney Travel; and Ita Hendrick – TravelBiz.
The fam trip was a two-night extravaganza in the beautiful city of Budapest with live music, cocktail receptions, local festive markets, a gala dinner and an opportunity to experience everything MS Riviera Radiance has to offer. And while Carrie cannot promise sunshine, the Sun Deck onboard offered a picture-perfect setting along the Danube to soak up the sights along the riverbank.
Designed with a split-level lounge and dining in the main restaurant, floor-to-ceiling French balconies in over 80% of the 89 cabins and suites, the river cruise ship stretches 135 metres in length. The ship can cater for 178 passengers and has a dedicated 44 crew onboard.
Arriving at Afternoon Tea on the Banks of the Danube
Afternoon tea, dainty sandwiches and delectable desserts greeted guests as luggage was whisked away. The group explored Riviera’s latest and greatest vessel, which was decked out in rich festive cheer, setting the mood for the itinerary that awaited everyone over the next few days. Budapest is home to spectacular Christmas markets, a draw for clients looking to cruise the Danube in the winter months.
A Stunning Ship with a Sense of Light, Space & Festive Cheer
While it may be chilly and overcast outside, inside is bright & gleaming with the double-vaulted, split-level dining room giving an immense sense of spaciousness. Decorated in traditional greenery, rich reds and gold against a backdrop of gleaming chandeliers, the ship looked spectacular.
This is luxurious and contemporary – a relaxed and elevated experience for those on board. It is definitely fancy, but it still sets a tone where guests can unwind, relax, and enjoy themselves. This is high-end, relaxed elegance. Perfect after a day of sights, city streets, shopping and souvenirs.
Dining Onboard MS Riviera Radiance – A Trio From Which to Choose
Riviera Travel offers first-class, flexible dining. Breakfast in the main restaurant offers both a menu and a buffet with over 60 options to choose from, including some heart-smart options. Lunch is light with soups, salads, a pasta station and a choice of mains with plenty of options exploring local delicacies. Equally, there is a broad choice of tasty desserts to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Dinner is a carefully crafted four-course à la carte menu featuring recipes inspired by the regions as well as classic favourites. Expert sommeliers carefully select a range of wines from household names to the lesser-known varieties, with some even produced on the terraced vineyards just a few yards away from the ship. Menus have “Local Flavours” highlighted for those wanting to immerse themselves in the destination.
The team of experienced chefs can cater for any special dietary requirements – such as vegan or vegetarian – so guests can still enjoy a first-class dining experience.
This ship has 3 different dining areas, with the star of the show being the split-level dining room. This is the second of Riveriera’s ships to have this split-level dining room layout. I suspect this might just shape river cruise ship design in the future.
- Main Restaurant (Ruby Deck): Buffet breakfast, lunch, and four-course à la carte dinner
- Riverview (Diamond Deck): Open kitchen, panoramic windows, and al fresco seating
- Mosaic (Emerald Deck): Tapas-style tasting menu inspired by Europe’s rivers
Guests were treated to lunch in the Mosaic, which offers a tapas-style tasting menu, drawing inspiration from Europe’s rivers.
Cocktails, Fine Wines & Spirits Coupled with a Clever Touch
The bar offers a full range of drinks sourced from all over the world, including the finest wines and spirits. This is an ideal place to relax, chat, rest your feet and reflect on another day’s experiences. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a wide view of the sights and the water below, flowing by. A clever touch was when guests returned from the city to the ship, they were greeted with a warm brandy. It’s the little touches and attention to detail that elevate the experience.
Guests onboard were invited to a cocktail reception followed by our first dinner experience onboard – hosted in the main restaurant. The food and service were very high standard and excellent by all accounts.
I opted for a beef carpaccio followed by a perfectly cooked rack of lamb and then a delicious, rich cheese platter with truffle honey. Outstanding.
The evening entertainment was provided by the UK-based vocal harmony group Jingle Belles. They serenaded the crowd with a festive selection of Christmas tunes as well as regular chart-topping favourites.
Always Included with Riviera Travel
Riviera Travel’s Swiss-built and operated cruise ships are some of the youngest in Europe – and the most advanced. In fact, they are rated by the ‘Berlitz Guide to River Cruising’ as some of the finest river cruise ships to grace Europe’s waterways.
Always Included Onboard a Riviera Travel Cruise
- Direct flights & transfers
- Five-star ships with impeccable on-board service
- Itinerary curated by Riviera experts with insightful excursions & visits every day with local guides
- Expert Riviera Cruise Director & Concierge
- Evening entertainment from quizzes to impressive performers
- Onboard spa & wellness facilities
- Onboard lounge, bar & restaurant
- Delicious full board dining, plus Chef’s Dinner
- Free Wi-Fi
- 20kg+ checked luggage
- 24/7 support from a UK-based team
- And, of course, the very impressive Carrie Day, Country Manager for Ireland
Itinerary Inspiration
For itinerary inspiration, find links to Riviera Cruises along the Danube below:
- Budapest to the Black Sea
- Christmas on the Danube
- New Year on the Danube
- The Blue Danube
- The Danube’s Imperial Cities & Yuletide Markets
- The Blue Danube River Cruise
- The Blue Danube River Cruise with Budapest Extension
- The Blue Danube River Cruise with Vienna Extension Budapest, Bratislava & Vienna: A Danube Discovery
