Europe’s Most Opulent River Cruise Ships Are Making a Comeback

This week, Seaside Collection, a German hotel group, announced its acquisition of the last four ships from the pandemic-affected Crystal Cruises, bringing them into the Riverside Luxury Cruises brand and effectively reviving the high-end fleet.

Riverside was launched late last year when Seaside acquired the former Crystal Mozart, one of five ex-Crystal river cruise vessels. With the complete former Crystal fleet now under its management, Riverside plans to continue and enhance Crystal's legacy, set to commence sailing three of the ships this spring, according to Jennifer Halboth, CEO of the company’s operations in the Americas.

“Our goal is to be truly outstanding, to be the premier choice for luxury travelers,” Halboth states, adding that Riverside intends “to be the catalyst for luxury travelers to experience river cruising for the first time.”

Launching in April

Riverside is set to debut three of its ships—the Riverside Mozart, Riverside Debussy, and Riverside Ravel—this April, offering itineraries ranging from 3 to 14 nights along the Danube, the scenic Rhine, and the Rhône and Saône rivers in southern France.

The remaining vessels, the Riverside Bach and Riverside Mahler, are scheduled to rejoin the fleet in 2024, once the company determines their routes and has sufficient time to ensure everything is perfect, according to Halboth.

Apart from some cosmetic updates and the addition of amenities like new bathrobes and towels for guests, Halboth mentions that minimal physical alterations will be made to the ships. Originally designed for Crystal, these vessels aimed to be the most luxurious river cruise option in Europe, featuring spacious all-suite cabins with walk-in closets, double vanities in bathrooms, and king-size beds. (Typically, river cruise ships offer smaller accommodations due to their more compact dimensions compared to larger ocean liners.)

Similar to Crystal, Riverside will provide butler services to assist guests with everything from crafting personalized excursions to offering 24-hour room service. Each ship is equipped with three restaurants, a spa, a fitness center, and a swimming pool.

The most significant distinction between Riverside and the now-defunct Crystal, at least in the near term, will be pricing.

For its inaugural season, Halboth mentions that Riverside's rates will be approximately 45 percent lower than Crystal's pre-pandemic brochure prices, with three-day cruises starting around $1,000 per person and seven-day journeys in midrange suites available for as low as $5,000 per person, which includes meals, drinks, selected excursions at each port, transfers, gratuities, and Wi-Fi.

An emphasis on fine dining and thrilling excursions

While the service quality and amenities will closely resemble what Crystal offered, Halboth states, "We’re not going to stop there."

The culinary experience "is one area we aim to elevate even further," she notes. "That’s a space we want to fully own within river cruising."

In addition to menus featuring fresh local and regional cuisine, the ships will include sommeliers and specially trained bartenders with access to top-tier wines and spirits, according to the company.

Riverside is also looking to enhance the quality of its excursions and experiences.

"That’s likely the area where we’ll need to focus the most effort," Halboth explains. "But it’s going to be quite exceptional right from the start." Riverside plans to offer activities such as a hot air balloon ride over Budapest and a helicopter tour of Linz, Austria, and its surroundings.

The cruise line will feature a mix of included and premium excursions (available at an additional cost) at every port, with options for active and immersive experiences like guided bike tours and local cooking classes. Staff will also be available to assist in creating personalized private adventures.

Halboth transitioned to Riverside from Avalon Waterways, a pioneer in expanding the river cruise industry's offerings to include a wider range of excursion options, particularly more active experiences beyond the standard city tours.

The former Crystal, a luxury cruise line, set a new standard in river cruising when it launched its fleet in 2016, starting with a complete renovation of the 81-cabin Mozart.

The other four vessels, each featuring 55 cabins, were newly constructed for Crystal in 2017 and 2018, showcasing the largest average cabin sizes on the rivers and providing services and amenities typically reserved for the most expensive suites on other lines.

By acquiring these ships, Riverside gains not only a pre-established fleet recognized for its luxury features and design but also the opportunity to leverage Crystal's esteemed global reputation in service, style, and culinary excellence.

Although the downfall of Crystal and its parent company, Genting Hong Kong, last year was one of the most notable travel industry failures during the pandemic—leaving customers with significant financial losses—companies acquiring its assets have embraced the brand's legacy.

Luxury travel operator Abercrombie & Kent acquired the Crystal name along with its two original ocean liners last year to ensure its continuity. Halboth notes that this association provides Riverside with the advantage of marketing a recognized product.

This marks Seaside’s initial venture into cruising; however, the company has recruited industry experts like Halboth and onboarded former Crystal staff, including the captain, chef, and hotel manager from the Mozart. Established in 1969, Seaside boasts 11 four- and five-star hotels and resorts in Germany, the Canary Islands, and the Maldives, such as the Seaside Palm Beach Hotel in Maspalomas on Gran Canaria and Finolhu in the Maldives.