Riverside Luxury Cruises

From: European Cruise Guide

ABOVE: Riverside Mozart is wider than most European river vessels. Butlers provide service in all of the ship's suites.

Probably the most iconic river vessel in Central Europe is Mozart, a luxury ship that was purpose-built for service on the Danube in 1987.

Over the years, Mozart has been a flagship of several high-end cruising brands, including the late Peter Deilmann Reederei and--most recently--Crystal River Cruises, which gave the ship a total overhaul in 2015.

When Crystal declared bankruptcy in 2022, Mozart went on hiatus. The ship was recently acquired by a new cruise line, Riverside Luxury Cruises, that has been launched by a prominent family-owned German hotel group.

In 2024, the newly renovated Riverside Mozart is sailing Europe's rivers with two other vessels: Riverside Ravel and Riverside Debussy.

One thing we like about Riverside's approach is the unbundling of shore excursions. Most river cruises operate like group tours, with passengers loaded onto a bus and taken to local sights in each port.

With Riverside Luxury Cruises, you can book as many excursions as you like--or none at all, if you prefer to explore Central Europe's cities and towns on your own. (It's also worth noting that Riverside's tour groups are small, and tips for guides and bus drivers are included.)

Cruise line's Web site:

Riverside Luxury Cruises