by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 2:25 PM ET, Tue October 13, 2026
Bookings are now open for Riverside Luxury Cruises’ 2028 European river cruise season, which includes the debut of new ship Riverside Mahler.
The ship will begin sailing in May 2028, joining sister ship Riverside Debussy on itineraries connecting the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Riverside Mozart will continue to sail the Upper and Lower Danube, while Riverside Ravel will operate cruises along France’s Rhône and Saône rivers.
The addition of Mahler will allow Riverside Luxury Cruises to increase its Main-Danube Canal departures to 12 in 2028, up from four in 2026 and two in 2027. The canal connects the Rhine and Danube river systems, allowing ships to travel between the North Sea and the Black Sea.
The 2028 program includes 10 Budapest-to-Regensburg sailings and 10 Regensburg-to-Budapest sailings, as well as two Dutch Waterways itineraries and three Lower Danube departures.
Travelers who book a 2028 sailing by June 30, 2027, will receive an 18 percent discount on the sailing price across all suite categories and package types.
“The 2028 season gives travelers more ways to experience Europe by river, with Riverside Mahler joining Mozart, Debussy and Ravel,” says Jennifer Halboth, chief executive officer of Riverside Luxury Cruises Americas. “The additional ship means we can offer more departures on some of our most popular itineraries, while new routes and expanded sailings on the Lower Danube and Dutch Waterways give guests even more choice.”
The expanded fleet will also give Riverside more flexibility to manage changing river conditions, including high and low water levels that can sometimes require ship swaps.
The 2028 season will run from early spring through late December, with itineraries ranging from three-night getaways to 23-night journeys. The line is also introducing select expert-led themed cruises focused on active pursuits and local celebrations.
Riverside Debussy will kick off the season in March with spring tulip cruises through the Netherlands and Belgium before heading to the Lower Danube. New nine- and 10-night itineraries between Amsterdam and Basel will debut in early summer, incorporating the Moselle River into longer journeys through the Rhine region. The ship will also operate classic Amsterdam-to-Basel sailings, Dutch Waterways itineraries and Rhine Christmas market cruises.
Riverside Mahler will spend the summer traveling between the Rhine and Danube, connecting destinations in Germany, Austria and Hungary with Amsterdam and Basel. The ship will sail the Lower Danube in September before returning to the Rhine in October and ending its inaugural season with Christmas cruises on the Danube.
On the Danube, Riverside Mozart will add a new seven-night itinerary from Vienna to Budapest that includes the Wachau Valley. The ship's 2028 schedule will also feature Győr, a Hungarian city known for its Baroque architecture and historic Old Town.
Themed sailings aboard Mozart will include three Riverside Active cycling cruises in July and August, Darlings of the Danube golf cruises and an August sailing celebrating Hungary's National Day.
Meanwhile, Riverside Ravel will continue to explore southern France along the Rhône and Saône rivers. Its itineraries will visit destinations including Lyon, Avignon, Arles, Viviers and Tain-l’Hermitage, with highlights such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Pont du Gard and the Rhône Delta.
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