Fine dining experiences await onboard your next river cruise.
Whether you're a foodie - or just love food - dining in our onboard restaurant will seem like such a treat, with regional and international specialities served up every night.
Scrambled, poached or fried - why choose just one when they're made to order? Breakfast in our main restaurant is a buffet with over 60 options to choose from, including some heart-smart options. This much choice may seem excessive, but breakfast is the most important meal of the day - and you'll need your energy while exploring.
We'll keep it light at lunch with a soothing bowl of soup and your choice of main course, including a chance to try some local dishes, of course. Crispy salads from the buffet or hard-to-resist dishes at the pasta station are also on offer. And don't miss out on dessert - there are enough options to satisfy any sweet tooth and then some.
And at the end of the day, sit down to a carefully crafted four-course à la carte dinner featuring the dishes you know and some soon-to-be favourites. You'll be begging our chefs for the recipe.
Our team of experienced chefs are up for a challenge so if you have any special dietary requirements - or you're vegan or vegetarian - you can still enjoy a first-class dining experience.
Which? Recommended Provider: the best-value river cruises
Our first-class ships and cabins provide a top-notch experience for our guests - they've rated us 5/5 for our cabins, onboard dining, customer service and spacious ships.
Find out more about why we were rated the Best-value River Cruise line by Which? in our latest blog post.
Local Flavours (A taste of your chosen destination)
When we travel, we don't just want to explore, we want to get under the region's skin - delving deep into the culture. And nothing is more interwoven with culture than food. All regional dishes were once just recipes passed down from grandmother to granddaughter - made with local, seasonal ingredients and shared with loved ones. And you can almost taste the love in every bite.
Your head chef might not be a German Oma, French Grand-mère or Italian Nonna, but they still cook with love. Adapting recipes inspired by the regions you visit to put a fresh spin on these authentic local dishes. Whether it's traditional Hungarian soup flavoured with smoky paprika, a French cassoulet bursting with flavour or decadent Dutch desserts, you are sure to feel even more connected to the land.
And don't worry, we wouldn't pair those delicious local flavours with just any glass of wine. Our expert sommeliers carefully select a range of wines from household names to the lesser-known varieties you'll be itching to try again. Some are even produced on the terraced vineyards just a few yards away from your table. Look out for 'Local Flavours' on your menu every evening.
Typical dinner menu
| Appetisers | Entre | Mains | Dessert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poached egg on crisp frisée, Comté cheese, roasted walnuts and balsamic dressing | Consommé niçoise - vegetable broth, aubergine, courgette, bell pepper, pasta and pesto | Rosemary honey glazed duck breast, potato dauphinoise, apple red cabbage, star anise gravy | Crème Brûlée Classique - vanilla crème brûlée and mint |
| Marinated king prawns with Asian-style noodles, curry sauce and root vegetables | Beef tea royale - beef essence, root vegetables and Chester stick | Pan fried fillet of sea bream, lemon butter sauce, orange fennel, risotto | Gratinated ice cream, warm cherries and pralines |
| Smoked halibut carpaccio, celery, leek & lemon salad | Fried white asparagus, potato pearls, cress, sesame, strawberries, vegan lemon hollandaise sauce | Chocolate cheesecake with marinated berries |
Tea or coffee available after dinner
Local flavours
| Entre | Main | Dessert |
|---|---|---|
| Tartar of Dutch herring, pumpernickel bread, onion, sour cream and pickles | "Netherlandse Schol" - Pan fried fillet of plaice, sautèed dill cucumbers, buttered potatoes, Dutch North Sea shrimps, bacon and lemon butter sauce | "Haagse Bluff" - forest berries, biscuit, egg white |
Other dining options
Most of our first-class fleet also offer an additional dining experience and - sure, we're biased, but - we think it's definitely worth a visit.
For a more informal setting with wonderful views you can choose to dine in La Brasserie on our French cruises and Riverview Kitchen on our Rhine & Danube cruises. Things are a little more casual here. Seating no more than 28 guests, when the weather's on our side, the panoramic windows fully open onto the terrace. This intimate al fresco dining experience is not to be missed.
The lunchtime menu includes lighter fare - sandwiches, burgers and pasta dishes. In the evenings, the chef presents a selection of locally inspired dishes to the lucky few with menus that vary according to the season. Best of all - this memorable dining experience can be reserved on board at no extra charge.
The food was amazing with so much choice each and every day, beautifully prepared and served by quality waiters. It was something to remember.
Comfortable lounges & bars
Relax in our lounge areas where the ship’s designers have created a genteel atmosphere of understated elegance with a wide selection of comfortable seating. Where could be better to lose yourself in conversation with like-minded new friends, sip a coffee, perhaps play chess or bridge, or just relax whilst admiring the incredible scenery?
The welcoming bar offers a full range of drinks sourced from all over the world, including the finest wines and spirits. When the sun sinks slowly below the riverside hills, this is the perfect place to relax and reflect on another day’s experiences. A modest selection of books can be found on each ship, and the lounge and bar areas are the perfect setting to relax and get lost in a story.
Don’t forget the bartenders and their wonderful enthusiasm and skill. Why not order an extravagant cocktail, or take a look at the classic wine list offering a fantastic selection of traditional and local wines? You won’t be disappointed by the prices either – take a look at the example list.
Please note that the example bar menu provided here is not applicable to every cruise and the selection of drinks available and prices advised will vary from ship to ship.
Drinks packages
It's pretty hard to make a Riviera Travel holiday even better - but we think we've managed it. Take a European river cruise, for example: the already charming landscapes and cityscapes become almost criminally delightful when you add a well-timed, well-chosen beverage such as a glass of regional wine or a cool, crisp beer — the temptation becomes too great to resist. So don’t. Book a river cruise departing in 2024 or 2025 and enjoy drinks on us. Yes, any European river cruise.
