Inside the First Sailing of Riverside Luxury Cruises

I like to think that luxury lies in the eye of the beholder.

For Gregor Gerlach, co-owner of Riverside Luxury Cruises (the newest river line to debut on Europe’s waterways), luxury on the rivers is synonymous with increased square footage and a high crew-to-guest ratio.

Meanwhile, for Jennifer Halboth, Riverside’s charismatic new CEO, it’s all about tailored exclusivity (for those who spend any extended amount of time with Halboth, you’ll likely hear her touting the refrain, “Only on Riverside!”)

And for me, a travel journalist who spent four days on the Danube River during the maiden voyage of Riverside Mozart, luxuries were found in the most unexpected of ways, during what Riverside deems as “money-can’t-buy moments.”

It was the blankets lovingly draped over chairs on the top deck for stargazing night owls. It was the bartender who recalled my affinity for a French 75 during happy hour. It was the care with which Mozart’s executive chef, Johannes Bar, thoughtfully presented each of the seven courses he served, alongside wine pairings, during a small-group private dining experience in the ship’s Vintage Room. 

And finally, it was the late-night retreat into my suite after a night of singing and dancing, one that had been serviced and restocked by my own private butler (Yes, you read that right — every single stateroom — no matter the category — has a butler. Only on Riverside!)

Crystal Cruises Versus Riverside Luxury Cruises

As the newest player in river cruising, Riverside has some big shoes to fill. In January 2022, high-end operator Crystal Cruises declared bankruptcy and exited the market, which caught the attention of Gerlach, who, along with his sister, Anouchka, is the co-owner of Europe-based, high-end hotel group, Seaside Collection. 

Although the Gerlachs had already been toying with the idea of expanding beyond boutique hotels, Crystal’s exit proved to be their perfect opportunity. The family bought Crystal’s former fleet of river ships — the Mozart, Debussy, Ravel, Bach and Mahler — and hired back many former employees (80% of Mozart’s crewmembers are former Crystal staff, including our talented entertainment host, Mark Farris, and Sonja Gruber, our ship’s gentle and kind-hearted hotel manager). 

Halboth, a seasoned travel industry veteran who was most recently the director of national accounts at the Globus Family of Brands, assumed the position of CEO, and Riverside Luxury Cruises was born.

The cruise line is still in its early infancy; it debuted Mozart at the American Society of Travel Advisors’ recent River Cruise Expo, followed by a surprise christening ceremony (travel advisor Tiffany Hines is the ship’s godmother), and its first maiden voyage along the Danube River.

Onboard Riverside Mozart

Advisors who have previously booked Mozart through Crystal will find that little has changed since the ship’s transition in ownership. The 162-guest, 81-suite vessel, which was renovated in 2016, features smartly and elegantly decorated public spaces, luxurious amenities, top-notch cuisine (made with fresh, local ingredients) and stops at popular ports of call where travelers can opt to book a Riverside excursion or explore on their own. 

I did a mix of both during stops in Esztergom, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; and Vienna, Austria — most Riverside tours included guided narration with a Quietvox audio device and were a bit slower paced than I preferred, but cruisers will be pleased to know that Halboth’s team is working to develop additional options for those seeking more active excursions.

If clients choose to stay onboard the ship, they’ll notice that there’s plenty of room to roam, as Mozart was built with fewer cabins, but is double the width of most river ships. Staterooms range in size from 219 to 860 square feet, and can be booked across a variety of categories. 

My 219-square-foot Riverside Suite featured a French balcony and a true king-size bed (which, according to Halboth, is a first for the rivers; these can also be configured into two twin beds); a flat-screen television; and bathrooms with heated Toto toilets and towel warmers. While the showers are spacious, counter space is limited; I often opted to use the stateroom’s desk as my vanity.

In my mind, though, the public spaces were the true standouts, even beyond the cabins. In addition to the private Vintage Room dining experience (offered at $295 per person), Blue restaurant serves casual lunch items including comfort foods such as burgers, sandwiches and fries, alongside handmade pasta and hearty soups. Although partial to the venue’s basil lemonade, I also sampled the strawberry and lavender iterations, which were sourced with ingredients grown in the sun deck’s herb garden.

Meanwhile, the main dining room, Waterside, features an extensive, multi-page menu during dinner that always features bread and pasta made fresh onboard by Csaba Szabo, the executive pastry chef. The space is transformed into a buffet spread for breakfast, which includes fresh-squeezed juices and an omelet station.

At Bistro, meanwhile, guests will feel transported to a European cafe — the space is the perfect spot to sip on a made-to-order latte macchiato or an affogato, or browse the late-risers spread of charcuterie and pastries that are refreshed throughout the day. And come nightfall, Bistro serves a tapas-style dinner, allowing cruisers to enjoy a leisurely dining experience until they’re lured to the Palm Court lounge by the twinkling of Farris’ notes on the piano.

A Focus on Health and Wellness

Between all the eating, drinking and sleeping, I made sure to carve out some time each day to make use of the onboard fitness center, which is the largest gym I’ve seen onboard a river ship. Outfitted with Technogym equipment, it’s divided into two sections (one for cardio machines, and one for weights and strength training), and I was able to complete my usual at-home routine without modifications. 

But if relaxation is what cruisers are seeking, the Fehi spa and salon is a perfect retreat, offering traditional treatments including massages and facials (for an added cost). Guests also have complimentary use of a cold plunge pool, a Jacuzzi, showers, a sauna and a steam room, along with washers, dryers and detergent for self-service laundry.

From what I heard from my fellow guests, many former Crystal Cruises fans were pleased with the level of service, amenities and offers onboard Riverside.

One such advisor, Lara Safarian, the manager of Glendale, Calif.-based Travel Teck, said she came onboard specifically to compare the experience to Crystal, with which she often booked incentive groups. And as far as she’s concerned, Riverside has passed the test. 

“Today’s traveler wants luxury,” she said. “And when we are sending them to Europe, and on the rivers, they are asking for the luxury product. I am delighted that Mozart came back as a luxury product that we were missing. Having seen agents walk in with that ‘wow’ and surprise on their faces tells me that it deserves to be noticed.”

The traveler of today wants luxury … I am delighted that Mozart came back as a luxury product that we were missing on the rivers.

The Travel Advisor Toolkit

Riverside’s Gerlach also has high confidence in his product; the challenge that remains, he says, is winning over the trust of travel advisors.

“Maybe people know the ships, but they don't know us,” he said. “We’re establishing a new brand, establishing the contacts, and getting people to book with us and trust us. The travel advisor has had a rough three years. And they want uncertainty removed before they recommend us to a client.”

According to Halboth, many clients are finding the brand through their advisors, who are former Crystal [agents].

“[They’re saying], ‘I heard the Mozart’s back,’” she said. “I think the ships are really what are pulling the consumers back.”

But make no mistake — although Mozart has obvious ties to its former operator, Riverside isn’t trying to “be” Crystal. In fact, Halboth and her team are working to shape Riverside’s own brand identity, one that they hope attracts an affluent, younger demographic and multigenerational families (there is no age restrictions to cruise with the brand, and there are options for connecting staterooms).

Ashley Taylor, a travel advisor with Key to the World Travel, believes Riverside has a good chance at luring a younger crowd just by its looks alone.

“It feels lot more luxurious than the other ships [I’ve toured],” she said. “The food was great, and the staff was on point. And no one else has those [Toto] toilets. I think for pushing things ahead and trying to get the product out there, they did an excellent job.”

For travel advisors who are interested in selling the product, the line has several incentives for 2023, and will have launched its entire fleet by 2025 (Mozart will continue on the Danube; other ships will sail itineraries on the Rhine and Rhone rivers). Shorter cruises (three-and four-night options) are offered, and clients can book either an all-inclusive or an a la carte experience.

Riverside also hasn’t quite caught up to Crystal in terms of the latter's premium price tag. For this year, agents will receive introductory rates (up to 45% less than Crystal’s last pricing), 21% commission on all 2023 sailings and a waived single supplement fee for the 219-square-feet Harmony Suites. Additionally, the new “Elite 50” program was created with advisors in mind; the first 50 agents to sell Riverside will join this exclusive club, earn a free cruise for 2023 and be added as a member of Riverside’s virtual advisory board.