Riviera Travel is charting an ambitious course for growth, with new ships, expanded itineraries and innovative offerings for solo travelers—driving momentum in the river cruise market.
Speaking to Recommend during ASTA’s 2026 River Expo, CEO Matt Luscombe expressed optimism for both the company and the broader river cruise sector.
“There’s so much to be excited about, especially in North America, where we’ve seen double-digit growth,” Luscombe says. “We have a wonderful opportunity to raise the bar—investing in guest experience, differentiating our product and leveraging ship design and technology to communicate better with our guests.”
New Ships and Expansion Plans
Riviera Travel is introducing three new ships over the next two years: Riviera Resplendence on the Rhine in 2026, followed by Riviera Alba on the Mekong and Riviera Reflection on the Danube in 2027.
These additions will bring the fleet to 15 ships. Luscombe outlined the company’s broader expansion vision, including a potential second vessel on the Douro, a new ship on the Mekong and even ventures on the Nile.
“We would like to add two ships a year and eventually three a year to our fleet. We see double-digit growth every year, and one of the reasons I’m so confident in that growth rate is because we are still at the beginning of the journey in the U.S. We are already the number one river cruise operator in the U.K.,” notes Luscombe.
Leading in Solo Travel
Riviera Travel is also positioning itself as a leader in the solo traveler segment. Luscombe highlighted that the George Eliot will be fully dedicated to solo travelers starting in 2027, with no single supplement on all sailings along the Danube and Rhine.
“A big area of differentiation for our company is our solo offerings… our demographic is mostly over-55 groups, and there is a growing number of people who live alone or travel alone. We are the first river cruise company in the world to dedicate a ship to solo travel.
“In addition, there will be dedicated solo cruises, like this year, on other rivers such as the Seine, Douro and Rhone, and on these solo-traveler sailings, there are no solo supplements. This really sets us apart,” he explains. “There is strong demand for this market.”
A Thank You to Travel Advisors
Stuart Milan, President of North America, emphasized Riviera Travel’s commitment to the trade. “Ninety percent of our North America business is through travel advisors. We are truly trade-first here,” he says.
Milan encouraged advisors to explore the Riviera Explorer portal, a dedicated online resource to learn about selling Riviera Travel and river cruising.
“Travel advisors have been critical to our success; our double-digit growth wouldn’t be possible without them,” Milan continues.
With a growing fleet, innovative offerings and strong partnerships with travel advisors, Riviera Travel is optimistic about its future in the river cruise market—both in North America and worldwide.
For more information, visit rivieratravel.com.
