New cruise operator Riverside Luxury Cruises is expanding its fleet with an additional four ships.

The line has confirmed it has purchased MS Bach, MS Ravel, MS Mahler and MS Debussy, originally designed and operated by Crystal Cruises.

Riverside Luxury Cruises will start sailing this April, with the Riverside Mozart operating on the Danube.

The renamed Riverside Ravel will include sailings on both the Rhône and Saône in 2023, “providing guests a chance to indulge in all that southern France has to offer sailing from Burgundy to Provence”, the line side.

Riverside Debussy, meanwhile, will sail along the Rhine, starting this year. Itineraries for Riverside Bach and Riverside Mahler will launch in 2024 and will be announced later this year.

Riverside Luxury Cruises ‘thrilled’ to expand

Riverside Luxury Cruises founder Gregor Gerlach said: “We are thrilled by the expansion of our fleet to include these storied vessels.

“This acquisition allows us to expand our itinerary offerings, showcasing a level of space, personalised service and elegance not found with any other river cruise line.”

Stuart Perl, previously UK & Europe managing director at AmaWaterways, is the managing director of Riverside Luxury Cruises, focusing on the brand’s development and sales and marketing activities.

Speaking to Cruise Trade News, Perl said: “This is a very unique opportunity in that the owners of Riverside are a hotel company operating in the ultra-luxury area.

“They were looking at the river cruise sector and felt that there was no true ultra-luxury product. For me, this is a hugely exciting venture, as we are positioning ourselves in our own space and with what we believe is a unique offering.”

Read more from Perl’s interview in the upcoming January/February issue of Cruise Trade News.