Five new 15-day, 18-day and 29-day itineraries will go on sale this Thursday (29 February), while Riviera Travel also announces plans to double its solo cruise offering for 2025

Riviera Travel says the new longer sailings have been launched in response to growing consumer demand, with five new combination cruises, totalling 15 departures, launching in spring and summer next year.

Will Sarson, head of product at Riviera said: “We’ve been looking at ways for how we can do longer cruising. It’s not just about creating a new 30-day itinerary as we’ve already got great itineraries that we can combine.

“The introduction of combination cruises means we can provide longer, more in-depth voyages, taking guests deeper into the heart of some very special destinations”

The new combination cruises will include the 15-day Majestic Rhine, Heidelberg & Switzerland; the 18-day Grand cruise of the Rhine Gorge, Medieval Germany & Switzerland; and the 29-day Grand Cruise Through the Heart of Europe to the Black Sea; with guests able to stay in the same cabin throughout their journey.

A revelation for the industry, says Sarson

The river cruise and escorted tour operator also plans to double its solo cruise programme by launching eight new solo-exclusive itineraries for 2025, which will include three brand-new itineraries, as wave trade sales soared by 50 per cent year-on-year.

Sarson said offering whole ships exclusively to solo travellers has been a revelation for the industry. “The solo market is doing incredibly well for us,” Sarson added. “To take the whole ship creates a great atmosphere on board and guests say they absolutely love it.

“We have same number of captains and crew so the pricing is a little bit higher than for a standard cruise, but we’re work with shipping partners to make sure all fees in general are as low as we possibly get them.”

All itineraries include a free superior drinks package, direct return flights, transfers, all visits and guided tours, breakfast and select meals, and the services of a tour manager throughout.

The news follows the announcement that Riviera Travel will launch two brand-new ships in March and April next year, which will feature a host of never-before-seen features for the line, including its largest ever suites.