“We’ve not even been a company for three years yet but have come to occupy that top luxury spot in the river cruise space,” Jennifer Halbroth, CEO of Riverside Luxury Cruises, said in the 2026 European River Cruise Market Report.
“We have differentiated ourselves with our service, culinary and overall hardware offerings,” she told Cruise Industry News in the report, adding that even though the ships are not yet full, the company gets positive press and reviews from guests.
“I’m very happy with our progress,” she noted.
The Riverside Way
The company, which sees itself at the top end of the market, intends to place its pricing and delivery at the top end and focus on guests aged 40 and up. It is also pushing to introduce more millennials.
“People do need to start river cruising in their late 30s or early 40s, not waiting until they’re in their late 50s or 60s,” Halbroth explained.
Halbroth indicated that Riverside is seeing significant success through its culinary offerings and wellness aspects, adding that the company aims to offer a variety of options for passengers traveling for different reasons and experiences.
The company’s source markets include 75 percent from North America, heavily slanted towards the U.S. and then Canada. Following these are Europe, the U.K. and Australia.
Growth
For Halbroth, success is delivering high-touch service at a low-ego level.
“Our growth is going to come from being even better at what we’re already doing. Growth will come from getting more people onboard and pushing special interests and unique things,” she added.
Trends noted by the company include a softness from the U.S. over the past few months but an increase in younger and more multigenerational travelers.
She added that guests are looking for flexible river cruise options. So, to accommodate, the company has started offering shorter cruises, ranging from three to five nights. The company has also unbundled its pricing to allow for more personalization.
Looking Ahead
The company currently operates the Riverside Ravel in South France, while the Riverside Debussy sails the Rhine, the Mosel and Danube. The Riverside Mozart remains on the Danube.
Upcoming changes include a revised Mozart program to offer more flexibility and a focus on luxury land guests.
