Riverside Cruises is set to grow its fleet from three to four ships in 2028 with the return of the Mahler.
CEO Jennifer Halbroth told Cruise Industry News in an interview for the 2027 European River Market Report that the line looked to keep growing while keeping its focus on service rather than fleet size.
Riverside owns all five of the former Crystal river ships and will operate four of them next year, with the fifth out on charter. Like the Mozart, the Mahler will sail the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube, allowing Riverside to swap ships, carry more inventory and better manage high- and low-water issues.
“The Mozart stands on its own, but all the other sister ships are the same. The Mahler is not unique in that sense, but being able to follow the Debussy gives us more variety,” Halbroth said.
The company continues to focus on special-interest cruises, including beer and golf cruises, with a new bike cruise coming in 2027.
“These special-interest cruises give a reason to look at river cruises,” she said.
Halbroth said the culinary program was where Riverside stood out.
“We have fewer people onboard, larger galleys and more chefs. We make all our food on demand, and we budget more per meal, per guest, to procure the best ingredients. We also give our chefs the bandwidth to be creative,” she explained.
Flexibility is the other pillar, with four pricing packages, shorter modular cruises and the option to change excursions onboard.
“A lot of times, people won’t look at a river cruise because they just think it’s too rigid. And these kinds of elements allow us to open it up to new markets,” Halbroth said.
The line has seen an uptick in multigenerational travelers on shorter cruises and more affluent families traveling together. A majority of its guests come from the Americas.
Expansion beyond Europe would be “way down the path,” Halbroth said, adding that growing too fast risked losing charm and uniqueness.
“People are seeing that we are delivering what we say. We also really listen to feedback, whether it’s from the advisor or the guest,” she said.
She also welcomed new entrants to the river market.
“I think someone like Celebrity coming in is going to cast even more light on river cruises, which is good for everybody,” Halbroth said.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct several details. Riverside Cruises is growing from three to four ships with the addition of the Mahler; the Mozart was already part of its operating fleet. The company owns all five former Crystal river ships, with one currently out on charter. The Mahler will also sail the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube. Riverside’s beer and golf cruises were already offered, while its bike cruise is new and already available for booking. The share of guests from the Americas has also been revised.
