October 21, 2026 — Riverside Cruises plans to grow from three to five ships in 2028. The line owns all five former Crystal river ships but sails only three today: the Bach, the Ravel and the Debussy. In 2028 the Mahler returns and the Mozart debuts.
The plan
| Ship | 2028 role |
|---|---|
| Mozart | Debuts on the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube. Dates TBA |
| Mahler | Returns to service, letting Riverside swap ships and sell more cabins. Dates TBA |
| Bach, Ravel, Debussy | Continue in service |
CEO Jennifer Halbroth told Cruise Industry News that “three ships is a little small,” while adding the line will never be huge. She said growth beyond Europe is a long way off.
Other details
- Special-interest sailings: a beer sommelier cruise this year, a golf cruise in 2027 and a planned bike cruise (date TBA).
- Four pricing packages, shorter modular cruises and the option to change excursions on board.
- About 75% of guests come from the Americas.
Embarkation cities, 2028 sailing dates and booking dates were not announced (TBA).
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What it means for airline travelers
- Nothing to book yet: 2028 dates and embarkation cities are TBA. When they are announced, check whether your cruise starts and ends in different cities so you can plan an open-jaw flight.
- Rhine and Danube cruises often begin or end in cities such as Amsterdam, Basel or Budapest. Low water this autumn has disrupted river cruises, so arrive in Europe a day early, especially when flying standby, and keep your return flexible.
- No travel-industry or interline rates were mentioned.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News, “Riverside Cruises to Add the Mahler and the Mozart“
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