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Burgundy, The River Rhône & Provence with Lake Geneva and Golden Pass

Free Superior Drinks Package on all European River Cruises
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Burgundy, The River Rhone & Provence with Lake Geneva and Golden Pass Extension

From £2,548 pp

Enjoy a fascinating cruise to one of the most picturesque corners of France, with the addition of a three-night stay in Switzerland, where you’ll enjoy a mixture of culture and natural beauty in Alpine surroundings.

Our journey through France explores the beautiful Saône and Rhône rivers. There are guided tours to Lyon, historic Vienne, and Beaune (which includes a delightful wine tasting!), plus tour the magnificent Ardèche Gorges.

In Provence, where Van Gogh created his greatest works, you will be staggered by the engineering genius of the amphitheatre at Arles and the huge aqueduct at the Pont du Gard, and in awe at the Papal Palace in Avignon, with its renaissance art collection.

You’ll have the chance to soak up the old-world charm of picturesque Annecy, before hopping over to Switzerland where you stay on the elegant shores of sparkling Lake Geneva with its chic lakeside towns, Mediterranean flavour and incredible Alpine backdrop. Cruise the sophisticated palm-fringed Montreux Riviera and experience the thrill of Glacier 3000 and the Golden Pass – one of the world’s most scenic mountain rail journey.

What’s included

  • Fifteen visits and tours, including:
    • Sample delicious local wines with a wine-tasting in Burgundy’s wine capital, Beaune.
    • Visit the Palace of the Popes in the 14th-century City of Avignon, adorned with priceless frescoes, Gobelin tapestries and graceful sculptures.
    • Explore the magnificent Ardèche Gorges, one of France’s most outstanding natural landscapes.
    • Take a guided tour around the highlights of Lyon, including renaissance buildings, imposing churches and Europe’s largest pedestrian square, Place Bellecour, featuring a statue of Louis XIV.
    • Four additional visits and tours during your extension including Chillon Castle, Lake Geneva cruise, Glacier 300 visit and a journey on the Golden Pass train.
  • Seven nights on board in your choice of luxury cabin or suite, with river views
  • All meals on board from dinner on your day of arrival through to breakfast on your day of departure
  • Welcome dinner and the Captain’s Dinner
  • Complimentary drinks with meals and from 6pm to midnight from the bar
  • Complimentary on-board tea and coffee
  • Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi (connection speeds may vary)
  • Three nights’ hotel accommodation with daily breakfast
  • Return scheduled flights from 8 regional airports or return Eurostar from London St Pancras International (a supplement may apply)
  • Five-star service from an English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides Services of a Riviera Travel cruise director and concierge
  • All port charges, airport taxes and overseas transfers
  • No surcharges guaranteed
  • ABTA, ATOL and IATA protection

Riviera Plus 

Customers in all deluxe and superior suites and all upper-deck cabins will benefit from a wealth of unique, new benefits:

  • A bathroom stocked with luxury toiletries upon arrival
  • A bottle of champagne awaiting you when you arrive
  • Locally inspired gifts for you to take home
  • Enjoy a massage, spa treatment or hairdresser with a 10% discount
  • Receive 10% off our convenient onboard laundry services
Rhone - Valon Pont d'Arc
Day 1 - Arrive in Avignon

Arrive for your flight to Nice, Marseille or Montpellier, where you will be met by a guide and escorted on a coach transfer to our ship moored in Avignon’s historic centre. The dedicated English-speaking crew will welcome you on board and help you to your cabin. After settling in to your spacious and tastefully furnished accommodation, there’s time to familiarise yourself with this five-star floating hotel.

Dinner

Day 2 - Avignon

The light catching the red roofs of Avignon’s majestic skyline is a sight to behold over breakfast, after which we embark on a guided tour of one of the most extraordinary and intriguing cities in France. Avignon’s destiny changed during the 14th century, when the Pope’s court moved here to avoid strife in Rome. Igniting a century of prosperity, the pontiff commissioned a host of ambitious building projects, and today the city is immaculately preserved, nestling behind its almost-intact 14th-century walls and boasting more remarkable monuments, superbly decorated buildings, churches, chapels and convents than you can possibly count.

Most important is the stunning Popes’ Palace, made up of two buildings that together form the largest Gothic palace in the world. With turrets, towers, parapets and other fortifications, its exterior resembles a mighty fortress, while the interior is a tour de force of medieval architecture and ornamentation, adorned with priceless frescoes, Gobelin tapestries and graceful sculptures. The ceremonial hall, chapels, cloisters and private apartments are all unmissable. But to truly embrace the feel of papal Avignon, imagine yourself here during the Middle Ages amid the Palace’s rich furnishings and extravagant decoration, with cardinals, princes and ambassadors milling about its candlelit halls and corridors, while in the streets below countless pilgrims eagerly anticipate benediction. This was Avignon’s brief golden age, when it was truly the centre of Christendom.

After lunch you’re free to explore as you wish, perhaps visiting the nearby Petit Palais, the former home of the archbishops of Avignon, to cast a critical eye over the remarkable collection of over 300 paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, including works by Botticelli and Carpaccio. Or take a stroll on the iconic Pont d’Avignon, which, dramatically, ends halfway across the river, made famous by the melody we all recall from our first French lessons. You may wish to do some shopping, or just find a quiet café in a shady Provençal square to watch the world go by.

Returning on board, the ship sets sail towards our next destination, Arles arriving later that evening. After a delicious dinner, sit back and relax to the sounds of a talented local pianist who’ll entertain us with French songs on board.

Included experience
Guided tour of Avignon & on-board piano performance

Day 2 - Avignon

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 - Arles & Pont Du Gard

You awake under the azure skies of deepest Provence, amid the warm stone colours of Arles, many of whose historic monuments are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Although small in size, it was the key stronghold on the Roman road to Spain, one of the empire’s richest possessions. Seagoing ships could reach here and the city became a regional capital, briefly ruling over Gaul, Spain and Britain. Our guided tour will help you appreciate the finer points of Arles’ magnificent Roman remains, including the splendid amphitheatre, one of the best preserved in the world, the earlier theatre built during the reign of Augustus and the Alyscamps, the ancient necropolis with its extraordinary atmosphere. The disturbed but great genius of an artist, Van Gogh, lived in Arles for just over a year, from February 1888. It was his most prolific period and, inspired by Arles and the light and beauty of the Provençal countryside, he produced around 300 works, including The Night Café, The Sower and, of course, Sunflowers.

Pont Du Gard
After lunch we visit the amazing Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct, one of the wonders of the ancient world. No amount of fame can diminish the first sight of this 2,000-year-old structure, which was the highest bridge built in the Empire – the Romans themselves considered it the most important testimony to their greatness. Its statistics are staggering: over 900 feet long and almost 160 feet high, with its stones each weighing up to six tons. To put this in perspective, the span of the Pont du Gard is greater than the width of the River Thames at London Bridge – and no mortar was used in its construction! The situation is lovely too, with pine- and cypress-covered hills adding to the harmonious setting. Re-joining the ship in Avignon, we cruise towards Viviers during dinner.

Included experiences
Guided tour of Arles and visit to the Pont du Gard.

Day 3 -  Arles & Pont Du Gard

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 - Ardèche Gorges & Tain l'Hermitage

Ardèche Gorges
This morning we disembark after breakfast and whilst our ship effortlessly cruises upstream towards Le Pouzin, we will explore one of France’s most outstanding landscapes – the Ardèche Gorges, whose scale is a fitting reminder of Mother Nature’s awesome power. Sheer limestone cliffs plunge almost 1,000 feet to the river’s blue waters, which elegantly snake their way through stupendous rock formations, culminating in a huge natural arch, the Pont d’Arc. We enjoy marvellous views at every turn of caves, grottoes and natural sculptures before returning to the ship moored in Le Pouzin.

Tain l’Hermitage
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on board – perhaps catching up on some reading or just lazing in the sun as the temperature rises, before we arrive in Tain l’Hermitage, surrounded by steep vine-covered hillsides, where another of the world’s most revered wines is produced. After dinner, prehaps take a stroll along the river and wander across the oldest suspension bridge in France to the pretty provincial town of Tournon on the opposite bank of the river, with its imposing castle and tree-lined avenues.

After dinner, delight in a ballroom dancing performance in the lounge with the opportunity to learn some basic steps of a French madison line dance!

Included experiences
Guided tour of the Ardèche Gorges & visit to Tain l’Hermitage & live ballroom dancing performance.

Day 4 - Ardèche Gorges & Tain l'Hermitage

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 - Vienne

Vienne
During breakfast this morning, we’ll slip our moorings and cruise north through one of the most spectacular sections of the Rhône Valley, as the river squeezes and twists pasts Condrieu, Saint-Rambert-d’Albon and Saint-Vallier, with wooded cliffs rising high on both sides. Traditionally these stretches were the most dangerous due to fierce currents and varying water levels but, with the waters now tamed by a series of locks whose complex mechanisms never cease to fascinate, you can relax on the Sun Deck taking in the exceptional views.

After lunch we arrive in the ancient Roman stronghold of Vienne, first a Celtic settlement, then a Roman stronghold under Julius Caesar. Here you’ll be taken by train for a captivating tour, hosted by a local expert. Strikingly located in a narrow section of the Rhône, where the river meanders dramatically around a steep bluff, Vienne is a treasure trove of historic remains, including the stunning Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia, and a walk around its streets really brings its heritage to life.

You will also have some free time to explore at your leisure before returning to the ship for dinner, during which we commence our cruise towards Chalon-sur-Saône.

Vienne

During breakfast this morning, we’ll slip our moorings and cruise north through one of the most spectacular sections of the Rhône Valley, as the river squeezes and twists pasts Condrieu, Saint-Rambert-d’Albon and Saint-Vallier, with wooded cliffs rising high on both sides. Traditionally these stretches were the most dangerous due to fierce currents and varying water levels but, with the waters now tamed by a series of locks whose complex mechanisms never cease to fascinate, you can relax on the Sun Deck taking in the exceptional views.

After lunch we arrive in the ancient Roman stronghold of Vienne, first a Celtic settlement, then a Roman stronghold under Julius Caesar. Here you’ll be taken by train for a captivating tour, hosted by a local expert. Strikingly located in a narrow section of the Rhône, where the river meanders dramatically around a steep bluff, Vienne is a treasure trove of historic remains, including the stunning Roman Temple of Augustus and Livia, and a walk around its streets really brings its heritage to life.

You will also have some free time to explore at your leisure before returning to the ship for dinner, during which we commence our cruise towards Chalon-sur-Saône.

Guided tour of Vienne.

Day 5 - Vienne

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 - Beaune & Burgundy

Beaune & Burgundy
Overnight we have made steady progress north and mid-morning we arrive in and berth in Chalon, gateway to Burgundy and the home of Nicéphore Niépce, the inventor of photography. On today’s tour we see some of the pretty yet surprisingly small villages that produce some of the world’s most sublime wines – Meursault, Volnay, Pommard, Gevrey-Chambertin and many more. Nearby is medieval Beaune, Burgundy’s wine capital, which is wonderful to wander around. At its centre is the Hospices de Beaune, also known as the Hôtel-Dieu. Originally built in the 15th century as a hospital for the disadvantaged, it’s a jewel of High Gothic architecture, instantly recognisable for its colourful glazed roof tiles arranged in dazzling geometric patterns. A prestigious annual wine auction takes place here each November, with proceeds going to benefit the Hospices and its charity work. Of course, you can’t visit Burgundy without sampling its amazing wines, so we visit the cellars of a leading traditional winemaker for a tour and tasting.

Later we return to ship and as we slip our moorings once again, enjoy an aperitif with newly made friends in the convivial bar before tonight’s dinner.

Included experience
Tour of Beaune with wine tasting.

Day 6 - Beaune & Burgundy

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 - Lyon

Lyon
One of river cruising’s great pleasures is the fascination of waking in a completely different location and on waking this morning, the ship arrives in Lyon. After our last splendid breakfast, we’ve a leisurely start enjoying a guided tour of Lyon, one of France’s most fascinating cities. The Rhône Valley had been the route of choice for marauding armies and peaceful traders for centuries, and Lyon’s current site, at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône Rivers, cried out to be fortified.

In 43 BC the Romans founded the city, which subsequently grew in importance; Emperor Claudius, conqueror of Britain, was born here. There are many Roman remains to see, but it was the production of silk that brought Lyon to prominence during the Middle Ages, and throughout the city you can see signs of the wealth that poured in – Renaissance buildings, imposing churches and Europe’s largest pedestrian square, Place Bellecour, with a statue of Louis XIV as its focus. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is crammed with antique shops and intriguing traboules – narrow covered passageways enabling silk merchants to transport their wares to the river without getting wet – that today are a joy to amble through. As well as its glorious architecture, Lyon is generally acknowledged as France’s (and to locals, the world’s) gastronomic capital. In fairness it has much to commend it: nouvelle cuisine was invented near here and the city boasts a huge array of speciality food shops and eateries, including 20 restaurants with one or more Michelin stars and countless little places to eat.

It’s our final afternoon in which you are free to explore Lyon further or perhaps though, return to the sumptuous surroundings of your ship, head up on to the Sun Deck and just contemplate the wondrous places you have seen and experienced over a quiet cup of tea.

This evening the Captain’s dinner takes place, serving specialities of the regions you have visited during your voyage of discovery through this fascinating country.

Included experience
Guided tour of Lyon.

Day 7 - Lyon

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 - Lyon (Disembark), Annecy

Annecy
We depart the ship in beautiful Lyon and head northeast to Geneva into the Bugey region. As we leave the city behind for the landscapes of the Haut-Rhône you’ll enjoy some of Europe’s most wonderful scenery so have your camera at the ready. The views are breathtaking, with gorges, lakes and marshes, interspersed with rich forest and pristine meadows and the world-famous alpine backdrop on the far horizon.

We break for some free time and lunch at leisure in the delightful alpine town of Annecy where Lake Annecy feeds into the Thiou River. Wander the quaint cobbled streets of its charming old town where its winding canals weave their way amongst the pastel-coloured facades. The beautifully restored medieval stone walls and terracotta roofed turrets of the Château d’Annecy, once home to the Counts of Geneva, stands proud over the town. Today it contains a museum with a substantial collection of religious artworks, furniture and regional art and natural history exhibits.

Sample some typical Savoie cuisine – a hearty bowl of gratin de crozets, a take on macaroni cheese with lardons, cream and local pasta made from buckwheat or perhaps indulge in a classic fondue!

Lausanne
We continue our scenic drive this afternoon arriving in Lausanne or Montreux on the edge of spectacular Lake Geneva, the largest lake in Switzerland. The chic Montreux Riviera is renowned for its picture-perfect landscapes of glass lakes, pristine meadows and a sensational mountain backdrop that has attracted artists, writers and travellers through the ages in search of tranquillity and inspiration.

We arrive at our hotel for the next three nights in either Montreux, or Lausanne. Enjoy dinner at leisure this evening and perhaps take a lakeside stroll along the palm-studded shores of this glistening lake.

Included experience
Visit to Annecy

Breakfast

Day 9 - Chillon Castle & Lausanne

Chillon Castle
After breakfast we travel to Chillon Castle. This striking medieval fortress dating back to the 12th century is dramatically located on a rocky promontory, enjoying exceptional views over the crystal water. It was once the residence and toll station for the Counts of Savoy and today is the most visited historic building in Switzerland. We enjoy a guided tour with a local expert learning more of its fascinating past and exquisite surroundings.

Later we embark on a superb cruise of the lake, as we sail the clear glistening waters encased by high snow-capped peaks, whose fertile foothills are draped in row upon row of lush, neatly terraced regiments of vines and the views simply take your breath away.

Lausanne
The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore Lausanne under your own steam. Home to the International Olympic Committee headquarters, you might fancy visiting the Olympic Museum or head for the old town with its medieval labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets lined with traditional little shops, at the centre a fine 12th-century Gothic cathedral with strikingly ornate façade.

Perhaps head for the 19th-century Palais de Rumine, an elegant Florentine Renaissance building housing impressive historic, scientific and fine art collection or simply unwind with a little café culture over tea and cake in the sun in this most refined city. If staying in Montreux, we’ll return by direct train.

Enjoy dinner at leisure; seek out a cosy restaurant serving locally inspired dishes, a fusion of French and Swiss cuisine – try papet Vaudois, a sausage with cabbage in it and leeks and potatoes cooked together, or malakoff, pieces of cheese battered and fried.

Don’t forget to sample some of the exceptional local wines, the best known is produced from the white Chasselas grape; wine production in the Lavaux dates from the 11th century and today these painstakingly tended vineyards, creating a striking pattern on the landscape, are UNESCO protected. Only 1% of Swiss wine is exported – and when you taste it, you’ll realise why it’s such a well-kept secret!

Included experiences
Guided tour of Chillon Castle, lake cruise & visit to Lausanne.

Day 9 - Chillon Castle & Lausanne

Breakfast

Day 10 - Glacier 3000 & Golden Pass

Glacier 3000
This morning we head to Col du Pillon and take a memorable cable car ride into this world-famous alpine landscape. Prepare for an onslaught of jaw-dropping views from all sides as we climb 3000 metres to Glacier 3000, the highest point of the Vaudois Alps, their lofty summits iced with snow.

Excitement mounts as we reach the summit with increasingly stunning views of the most iconic peaks in the world – the mighty Eiger, Jungfrau and Matterhorn. When we arrive there’s free time for lunch and to enjoy some of the activities on offer in this winter wonderland.

Not for the faint-hearted, try the exhilarating Peak Walk – a 107 metre suspension bridge and the only one in the world linking two summits! Enjoy a thrilling ride on the Alpine Coaster which is the highest situated toboggan run in the world!

Golden Pass
Later we continue to the smart resort of Gstaad in the heart of the Bernese Oberland to board the magnificent Golden Pass train, one of the world’s greatest rail journeys.

Sit back and savour the views from the train’s panoramic windows of this exquisite mountain scenery – a fairytale landscape where the sheer mountainsides are cloaked with dark pine forest and laced with surging mountain streams, bubbling springs cascade into the valley below, and dotted here and there, picturesque mountain villages nestle into the slopes as we journey over high bridges and through incredibly engineered tunnels.

As we pass through the Jaman tunnel, you’ll spot the names of the villages change from German to French and we begin to descend into a lush Mediterranean landscape once again as we approach Montreux. On arrival in Montreux departures staying in Lausanne will take the short journey back to the hotel.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at leisure after which perhaps a final stroll by the lake to soak up the views before a digestif in the hotel’s bar.

Included experiences
Visit Glacier 3000, Gstaad & journey on the Golden Pass train.

Breakfast

Day 11 - Return Home

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Breakfast

Riviera Travel Lord Byron Exterior

Every aspect of the 5 star MS Lord Byron (2013) and her sister ship, the MS Jane Austen (2015) are designed to the highest possible specification and exacting standards to bring you the very best and most enjoyable river cruising experience, in the most luxurious comfort. Stylish furnishings using environmentally friendly materials are beautifully combined with the most advanced safety systems … and the work of a wonderful designer’s eye conjuring up the classic lines and sophistication of a luxurious ocean liner. As always, the finesse is in the detail – beautifully crafted tropical hardwoods, wrought iron, highly polished copper and brass, all beautifully illuminated then added to soft leather furnishings and imaginative colour schemes, promotes a subtle, chic ambience. Blend this with the low passenger complement, just 140 guests, with 35 crew, a ratio of 4 to 1, guarantees an excellent level of service and a more personal touch.

Riviera Travel Lord Byron Lounge

Onboard Features & Facilities

  • 74 comfortable outside cabins and suites, most with French Balconies
  • Lounge with bar and panoramic views on the Diamond Deck
  • Lido Bar & Restaurant on the Diamond Deck serving early bird breakfast, light lunch and dinner (to be reserved on board subject to availability)
  • Main Restaurant – on the Ruby Deck serving buffet breakfast, buffet lunch and dinner
  • Air conditioned public areas & cabins
  • 24hr self service station for tea & coffee
  • Lift between Ruby and Diamond deck
  • Sun deck with comfortable outdoor chairs and sun loungers
  • Small splash pool, putting green and giant chess board on the sun deck
  • Small boutique for you to shop for your souvenirs and keepsakes to take home
  • Reception area open 24hrs
  • Wellness area with sauna & steam room
  • Hairdressing salon
  • Laundry service *

*Payable locally

Accommodation & Amenities

This lovely new 5 star river cruise vessel, features beautifully furnished cabins and suites, the majority featuring floor to ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a French Balcony. 74 spacious, elegantly appointed staterooms and suites range in size from 161 – 242 ft² or indulge even more in one of the 4 Deluxe suites or 7 Superior Suites. Most accommodations featuring floor to ceiling glass sliding doors opening to a French Balcony, so you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery however you wish.

Deluxe Suites

242 ft² – Diamond (Upper) Deck

  • Floor to ceiling opening glass doors (French Balcony)
  • Private tiled bathroom with WC, wash basin & glass shower enclosure with quality bath products
  • Hotel style beds, the best mattresses and fine cotton bed linen
  • A bed turn down service operates during dinner
  • Seating area with 2 chairs and a table
  • In room safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, full-length mirror, plenty of storage space & telephone
  • Tea & Coffee making facilities
  • Flat-screen televisions with satellite TV channels, GPS and for & aft camera views.
  • Individually controlled air-conditioning
Riviera Travel Lord Byron Deluxe Suite
Riviera-Travel-Lord-Byron-Superior-Suite

Superior Suites

199 ft² – Diamond & Ruby (Upper & Middle) Deck

  • Floor to ceiling glass doors opening to French balcony
  • Private tiled bathroom with WC, wash basin & glass shower enclosure with quality bath products
  • Hotel style beds, the best mattresses and fine cotton bed linen
  • A bed turn down service operates during dinner
  • Seating area with 2 chairs and a table
  • In room safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, full-length mirror, plenty of storage space & telephone
  • Tea & Coffee making facilities
  • Flat-screen televisions with satellite TV channels, GPS and for & aft camera views.
  • Individually controlled air-conditioning

Diamond & Ruby Deck Cabins

161 ft² – Diamond & Ruby (Upper & Middle) Deck

  • Floor to ceiling glass doors opening to a French balcony
  • Private tiled bathroom with WC, wash basin & glass shower enclosure with quality bath products
  • Hotel style beds, the best mattresses and fine cotton bed linen
  • A bed turn down service operates during dinner
  • Seating area with 2 chairs and a table
  • In room safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, full-length mirror, plenty of storage space & telephone
  • Tea & Coffee making facilities
  • Flat-screen televisions with satellite TV channels, GPS and for & aft camera views.
  • Individually controlled air-conditioning
Riviera Travel Lord Byron French Balcony Cabin
Riviera Travel Lord Byron Emerald Deck

Emerald Deck Standard Cabins

161 ft² –  Emerald (Lower) Deck

  • Smaller Fixed Window
  • Private tiled bathroom with WC, wash basin & glass shower enclosure with quality bath products
  • Hotel style beds, the best mattresses and fine cotton bed linen
  • A bed turn down service operates during dinner
  • Seating area with 2 chairs and a table
  • In room safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, full-length mirror, plenty of storage space & telephone
  • Tea & Coffee making facilities
  • Flat-screen televisions with satellite TV channels, GPS and for & aft camera views.
  • Individually controlled air-conditioning
Riviera Travel - Lord Byron Deck Plan
Riviera Travel Thomas Hardy Exterior

Thomas Hardy is one of Riviera Travel’s new ‘all suite’ ships.  Launched in 2017 she offers excellent standards of accommodation consistent with Scylla’s (the ship operator) other 5 star ships. Standard Suites are large at 183 ft² with floor to ceiling windows opening to a rail on the middle and upper decks. Suites on the lower deck are slightly smaller at 172 ft² and feature high level windows. 6 Superior Suites and 4 Deluxe Balcony Suites are available on each ship at 247 ft² and 269 ft² respectively. Deluxe Balcony Suites, located on the upper deck, also feature a small private balcony. This superb vessel carries 44 in-house trained crew members serving just 176 guests (similar size vessels may carry well over 190 passengers) giving the ratio which our experience proves is concurrent with first class service levels. An outstanding ship it would be very easy to just say ‘luxurious’ but it’s much more than that, a unique yet exquisite blend of understated taste, style and elegance at the highest level. A spacious new vessel as you enter a gleaming, richly coloured marble-floored lobby flooded with natural light from a stunning atrium above. The ship is beautifully illuminated throughout, including the exterior and imaginatively furnished with harmonious colour schemes, all designed to create the serene atmosphere reflective of the golden age of cruising.

Riviera Thomas Hardy Lounge

Onboard Features & Facilities

  • 88 comfortable outside suites, most with French balconies, some with private balcony
  • For and aft sundecks with sun-shades, deck chairs & loungers
  • ‘Whirlpool’ splash pool
  • Stylish restaurant with open seating with tables of 4 and 6
  • Main lounge with bar & piano
  • Bistro bar & restaurant
  • Complimentary coffee and tea throughout the day with speciality patisseries in the afternoon
  • Elevator to Diamond, Ruby and Emerald decks
  • Wellness area, massage, nail salon and hairdresser
  • Onboard souvenir shop*
  • Laundry service*

* Payable locally.

Accommodation & Amenities

88 spacious, elegantly appointed staterooms and suites range in size from 172 – 269 ft² or indulge even more in one of the 6 Superior suites or 4 Deluxe Balcony Suites. Most accommodations featuring floor to ceiling glass sliding doors opening to a French Balcony, so you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery however you wish.      

Deluxe Balcony Suite

269 ft² – Diamond (Upper) Deck

  • Floor to ceiling glass doors opening to a private balcony with table and chairs and additional floor to ceiling windows
  • Enhanced sitting area
  • Larger private marble bathroom with WC, wash basin & glass shower enclosure with Crabtree and Evelyn bath products, Bathrobes and slippers
  • Hotel style beds, the best mattresses and fine cotton bed linen
  • A bed turn down service operates during dinner
  • Seating area with 2 chairs and a table
  • In room safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, full-length mirror, plenty of storage space & telephone
  • Tea & Coffee making facilities
  • Flat-screen televisions with satellite TV channels, GPS and for & aft camera views.
  • Individually controlled air-conditioning
Riviera Travel Thomas Hardy Deluxe Balcony Suite
Riviera Travel Emily Bronte Stern Suite

Superior & Superior Stern Suite

247 ft² – Diamond & Ruby (Upper & Middle) Deck

  • Floor to ceiling glass doors opening to French balcony
  • Enhanced sitting area
  • Marble bathroom with WC, wash basin & glass shower enclosure with Crabtree and Evelyn bath products
  • Hotel style beds, the best mattresses and fine cotton bed linen
  • A bed turn down service operates during dinner
  • Seating area with 2 chairs and a table
  • In room safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, full-length mirror, plenty of storage space & telephone
  • Tea & Coffee making facilities
  • Flat-screen televisions with satellite TV channels, GPS and for & aft camera views.
  • Individually controlled air-conditioning

Diamond Deck & Ruby Deck Suite

183 ft² – Diamond & Ruby (Upper & Middle) Deck

  • Floor to ceiling glass doors opening to a French balcony
  • Private marble bathroom with WC, wash basin & glass shower enclosure with Crabtree and Evelyn bath products
  • Hotel style beds, the best mattresses and fine cotton bed linen
  • A bed turn down service operates during dinner
  • Seating area with 2 chairs and a table
  • In room safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, full-length mirror, plenty of storage space & telephone
  • Tea & Coffee making facilities
  • Flat-screen televisions with satellite TV channels, GPS and for & aft camera views.
  • Individually controlled air-conditioning

 

Riviera Travel Thomas Hardy Stern Suite
Riviera Thomas Hardy Lower Deck Cabin

Emerald Deck Suite

172 ft² –  Emerald (Lower) Deck

  • Smaller Fixed Window
  • Private marble bathroom with WC, wash basin & glass shower enclosure with Crabtree and Evelyn bath products
  • Hotel style beds, the best mattresses and fine cotton bed linen
  • A bed turn down service operates during dinner
  • Seating area with 2 chairs and a table
  • In room safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, full-length mirror, plenty of storage space & telephone
  • Tea & Coffee making facilities
  • Flat-screen televisions with satellite TV channels, GPS and for & aft camera views.
  • Individually controlled air-conditioning

 

Riviera Travel - Suite Ship Deck Plan

The 5 star MS William Shakespeare (2014) and MS Charles Dickens (2015) have been specially commissioned and designed to Riviera’s specification by Dutch ship builders Veka Group. Carrying just 140 passengers each, the crew ratio of 4:1 ensures excellent service throughout your cruise. Finished with the highest quality materials with luxurious carpets, rich hardwoods and plenty of steel and glass the ships have an elegant and sleek style throughout.

Riviera Travel William Shakespeare Sun Deck

Onboard Features & Facilities

  • 74 comfortable outside cabins and suites, most with French Balconies
  • Deluxe Suites have full outside balconies
  • Stylish restaurant with open seating
  • Main Globe lounge with bar & piano
  • Stern Midsummer Bar & Chef’s Restaurant for 24 diners
  • Sundeck with sun-shades, deck chairs & loungers
  • ‘Whirlpool’ splash pool, putting green and giand chess board
  • Complimentary coffee and tea throughout the day with speciality patisseries in the afternoon
  • Lift to Hamlet & Othello decks, stair lift to Sundeck
  • Wellness area with Sauna and fitness equipment
  • Hairdresser* on board
  • Onboard souvenir shop*
  • Laundry service*

* Payable locally.

Accommodation & Amenities

These lovely 5 star river cruise vessels, feature beautifully furnished cabins and suites, the majority featuring floor to ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a French Balcony. 74 spacious, elegantly appointed staterooms and suites range in size from 151 – 245 ft² or indulge even more in one of the 4 Deluxe suites. Most accommodations featuring floor to ceiling glass sliding doors opening to a French Balcony, so you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery however you wish.

Deluxe Balcony Suite

245 ft² – Diamond (Upper) Deck

  • Floor to ceiling opening glass doors leading to an outside balcony with table & chairs
  • Enhanced sitting area with table, sofa and armchair
  • Private tiled bathroom with WC, wash basin & glass shower enclosure with quality bath products
  • Hotel style beds and fine cotton bed linen
  • Bathrobes & slippers
  • A bed turn down service operates during dinner
  • Seating area with 2 chairs and a table
  • In room safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, full-length mirror, plenty of storage space & telephone
  • Coffee making facilities
  • Flat-screen televisions with satellite TV channels, GPS and for & aft camera views.
  • Individually controlled air-conditioning
Riviera Travel William Shakespeare Deluxe Suite
Riviera Travel William Shakespeare Middle Upper Deck Cabin

French Balcony Cabin

161 ft² – Diamond (Upper) & Ruby (Middle) Deck

  • Floor to ceiling glass doors open all the way to create a full width French Balcony.
  • Private tiled bathroom with WC, wash basin & glass shower enclosure with quality bath products
  • Hotel style beds and fine cotton bed linen
  • Bathrobes & slippers
  • A bed turn down service operates during dinner
  • Seating area with 2 chairs and a table
  • In room safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, full-length mirror, plenty of storage space & telephone
  • Coffee making facilities
  • Flat-screen televisions with satellite TV channels, GPS and for & aft camera views.
  • Individually controlled air-conditioning

Standard Cabin

151 ft² –  Emerald (Lower) Deck

  • Smaller Fixed Window
  • Private tiled bathroom with WC, wash basin & glass shower enclosure with quality bath products
  • Hotel style beds and fine cotton bed linen
  • Bathrobes & slippers
  • A bed turn down service operates during dinner
  • Seating area with table and armchair
  • In room safe, mini-bar, hair dryer, full-length mirror, plenty of storage space & telephone
  • Coffee making facilities
  • Flat-screen televisions with satellite TV channels, GPS and for & aft camera views.
  • Individually controlled air-conditioning

Available for single occupancy without supplement – subject to availability

Riviera Travel William Shakespeare Lower DEck Cabin
MS William Shakespeare - Deck Plan
19 Sep 2024, MS William Shakespeare - From £3,078 per person
18 Oct 2024, MS Lord Byron - From £3,148 per person
1 May 2025, MS Thomas Hardy - From £2,998 per person
9 Jun 2025, MS Lord Byron - From £3,048 per person
10 Jul 2025, MS Thomas Hardy - From £2,898 per person
6 Aug 2025, MS Lord Byron - From £2,848 per person
23 Sep 2025, MS Lord Byron - From £3,448 per person
23 Oct 2025, MS Thomas Hardy - From £2,548 per person

Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a twin cabin with a limited number of single cabins available on all decks, at the relevant supplement.  The price includes full board from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your final day; if you choose to travel with us on any of the full day excursions by coach, a packed lunch will be provided. Anyone choosing to stay on the ship may of course have lunch in the restaurant; morning/afternoon tea and coffee; all visits and excursions as mentioned in the brochure, airport transfers, coach travel as mentioned, travel to and from port of embarkation and the services of a Riviera Travel Tour Manager. Solo Occupancy On the lower deck there are a limited number of standard cabins available for single occupancy without a supplement.


Why Choose This Cruise?

Riviera Travel’s river cruises have caused a bit of a revolution in the UK market, selling more river cruises in the UK than any other river cruise line.  A range of brand-new classically-styled ships have impressed with their high standards for the price.  Riviera’s 30 years of land-touring experience have carried into their river cruise excursions, providing good value off-ship experiences.  Whilst some may require higher levels of inclusions and finer dining, Riviera’s river cruises deliver consistently high standards for their loyal UK customers.

Why not read more at our blog post “France’s Magnificent Rivers – A Guide to River Cruising in France”

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