Why Riverside Ravel Offers the Best Rhône River Cruise

Our Rhone River Cruise Video

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The video is called RHONE RIVER CRUISE with Riverside Luxury Cruises | Avignon to Lyon Aboard Riverside Ravel.

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About Riverside Luxury Cruises

Since 2022, Riverside Luxury Cruises offers an elevated river cruise experience. Slowly sail on Europe's most iconic rivers, like Rhône and Saône.

Owned by the Hamburg based Gerlach family, they brought their experiences managing luxury hotel properties in Germany, Spain and the Maldives (Seaside Collection) to the sea. In creating Riverside Luxury Cruises, they established world-class hotels to sail from place to place on the rivers of Europe.

Riverside Luxury Cruises has some of the largest staterooms by comparison to other river cruise lines. The majority are mid-tier suites with walk-in closets and bathrooms with double vanity sinks.

The smaller staterooms are usually reserved for solo travellers. I should mention that Riverside is perfect for solo travellers as there aren't any single supplement fees.

There are a whopping five dining venues on board with many intimate tables for two. With a two-to-one guest to crew ratio, you'll also receive detailed and personalized service while aboard (including butler service).

What's Included

Every passenger on Riverside Luxury Cruises has access to free Wi-Fi and butler service. Each booking fee includes port and service charges.

Gratuities are included in your Riverside Luxury Cruises package, so there's no need to budget any additional funds for this at the end of the trip.

There are four categories for booking: Full Board, Premium All Inclusive, Full Board Including Excursions, and Premium All Inclusive Including Excursions.

Here's what's included and not included for each category.

Full Board includes all meals in the restaurants and bars, including water, coffee and tea at meals. Dinner in The Atelier is an additional cost. You can order room service during the hours that the restaurants are operational at no fee.

Full Board Including Excursions is similar to Full Board with pre-selected excursions included for every port you visit.

Premium All Inclusive includes all meals at every restaurant, 24 hour room service, free minibar, and free premium beverages like wine, champagne, cocktails and spirits.

Both inclusive packages include complimentary transfers to/from airports, hotels or train stations.

Last, Premium All Inclusive Including Excursions is the top package with everything totally included, even daily excursions.

If possible, I suggest getting the Premium All Inclusive Including Excursions package. You'll be able to enjoy all food and drink on board, as well as the day tours that you can choose ahead of time.

Riverside Ravel

Named for the French composer, Maurice Ravel, the Riverside Ravel is stylish, luxurious and comfortable. Drifting on the Rhone and Saone Rivers, Riverside Ravel embarks on cruises through the South of France, Provence, Rhône-Alpes and Burgundy.

Our Stateroom

Justin and I stayed in one of the Seahorse Suites. At 258 square feet, this was the largest cruise stateroom we've ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

The star of the show is the panoramic balcony window. Functioning as a Juliet balcony (French balcony), there's a massive full length window looking out to the waterway. By pressing a switch on the wall, the window drops down and allows uninterrupted views.

While you're not allowed to have the window open when sailing, it's great for a breath of fresh air when docked. It merges the indoor and outdoor worlds seamlessly.

In the room, there's a king-sized bed, walk-in closet, expansive desk, flatscreen TV, bar area with a mini fridge, and espresso coffee machine.

The bathroom is a show stopper, elegant and draped in marble. There's a double vanity, spacious rain shower, luxury bath and body products, bathrobes and slippers.

Public Spaces: First Floor

The Riverside Ravel has four decks for guests to enjoy. It never once felt crowded by passengers. There's plenty of space and the ship feels quite roomy.

There's a maximum of 110 passengers on the Riverside Ravel, which is small by comparison to other river cruises having upwards to 200 guests at a time.

The first floor (Harmony Deck) is home to a spa treatment room, a fitness center and a a self-service laundromat. Admittedly, I didn't venture down to deck one at all during my trip. But, these amenities are there for you should you need them.

In the middle of the ship, there's a sophisticated spiral staircase and a small glass elevator. Take your pick!

Second Floor

The second floor (Seahorse Deck) features a concierge desk where helpful staff members are always on hand should you require assistance.

There's also a coffee and tea corner with an espresso machine available 24/7, along with a fridge with water. Help yourself to any of it.

On one side is the Waterside Restaurant, the main dining room. On the other side are some guest suites.

Third Floor

At the heart of the third floor (Riverside Deck) lies The Atelier with a menu of burgers and sandwiches that are made to order. There's a coffee bar here where I loved getting my daily iced coffees. There's also a little buffet and dessert table with light bites and treats throughout the day.

The Vintage Room is tucked to one side of the bar, a lavish wine tasting room that seats up to 10 passengers. This can be booked for an additional fee.

Continuing on the third floor, the Palm Court Lounge is a great place to relax and enjoy a drink. This is the location of the main cocktail bar. There's a grand piano with nightly entertainment, and some talks and lectures are held here, too. Don't miss trying the freshly popped popcorn here, it's the best!

At one end of the ship, the doors lead outside a small deck where you can enjoy the scenery. On the opposite end of the ship, there are more suites leading to a small swimming pool.

Fourth Floor

The fourth floor (Vista Deck) is completely outdoors with small tables and couches to relax upon. The Vista Bar is open when the ship isn't navigating low-lying bridges, and it completely collapses down into the deck below when this is the case.

On a nice day, there are occasionally barbecue lunches served from a grill on deck four. We sailed at the beginning of October, so it wasn't really warm enough for that. However, we did really love lounging on the Vista Deck during afternoon cruises, wrapped up in a warm blanket.

It's really entertaining to watch the ship traverse through the locks. It's incredible how the ship just barely fits into the locks. River cruise ships are perfectly designed to just fit the locks in order to maximize the amount of room on board.

The Crew and Service

I can't say enough good things about the service you'll receive on board. The crew members will quickly learn your name and deliver personalized service. They truly go above and beyond.

For instance, our butler was casually chatting to us one day about beer. He mentioned a type of beer that's on board occasionally, but didn't happen to be available. The next day, he surprised us by finding the beer while he was ashore and brought it directly to our stateroom!

I also follow a vegan diet so I noted my dietary preference early on. One of the servers helped me navigate the menu and the chef altered the vegetarian options when necessary.

On-Board Entertainment

There isn't too much in the way of entertainment on board. There is a resident singer/pianist who performs in the evenings.

Every day, there is a chat about the port we'd visit the following day so we could learn a few things in advance.

On some days, there were some demonstrations, like a cocktail making class or a wine tasting. Unfortunately, we missed these due to being out and about in port or relaxing outdoors during afternoon sailings.

While the ship could do with some more entertainment, I truly feel like the stars of the show are the ports themselves, the food and drink, and the scenery (perhaps while reading a good book).

Riverside Ravel: Food and Drink

Culinary delights are a major reason why people love river cruises. The chef and restaurant staff serve up a French-inspired menu at dinnertime with new menus appearing each evening.

My dining experience is a little bit different as someone who follows a plant-based diet. If you have any dietary restrictions, allergies or preferences, make sure you let the staff know ahead of time and they'll do their best to accommodate you.

I will say in advance that this wasn't the best vegan food that I've ever had. It was very vegetable heavy with some grains that often left me a bit hungry an hour or two later.

Having some plant-based proteins on hand for the vegetarians and vegans would be nice, like seitan, tofu, tempeh, or even some more beans. I'd also love to have a vegan pasta option as all the pasta contains egg.

I also didn't really find much in the way of vegan desserts, which was to be expected. However, with the advanced knowledge that there was a vegan guest on board for the week, a dairy-free chocolate mousse made from avocado or tofu would have been a nice break from predictably alternating between sorbet or berries.

(I must say that on one night, I was pleasantly surprised by a rice milk crème brûlée that was absolutely delicious! I asked for it on another evening, though my request must have been lost in the shuffle as I never saw the elusive brûlée again...)

Breakfast

On the Riverside Ravel, you'll find a buffet breakfast each morning at the main dining room, the Waterside Restaurant. It's primarily an American-style breakfast buffet with hot and cold items.

As someone who follows a vegan diet, breakfast wasn't terribly exciting, though I managed to find enough to keep me going through until lunch.

I'd often eat fruit, a toasted bagel with peanut butter, some hashbrowns or potatoes, and a small bowl of cereal with soy milk.

Toward the end of the journey, I got a bit creative. I smashed together some avocado and lime and asked for red chili flakes, creating my own avocado toast. A pre-smashed avocado toast spread could be an idea for future voyages.

My highlight of breakfast was the soy cappuccinos that I could order through the waitstaff. They'd be prepared upstairs at the espresso bar and brought to my seat in the dining room.

The coffee on the ship is excellent!

Lunch

Lunch on the Riverside Ravel was also a daily buffet at the Waterside Restaurant. There's always a made-to-order pasta and new dishes introduced daily.

I personally loved making a large green salad with tons of veggies on top. I'd also have rice, beans, potatoes and bread. One day, there was a tofu dish that was excellent!

Since we were in France, I discovered specialty truffle oil and truffle balsamic vinegar at the buffet. I mixed those together to make an awesome bread dipper.

Dinner

We enjoyed dinner each night at a table for two at the Waterside Restaurant. For every night of a 7-night voyage, there is a new menu. I believe since ours was an 8-night trip, we had one menu repeat.

For the vegetarian/vegan options, I often had a soup or salad to start, a main course, and a dessert. The main courses were mainly stuffed vegetables, roasted cauliflower, or a beet risotto, to name a few.

For dessert, it was usually a sorbet or fresh fruit. On one occasion, I enjoyed a lovely rice pudding. And I also adored the special vegan creme brulee that the chef prepared one evening.

The Atelier

The Atelier is kept fully stocked with light meals and bites throughout breakfast and lunch hours. There's always cheese and crackers, freshly baked pretzels, olives, charcuterie and another table with desserts.

We never dined at The Atelier for dinner, but we did have lunch here. There is a lunch menu with sandwiches and burgers, including a veggie burger that comes with a basket of fries.

The veggie burger resembles a fried potato patty that was quite good. My only issue was that it was described as a "vegan burger" on the menu, yet it came with mayonnaise as a topping.

The Vintage Room

For wine enthusiasts, you will adore The Vintage Room. This is a specialty wine tasting offered by Riverside Luxury Cruises in a private room.

This is an exclusive wine tasting that you can book for up to 10 people. You'll have the opportunity to taste red and white wines from the regions you visit on the sailing.

All of the bottles are vintages or higher end wines that you may not have the chance to sample anywhere else. I really enjoyed the presentation that detailed exactly where each wine came from along with some information about it.

The wines are also paired with various cheeses, too.

Riverside Ravel Itinerary: French Salut Avignon to Lyon

Our exact sailing is called French Salut: Avignon to Lyon. As the name suggests, the cruise starts in Avignon and ends in Lyon. I'll outline each destination we visited, as well as the tours and excursions we selected.

I love visiting lesser known small towns and villages, like those in this itinerary. Sometimes the easiest and most convenient journey will be by boat. For this reason, many destinations won't be quite as touristed or crowded.

Arrive earlier in the day or the day prior if you'd like to see Avignon. Sadly, we had big flight delays and missed our extra night in Avignon. We'll need to return someday.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Our first stop was Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the town's name means "The Pope's New Castle". There are the ruins of a castle to visit, which had the most spectacular views.

This region is best known for its stunning wines. This French wine appellation offers bold Grenache-based red blends, often blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre.

On an evening wine tour with Riverside, we visited Maison Bouachon and sampled a variety of wines in the tasting room. I love that there were light bites to go with the wine, including some yummy homemade hummus.

The staff on the Riverside Ravel will also make alterations if there are late tours. For instance, this was an evening tour so we arrived back a little later to the ship. For this reason, they had a wonderful evening dinner buffet for us so we could still get a good night's sleep.

Viviers

Viviers is a lovely preserved Medieval village that I hadn't heard of before, but absolutely adored. Established in the 5th century, the village of Vivers was not destroyed during the French Revolution, so there are many old buildings and cobblestone streets to explore.

Located in Ardèche in southern France, Viviers is such a treat to wander around by foot. Saint-Vincent Cathedral is the smallest cathedral in France, so don't miss stopping by on your walk.

In the afternoon, we took an excursion to the Ardeche Gorge for a hiking trip. Led by a professional hiking guide, we enjoyed a walk along the river to savor magnificent landscapes, and even went inside a little cave.

Tain L'Hermitage

Tain L'Hermitage is another destination we decided to explore on foot. It's a quaint town on the Rhône River, surrounded by vineyards.

It's interesting because Tain L'Hermitage is divided in two with little developments on either side of the river. Check out Tain L'Hermitage and then walk across the bridge to see Tournon-sur-Rhône.

Most notably, Tain L'Hermitage is known for its wine and its chocolate. This is the site of the Valrhona chocolate factory. Even if you don't take a tour of Valrhona, stop by the shop for some treats and samples. They even have vegan milk and white bars!

Lyon

As Lyon is one of the largest cities in France, we spent two fully days and nights docked here. There's so much to see and do in this 2000-year old city.

Lyon is known for its gastronomy, museums and history. It's best to take a wander around its Old Town and pop into shops, cafes, restaurants or museums that interest you. Go for a bike ride along the river or shop local farmers markets.

On one afternoon, I booked a walking tour of Pérouges, a medieval walled hamlet on a small hill. There are picturesque cobblestone alleyways and half-timbered buildings that look straight out of a storybook.

Mâcon

Mâcon is an idyllic city on the banks of the Saône River. It's known as the gateway to southern Burgundy.

There are charming pastel buildings and little shops in town. Unfortunately, we were there on a Monday, so many shops were closed. Even still, it's a lovely small town to experience.

Don't miss spotting the Maison de Bois, an iconic old wooden house in town that's now a restaurant.

Tournus

As the ship sailed towards Tournus, we drove to Le Cos-Piguet Gourmet Bio for a truffle hunting tour. The owner owns a truffle farm where many truffles on his property grown beneath oak and hazelnut trees.

With the assistance of his trusty dog, he's able to find where the truffle are located. The dog sniffs out the truffles that he'll then dig up.

We didn't end up finding any truffles on our tour, but we were treated to some truffle products and wine at the end of our excursion.

Chalon-sur-Saône

Chalon-sur-Saône is a beautiful small town on the Saône River, with streets to wander on both sides of the river. Since Justin and I had experienced Chalon-sur-Saône on a previous barge cruise of Burgundy, we embarked on an excursion through Riverside Ravel outside of the town.

We took an e-bike tour of Burgundy from Beaune through Pommard, Volnay, Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet. Justin and I had never ridden e-bikes before and we absolutely loved it!

I didn't realize that e-bikes assisted your bike riding in that capacity. You're still pedaling and enjoying the exercise, but they help you climb hills and what not a bit easier.

We saw so much gorgeous scenery along the way, had the opportunity to walk around one tiny town, and were treated to wine and small bites at the end of the tour (at Le Caveau à Auxey). This was our favorite tour out of the whole journey.

Who Would Enjoy Riverside Luxury Cruises?

Of course, Riverside Luxury Cruises is an excellent choice for those who love small ship sailing. It's recommended for those who might usually choose an ultra-luxury experience, similar to Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, Scenic or Silversea.

For those who enjoy independent travel over a group tour, Riverside Luxury Cruises is a great choice. There's also the opportunity to mingle with fellow travelers over dinner, at the bar, or on one of the day excursions.

While there's plenty of space for socializing and meeting new friends, you can also choose to spend time on your own with your own space.

It's also the perfect cruise line for solo travelers. Riverside Luxury Cruises has a variety of suites on Ravel for solos without a single supplement fee.

The tours aren't your typical stale walking tours. There are opportunities to get active (hiking, cycling or kayaking, for instance) and unique tours like truffle hunting. Food and wine lovers will adore the wine tours and the offerings on board.

Riverside Luxury Cruises is ideal for anyone who wants to give river cruising a try. There are shorter three and four-night sailings that are more budget-friendly than seven or eight-night trips. You could always tack a shorter river voyage onto a lengthier European vacation.

More Cruise Reviews

Justin and I love traveling on cruises! Here are some more cruises that we've reviewed:

• Nieuw Statendam Cruise to Norway (Holland America Line)
• Greece and Greek Islands Cruise with Celestyal Cruises
• Italy Barge Cruise Aboard La Bella Vita (European Waterways)
• Barge Cruise Aboard Finesse in Burgundy, France (European Waterways)
• South of France Cruise on Athos du Midi (European Waterways)
• Holistic Holiday at Sea Review (MSC Divina)
• Caribbean Princess Photo Tour (Princess Cruises)