FORT LAUDERDALE — Riviera River Cruises back in Europe, with cruises already underway in Portugal, France and Germany.

Following the successful restart of cruises on Portugal’s Douro River in August, the company has resumed operations on France’s Seine and Rhône Rivers and an additional itinerary on the Main River and Main-Danube Canal in Germany.

MS William Wordsworth sun deck | Courtesy of Riviera River Cruises

Itineraries that have restarted and are running through Nov. 22 include: the Douro, Porto and Salamanca River Cruise; the Seine, Paris & Normandy River Cruise; Burgundy, the River Rhône & Provence River Cruise; and Medieval Germany River Cruise.

All guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or present a negative test prior to travel.

“After 18 months of uncertainty in the travel industry, we’re excited to finally be restarting our river cruises in Portugal, France and Germany,” said Marilyn Conroy, Riviera River Cruises’ Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing North America. “As our ships get underway, we’re committed to the health and safety of all guests and crew aboard them by requiring COVID-19 vaccinations or negative tests, as well as taking other precautions. And if a guest isn’t happy by the second day of their cruise, we’ll bring them home with a refund.”

MS George Eliot bistro | Courtesy of Riviera River Cruises

For added reassurance, Riviera’s flexible care policies include COVID-19 cancellation and curtailment protection, in addition to its happiness guarantee. If a guest isn’t able to travel specifically due to COVID-19, the booking can be transferred to another departure date for free with as little as 24 hours’ notice. If a guest has to cut their holiday short due to COVID-19 and a travel insurer doesn’t cover it, Riviera will provide compensation for the missed portion of the cruise. And if a guest isn’t happy by the second day of their cruise, Riviera will assist in bringing them home with a full refund.

To ensure the health and safety of guests and crew, the company has implemented health and safety measures onboard, including: enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of shared equipment and touch points; disinfecting suitcase handles; making hand sanitizer available throughout the ship; social distancing on coaches for excursions with temperature checks upon reboarding; providing contact-free services and full-table service in restaurants with seating to allow for social distancing; performing daily temperature checks and ongoing health screenings for crew members; and requiring face coverings for crew members where necessary.

Riviera River Cruises, which operates one of the youngest fleets in Europe, offers 20 itineraries on 10 rivers and waterways, including dedicated departures for solo travellers with no single supplement. For more information go to https://www.rivierarivercruises.com.