Riviera Travel, the UK based river cruise company has revealed its 2019 program of European voyages.

Some of the highlight itineraries include the popular Heart of Europe sailing which departs from Cologne and sails to Budapest as well as the 14-night cruise from Budapest to the Black Sea.

With more itineraries and ships on offer, the line has doubled its Australian bookings, with more people sailing with Riviera.

Australian sales manager, Thomas Morgan, said the cruise line was quickly becoming more familiar to Australians and starting to compete with well-known brands in the region.

Mr Morgan also said it’s Riviera’s affordable prices which are attracting more Aussies to cruise with them.

“There is strong competition in the river cruise space here, but Australians are increasingly appreciating we offer something different including more affordable fares which make the refined pleasures of five-star river cruising in Europe more accessible to more people,” Mr Morgan said.

“We offer complimentary tours or visits in very port and we don’t automatically include gratuities in fares, allowing guests to tip as they like, which Australians particularly love. Although we’ve been operating in the UK since 1984, we’re still fresh here in Australia but brand traction is quickly building.”

Just this month, Riviera launched the Douro Splendour, and next year, the 167-passenger William Wordsworth and the 132-passenger George Eliot will start cruising in 2019.

The line is also known for its solo passenger sailings, with cruises starting from $2,769 per person and there are dedicated sailings which are only offered to single cruisers.

One of Riviera Travel’s sailings for 2019 – the seven-night Rhine Cruise to Switzerland – has been packaged for Australians by small ship cruise specialist, Cruise Traveller, in a new 13-night fly, cruise and tour holiday.

The ‘Swiss Stunner’ package includes return flights to Europe from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth, the Rhine cruise from Cologne to Basel, a three-night, post-cruise, alpine tour in Switzerland headlined by a trip aboard the famous Glacier Express train from Chur to Zermatt and pre-and-post cruise accommodation in Cologne and Zurich.