Riviera Travel has launched what it has described as its ‘biggest-ever’ programme for 2025 Christmas and New Year cruises.

There will be a total of 37 festive departures next December, spread across six itineraries ranging between five to eight days on the Rhine and the Danube – making the programme 32% larger than 2024.

Prices start from £999 per person for a five-day ‘Enchanting Rhine & Yuletide Markets’ cruise.

Riviera Travel is also offering extended land stays on six of its 2025 river cruises, in response to demand and positive feedback from guests and agents.

First introduced in 2023, the 2025 extended stays include a seven-night Danube cruise with a three-night post-cruise stay in Budapest or Vienna. On the Rhine, a seven-night cruise can be twinned with a three-night pre or post stay in Zermatt and the Glacier Express railway excursion, while a seven-night Douro cruise can be combined with a three-night Lisbon or Porto stay.

Prices for the extensions start at £539pp for the Budapest stay.

Riviera Head of Product Will Sarson said: “There is something very special about celebrating the Christmas and New Year period on a river cruise, and at Riviera we have a wide selection of itineraries available to book. All are filled with endless opportunities to take in the festive atmosphere in some of Europe’s most enchanting cities.

“Our land stay extensions have proven very popular in recent years, giving guests the option to extend their holidays with a range of visits to historic and celebrated landmarks.”