Riverside´s Rapturous Ravel
March 2026
June – and the seasons are hovering between spring and summer, no better time to take a cruise on The Rhone, one of the most celebrated French waterways.
Riverside's Ravel sets out from Lyons with its ultimate destination of Avignon, but first heads north to Macon, Tournus and Chalon-sur-Saone, smaller destinations that rest within walking distance of the vessel. There are daily stops on this seven-day itinerary and an abundance of excursions from which to choose. This sailing is through one of the most prominent wine-producing regions in the world, and closes with an excursion to a Château Neuf du Pape winery. At Tain L´Hermitage, you will find the home of Valrhona's world-famous Grand Cru dark and milk chocolates. (Who doesn´t like wine and chocolates?) Beyond the primary ports of call, Lyons and Avignon, there are smaller towns and hamlets which can be circumnavigated in a few hours, with or without a guide. If you´re a cycling enthusiast, the ship carries its own equipment and e-bikes. The magnificent botanical gardens of Lyons – an almost mandatory visit – can easily consume a morning, or longer. And if you find your energies diminished, the elegant Ravel is just a short taxi ride away.
Riverside is described in industry parlance as an ´ultra luxury´ product, and the superlatives can all be applied to Ravel. This is a small, intimate and supremely comfortable ship, softly lit and furnished in muted colours. With just fifty-five cabins and a maximum occupancy of one hundred and ten guests, the word ´intimate´ can justifiably be used twice. A boutique hotel on the water, it truly is. Suites are plush and creative in the use of space; beds face toward impressive floor-to-ceiling windows, and river views provide an endlessly shifting panorama. Bathrooms are impeccably finished with unusually abundant space for a river vessel. Linens, bathrobes and toiletries are all of premium quality. Add to all this a discreetly attentive butler plus a daily resupply of complimentary champagne and there’s a lot to write home about.
The Waterside restaurant, the primary dining venue, is an elegant U-shaped room, with wrap-around windows and soft, coffee coloured banquettes. Menus are created daily and creatively; classic French cuisine is augmented with international embellishments. Many cruise companies claim to source local produce; Riverside actually does. (I went with Chef Dragos Stan to The Avignon market where he procured fresh mussels.) The Atelier is a smaller venue, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner – plus speciality and tasting menu events. A rooftop bar, on the open deck of the vessel, is there for long June evenings when the light seems never to fade. A complimentary and comprehensive array of wines is presented at lunch and dinner but if you’re an oenophile the sommelier will happily make suggestions from an exclusive list. You might consider a white burgundy, the Château Grenouilles at 192 euros or push the boat out and open a Chateau Lafite Rothschild at 2,480 euros. Or just trust your wine steward for the daily and complimentary selection. You won’t be disappointed.
The Rhone is a broad river with a gentle flow and thus Ravel can navigate by night, a facility not available on all rivers. This leaves the days free for exploration and adventure. Lyons and Avignon bookend this charming river itinerary – with quieter destinations like Macon, Viennes and Viviers offering easy and undemanding excursions. Mixed, alluvial forests crowd the Rhone River bank, ancient trees bowing to the river, visited by the occasional swan, and from your suite this rolling panorama will cause the hours to slip away if you choose to go nowhere at all. But that’s what rivers are for – relaxed contemplation of the world passing by.
Written by Andrew Maclear
