It wasn’t one big moment that wowed me on Riverside – it was a hundred little ones.

I’ve sailed with a lot of river cruise lines, so I know the rhythm: welcome aboard, cocktail in hand and a week of carefully planned comfort. But Riverside offers more than the typical river cruise experience, it elevates it. The difference isn’t loud or showy. It’s thoughtful, seamless and intentional.

It started with the service.

Our transfer from the Hilton Düsseldorf to the ship was smooth – until we reached the dock. A gate was holding up cars, only allowing one in and one out. “Let’s just walk. I can see the ship,” I said, half-joking. Ten minutes later, that joke turned into a firm suggestion: “I’m walking.” As I opened the car door, crew members ran up to help with the luggage, greeting us with warmth and ease. That quick pivot? A small glimpse into how on-it the Riverside team really is.

That first impression only got stronger once we stepped on board.

One of the first things I noticed was that there was no cruise director. At first, I assumed I’d miss it – the jokes, the daily announcements, the rallying of the crowd. Cruise directors often act as the face of the ship, and sometimes the entire experience starts to revolve around them. But on Riverside, it felt like the spotlight shifted back to the real stars of the show: the guests.

Don’t get me wrong, the crew are absolutely stars in their own right. I often write that the crew makes the trip. But I think true luxury travelers don’t need a show. They want quiet, thoughtful service that anticipates their needs, makes them feel known and lets them fully relax into the experience.

Instead of one cruise manager, Riverside has a team of guest experience hosts. They handled port talks, announcements and were onboard and ashore during excursions. You’d see them on deck for the Rhine Gorge narration, and later they’d be offering to take you shopping in Cologne or recommending their favorite lunch spot. There was always someone around to help, and I never felt like I had to track down the one person in charge. It felt more personal, more flexible and just … easier.

That kind of ease defined the whole experience.

On most trips, I notice little delays. A few extra minutes to get a drink. A small wait for a server to come around. Not a big deal, but something I clock. On Riverside? I didn’t wait. The high crew-to-guest ratio meant someone was always nearby. And not in a hovering way, just there when you needed them. If you wanted something immediately, your butler could take care of it. In the dining room, the same person took your order and poured your wine. No flagging down bar staff. It’s not that they were scrambling, it’s that they were simply staffed well. And in today’s cruising world, that alone sets them apart.

The little details were everywhere. I saw our housekeeper quietly pick up a single piece of thread from the floor. The water glasses changed depending on what you ordered – blue for still, clear for sparkling – so no one had to interrupt your meal to double-check. These kinds of things let the crew stay in the background, while guests stayed comfortably in the spotlight.

And yet, we still loved the crew. Vlad, our waiter, was married to the pastry chef – so of course we asked him which desserts to get. His suggestions were right, night after night. Branko was our go-to for wine suggestions. Karolina had the kind of gentle, glowing energy that just made you want to be around her. Everyone felt genuine and warm.

Now, about the food. There were two dinners served buffet-style during our cruise. Lunch was always a buffet, which I honestly appreciated. Some cruise lines moved away from buffets during COVID, and I didn’t miss the long, drawn-out lunches at all. If buffets weren’t your thing, you could always order room service or head to Atelier for a sandwich or burger – options I made use of more than once.

I heard one couple complain about the number of buffets. But I thought they were thoughtfully done. One night, we returned from an excursion at 9 p.m., and a full buffet was waiting for us. No one would have had the energy for a multi-course meal, and the crew knew that. Another night, we had a cookout on the top deck while docked in Koblenz. Dinner was served under the stars with the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress glowing in the background and a live electric violinist providing the soundtrack. It was one of the most memorable nights of the trip. i will be writing a full food review to come.

I was also genuinely impressed by the cocktails. On most river cruises, I stick to a gin and tonic because the margaritas and cosmos tend to taste like sugar water with a splash of sour mix. But Riverside’s bartenders? They were blending fresh ginger for martinis, infusing vodka with rosemary and thyme, crafting lavender old fashioneds my grandmother is still talking about. These were craft cocktails, not cruise cocktails.

And through all of this – the butler service, the elegant meals, the beautiful accommodations – it never felt stuffy. The whole experience was refined but down-to-earth. One of the best examples? I was joking with a server and ten seconds later they were gently laying a black napkin in my lap because I was wearing black pants. That’s not something I ever expect on a river cruise. But on Riverside, it just made sense.

Riverside didn’t win me over with flash. It did it with intention. With warmth. With an understanding that luxury isn’t about being the fanciest – it’s about making people feel taken care of in ways that actually matter.