Riviera Travel Builds on Irish Market Growth
ITTN’s Sharon Jordan recently sat down with Riviera Travel CEO Matt Luscombe and Carrie Day, Country Manager for Ireland, to discuss the company’s continued growth in the Irish market, its expanding river cruise portfolio and what’s next for Riviera Travel.
Speaking to ITTN, Luscombe highlighted Ireland's importance to Riviera’s future growth, revealing that sales through the Irish travel trade have more than doubled over the past year.
“We’ve more than doubled sales through the trade over the last year,” he said, adding that Riviera is excited to continue working closely with Irish travel agents and welcoming more Irish guests.
The conversation also looked at the continued growth of river cruising, which Luscombe believes is moving from a well-established niche into a much more mainstream way of travelling.
Riviera is responding with investment in new ships, routes and destinations, alongside further innovation across its onboard experience and itineraries.
New Ships and Destinations for Riviera
Sharon also caught up with Carrie Day, who discussed some of Riviera's latest developments, including the launch of Riviera Alba on the Mekong in September 2027.
The 25-cabin ship will accommodate a maximum of just 50 guests and will form part of a wider Vietnam and Cambodia itinerary combining river cruising with land stays and experiences in Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap and Hanoi.
Day also discussed Riviera’s growing fleet, the continued development of its touring programme and further announcements still to come.
Both interviews touched on the recent challenges caused by exceptionally low water levels on the Rhine and Danube, with Riviera thanking the Irish travel trade for its patience and support during the disruption.
With river cruising, touring, solo travel and new destinations all forming part of Riviera’s plans, the company is looking to build further on its recent growth in Ireland.
Watch Sharon’s full interviews with Matt Luscombe and Carrie Day to hear more about Riviera Travel’s plans for the Irish market and what’s coming next.
Comments