Riviera Travel Adds Cruise Hosts Across River Fleet, Names New Customer Experience Chief
Riviera Travel is rolling out dedicated cruise hosts across its river fleet, with a new customer experience chief overseeing the expanded onboard program.
Photo: Courtesy of Riviera Travel
Riviera Travel River Cruises is expanding its onboard guest experience with dedicated cruise hosts across its fleet, while appointing James Golding as chief customer experience officer to oversee the initiative and the company’s broader customer experience strategy.
The cruise host program will roll out progressively across Riviera Travel’s river fleet during the 2026 season. Developed in response to feedback from guests and travel advisors, the role is intended to provide more opportunities for social interaction onboard while offering additional support for travelers, particularly those taking their first river cruise or traveling solo.
Cruise hosts will work alongside Riviera’s existing cruise directors, leading activities such as quizzes, games, wellness programming and movement sessions, including Tai Chi. Rather than serving as traditional entertainers, the hosts are designed to act as facilitators, helping guests meet one another and making time spent onboard more engaging between excursions and port calls.
“As an innovator in the river cruise industry, we are always looking for new ways to enhance the experience we provide to our guests,” said Stuart Milan, the president of North America for Riviera Travel. “The appointment of a dedicated chief customer experience officer and the addition of cruise hosts across our fleet are important steps in prioritizing the needs of our North American customers.”
Golding joined Riviera in mid-March and has nearly 20 years of travel industry experience. He previously served as vice president of global sales at Travelopia, where his responsibilities included sales and guest performance initiatives across markets including North America. Since joining Riviera, he has overseen the recruitment and training of the new cruise hosts, including onboarding, rehearsals and ongoing support.
The additions come as Riviera continues to build its presence in the North American market. The company recently opened a North American headquarters in Fort Lauderdale and operates 13 ships on European waterways including the Danube, Douro, Rhine, Rhône, Seine and Moselle. Riviera also has a significant solo-travel program, with dedicated solo departures and a ship reserved for solo travelers.
