She's beauty and she's Radiance

RACHEL BERESFORD is all praise for Riviera Travel's newest river cruise ship, MS Riviera Radiance

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Cruising along the Danube in November, the chill of winter in the air and the excitement of Christmas on the horizon, life hardly gets much better.

It's a pleasure I can hardly put into words but for the sake of this article, I will do my very best.

Last month, I headed to Budapest for the official naming ceremony of Riviera Travel's newest river cruise ship, MS Riviera Radiance, which boasts 89 cabins to accommodate up to 178 guests - far smaller than your ocean cruise ships but with all the same appeal... and perhaps a little bit more for those looking for a more intimate sail.

That's not to say you'll be in close quarters on a Riviera cruise ship - and certainly not on Radiance which, at 135 metres in length, boasts the fleet's largest suites ever, at a whopping 32 metres square with a grand balcony.

Superior suites are also large at 24 metre square while the standard cabins are 16 metre square - 80 per cent of which have french balconies or floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows.

Look out over many of Europe's most beautiful cities as you lay in the lap of luxury.

Spread over four decks - Sun, Diamond, Ruby and Emerald - you won't quite get lost on Radiance but you will certainly get lost in the moment as this ship is absolutely captivating.

The ship's lounge has 270-degree views, making it one of the best vantage points to take in the beauty that is the Danube.

During our nighttime sail with Captain Milan Sretr, Budapest looked at its most beautiful with the lights of parliament buildings highlighting the skyline.