ITTN’s Lorraine Hales was lucky to be chosen as part of the Pre CLIA Riverview Conference Fam to join 120 agents onboard the beautiful VIVA ENJOY as it made its way from Düsseldorf to Amsterdam.
The journey began on the 4th March as we boarded the beautiful Viva enjoy in Düsseldorf and were met by the very friendly staff at reception who smoothly took care of check in and escorted me along to my beautiful cabin on Deck 2 with an easy cabin number to remember 222 – all my little ducks lined in a row.
What immediately struck me was the spacious luxury surroundings in the room with everything I could possibly need for my 4 nights onboard this beautiful ship. Cabin Tour Here
We were invited to explore the ship and enjoy a welcome drink and afternoon tea was the first offering to be encountered in the gorgeous bright split level Riverside Bar with the most amazing views as the river rushed by.
We left Dusseldorf to make our way along the Rhine with the next port of call the following day to be Rotterdam with such beautiful weather it was great to enjoy the sunshine on the upper deck and some even braved the pool – although to my surprise it was actually heated .
Alex our cruise director gave an overview of our next port stop and details of the days itinerary ahead but still to enjoy was the Gala Dinner
We were invited to a champagne reception where our host Michelle Daniels, Country Manager UK & Ireland and AUS & NZ introduced to the wider team, it was great to learn more about the Viva Brand and be welcomed onboard by the Captain .
We all headed then to the very impressive Gala Dinner where we enjoyed a delightful menu in the Main Dining room. The food was excellent and there was plenty of easy chatter around the table with agents on how fabulous everything had been so far.
We were invited to dance and be entertained by the onboard entertainer Franco who had a fantastic repertoir of dance tunes and easy listening music who kept us entertained all evening and indeed all of the cruise.
The ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp did not disappoint and arriving in the centre of it all meant we had very easy disembarkation and the freedom to explore on the bikes , take a walking tour or just a pleasant stroll around the vicinity.
The four days flew by and it was lovely to have the freedom to experience each of the three dining options on board – free dining in the Riverside Restaurant – a more Casual experience in the Bistro or a beautiful Italian style offering in Moments. – The food in all three could not be faulted and the staff could not have been more attentive.
The agents onboard were definitely spoiled on this trip – but talking to Michelle and Stephen Sands Consultant to Viva Cruises in Irelandboth assured me that nothing extra was added other than they included the walking tours for us which normally was an extra but everything else on board was as the guests would experience which means it really was an authentic VIVA experience.
Overall the experience onboard VIVA ENYOY was filled with much fun, laughter, dancing, good food, good company, embodying VIVA CRUISES mantra to Enjoy the Moment!
And we certainly did!
SOOOOO as Alex the cruise director would say at the beginning of every announcement!
The Facts
Viva has one of the youngest fleets on the rivers. Her flagships, Viva Enjoy and Viva Two, are modern, stylish and contemporary with split-level decks offering an abundance of light and a feeling of space.
Viva’s flagships offer up to three onboard restaurants with all-inclusive dining, no restricted dining times and free seating. Michelle shares that “it’s very much about promoting freedom, flexibility and choice for our customers – they create the river cruise experience that they want.”
Guests can opt from a variety of itinerary lengths from short-themed (3-5 days), many of which are themed itineraries including wellness, culinary & wine-tasting, theatre and sailboat racing.
Viva Cruises – “Exclusivity without the extra cost”
Viva Cruises offers an all-inclusive package. This includes all meals at all restaurants onboard, as well as unlimited drinks throughout the day (including alcoholic beverages). Equally, there are complimentary tea & coffee stations around the ship. The package also includes all gratuities & high-speed 5G WiFi.
Onboard, guests also have mini bars that are replenished daily, Nespresso Coffee machines, rain showers in the bathrooms, along with Rituals amenities. This is a premium product offering.
The only extras are shore excursions, which start from c.€15 per person for a city walking tour, while more immersive experiences incur a higher cost. Michelle explains, “In keeping with the spirit of freedom, flexibility and choice – we purposely don’t include excursions because… we want our customers to create the holiday that they want to…”,. Equally, guests have the flexibility to explore the destinations at their leisure or book the complimentary bicycles onboard and cycle through the city streets or countryside at their own pace.
Additional Information on VIVA CRUISES
Viva Boutique
Viva Boutique is a separate brand within Viva, offering a more immersive, refined, premium experience. Viva Boutique has 3 themed pillars -Culinary, Culture & Lifestyle and Art Impressionism. Their next Viva Boutique flagship, Viva Unique, will be christened & will launch in Venice in 2027, joining Viva Beyond in the premium offering, with sailings in France and Italy:
- Seine | Viva Beyond | 2026 – the city & sights of Paris, castles of Normandy & rugged Atlantic coast
- Italy’s Po | Viva Unique | 2027 – the beauty, culture & cuisine of Venice, Chioggia, Bologna, Cremona & Verona
Itineraries & Bookings
Viva Cruises will have 2 separate GSAs in Ireland to sell its cruise products. Equally, they are committed to attending trade events and conferences to increase awareness of the brand in the Irish market.
Viva Cruises also has a dedicated Group department to cater for group bookings with free places & free excursions available for tour leaders. Contact Stephen Sands or Michelle Daniels to arrange a trade agreement with Viva Cruises – email [email protected]. In addition, agency login & contact details are available here.
