I Tried New Cruise Line VIVA Cruises on the Danube River
Viva Two as seen from a big that crosses the Danube River at Esztergom, Hungary.
By John Roberts
A springtime voyage on the Danube River awakens all the senses. This waterway carves its way through a spectacular region of the world, and to see cities like Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava by cruise ship is one of the most enriching and fun experiences you can imagine when it comes to travel in Europe.
I've been on several Danube River cruises with cruise lines that cater to mostly American travelers. For this trip, however, I went on with a cruise line that is young, fresh and a little bit of a mystery to me.
This time, I tried a (relatively) new cruise line with a German heritage and on a brilliant new ship that offers bright elegant design and a wonderful variety of dining options that made the trip stand out, especially for this traveler who has been on the Danube eight times now and is always looking for a different way to experience this grand waterway.
Viva Cruises' latest ship, Viva Two, is a step forward in the evolution of the cruise line and features all kinds of great amenities that you'll enjoy.
While the ship has a definite German feel, U.S. cruisers will fit right in on this fantastic all-inclusive option for exploring the Danube River.
About VIVA Cruises and the VIVA TWO River Ship
Viva Two on embarkation day in Vienna.
Viva Cruises launched in 2018 and is a new line from longtime river ship operator Scylla, whose business primarily had been providing vessels to be chartered by brands like Tauck and Riviera River Cruises.
Now, the company is growing its own line with Viva Cruises, and it has been rapidly expanding its fleet with Viva One and Viva Two as the first ships built from scratch for the line — in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The third newbuild (named Viva Enjoy) also is in the works and set to launch in 2024.
What Makes This Cruise Line Stand Out
The Riverside dining room leads up to the bar area.
I really liked the design and open feel of Viva Two as I sailed with about 125 others on a weeklong roundtrip voyage from Vienna. The main lounge and bar area offers a different feel than any river ship I've been on to date.
The lounge is on a level a half deck up from the bar, which is located at the front of the ship. There is a great variety of comfortable seating in this area on both levels, with the main lounge space overlooking a portion of the main dining room below, as well.
The design creates a lovely flow, as cruisers spread out in comfort to enjoy cocktails, listen to the live music in the lounge and take in the incredible panoramic views through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
It reminds me of being in a chic boutique hotel.
The cozy bar is one of my favorite spots onboard.
Indeed, that's the feel Viva Cruises is looking for, a comfortable, hassle-free place to call home as you enjoy the destinations along Europe's rivers. (Check out my full video ship tour below to see all the spaces on Viva Two.)
Viva Two features three restaurants, a spa with a steam room and sauna and massage and other treatments, and a gym. Plus, there is a nice heated plunge pool on the top sun deck.
Moments restaurant, a new dining venue for Viva Cruises.
So, for a river cruise ship that carries up to 190 passengers, the vessel really is a floating resort with more amenities than you would ever expect.
Viva Cruises' voyages are all-inclusive, too, with all meals (even the specialty dining options), shore excursions, gratuities and drinks included in your fare. This especially differs with the drinks, as they are included any time of day with the bar open and servers taking orders in the lounge all day and via your in-stateroom mini-fridge. The industry standard for most lines is to include sodas, beers and wines only with your meals at lunches and dinners.
Until recently, Viva Cruises also was the only river cruise company operating year-round. (Viking has announced it will do the same.)
Right now, another distinctive characteristic for the new river cruise line is the passenger makeup, which consists of mostly cruisers coming from Germany.
Therefore, the program is conducted in both German and English.
Why U.S. Cruisers Will Enjoy VIVA TWO
Loungers on the sun deck.
I was a little uncertain about how to feel about traveling on a river ship that would be majority German. I had done this before on Amadeus Cruises. While my very first river cruise (on the Rhine in 2014) was superb, I did feel out of place often as one of the only English-only speakers on the trip.
But we don't know what it's like until we try it, right? That's why I enjoy getting out of my comfort zone. However, a cruise with Viva is way more than comfortable.
Certainly, it's different than most other river lines when you're traveling alongside a more international mix of cruisers. I think it can be more enriching that way, too.
While it was mostly German travelers on my trip, there were also travelers from Asia, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands (as well as a small batch from the U.S., Canada and England).
Viva Cruises Chief Operating Officer Andrea Kruse says the line is really an international travel experience, not really German. She says that Viva already gets 45 percent of its non-German cruisers from across other countries in Europe, with most coming from Scandinavia, Israel, Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain.
Now, the goal is to bring more people from North America to enjoy what a Viva cruise can offer.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed my week on the Danube on Viva Two. I was sure that the cruise would be a perfectly adequate way to sail and see the wonderful ports along the way.
But the ship's service and thoughtful amenities make this experience so much more than your standard accommodations, meals and shore excursions.
We embarked in Vienna, and from the moment I stepped onto the ship, the uniquely elegant design was obvious.
Most cruisers gather in the lounge and nearby bar, and light flows into the space up until sunset through the large windows.
When I wasn't outside on the sundeck, I liked to relax in the bar area on the cozy couches up against the windows to take in the scenery passing by.
At night, our guest entertainers, a married couple, would sing and play a variety of instruments, including the pan flute. They also served as DJs each night to play a variety of requests to keep cruisers dancing and enjoying the later part of the evenings while chatting with new friends over cocktails.
The U.S. travelers and European cruisers tended to stick within their groups, but the vibe on the ship was quite cordial with everyone having a fabulous time.
I was particularly impressed with the variety of amenities that Viva Two features. There is the heated pool on the sun deck that many of our fellow cruisers enjoy for at least one or two afternoon dips. We had a couple days with brilliant sunshine, and spending a time in the pool after our tours was a nice way to unwind and refresh for the evening.
The ship has a fleet of 12 bikes, and I hopped on with friends for a nice ride from Melk to Durstein in Austria's stunningly scenic Wachau Valley. After the ride, we hiked up to Burgruine Durnstein, or the Durstein Castle ruins, which offers the best views of the Danube.
Hiking to the top of the Durnstein Castle ruins for the best views over the river.
Viva Two also features a spa with a sauna, a steam room and a range of massage treatments. The small fitness center has cardio equipment and some dumbbells. The ship's boutique sells clothes and jewelry.
The sauna and steam room on Viva Two.
The ship also has a nice little gym.
Everyone I met on the cruise was impressed with the variety and quality of food. Viva Two is Viva's first vessel that features three dining rooms. The main dining room is called Riverside, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There also is Viva's Bistro, a casual dining option for seafood-focused lunches and dinners in an intimate space at the back of the ship. The room seats up to 30, and you can watch the chef prepare the meals in the nearby kitchen.
Viva's Bistro serves seafood meals for lunch and dinner.
Viva Two has added Moments, a dining room that can seat up to 60 for decadent five-course wine-pairing meals. You can also enjoy a buffet breakfast here and a lunch menu that has gourmet cheeseburgers and a huge charcuterie of cheeses, meats and olives, as well as other tasty items like lasagna al forno.
The new Moments restaurant occupies a large space on the ship’s lower level.
You're going to love this burger!
Viva features cuisine that highlights both regional favorites and comfort foods, so travelers can always find something delicious. We had schnitzel while in Vienna and goulash in Budapest, of course.
Chefs also craft dishes from veal, pork belly, duck, fish, lobster and steak. I liked that could mix in some healthy stuff, too. There are vegan options selections listed on the menu for every meal, as well as healthy salads, nuts, seeds, muesli, fresh fruit and a daily fruit smoothie.
Other Things to Know About VIVA Cruises
My balcony cabin on Viva Two.
Viva Two has 95 cabins, with no connecting or solo staterooms.
With its all-year cruising program, there are sailings in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium from January to March, which typically is the offseason.
Your cruise fare includes drinks, WiFi, gratuities, a shore excursion in each port (premium excursions are offered for a price), an afternoon tea event, complimentary water bottles, a welcome bottle of sparkling wine and all meals, including at the specialty restaurants.
An outdoors seating area at the aft on Deck 3.
I really had a great time on the cruise and fell in love with the elegance and style of the ship. I am hoping more people start to learn about Viva Cruises so that the cruise line thrives and continues to offer more of these cool ships on new itineraries around the world.
Thanks for reading,
JR
In a lock on our Danube River voyage.
The breakfast buffet in Riverside restaurant.