VIVA Cruises is a great choice for:
- Those who want to go on a river cruise for the first time
- Travelers looking to try a river cruise in Europe
VIVA Cruises might not be a great choice for:
- Those seeking a top luxury river cruise
VIVA Cruises usually isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think about river cruises. They are often considered an underrated brand that offers fun, all-inclusive, and affordable cruises in Europe. Are they as luxurious as something like AmaWaterways? No, they are not. But they are still an excellent choice for those who want to explore popular rivers like the Rhine and Seine, often at very attractive prices.
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And that matters - especially since river cruises aren’t cheap, as you probably know if you’ve been browsing Famvia for a while. While something like AmaWaterways can cost $2,000 to $3,000 per guest, VIVA offers some 3-night river cruises starting at $690 per guest, which is a pretty good deal for anyone who wants to see what a river cruise is all about.
VIVA also offers year-round itineraries across some of the most popular rivers in the world. For example, while some cruise lines might operate on the Rhine from October to November and then move to another river, VIVA continues offering cruises in that destination all year long, making it a better fit for a variety of schedules.
As is the case with most (if not all) river cruise lines, VIVA Cruises also offers an all-inclusive experience. Your base fare includes Wi-Fi, soft drinks, beer and selected wines, all meals, a stocked mini-bar, and gratuities. They are even offering special packages to North Americans that include a shore excursion per port of call. What’s not included are certain premium alcoholic beverages if you really want a top tier champagne.
VIVA Cruises has been growing almost every year. They now have about ten ships, each carrying between 90 and 190 passengers, making them cozy and intimate. Many of their ships feature a swimming pool, a fitness center, and bike rentals for shore excursions. One cool highlight is the project known as VIVA Boutique - a major, hyped launch process for the upcoming 2026 VIVA Beyond, a new class of ship that promises to shake up the world of river cruising. VIVA Beyond will feature more than 50% suites, plus more restaurants, bars, and amenities than any other ship in the fleet.
So, if you want to try a river cruise in Europe without paying thousands of dollars for a room, VIVA Cruises sounds like a great choice. They offer an appealing all-inclusive fare and a wide variety of itineraries for every kind of traveler. “Viva” means “living,” and you’ll definitely be savoring the good things in life while cruising past Paris.
VIVA Cruises Reviews
The Good
Good Prices: River cruises are often more expensive than ocean cruises, and some itineraries on top-end luxury river cruise lines can cost $3,000 or more. VIVA Cruises does have itineraries in that price range, but the good news is they also offer 2-night river cruises starting at $520 and 3-night cruises starting at $690. That’s an impressive range of options, especially for travelers who care more about destinations and want to sample a specific river for a day or two to see if they’ll become fans of river cruising.
Great Variety of Itineraries All Year Round: VIVA Cruises offers more than 170 itineraries across Europe, and the best part is, they operate year-round. You can even book a winter cruise and have the river almost all to yourself, while other cruise lines like Viking and AmaWaterways usually skip that season. This gives travelers great flexibility to find a river cruise that fits their schedule. They also offer special themed itineraries. For example, there’s a wellness-focused cruise that includes a 30-minute massage, daily Qi Gong sessions, and health lectures. Nice!
All-Inclusive: Like many river cruises, VIVA Cruises offers an all-inclusive experience. Your base fare covers gratuities, Wi-Fi, all meals, most alcoholic beverages, and soft drinks. They are also offering a daily shore excursion for clients from North America, which is a huge deal. It does not include, however, certain premium alcoholic drinks.
Unique Shore Excursions: It’s awesome that VIVA Cruises offers some free shore excursions for North American guests, but they also have some truly unique excursions you won’t find anywhere else. These include a special Beethoven-themed tour in Bonn, a “Crime City Bremen” tour that reveals why Bremen is often featured as a crime hotspot in various books, and a visit to the thermal springs in Budapest. Sounds pretty fun and awesome, right?
VIVA Beyond: Launching in 2026, VIVA Beyond promises to usher in a new era for VIVA Cruises. They’re hyping this ship so much that there’s even a dedicated section on their website just for it. VIVA Beyond will feature 50% suites (including a master suite), three restaurants, more bars than any other VIVA ship, a spa, a full fitness center, and much more. It’s set to sail the Seine… and you know your friends at Famvia are here to help with your next trip, right?
The Bad
Europe Only: VIVA Cruises currently operates only in Europe, visiting countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal. They offer plenty of itineraries in these areas, but I wish they would expand to even more countries across Europe and also introduce affordable itineraries in places like Egypt, North America, and South America. Maybe this will change in the future, as river cruising becomes more and more popular.
Great, but Not Ultra-Luxury: VIVA Cruises is a great option, but don’t expect the high-end, top-luxury experience you’d find on AmaWaterways or Viking. That’s perfectly fine, since those two cruise lines often cost twice as much as a cruise on VIVA, while still offering a marvelous experience. The crew onboard VIVA is still amazing, even if you won’t find as many amenities or as spacious entry-level staterooms as you would with the competition.
How Much is a Cruise on VIVA Cruises?
Good question. The simple answer is that it depends - prices range from around $500 up to $3,000 or more per guest. To go a bit deeper, VIVA Cruises often offers a wide variety of itineraries that are generally more affordable than those from AmaWaterways, American Cruise Lines, Viking, and even A-Rosa. This makes VIVA an excellent entry point for anyone looking to try a river cruise for the first time.
Let’s take a look at prices for some VIVA Cruises itineraries. These prices fluctuate quite a bit, but they give you a solid idea of how VIVA compares to other brands.
- A 2-Night German River Cruise starts at $520 per guest
- A 3-Night Charming Paris Cruise starts at $690 per guest
- A 4-Night Rhine Highlights starts at $1,000 per guest
- A 5-Night Danube Cruise starts at $1,500 per guest
- A 7-Night Castles On The Rhine Cruise starts at $2,100 per guest
What is included in your VIVA Cruises fare?
A lot is included in your VIVA Cruises fare. You get:
- Gratuities
- Wi-Fi
- One or two shore excursions per port of call (usually available for North American guests)
- All meals
- Most alcoholic drinks
- Soft drinks
- High tea (once per trip)
Basically, you only need to pay extra for certain shore excursions, laundry and some specialty alcoholic drinks, which is great value considering the overall cost of a cruise with VIVA.
VIVA Cruises Fleet and Destinations
VIVA Cruises features a fleet of ten ships, including the VIVA Beyond, set to debut in 2026. Their ships are small and cozy, which is typical for river cruises, accommodating anywhere from 90 to 190 passengers. Cabins usually start at 161 square feet and increase in size for suites.
Most of their newer ships have at least two restaurants, including the classic Riverside Main Dining Room with flexible dining hours and free seating. They also feature a swimming pool, fitness center, and a small spa, perfect for those who love to relax and be pampered while cruising some of the world’s most beautiful spots.
Let’s take a look at VIVA Cruises’ current fleet, including the year each ship was built and some of their main features.
- Viva Beyond (2026; Pool, three restaurants, more suites, fitness center, wellness area)
- Viva Enjoy (2024; Pool, fitness center and wellness are; Speciality restaurant Moments)
- Porto Mirante (2024; Pool and fitness center)
- Viva Two (2023; Pool, fitness center and wellness are; Speciality restaurant Moments)
- Viva One (2022; Pool, fitness center and wellness area)
- Viva Moments (2018; Pool and putting green on the sun deck; fitness center)
- Viva Tiara (2006; Pool and putting green on the sun deck)
- Viva Voyage (2005; Pool and putting green on the sun deck)
- Viva Gloria (2005; Pool on the sun deck)
- Viva Ruby (2002; library)
VIVA Cruises Destinations
VIVA Cruises currently operates only in Europe, offering numerous itineraries along some of the world’s most popular rivers, such as the Rhine and the Seine. Here are the countries they visit and the main rivers they sail:
- Germany (Rhine, Main, Danube, Moselle)
- France (Seine, Rhône)
- Netherlands (Rhine)
- Portugal (Douro)
Is VIVA Cruises for you?
VIVA Cruises is perfect for those who want a relaxed river cruise experience in Europe. If you’re after top-tier luxury, you’ll probably want to look at cruise lines like AmaWaterways. VIVA Cruises isn’t considered a luxury line but rather a premium one… which is still awesome. The staff onboard often receives rave reviews, the food is good, and the shore excursions are a big plus.
If you want to try a river cruise without spending thousands of dollars, VIVA is a great option. They’re also ideal for first-time river cruisers who want to get a feel for it before exploring new destinations.
VIVA Cruises is also a great option for romantic couples and those aged 50 and up who want nothing more than peace and quiet. It’s not often a cruise designed for families with children. While kids are allowed onboard, there aren’t any kids’ clubs or dedicated entertainment options for them. This cruise line is mostly for people who want to relax, explore Europe in detail, and try some truly unique shore excursions at different ports of call.
Activities onboard VIVA Cruises
You won’t find any crazy or over-the-top entertainment options onboard a river cruise, especially compared to the big ocean cruises out there. VIVA Cruises offers a chill and relaxing atmosphere. Their activities focus more on the fitness center, swimming pool, and shore excursions. Sometimes you might catch a duo playing live music in the lounge, and specialized lectures happen from time to time, but don’t expect big live shows or anything like that.
It’s safe to say that entertainment is limited on VIVA Cruises. In some cases, a jazz concert might be the only event you get at night during your entire cruise, but most nights you’ll often have a piano player or a DJ. Considering that guests are usually in their 60s, you shouldn’t expect high-energy activities late into the night. Just keep in mind there are fewer activities compared to other companies like AmaWaterways. For example, VIVA Cruises doesn’t have ships with whirlpools, human-sized chess, and their spas usually aren’t as big as the competition.
Why book VIVA Cruises with us?
At Famvia, we’re true experts when it comes to river cruising. Our team has crafted detailed guides and reviews covering a wide range of cruise lines, from Viking and A-Rosa to American Cruise Lines, AmaWaterways and more. We're also one of the few sources with an early guide ready for Celebrity River Cruises, set to debut in 2026.
Our expertise extends well beyond river cruising. We’ve worked closely for years with some of the world’s most prestigious luxury and premium cruise lines, including Silversea, Holland America, Explora Journeys, Celebrity Cruises and others. This deep knowledge of luxury travel makes us especially well-equipped to help you plan the perfect VIVA Cruises experience.
Ready to get started? Just click the Request a Quote button and send us a message. It’s completely free to reach out, and booking through us doesn’t cost a thing. In fact, you may even unlock exclusive deals available only through our travel advisors. Let us help you choose the right itinerary, ship, and sailing so you can enjoy the river cruise of a lifetime with VIVA Cruises.
VIVA Cruises Additional Info
Dress Code
There isn’t a strict dress code onboard VIVA Cruises. During the day, you’re free to dress pretty much however you want - just avoid wearing swimsuits inside the Main Dining Room. In the evening, a classic casual style is recommended. For ladies, blouses, skirts, or dresses work well, as do jeans or casual pants. Gentlemen should wear long trousers in the restaurant.
Gratuities
Gratuities are included in your base cruise fare.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is included for free in your cruise fare.
Language Onboard
All information onboard VIVA Cruises is made available in both German and English.
Laundry
Laundry is available onboard and comes at an extra fee.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the ship or in the cabins on VIVA Cruises but is allowed only on the outside decks.
Carry-on Drink Policy
Alcoholic drinks are included in your fare, but there’s no rule against bringing your own onboard, and no corkage fees apply. Guests have reported no issues bringing their own alcoholic beverages onboard.
Loyalty Program
There isn’t a standard loyalty program like you find with other cruise lines, but VIVA Cruises does offer special Ambassador Cruises for loyal customers.
Book your dream vacation with VIVA Cruises!
Now that you know a lot about VIVA Cruises… why not learn even more!? Yeah, our guides do not end here. We have guides about almost anything you can think of. How about the room options at VIVA Cruises? Or the list of restaurants you can find there? We have those too. Wait, now you want to know about the specific pH levels of the swimming pools during June on a rainy night? We don't have that guide yet, but don't tempt us!
Feel free to message us anytime for the best deals, more information about room options, activities, or anything else you need. Until the next one!
