If you sell river cruises, there’s a new name to explore in your Traveltek inventory. VIVA Cruises is now bookable through iSell and our Cruise API, making it easier to search, quote and book VIVA sailings alongside your existing cruise products.
To celebrate the integration, our Head of Partnerships, Hayley, caught up with Michelle Daniels for a live webinar exploring the VIVA experience, what makes the brand different and what’s next for its growing fleet.
Here’s what cruise sellers need to know.
A young brand with decades of river cruising experience
VIVA Cruises launched in 2018, but its river heritage goes back much further.
Parent company Schiller has spent more than 50 years building, crewing and managing river ships. Today, it oversees around 40 vessels across Europe’s waterways, including ships chartered by other well-known cruise brands.
So, while VIVA may be a relatively new name, there’s plenty of experience behind it.
All-inclusive really does mean all-inclusive
One of VIVA’s biggest selling points is just how much is included in the fare.
Guests enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, alongside unlimited drinks, including champagne, cocktails, wine, beer and soft drinks.
Every cabin, regardless of category, also comes with:
- A daily-replenished minibar and Nespresso machine
- Rituals bathroom amenities
- A welcome bottle of Prosecco
- Complimentary high-speed 5G Wi-Fi
- Gratuities included
There’s also a high tea experience once per voyage.
The main exception is excursions, which aren’t included in standard UK-market fares. That’s a deliberate choice.
Many river cruise ports are within walking distance of historic town centres, giving guests the freedom to explore independently or book a guided experience.
Excursions range from castles and galleries to wine tastings, food markets and cycling tours, with three-hour guided walks starting at around €20 per person.
Dining that goes beyond the usual river cruise experience
If there’s one thing Michelle wanted agents to remember, it’s the food.
Dining is a major differentiator for VIVA, particularly on its newer ships, where guests can choose from up to three restaurants.
- Riverside Restaurant: The main dining venue, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with flexible seating and no fixed dining times.
- Bistro: An intimate, 28-seat restaurant with an open kitchen, offering casual lunches and surf-and-turf dinners.
- Moments: An Italian-inspired venue serving stone-baked pizzas at lunch and a seven-course tasting menu with wine pairings in the evening.
Menus change with the seasons and reflect the destinations guests visit, from autumn truffles on the Seine to spring asparagus along the Rhine.
Vegetarian and vegan dishes are part of the regular menus too, rather than an afterthought.
For clients who love good food but prefer a relaxed, flexible atmosphere, that’s a compelling combination.
Nine ships, year-round cruising and plenty of variety
VIVA’s fleet now numbers nine ships, combining modern new builds with carefully refurbished vessels.
VIVA Enjoy and Porto Mirante joined the fleet in 2025, followed by VIVA Beyond, the first ship in the new VIVA Boutique collection, in May 2026. VIVA Unique is set to follow in 2027.
Newer ships feature light-filled, split-level interiors, with French balconies in almost every cabin and consistent amenities across cabin grades.
A few fleet highlights worth knowing:
- VIVA Enjoy and VIVA TWO: The largest ships, carrying up to 190 guests. Both operate on Europe’s major rivers, with VIVA TWO based on the Danube.
- Porto Mirante: Exploring Portugal’s Douro River, complete with a sun deck and hydraulic sky lounge that lowers to navigate bridges.
- VIVA Ruby: A smaller, more traditional ship carrying just 80 guests, ideal for exploring the Dutch canals.
Another selling point is that VIVA operates all year round.
While summer focuses on classic river itineraries, winter brings shorter breaks, city stays and themed sailings covering everything from wellness and jazz to food and crime.
The city stays are particularly interesting. Guests can enjoy a long weekend in destinations such as Paris or Venice, using the ship as a floating hotel with VIVA’s usual all-inclusive comforts.
It’s a fresh alternative to a traditional city break.
VIVA Boutique: a more intimate way to explore Europe
VIVA Boutique takes the experience a step further, combining the atmosphere of a boutique hotel with more personalised service and destination-focused itineraries.
The first ship, VIVA Beyond, carries 112 guests along the Seine. Its sister ship, VIVA Unique, will explore the River Po and Venetian Lagoon from 2027, with itineraries already on sale.
So, what makes VIVA Boutique different?
- One signature excursion included for every guest
- More than half of cabins are suites, measuring up to 30 square metres
- Destination-inspired dining, including a French brasserie on the Seine and an Italian trattoria in Italy
- An eight-course tasting menu in Moments, created in collaboration with a Michelin-starred chef and included in the fare
- Premium bathroom amenities, including French skincare brand Typologie on VIVA Beyond
The emphasis is on smaller ships, thoughtful details and a closer connection to the places guests visit.
For clients looking for something a little more exclusive, VIVA Boutique is well worth introducing.
Who is VIVA Cruises best suited to?
VIVA appeals to independent, curious travellers who enjoy food, wine, art, culture and history.
While river cruising has traditionally attracted an older audience, VIVA is seeing growing interest from guests in their 30s, 40s and 50s, particularly through shorter cruises and city stays.
The atmosphere on board is international, with guests from the UK, Ireland, North America, Australia and across Europe.
There are a few practical things agents should keep in mind.
Families: VIVA is primarily adult-focused, with no dedicated children’s facilities or cots. Multi-generational groups are welcome, although those travelling with children tend to have teenagers.
Accessibility: There are no wheelchair-accessible cabins, although cabin interiors and bathrooms are step-free. All ships except VIVA Ruby have lifts, but certain ports may require guests to cross sun decks when disembarking. It’s best to check individual requirements with VIVA before booking.
Pricing: VIVA operates a no-discount policy, helping agents quote and package cruises with greater price consistency throughout the season.
Sustainability is another area of focus, with solar panels, shoreside power and plans to operate the fleet on HVO biofuel by 2027.
How to start selling VIVA Cruises through Traveltek
Getting started is straightforward. There are just two steps.
1. Agree your commercial terms with VIVA Cruises
Contact mi**************@**********es.com or the relevant business development manager to discuss your contract:
- Joseph Brimley: Northern UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- David Chidley: Southern UK
- Stephen Sands: Republic of Ireland
2. Enable VIVA Cruises with Traveltek
Once your agreement is in place, raise a Jira ticket through the Traveltek help desk with the subject line “Enable VIVA Cruises”.
Our support team will take care of the integration, allowing you to search and book VIVA sailings directly through iSell or the Cruise API.
With VIVA’s cruise programme launching on 15 October, it’s a great time to get connected.
Catch up on the full webinar
We’ve covered the highlights, but there’s plenty more to discover, from individual ships and itineraries to Michelle’s advice on matching the right clients with the VIVA experience.
Watch the full webinar recording above for Michelle’s presentation and the live Q&A, and feel free to share it with colleagues who couldn’t join us.
Ready to start selling VIVA Cruises? Speak to your Traveltek account manager or raise a support ticket to enable VIVA Cruises in your booking platform.
