If, as a travel advisor, you don't have Viva Cruises on your radar yet, now is the time to change that.
The 2018-launched line may be young, but its parent company, Scylla, has been in business for more than 50 years. The Swiss-based company is well known for chartering its ships to outside brands such as Riviera Travel and Tauck.
When several of its riverboats ended their contracts, Viva established itself by branding those existing vessels. Then, the line introduced its first purpose-built ship — the aptly titled Viva One — in 2022. Viva Two followed in 2023, and the latest new-build, Viva Enjoy, was christened in early 2025. She’s already a standout — which I discovered on her weeklong Sea of Tulips itinerary traveling roundtrip from Amsterdam.
Onboard Details to Know About Viva Enjoy
Most European riverboats consist of three full interior decks from stem to stern, or split-level, mezzanine-style forward sections. The latter permits the navigation bridge to sit lower in the superstructure — making it easier to clear overpasses — and in Enjoy’s case, dramatically positions the main restaurant, lounge and bar.
Rather than vaulting the ceiling at the central atrium and reception desk alone, the design also opens upward where the upper lounge and lower Riverside dining room converge, joined by a stair landing and watering hole at the bow. The result — although difficult to describe in words — is architecturally magnificent, making it my favorite riverboat design feature to date.
Public spaces onboard Enjoy include a small fitness center, a wellness motion studio, a massage room and boutique (the last two being some of the few things that cost extra) and a sun deck and pool.
The Riverside Restaurant is the ship's primary dining venue.
Credit: 2025 Jason LeppertDining Onboard Viva Enjoy
Two additional complimentary dining venues — Moments restaurant and Viva Bistro — round out the offerings, each requiring reservations only in the evening. For a ship of this size to feature three full venues is quite remarkable — and the food is equally impressive.
A la minute dinners are fully served, as are breakfasts and lunches, complemented by morning and midday quick-service offerings from a buffet. All of these are on par with some of the best cuisine I’ve ever tried on inland waterways. I especially enjoyed the Italian fare from Moments, particularly its long list of pizzas and pasta dishes (the pasta can even be twirled in a wheel of Parmesan to ensure the cheesiest coverage). Across venues, I suggest always ordering the ship’s exceptional soups — the Tom Kha Gai was particularly outstanding.
Drinks, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, are included throughout the sailing, even extending to daily-replenished in-cabin mini-bars, self-serve coffee stations and purified water dispensers. Cakes and cookies are available throughout the day, but the high-tea service, available once per cruise, stands out as the ultimate dessert showcase.
Viva Enjoy is an intimate vessel, carrying just 190 passengers.
Credit: 2025 Viva Cruises
What Else to Expect on Viva Enjoy
Unlike many river lines that cater predominantly to North Americans, Viva draws guests from all around the world. Announcements are made in both English and German (I also heard passengers speaking Russian). The multilingual vibe feels more akin to MSC Cruises at sea than to a line such as Royal Caribbean.
One drawback is that many guests seem to have a propensity towards smoking, and the ship’s dedicated areas for the activity were unfortunately placed. Viva designates both the very back and front of the ship for smokers, which often allows fumes to drift toward outdoor lounges.
Still, Viva’s value proposition is strong. Fares include one tour per port (with additional tours available at extra cost), bicycles to use ashore, Wi-Fi access and gratuities — all aligning Viva with other upscale and luxury players.
A suite onboard Viva Enjoy
Credit: 2025 Viva CruisesPerhaps the only factor keeping Viva Enjoy from being considered ultra-luxury is its limited suite count: only eight suites measure 24 square meters (about 258 square feet). That, however, will soon change — Viva plans to launch its elevated Viva Boutique brand in 2026, and its first Viva Beyond vessel that will tout half a ship’s worth of suites.
For now, most accommodations measure 15 square meters (about 162 square feet). They’re compact but comfortable, with minimalist decor, French balconies, plush bedding and finishing touches such as a combination of USB-A and USB-C charging ports and a clock radio with a bonus induction charger on top. Both sides have European outlets, one of which charges the included Vox listening devices. Additional outlets and ports are available at the vanity desk.
The bathrooms impressed me the most. Adequate in size, they feature Hansgrohe fixtures (made by the eponymous premium German brand) that my wife and I love, from the rain shower head to the sink faucet, soap dish, towel bars and door hooks.
In short, I felt at home on Viva — and I’m eager to return.
