Cruising the Rhone onboard VIVA Voyage

VIVA Cruises is a relatively new operator in the river cruise sector, taking to the water in late 2018. With operational headquarters in Germany, VIVA Cruises’ fleet comprises 10 ships and their itineraries traverse the iconic rivers of Germany, France, the Netherlands and Portugal. Already earning a strong European and International following, VIVA Cruises attended the 2025 CLIA RiverView Conference in Budapest earlier this year, where they welcomed professionals from across the travel industry onboard VIVA Two, one of three new ships specially built for their fleet. Several of our staff attending RiverView enjoyed VIVA’s style and hospitality, and when Roger, Branch Manager from our Chichester shop, was fortunate enough to win a 7-night VIVA cruise, he was really looking forward to trying their onboard experience himself:

“My wife and I were looking forward to this trip as my branch colleague Gary experienced VIVA Two in Budapest and had reported very good things! Our cruise was to be on the Rhone, and our ship was VIVA Voyage. VIVA Voyage comprises 76 cabins and accommodates a maximum of 152 passengers. Built in 2005, she is a more traditional ship in terms of interior styling than some of her newer, more boutique sister ships, but Voyage was very comfortable and well-appointed.

My cabin was on the Ruby Deck with floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors for fresh air and great views of the locks and passing scenery, and I’d definitely recommend booking this grade or above if possible. All the cabins, aside from a few junior suites, are 15 square metres and there is plenty of storage space. All cabins offer air conditioning, free Wi-fi, toiletries and minibar.

The large lounge at the front of the ship is used for light meals, entertainment, and presentations; at the stern there is another public space, used for wine tasting in the evening and offering a quiet spot during the day. There is ample space on the sundeck, and the ship has a small whirlpool, mini golf and some shaded areas to sit and read a book or enjoy the inclusive drinks. There were various board games, a spa and a quiz night too.

There is one main restaurant onboard VIVA Voyage. Breakfast is largely continental style with meats, cheeses, yoghurts and cooked breakfast for those who wished. For lunch you could go to the main restaurant or enjoy a light lunch in the lounge, which we favoured more – it was self-service nature and popular with the guests. In the evening the dinners were plentiful with three courses and meat and pasta dishes in the main. VIVA cruises are all inclusive, and there were some hidden gems like a seven-course Gala Dinner, which was sumptuous, and a traditional afternoon tea with a selection of sandwiches, scones, cheeses and at least half a dozen different types of cakes. There was even an ice cream buffet which was a great surprise and well received. We also took advantage of the wine tasting opportunity, which made for a different evening and menu, and this was complimentary, whereas many other cruise operators charge for it.

The staff unquestionably went above and beyond. They were all very customer focused, and the service was efficient and swift - one of the waiters made me a Bloody Mary cocktail, even though it was not part of their usual menu.

Our cruise was a round trip from Lyon and guests had the chance to visit old Lyon during the first morning before we set sail, as check in was at 3pm. The Rhone itinerary is very relaxed, and you can enjoy many locks, fine wines and some fabulous Roman history en route. A river cruise offers guests the perfect way to see and experience many different places on the same holiday, and in the main VIVA Voyage docked near the heart of the cities visited so guests could just step off and see the sights. There were bikes that could be booked so guests could explore themselves if they did not fancy an excursion or walking tour. The two main cities of our trip were Arles and Avignon, both beautiful and easy to get around, offering a wide choice of visitor attractions. Arles is renowned for the Roman Amphitheatre and for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh, and Avignon is famous for the Roman bridge and the stunning, opulent Popes Palace.

VIVA Cruises attract European, US and international guests as well as British, and this cruise line will appeal more to those who enjoy a mix of nationalities. Our cruise comprised three groups of passengers, as well as individual guests. The entire experience came over as very family-orientated and many of the guests onboard were travelling with VIVA Cruises for the first time. Any announcements were made in German and English and were discreet, not bombarding you with information over a tannoy, and there was a nightly tour briefing in the main lounge. The ship’s crew were exceptionally friendly, including the captain and his officers. Even though I was sailing on the oldest ship of their fleet, I would rate VIVA as an excellent operator. The service is fantastic; there was a feeling of nothing is too much trouble and I was very impressed indeed. It exceeded my expectations in many ways and overall, it was a wonderful experience.”

You can speak to Roger at our Chichester branch or find your local shop here.