The European luxury river travel brand VIVA Cruises/fleet has officially been recognized as a River Cruise Operator by Cruise Lines International Association/CLIA Europe.
This collaboration will serve to elevate the visibility of VIVA Cruises within the industry, integrating them into CLIA's expansive network of cruise lines, travel agents, and executive partners.
VIVA Cruises (2018-established subsidiary of the Swiss shipowner Scylla AG) has witnessed rapid expansion. Presently, they boast a fleet of 8 ships that navigate major European rivers. Among these vessels are VIVA ONE and VIVA TWO, two ships they've uniquely crafted. Additionally, they are on the verge of launching their third ship, VIVA ENJOY, scheduled for September 2024.
Through their membership in CLIA, VIVA Cruises will gain access to CLIA's extensive network of travel agents throughout the UK and Ireland. They will also be able to tap into a dedicated range of resources and events that are focused on river cruising. This encompasses webinars, podcasts, online materials, and prominent events like the CLIA Conference in May and the upcoming CLIA RiverView Conference, slated to take place in Amsterdam.
Andy Harmer, Director of CLIA UK & Ireland, expressed enthusiasm, stating they were delighted to welcome VIVA Cruises to CLIA and were excited about aiding their engagement with the trade community across Europe. With the soaring popularity of river cruises, that was an opportune moment for VIVA Cruises to further enrich trade awareness of their brand.
Andrea Kruse, Chief Operating Officer of VIVA Cruises, affirmed there was no better time to join CLIA than now, when VIVA Cruises is celebrating its 5th anniversary.
"VIVA Cruises has a truly differentiated product for the European traveller, offering pleasant all-inclusive cruises to some of Europe’s most popular destinations – with a laid-back atmosphere and high-quality food and wine. Our main objective for the coming months is focused on the trade: we want more tour operators to feature and sell our products to consumers; so joining CLIA was a natural step for us.”