VIVA Moments

The 2018-built (as “MS Robert Burns”) cruise ship VIVA Moments is currently operated under full-time charter by VIVA Cruises, a Scylla-owned subsidiary and travel brand. Before 2021, the vessel was chartered to the UK cruisetour company Riviera Travel. VIVA Moments now sails primarily on Danube itineraries. During her time with Riviera Travel, Robert Burns operated cruises on the Danube, Rhine, and Moselle rivers.

Sisterships include Thomas Hardy (2016), Emily Bronte (2017), Oscar Wilde (2017), William Wordsworth (2019), and Geoffrey Chaucer (2020).

The riverboat (ENI number 07002085) is Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057635) and owned by the Swiss company Scylla Cruises.

Renamed “VIVA Moments”, the vessel has been chartered full-time to VIVA Cruises since 2021.

VIVA Moments’ itinerary program features 7- to 16-night Danube voyages.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

The riverboat features an elegant Lobby (entrance hall on Diamond/Upper Deck) with Reception Desk (24-hour assistance, information, purser services), Travel Desk (tours and excursions information, onboard cruise bookings), and Boutique Shop. From the entrance hall, passengers enter a stylish Bar Lounge located forward, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable seating, and a full-service bar.

Aft on Diamond Deck is the Bistro – Lido Restaurant, an alternative to the main Dining Room. The Bistro has its own bar and also serves as the ship’s Library. It features an outdoor terrace and an open kitchen. Early Breakfast, light Lunch, and Dinner are served here. In good weather, the floor-to-ceiling doors open fully onto the terrace for alfresco dining. Although Bistro dining is complimentary, dinner reservations are required due to the venue’s small capacity (10 tables seating two or four guests). The main Dining Room (on Ruby/Middle Deck) provides single-seating capacity, with buffet Breakfast and waiter-served Lunch and Dinner.

On Emerald/Lower Deck is the Wellness Centre, which includes a Beauty Salon (hairdresser and barber services, nail studio), Fitness Room (Gym), and Spa (massage treatment room). All accommodation decks are fully air-conditioned and accessible via a passenger lift and a wrought-iron staircase.

The Sun Deck offers a Giant Chess Set, Mini-Golf Putting Green, retractable awnings (shaded seating), an aft Pool Deck (Splash Pool, Jacuzzi, sunbathing area with loungers and deckchairs), and full bar service. The forward Navigation Bridge (“Wheelhouse” on riverboats) is passenger-accessible and telescopic, allowing it to be lowered when passing under low bridges.

Decks and Cabins

VIVA Moments/Robert Burns staterooms (a total of 88) are designed for 169 passengers (maximum capacity 176 when single-occupancy cabins are used). Most accommodations feature wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening to a railing (French Balcony). The only exceptions are the Emerald Deck cabins, which have one fixed, non-opening quarter-height window located near the ceiling.

All staterooms include hotel-style twin beds (convertible to double), en-suite bathroom (WC, shower, single-sink vanity, towels, bath toiletries, large mirror), 40-inch flat HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system, real-time bow camera views), mini-bar, tea/coffee-making facilities, glass-top round table with two armchairs, mirrored dressing table with pouf chair, wardrobe, electronic safe, hairdryer, telephone, individually controlled air-conditioning, and evening turndown service.

All bathrooms feature marble countertops, glass-enclosed showers (with large rain showerheads), and premium Crabtree & Evelyn bath products.

Some staterooms are available for single-occupancy bookings without a single supplement (subject to availability).

Deluxe Balcony Suites (on Diamond Deck) additionally offer larger interior space, a step-out balcony furnished with a table and two chairs (suitable for alfresco dining), and premium cotton bathrobes and slippers.

Riviera Travel river cruise fares included all onboard meals, stateroom accommodations, a 24-hour Coffee Station (with light snacks), onboard entertainment and enrichment programming, return train travel (optional flights), luxury coach transfers, guided walking tours, and shipwide Wi-Fi (in all cabins and public areas).

The ship is named after Robert Burns (1759–1796), the Scottish poet regarded as a national bard (also known as the Bard of Ayrshire and the Ploughman Poet) for his influential work in the Scots language. He also collected numerous traditional Scottish folk songs. His poem “Auld Lang Syne” is widely sung at Hogmanay (December 31), while his song “Scots Wha Hae” is considered an unofficial national anthem of Scotland.

The vessel is powered by two Caterpillar Cat-3508 marine diesel engines—V8, 4-stroke units, each weighing 4,309 kg, with a lube oil volume of 227 L and an output of 574 kW. The combined power output is 1.15 MW. Propulsion is provided by two fixed-pitch stern propellers and one azimuthing bow thruster.

The ship’s godmother is Gloria Bohan, founder of Omega World Travel. The christening ceremony took place on April 3, 2018, in Vienna, Austria. Omega World Travel (established in 1972) is a travel management company with annual revenue exceeding USD 1 billion. It owns TravTech and CruiseCom. Following the naming ceremony, the vessel embarked on a 3-night Inaugural Cruise from Vienna to Budapest, Hungary, carrying approximately 75 travel agents from the USA.

The vessel’s hull and superstructure (ENI number 07002085) were constructed at Vahali Shipyard Zasavica in Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia. The Dutch shipbuilding company Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek Vahali BV (founded in 1923) owns and operates shipyards in Serbia (Belgrade and Zasavica) and the Netherlands (Gendt). Vahali Shipyard Zasavica opened in 2013. After initial construction in Serbia, the vessel was towed to the Netherlands for final outfitting at Scheepswerf Vahali in Gendt.

Note: You can view CruiseMapper’s complete list of river cruise ships and riverboats in the “Itinerary” section of our River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.