VIVA One

The 2022-built MS VIVA One cruise ship is owned by the Swiss company Scylla AG (shipowner) and chartered to its German subsidiary and travel brand VIVA Cruises. VIVA One operates primarily on the Rhine River.

The April 2022-inaugurated riverboat is the first newbuild ordered specifically for Scylla’s new VIVA Cruises brand. Her sister ship, VIVA Two, was completed in December 2022, deployed on the Danube River, and inaugurated in March 2023.

VIVA One’s sisterships entered service in March 2023 (VIVA Two on the Danube) and September 2024 (VIVA Enjoy on the Danube).

The vessel (ENI number 7002160) is Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057799) and registered in Basel.

Like her sisterships, VIVA One is equipped with 76 solar panels mounted on the Sundeck, supporting the ship’s electrical system.

Decks and Cabins

MS VIVA One has four passenger decks and a total of 88 staterooms accommodating 176 passengers.

All cabins are outside, and most measure 16 m² (170 ft²).

Staterooms are furnished with double beds (convertible to twins/lower single beds), deluxe bedding (linens, pillows, duvets), bedside tables, wall-mounted reading lamps, a wardrobe, a mirrored vanity/writing desk with chair, a sofa chair near the window, a Nespresso coffee machine, and a full bathroom (glass-wall shower, WC, LED-mirrored washbasin with countertop sink vanity, RITUALS bath products). Additional amenities include a hairdryer, smart HDTV (satellite reception, infotainment system), complimentary minibar, phone (intercom/onboard calls only), electronic safe (in the closet), and individually controlled air conditioning.

Deck 1 (Emerald Deck) cabins have two non-opening, quarter-height windows positioned near the ceiling. All Deck 2 (Ruby Deck) and Deck 3 (Diamond Deck) cabins are French Balcony staterooms with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a railing (false balcony). The ship also has 10 Suites (midship and aft), each with a French balcony and a larger size of 23–24 m² (245–260 ft²).

One midship passenger elevator connects all cabin decks. Staircases connect all decks, and a stairlift links Decks 3 and 4 (Sundeck).

Wi-Fi is complimentary and available shipwide. Laundry service is available for a fee.

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

The riverboat has three complimentary dining venues: Riverside Restaurant (forward Dining Room), VIVA’s Bistro (aft restaurant and bar lounge), and the Sundeck’s Alfresco Bar & Buffet.

Riverside Restaurant offers single-seating capacity, open seating, and flexible dining times, while VIVA’s Bistro requires dinner reservations. The Dining Room menu includes both local dishes inspired by the visited countries and international specialties. VIVA’s Bistro serves lunch and dinner, including themed buffets, and functions as a bar lounge during the day. The Bistro also has a small terrace (wraparound balcony) with stern views. Two outdoor staircases connect the Bistro directly to the Sundeck’s pool area (Jacuzzi).

On Diamond Deck is the Lobby area with two entrances (port and starboard), a Reception Desk (24-hour guest services), a Travel Desk (Tour Office for VIVA’s Cruise Director, excursion information and bookings), and a Boutique (Gift Shop).

The wellness complex is located on Emerald Deck (Deck 1) and includes a Fitness Room (Gym), Hair & Nail Salon, Spa (Massage Room), Sauna Room (infrared), and Steam Bath.

The Sun Deck houses the Navigation Bridge (Wheelhouse), five retractable awnings for shaded seating with loungers and deckchairs, the forward Alfresco Lounge (full bar service from the Panorama Lounge below), and aft recreational areas (Putting Green mini-golf and Jacuzzi with showers). Electric bicycles (complimentary, limited availability) are stored near the Wheelhouse.

All structures on the Sun Deck (Wheelhouse, awnings, windscreens, railings) are collapsible and lowered when passing under low bridges.

The forward Panorama Bar & Lounge on Ruby Deck features floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable seating (tables, sofas, armchairs), a dance floor, a grand piano for afternoon and evening live performances, and its own bar. Onboard entertainment includes daily live piano music, cooking demonstrations, quiz games, bingo, crew shows, themed dance nights, enrichment lectures, and media presentations related to the destinations and itinerary.

From the Panorama Lounge, guests can access the bow Lido Terrace—an outdoor lounge with limited seating and wind protection provided by a wraparound glass wall. Two stairways lead from the Terrace directly to Riverside Restaurant below on Deck 2 and to the Alfresco Lounge above on Deck 4.

All public spaces (wellness, dining, lounge, lobby) feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering unobstructed views.

Itineraries

MS VIVA One cruises on the Rhine and Moselle rivers, as well as Belgian and Dutch waterways, offering 5-, 6-, and 8-day itineraries. The ship’s principal homeports are Koblenz and Dusseldorf.

Signature itineraries include:

• 5-day “Mosel Adventszauber” / Moselle Advent Magic (Koblenz roundtrip) visiting Bernkastel-Kues, Trier, and Cochem.
• 5-day “Rhein Lichterzauber” / Magic on the Rhine (Koblenz roundtrip) visiting Boppard, Rudesheim, Mainz, and Frankfurt.
• 6-day “Rhine Spirit” (Dusseldorf roundtrip) visiting Mannheim, Cologne/Koln, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Mainz, and Frankfurt.
• 6-day “Rhein Hohepunkte” / Rhine Highlights (Karlsruhe roundtrip) visiting Cologne/Koln, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Mainz, and Frankfurt.
• 7-day “Enchanting Rhine” (Dusseldorf roundtrip) visiting Koblenz, Boppard, Mainz, Speyer, and Strasbourg.
• 7-day “Beautiful Flanders” (Dusseldorf roundtrip) visiting Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Ghent, Antwerp, and Nijmegen.
• 8-day “Prachtiges Flandern” / Splendid Flanders (Dusseldorf roundtrip) visiting ports in the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Hoorn, Rotterdam) and Belgium (Ghent, Antwerpen).
• 8-day “Malerischer Rhein” / Picturesque Rhine (Dusseldorf roundtrip) visiting Koblenz, Speyer, Strasbourg, and Rudesheim.
• 8-day “Rhine City Trip” (from Amsterdam to Basel) visiting Utrecht, Dusseldorf, Koblenz, Speyer, and Strasbourg.

The 2019-established company VIVA Cruises offers optional shore excursions (not included in the fares) in each visited port. Land tours include sightseeing tours, city walks, cycling tours with complimentary electric bikes, and coach travel to nearby tourist destinations. All guided shore excursions include complimentary portable audio headsets.

MS VIVA One cruise deals are inclusive of all onboard meals (breakfast buffet, waiter-served lunch and dinner, afternoon coffee with pastries, midnight snacks, 24-hour coffee/tea station), cabin minibar drinks and snacks, ship bar beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic, including premium brands), Welcome Cocktail party, Welcome Dinner, Gala Dinner, onboard entertainment, gratuities, RITUALS toiletries, river locks and port taxes, tour guide and headsets on all land excursions, and wellness facilities (Gym, Sauna, Steam Bath, Sundeck Whirlpool). Cruise tour packages do not include flights, transfers, excursions, insurance, beverages, or personal expenses.

The vessel’s hull and superstructure (ENI number 07002160) were constructed at Vahali Shipyard in Zasavica (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia). Founded in 1923, the Dutch shipbuilding company Scheepswerf en Machinefabriek Vahali BV owns and operates shipyards in Serbia (Belgrade and Zasavica) and the Netherlands (Gendt). Vahali Shipyard Zasavica was officially inaugurated in 2013.

After construction in Serbia, the vessels are towed to the Netherlands for final outfitting at Scheepswerf Vahali in Gendt.

VIVA One was officially christened on April 7, 2022, in Dusseldorf (Germany). The naming ceremony was led by godmother Judith Rakers (German journalist and TV presenter, born 1976) and attended by more than 160 guests, including Arno Reitsma (Scylla AG’s CEO), Andrea Kruse (VIVA Cruises’ CEO), and Josef Hinkel (Mayor of Dusseldorf).

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