European river cruise specialist, VIVA Cruises, christened its newest ship, VIVA ENJOY, at its home port of Düsseldorf (Germany) yesterday. With a festive ceremony and many good wishes from guests, VIVA Cruises’ third new build ship is set to offer exciting itineraries on the Rhine, Danube and beyond. Award-winning UK cruise writer, Jeannine Williamson, was bestowed with the honour of being VIVA ENJOY’s godmother — a gesture that shows VIVA Cruises’ commitment to its growing English-speaking audience and the global market.

VIVA ENJOY’s christening saw more than 200 global guests as well as Düsseldorf passers-by watching on from ashore, to celebrate the launch. The VIVA Cruises team — including Andrea Kruse, CEO of VIVA Cruises, and Arno Reitsma, CEO of VIVA Cruises’ parent company, Scylla AG — welcomed guests on board the new ship for its christening festivities. German TV presenter, Marco Schreyl, oversaw the hosting of the event.

Andrea Kruse, CEO of VIVA Cruises, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate the christening of our third new build ship today. This milestone marks another significant step in our journey to provide exceptional river cruising experiences. VIVA ENJOY, with its modern and premium amenities, creates unforgettable journeys along the beautiful rivers of Europe.

“Sister ship to VIVA TWO, VIVA ENJOY will offer an elevated experience for guests, including an extra multi-purpose treatment room, as well as three restaurants RIVERSIDE, MOMENTS and VIVA’s Bistro. The ship also has the gold standard of the international Green Award, highlighting our commitment to proactivity and protecting the environment. At VIVA Cruises, we are devoted to innovation and excellence, ensuring that every voyage with us is a truly enjoyable experience.”

Jeannine Williamson, VIVA ENJOY’s Godmother

Jeannine Williamson is an award-winning UK-based travel writer specialising in cruising, and known as “the river cruise queen.” Jeannine has been on more than 60 river cruises and travelled on all the major waterways throughout Europe, America and Asia. She contributes to a variety of consumer and trade magazines, newspapers and websites in the UK, America and Australia.

Jeannine’s prestigious role as the godmother of VIVA ENJOY highlights VIVA Cruises’ dedication to its English-speaking travellers. By choosing such a respected figure in the cruise industry, VIVA Cruises recognises the importance of its British guests and partners and underscores its commitment to providing exceptional experiences to UK customers.

About her role as godmother, Jeannine said: “I have been fortunate to win several awards for my writing, but being asked to be godmother of VIVA ENJOY is the absolute highlight of my career. I have attended many ship christenings over the years, but never imagined I would be asked to take on such a prestigious role and I feel humbled, privileged and hugely excited to be the godmother of such a stunning ship. River cruising has provided me with an amazing career, and so many enjoyable moments on both a personal and professional basis. So, it seems even more fitting that I am the godmother of a beautiful vessel called VIVA ENJOY, a name which embodies the spirit of river cruising.”

VIVA ENJOY: A Floating Premium Hotel

VIVA ENJOY is the sister ship of VIVA TWO. It boasts 95 stylish cabins, including eight suites, spread across three decks which can accommodate up to 190 passengers. Most of the cabins feature French balconies. VIVA ENJOY features three restaurants, an open-plan lounge, a spacious sun deck and a fitness and wellness area, creating a floating premium hotel experience with a modern look and feel-good ambience. There is also a pool on the sun deck and free rental bicycles available for guests.

One of the highlights of VIVA ENJOY is its variety of food options. The main restaurant, RIVERSIDE, offers a delightful array of international gourmet cuisine and regional dishes, with multi-course menus available for both lunch and dinner. For those seeking a taste of Italy, the speciality restaurant, MOMENTS, provides a culinary journey through diverse Italian flavours. Additionally, VIVA’s Bistro, located at the stern of the ship, presents an alternative dining option with classic dishes for dinner, featuring an exciting interplay of Asian creations on some evenings and Italian-Mediterranean dishes on others.

Diverse Itineraries and Eco-Friendly Technologies

After its christening, VIVA ENJOY will be the home of VIVA Cruises’ 4-night wellness cruises, sailing on both the Upper and Middle Rhine and offering activities to boost mood and well-being, such as daily yoga and qi gong sessions. Following this, the ship will primarily sail on the Danube, with frequent departures from Vienna to provide accessibility for guests. VIVA ENJOY will also sail on the Rhine, offering a range of itineraries departing from Amsterdam, further increasing convenience for the global audience.

The new ship will connect Amsterdam, Budapest and Vienna for the first time in 2025 with new 7-, 10-, and 14-day itineraries. In addition, VIVA ENJOY will feature one-week trips from Frankfurt to Amsterdam — offering options for all travellers keen to explore the best Europe has to offer.

In line with VIVA Cruises’ commitment to sustainability, VIVA ENJOY employs eco-friendly technologies, including the use of sulphur-free GTL and biofuels, responsible route planning and reliance on shore power whenever possible. These energy-efficient practices meet the requirements of the Green Award certification, which recognises the use of sustainable technologies and quality measures.

All VIVA Cruises itineraries feature VIVA Cruises’ signature VIVA All-Inclusive product, which includes high tea, full board, high-quality alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, minibar, beauty products from cosmetic brands, Rituals, Wi-Fi and all tips and gratuities.

For more information about VIVA Cruises, please visit Viva Cruises.