Dusseldorf’s charming old town was basking in the company of more than a few kilted Scots when we arrived, no doubt getting properly used to the local ale before the start of the Euros.
I first set eyes on VIVA One as she sat serenely on her Rhine mooring, just a few metres from Dusseldorf’s fancy NRW-Forum Gallery, patiently awaiting her new guests. The Rhine was hurtling along on its way downriver due to the recent flooding in Southern Germany, evidence of how lucky we were that this cruise was still going ahead while other ships were stranded higher upriver.
Sailing north instead of south and securing all the required docking approvals and new excursions within hours was a medal-winning performance by the VIVA Cruises team. Captain Plamen is affable, and he and his team were always engaging and never short of a quick joke or two with guests.
We were a little early for our 3pm embarkation but, after a quick passport check, we were onboard relaxing with a drink in the main lounge until our cabin was officially ready.
VIVA One is VIVA Cruises’ first new build, with three decks (from top down – Diamond, Ruby and Emerald) and 88 cabins hosting up to 176 guests. It is a fully inclusive concept including selected wines and spirits at any time of the day and night.
VIVA ONE Balcony Suite
Our Diamond Deck double cabin was a generous and contemporary air-conditioned space with free WIFI, floor-to-ceiling sliding French windows (only the two suites have balconies), a king bed with luxurious satiny sheets, large flat screen TV, small sitting area and a tidy workspace and sideboard with a Nespresso and a free-to-use daily restocked mini bar.
Two free audio receivers for guided excursions sat charging on a stand, while the soft diamond-patterned carpet was a nice finishing touch. The bathroom had an excellent rainforest walk-in push-button electric shower and luxury Rituals toiletries.
There are two restaurants onboard; Riverside (literally skimming along the top of the river), is the main silver service restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while at the stern VIVA’s Bistro offers a lighter dinner alternative and soft drinks and snacks all day.
The spacious Panoramic Lounge is the beating heart of VIVA One, with lots of comfy seating and window space for schmoozing, lounging and enjoying hot snacks and a drink. It was where the delightful Andrea and Matt, our entertainment duo, entertained us and certainly knew a thing or two about working a crowd.
Cruise director Alex made his daily announcements from here. VIVA Cruises policy is to limit any in-cabin announcements to only urgent ones, so Alex’s pre-dinner briefings on our next destination were always popular.
The spa, steam room and sauna lie below the main deck as does the small but well-stocked gym. Up top on the sun deck there’s plenty of loungers and deckchairs with waiter service and a hot whirlpool for anyone fancying a relaxing dip. Captain Plamen’s wheelhouse is also open to anyone who fancies themselves as an armchair skipper.
Alex’s first pre-dinner briefing included a heartfelt welcome from Captain Plamen and information on the new itinerary. Our initial cruise was to travel south up the Rhine to Strasbourg before returning to Dusseldorf, including stops at Boppard, Mainz, Mannheim, Speyer, Rüdesheim and Coblenz.
Instead, we were now travelling downriver taking in Amsterdam, Hoorn, Rotterdam, Brussels, Antwerp and Nijmegen before returning to Dusseldorf and new excursions had been planned for anyone wanting to book them.
The open seating policy in the Riverside restaurant lets you join other shipmates or to dine alone, and our five-course first night dinner was an absolute triumph. Waiter Nuno and I made an instant connection, and nothing was too much trouble. A sensational goat’s cheese souffle starter and a memorable roasted pork loin main were the highlights. I was initially undecided on my starter. “Why don’t I just bring you both” said Nuno sensing my food angst.
He brought both anyway even though I chose the souffle. Mrs M gave me a knowing look as if to say well you’ve struck gold on this cruise haven’t you? Each menu included a full vegetarian option while a Caesar salad and grilled chicken breast or salmon were daily staples.
VIVA’s Bistro was a much more bijou affair and because of its limited capacity you must reserve a table in advance. Just 30 covers and an open kitchen, the Bistro offered the same three-course set menu each night, mainly seafood and steak and a vegetarian option. That said, I found the service discreet and very relaxed, and on the warm evenings it was lovely to be able to pop outside between courses.
After dinner we retreated to the Panorama Lounge and picked a small table by the window to watch the late evening sunset and enjoy a sundowner, while Andrea and Matt sang an enjoyable acoustic session of pop and folk favourites. With the wines and spirits flowing freely, it didn’t take long for everyone to make new friends.
By now Andrea and Matt had switched their mellow acoustic session for some funky Europop DJ mashups, and the dancefloor was up and running. By the time Dancing Queen kicked off we called it a night, leaving a once international group of strangers now best buddies, doing various versions of crazy dance moves you might only see in silent discos.
Other nights with Andrea and Matt were equally memorable, including line dancing lessons to ‘music request night,’ a glimpse perhaps of a real-life Eurovision song contest!
The delight of river cruising means you are often right in the heart of towns and cities. I’ve always found Amsterdam, Brussels and Antwerp firm favourites for visitors, with plenty of places to wander around and discover.
My first taste of Hoorn was an unexpected delight. A small port city with a rich history flourishing in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age when its port was much more important than Amsterdam. So important, that Cape Horn was named after it. The wonderful historic centre and harbour are festooned with trappings adorning the once-wealthy merchant houses, artisan workshops and ancient towers, all discoverable by a self-guided hour-long circular walk.
One memorable onboard nautical highlight was sailing along the immense 72-kilometre-long Amsterdam-Rhine canal, the world’s most frequented artificial waterway, and tackling the numerous locks, no mean feat for a ship 135 metres long.
Captain Plamen ultimately delivered us safely back to Dusseldorf following an epic gala night where the chefs were let loose to create a very fitting finale banquet following an equally epic afternoon high tea; a bounteous buffet of cakes, sandwiches and scones that had to be seen to be believed.
VIVA Cruises is a division of Scylla AG, a Swiss shipping company that owns Tauck, a celebrated high-end cruise operator. VIVA Cruises has style, sophistication and attention to detail built into its fabric. The difference is the price. For what is on offer, VIVA Cruises offers extraordinary value for money.
VERDICT: VIVA ONE offers fantastic value, entertainment and great food. The company’s motto is enjoy the moment. I enjoyed each and every moment.
MORE INFO: Discovery trip to Düsseldorf | River cruise | VIVA ONE | VIVA Cruises (viva-cruises.com)
HOW MUCH: Prices per person (in a double occupancy cabin) start at £1,495 – excluding flights.
WHAT’S INCLUDED: A VIVA Cruises itineraries include VIVA Cruises’ signature VIVA All-Inclusive product, with high tea, full board, high-quality alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, minibar, beauty products from cosmetic brand, Rituals, Wi-Fi and all tips and gratuities.
Click here for details on all VIVA Cruises.
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