Danube River Cruise with Viva Cruises – How Does It Work?

The river cruise was part of a press trip with Viva Cruises, but as always, all views and opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

Imagine drifting along the Danube on a river cruise bathed in the golden light of sunset, quietly crossing borders while Europe unfolds outside your window. No airport queues, no baggage carousels, no passport panic—just effortless travel from one country to the next. Each morning you wake up in a new city, your floating hotel already docked and ready for exploration. Dinner is a four-course affair every evening, and your cabin travels with you the entire way. It’s seamless, unhurried, and quietly indulgent. Not a bad way to experience Europe, is it?

I spent a week aboard Viva Cruises on a Danube river cruise and managed to see three countries, three capitals, and more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than I can reasonably list. What more can I say? Well, one thing: An der schönen blauen Donau. Strauss knew exactly what he was talking about.

What is Viva Cruises?

Viva Cruises is a relatively young river cruise company, founded in 2018 in Düsseldorf. In just a few years, it has built a fleet of nine ships, with two more expected by 2027. What sets Viva Cruises apart from the large ocean cruise lines is its scale. The ships carry only between 80 and 190 passengers. Compare that to the giant cruise ships accommodating thousands of guests and queues for water slides, and the difference becomes clear. This is a very different kind of cruising experience—more personal, more relaxed, and noticeably more intimate.

I sailed with Viva Moments, a 135-meter long beauty with a maximum of 176 guests and a crew of 48. The math speaks for itself – here you will be looked after – whether it's at the bar or when cleaning the room.

All river cruise ships look broadly the same—long, low, and with a draft that doesn’t exactly impress anyone. And that’s no coincidence. To slip under bridges, navigate relatively shallow riverbeds, and pass through the locks that appear at regular intervals along Europe’s waterways, these ships have to be built specifically for the job. Viva Moments is designed precisely for that purpose—a smooth, seamless journey that simply rolls on.

As a guest on board, you get an all-inclusive package that includes everything from food and drinks to tips and wifi. Simply put, you don't have to think about your wallet once on board, but instead you can sit on the roof and look out over castles and vineyards while sipping a Mai tai. The shipping company's motto is "Enjoy the Moment!” – which is what you really do on board!

Viva Cruises cruises all year round on all the major rivers in Europe with river cruises on the Danube, Elbe, Moselle, Rhine, Rhône, Seine and Douro. What is especially wonderful is experiencing some of Europe's metropolises from the water - a view that I will probably never tire of.

Where did my cruise go?

There are several different Danube river cruise itineraries, with stops in both smaller towns and major cities. One thing worth keeping in mind is that Europe’s rivers can be affected by droughts and heatwaves during the summer months, which in turn impacts water levels and sometimes where ships are able to dock. Even though I travelled in early June, the Danube was already running low, and our planned stop in the Hungarian town of Vác had to be cancelled. Instead, we enjoyed extra time in Budapest—which, in itself, was no bad alternative.

My Danube river cruise began and ended in Vienna. I’ll be covering each stop in more detail in separate articles.

Day 1: Vienna
On the first day, check-in on the boat opened at 3 pm, but since the boat didn't leave Vienna until day 2, I had plenty of time to take advantage of all the boat's services and eat well.

Day 2: Vienna
Full day in Vienna. At 11 PM the boat left the dock.

Day 3: Budapest
Today we should have arrived in the Hungarian city of Vac at 1 PM, but as the water levels were low we had to continue to Budapest, where we arrived at 3 PM.

Day 4: Budapest
Full day in Budapest, departure at 18 PM.

Day 5: Bratislava
Arrival in Bratislava at noon, departure at 12 PM

Day 6: Dürnstein / Melk
Hopped off the ship in Dürnstein in the Wachau wine region at 08:30 AM and while Viva Moments pushed on to Melk, I cycled to Melk. Hopped on the boat in Melk, departure at 22 PM

Day 7: Linz on the Danube
Arrival Linz at 08 AM, departure at 00 PM.

Day 8: Back in Vienna at 8 AM.
Check-out before 09:30 AM.

Is a river cruise right for me?

Before the trip, I probably assumed that river cruises would mainly attract retirees. And while there were certainly plenty of older travellers on board, there were also couples in their 30s to 50s, families with grown-up children, and even a few families with younger kids. And why shouldn’t a river cruise appeal to all ages? You get the convenience of having your hotel room with you at all times and being served good food throughout the journey, while what you choose to do between stops is entirely up to you. You can set off on an intense city exploration, join a well-organised excursion, or simply stay on the sun deck with a book. There really is something for everyone on a river cruise. Europe is wonderful that way.

Another target group for river cruises could be adventurous travellers who want to see a lot and appreciate slightly less obvious destinations. Here, you wake up in a new city almost every morning without having to think about logistics at all—maximum experience with minimum effort. How often do you get the chance to visit three capital cities on a single trip? Before this journey, I had never even heard of Melk or Dürnstein, and both turned out to be real highlights.

What Does Life On Board Look Like?

The ship impressed me from the moment I stepped aboard. Viva Moments didn’t feel like a ship at all, but rather a floating luxury hotel. Crystal chandeliers, beautifully carved details, friendly and attentive staff, and impeccable service are just some of its defining features. The fact that the journey was completely free from noticeable waves only reinforced that hotel-like feeling. Even when we passed other vessels, there was barely any movement. No rocking, and virtually zero risk of seasickness.

In the lobby, there was a small shop with surprisingly reasonable prices—especially useful if you had forgotten a cap or scarf at home. There was also a coffee machine alongside a cookie jar, and if you wanted to refill your water bottle—still or sparkling—that was perfectly fine.

The ship had three floors with a total of 88 rooms, divided by category. At the top were the suites with balconies, on the middle floor (where I stayed) were cabins with French balconies, and at the bottom were cabins with fixed windows.

My room was just the right size, with a double bed that could be converted into two single beds, a table with chairs and a fruit bowl, a desk, and two wardrobes. On the desk, there were stylish metal water bottles to fill with mineral water for excursions – the kind of thoughtful detail you really come to appreciate.

Air conditioning was of course available. Coffee machine too. Minibar as well. Everything was included in the all inclusive and was replenished daily. Upon arrival, a bottle of prosecco and two champagne glasses were waiting. One of those little details that immediately sets the tone for the rest of the trip.

The beds were firm but comfortable, and every evening a kind member of staff came by to provide turndown service—drawing the curtains, turning down the bed, and placing a small piece of chocolate on the pillow. A touch of luxury, even if I rarely managed to wait until morning to eat the chocolate.

The French balcony ran the length of the entire room and it was lovely to open the windows to feel the wind in your hair and get the feeling of gliding on top of the water.

The bathroom was spotlessly fresh, with a rain shower and Rituals products. One thing I always appreciate when travelling is having conditioner available—which it was on Viva Moments. There was also a powerful hairdryer and a practical power outlet in front of the mirror.

The electrical sockets in the cabin were of standard EU standard, meaning that Swedish plugs worked without any problems. There was also a British socket for those who needed it.

How Does the All-Inclusive Concept Work On Board?

All-inclusive means different things to different cruise lines. At Viva Cruises, it actually means all-inclusive. All food, all drinks, all tips – no nasty surprises on the final bill, no extra charges on the menu. You order what you want and forget where you put your credit card for the rest of the week.

On board, there are plenty of ways to fill your days—borrow games, borrow a bike, work out in the gym, practise your putting on the small rooftop green, or simply sink into a sun lounger by the pool with a glass in hand and let the scenery drift by. And if you don’t feel like going ashore one day, you don’t have to. The kitchen remains open even when the ship is in port.

The last evening ends with a five-course gala dinner. Not because you need more food at that point, but because it's exactly the kind of ending that makes you start thinking about when you can go on a river cruise next time.

NOTE: What’s NOT included in the all-inclusive package:

• Excursions from the excursion program (city tours, full day in Salzburg, bike tours, visits to castles, etc.)
• Beauty treatments/hairdresser/massage
• Transportation to/from the boat

The excursions felt reasonably priced (from €39 to €119) and were available in both English and German.

So, How Was the Food?

One of the things I get asked about most after the cruise is the food. How good is the dining on an all-inclusive cruise? I can only say one thing—I was very impressed.

Breakfast

Breakfast was served in the main restaurant every morning from 07:30. It had everything you could possibly need, served both on a buffet and with an a la carte menu. Both were included in the all inclusive.

The buffet included freshly baked bread, cold cuts, fruit, juices, yogurt, cereals, sparkling wine, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon and vegetables. In short, a complete breakfast for anyone who wanted it.

The à la carte menu offered a little something extra – everything from Eggs Benedict and omelets to banana split poke bowls. My favorite was definitely the waffles, which were so deliciously freshly baked and served with cream and fresh berries. The portions were just the right size, which meant you could order several dishes or supplement with treats from the buffet.

Dinner in the main restaurant

Dinner is served whenever you wish between 18:30 PM and 21 PM. You do not need to book a table or time.

Every day a four-course dinner menu was served, with a starter (three options, one of which is vegetarian), a soup (always vegetarian), a main course (five options, one of which is a local dish from the country you are in and one vegetarian dish) and finally dessert (three options, one of which is cheese).

I was very happy with the food every day. Perhaps I would have liked a little more heat in the Thai soup, but that’s really the only thing I can think of. The dishes were served in perfectly sized portions, and service was very efficient—you never had to wait long for your food.

Wine is mainly served with the food and there is always a local wine from the day's destination available for those who prefer it to the house's other wines. An appreciated feature! For dessert there was a large selection of avec.

Lunch is also served in the main restaurant, but we didn't have time to try it.

Dinner and lunch in the bistro

For those who want a little variety, there is also a smaller bistro on board. Here, more classic bistro dishes such as carpaccio and steak with fries are served. A rather cozy restaurant, where you can not only look out over the river, but also see into the kitchen.

To have dinner at the bistro, you need to book a table the same day before 17 pm. However, the same menu is served here throughout the trip, so most guests will probably eat here only once or twice.

I had dinner and lunch at the bistro, and for lunch I had their gigantic hamburger platter. A nice alternative and fun to have variety on the same ship!

The Lounge

The lounge at the front of the ship is where everyone gathers in the afternoons and evenings, after long days exploring the cities. In the afternoon, different snacks are served depending on the day—pastries, sandwiches, ice cream, and similar treats. The bar is open from morning until late at night, offering a wide selection of wines, beers, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks. If you want something that isn’t on the menu, the helpful staff will always do their best to accommodate your request.

In the evening, live music begins, and to the sound of familiar cover songs you can sit in the front row and watch the Danube at sunset.

The wine selection was good, with at least three different white and red wines to choose from. Perhaps most surprising was that champagne was included in the all-inclusive package, which felt like a little extra touch of luxury. The staff were very attentive, and for us snack lovers, it’s worth noting that they were quick to refill whenever things ran out.

Life On Board: What Else Is There to Do?

I optimistically brought two books with me on the trip, but I usually ended up simply sitting on the top deck, watching the scenery drift by. The Danube is a diverse river, passing everything from protected nature areas teeming with birdlife, locks, and wine regions to castles, ruins, and charming little villages. There is always something to look at and enjoy—on colder evenings, perhaps even with an Irish coffee in hand.

For those who want to stay active, there’s the chance to practise your putting on the small green, take a dip in the pool, or simply run back and forth on deck. It’s hard to imagine a better view. There is also a gym on board, although I never actually saw anyone use it.

Good things to know before your trip with Viva Cruises

A few things I learned during my cruise on the Danube:

1) All passengers have their own cabin key, which is also used to keep track of who is on board. Every time you leave the ship, you “blip” out, and every time you return, you “blip” in. This system allows the crew to quickly confirm whether all passengers are on board or if anyone is still ashore.

2) When the ship arrives in port, it does not always dock directly at the quay but is often moored alongside another vessel. This means that one side of the ship may be positioned right next to another cruise ship, which you then have to walk through to get ashore. It can be worth drawing the curtains in your cabin if another ship is moored right alongside.

3) The ship always docks with the bow facing upstream for better manoeuvrability and an easier departure. This also means it has to turn around in the river several times during the trip. At times, it almost feels as if the ship is as long as the river is wide, making it quite an experience to stand on the sun deck while slowly rotating with the current.

4) I was surprised by how much time it takes to pass through the locks. I may have had a rather simplified impression of locks from the Göta Canal, but the ones on the Danube are gigantic. It’s well worth standing on deck while the ship goes through them, just to get a sense of the enormous height differences along the river.

5) Make sure to check which day of the week you’ll be arriving in each city before you book. I was looking forward to visiting the Ars Electronica Center in Linz, but we arrived on a Monday—when all museums are closed. So if there’s a museum you really want to see, it’s worth reviewing the cruise itinerary carefully in advance.

How much does a river cruise cost?

River cruises aren’t the cheapest way to travel through Europe, but when you add up the cost of a week of hotels, restaurant meals, breakfasts, bar visits, and transport between cities like Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava, the price difference is often much smaller than you might first think. Plus, you don’t have to spend time and energy trying to make everything fit together logistically—someone else has already done that for you.

What was the best thing about the trip?

My cruise with Viva Cruises had many highlights and I am incredibly eager to go on more river cruises in Europe to experience cities and areas I might never have otherwise passed by. If I had to choose a top-five list? Ok then, here it is!

1. Waking up in a new city every morning and have a whole day ahead of me filled with discoveries.

2. The sunsets from the sun deck. Unbeatably beautiful as the boat glides past small illuminated villages along the river.

3. To see Budapest from the water. The city's skyline is impressive from land – but even more beautiful from the Danube.

4. The well-composed dinners who never disappointed me.

5. The bike ride through Wachau. Even though there was a storm during half the trip, I got to experience the steep vineyards up close.

I stepped off Viva Moments in Vienna with a camera full of pictures, a few extra kilos from all the four-course dinners and a desire to experience more of Europe from its rivers!