Viva Cruises expands to North and Baltic seas

Viva Cruises is launching four new itineraries on the North and Baltic Seas on board the company’s first expedition ship, MS Seaventure.

The new cruises will start in April 2021 and have a capacity for just 164 guests. MS Seaventure, formerly Bremen, was acquired by Viva Cruises’ parent company, Scylla AG, from Hapag-Lloyd on in November.

MS Seaventure’s maiden voyage, Springtime maritime experiences, will take place April18-25, 2021, departing from and arriving to the German city of Bremerhaven. From here, the seven-night cruise will take guests to Wismar, Germany; Stettin, Poland; Stralsund, Germany; Copenhagen; Heligoland, Germany’s only offshore island; and Hamburg. Prices start from €2,795 (approximately £2,470) per person in an outside cabin.

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The ship will then sail on three further seven-night cruises whose first and last port will also be Bremerhaven. These itineraries will be visiting iconic destinations such as Malmö and Gothenburg, Sweden; Kristiansand, Norway; and Sylt, Germany. Prices also start from €2,795 per person in an outside cabin.

MS Seaventure has just 82 cabins and suites for 164 guests and carries a fleet of 14 Zodiacs.

Andrea Kruse, COO of Viva Cruises, said: “We are delighted to launch this exciting new product and the first four itineraries to the UK market. MS Seaventure will offer a truly unique small ship experience, taking guests to some of the most breath-taking scenery on the North and Baltic Seas.”

All itineraries of MS Seaventure will feature Viva’s Checklist – the health and safety measures introduced in light of Covid-19 – and Viva Cruises’ signature all-inclusive product, which includes snacks, full board, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, minibar, beauty products from luxury cosmetic brand, Rituals, and all tips and gratuities.

The Düsseldorf-based cruise line recently launched Viva Tiara, which was refurbished to become the first ship owned by the young European river tour operator, founded in 2018 by the family behind river cruise operator, Scylla AG. Viva Cruises offers a variety of cruises along Europe’s great rivers: the Danube, Elbe, Moselle, Rhine, Rhône, Seine and the Main-Danube Canal.

Scylla AG runs a fleet of river ships for various European charter clients, including Nicko Cruises, Tauck and Riviera Travel.

Viva Cruises became one of the first river lines to return when it resumed its Rhine itineraries on June 26, sailing on its first post-lockdown cruise from Düsseldorf through to the Austrian city of Engelhartszell an der Donau. Throughout July and August, Viva Cruises also operated four-night cruises in Germany, along the Main and Rhine rivers, on board MS Treasures and MS Inspire.

It has introduced regular temperature checks, compulsory facemasks on board when walking around the ship, one-way system in corridors, à la carte meals (no buffets), a doctor throughout the duration of the cruise, reduced capacity and more.