My First River Cruise: Discovering the Rhine with VIVA Cruises

I’d always associated cruising with huge ships, busy decks and a slightly overwhelming number of people. So when I had the opportunity to experience VIVA Cruises' newest river ship, VIVA Enjoy, on a four-night journey along the Rhine, I was curious to see whether river cruising would be different.<br/>It didn't take long to realise that it was. From Düsseldorf to Amsterdam, sailing through some of Europe's most interesting cities, the experience felt remarkably easy and relaxed. There was something rather wonderful about unpacking once, settling into your cabin and then simply watching the landscape change as the ship carried you from one destination to the next. Our route took us through Rotterdam and Antwerp before finishing in Amsterdam, with each stop offering something completely different.<br/>Welcome aboard VIVA Enjoy<br/>The first thing that struck me about VIVA Enjoy was how light and contemporary the ship feels. Across three decks, the public spaces are bright and beautifully designed, with natural materials, comfortable seating and, most importantly, huge windows that keep the river constantly in view.<br/>Rather than feeling separated from the destination, you are always watching it unfold. One minute you're passing through a city, the next you're sailing past countryside, villages and stretches of peaceful riverbank.<br/>My favourite place quickly became the Sun Deck. With the pool, loungers and uninterrupted views, it was the perfect place to slow down between excursions. There was no pressure to be doing something all the time; sometimes the best part of the day was simply sitting there with a drink and watching the world go by.<br/>Exploring on shore<br/>Of course, one of the biggest attractions of a river cruise is the opportunity to discover several destinations without constantly packing and unpacking. And there is certainly no shortage of things to do.<br/>VIVA Cruises offers a wide variety of excursions, from culture and art to chocolate, cheese, walking tours and cycling. There really is something to suit different interests and different energy levels.<br/>Although, I learnt one important lesson very quickly:<br/>Don't try to do everything.<br/>I definitely made the mistake of wanting to fit too much into one day. With so many tempting experiences available, it's easy to forget that part of the pleasure of a river cruise is having time to enjoy the ship as well.<br/>My favourite excursion was undoubtedly Antwerp. Walking through the historic centre, our guide brought the city's fascinating history to life, but the real highlight for me was visiting the cathedral and seeing Peter Paul Rubens' Raising of the Cross.<br/>Standing in front of such an extraordinary masterpiece was genuinely breathtaking. It was one of those travel moments where you can read about a place beforehand, but nothing quite prepares you for seeing it in person.<br/>All-inclusive dining<br/>Food is, of course, an important part of any holiday, and VIVA's all-inclusive concept makes dining on board particularly enjoyable.<br/>There are three different restaurants, each offering something a little different. The Riverside Restaurant is the main dining experience, with a menu that changes daily. I loved the variety: there was always something different to look forward to, and the setting felt elegant without being overly formal.<br/>Then there's Moments, which focuses on Mediterranean cuisine with live cooking in the open kitchen. Watching the dishes being prepared added an extra sense of occasion and made this feel like much more than simply another meal.<br/>For something more relaxed, VIVA's Bistro offers seafood and comforting classics.<br/>And I have to mention the Cajun prawns.<br/>They were divine.<br/>One of the culinary highlights of the whole trip was the Gala Dinner in Riverside. The tables were beautifully decorated, the atmosphere felt wonderfully celebratory and the attentive service made the evening feel like a real occasion.<br/>There is something rather lovely about dressing up for dinner, sitting down as the river quietly passes outside and knowing that you don't have to think about where you're going to eat that evening.<br/>Evenings on board<br/>After a day exploring, evenings on VIVA Enjoy brought a completely different atmosphere.<br/>There was music, entertainment and plenty of opportunity to relax with a drink and chat with other guests about the day's adventures.<br/>And then came ABBA night.<br/>While we were docked in Amsterdam, the ship took on a particularly lively atmosphere as the ABBA-themed evening got underway. It was fun, relaxed and a reminder that river cruising doesn't necessarily mean early nights and quiet evenings.<br/>There's a nice balance on board: you can have a peaceful evening if that's what you want, but there's also entertainment when you're in the mood for something more lively.<br/>Why I unexpectedly loved river cruising<br/>Perhaps the biggest surprise of the whole experience was how relaxing it felt.<br/>There is something very different about travelling when the journey itself becomes part of the holiday.<br/>Instead of spending hours travelling between hotels, checking in, unpacking and repacking, you wake up somewhere new while your accommodation stays exactly where it is.<br/>That simplicity makes a difference.<br/>You can spend the morning exploring a city, return to the ship for lunch, relax on the Sun Deck while sailing to your next destination and then dress for dinner in the evening.<br/>Everything feels wonderfully effortless.<br/>And because you're travelling along the river, there's always something to look at. The scenery becomes part of the experience rather than simply something you pass on the way to somewhere else.<br/>My first river cruise, and certainly not my last<br/>Four nights went surprisingly quickly.<br/>What I expected to be primarily a way of seeing a few European cities turned out to be an experience I enjoyed just as much for the time spent on board.<br/>VIVA Enjoy combines the chance to explore with the luxury of having everything taken care of: from dining and entertainment to excursions and simply having somewhere beautiful to relax between destinations.<br/>For a first river cruise, it was a pretty wonderful introduction.<br/>Would I do another one?<br/>Absolutely.<br/>I think I've discovered that the real luxury of river cruising isn't simply seeing more places.<br/>It's being able to relax while someone else does all the heavy lifting for you. 😊