There’s always a sense of excitement when starting a new travel adventure, but this one felt a little different. After years of travelling, road trips, flights, and even ocean cruises, we were about to experience something completely new – our very first river cruise with Viva Cruises.
Our journey began in Nuremberg, Germany, where we were due to board Viva Enjoy, one of the newest ships in the Viva Cruises fleet. We were setting off on a six-day voyage along the Danube, travelling through several countries before reaching Budapest, Hungary. While we’d watched videos and read reviews about river cruising, the truth was that we really had no idea what to expect.
Arriving at the ship, the first thing that struck us was just how sleek and modern Viva Enjoy looked. Unlike the huge ocean cruise ships we’re familiar with, this felt much more intimate. The ship was elegant, contemporary, and had a maximum capacity of only 190 passenegers.
Embarkation was a smooth and stress-free experience. There were no massive terminal buildings, lengthy queues, or crowds of thousands of passengers. Instead, the whole process felt calm, organised, and surprisingly relaxed. It was a refreshing change from the often hectic embarkation days we’ve experienced on larger cruise ships.
Once onboard, we immediately started exploring our new home for the week. First impressions were incredibly positive. The interior décor felt stylish and modern, with bright public spaces and large windows that ensured guests could enjoy the river views from almost anywhere onboard.
One of the biggest surprises was the atmosphere. Everything felt much more personal than we expected. With fewer passengers onboard, there was a real sense of space and tranquillity. Rather than rushing to secure deck chairs or navigate crowded public areas, guests seemed content to relax, chat, and enjoy the scenery.
Of course, one of our first priorities was checking out our cabin. As first-time river cruisers, we weren’t sure how much space to expect, but we were pleasantly surprised. The cabin was modern, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed, offering everything we needed for the journey ahead.
The crew also made an excellent first impression. Everyone we encountered was friendly, welcoming, and eager to help. As newcomers to river cruising, we had plenty of questions, and the staff were more than happy to share information about the ship, the itinerary, and what we could expect during our voyage.
As embarkation day continued, the excitement began to build. This wasn’t just the start of another holiday; it was the beginning of a completely new travel experience for us. River cruising had always been something we’d been curious about, and now we were finally about to discover what all the fuss was about.
Looking back, our first few hours onboard Viva Enjoy exceeded our expectations. The relaxed atmosphere, modern ship, welcoming crew, and smooth embarkation process made for a fantastic start to our adventure.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to board a river cruise for the first time, our embarkation day aboard Viva Enjoy proved to be the perfect introduction. We couldn’t wait to see what the rest of our Danube journey with Viva Cruises had in store.
