Viva Cruises looks to boost UK presence with release of first English brochure

Viva Cruises has launched its first English-language brochure in a bid to boost the Germany company’s presence in the UK market.

The 112-page brochure includes information about the river cruise specialist, as well as itineraries for 2023 sailings on the Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle, Seine and Rhone and the Baltic Sea.

Viva Cruises offers year-round sailings, with Christmas and New Year’s Eve voyages and a range of themed itineraries, including wellness sailings and crime cruises, during which authors come on board and read from their works.

More: Viva Cruises first new build ship makes debut

The river cruise specialist hopes the release of its English brochure will attract more British travellers and build relationships with UK agents, which it says has been a challenge during the pandemic.

Viva Cruises is in the process of organising an October fam trip for up to 15 UK agents, but said all agents are welcome on board and they should get in touch to organise a visit.

Speaking to Travel Weekly at a press event in London, chief operating office Andrea Kruse said: “We are at the beginning when it comes to the UK market and we would love to attract more UK agents. I would urge any agents to reach out and contact us so we can organise having them on board, as it is so important they experience a Viva cruise for themselves.

“Our English brochure has just come out so we are hoping that will boost sales within the UK market. Our current biggest markets are Germany, Belgium, Israel, Luxembourg and Scandinavia, but we would like the UK to play a bigger part.

“My hope is that UK tourists will make up at least 15% of all bookings by the end of 2024.”

The line’s first new build ship Viva One (pictured) entered service in March following a christening in Dusseldorf, and its second new build vessel Viva Two is set to begin service in March 2023.

Kruse alluded to annual unveilings of new ships, with a suggestion Viva Three could enter service in March 2024.

Patrick Ell, head of marketing and digital, said: “We are seeing great growth within the business and the next step is to connect with more partners.

“We have spent the last two years focusing on the German market but, because of Covid restrictions stopping international visitors from entering Germany, we haven’t made much progress with the UK market.

“We will have a booth at the World Travel Market London in November so we hope to reach out and connect with partners there.”