Cruise Itinerary
| Date | Activity | Arrive | Depart |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09 Dec 2027 | Dusseldorf, Germany |
5:00pm | |
| 10 Dec 2027 | Venlo, Netherlands |
8:00am | 3:00pm |
| 11 Dec 2027 | Maastricht, The Netherlands |
12:30am | |
| 12 Dec 2027 | Maastricht, The Netherlands |
||
| 13 Dec 2027 | Maastricht, The Netherlands |
2:00am | |
| 13 Dec 2027 | Roermond, Netherlands |
8:30am | 2:00pm |
| 14 Dec 2027 | Gorinchem, Netherlands |
2:30am | 2:00pm |
| 15 Dec 2027 | Dusseldorf, Germany |
8:00am |
All itineraries and ports of call at the discretion of the cruise line subject to local weather conditions and may change without notice.
Experience André Rieu in Maastricht!
When the cities are decked out in festive decorations, string lights illuminate the riverfront promenades, and the anticipation of the holidays is in the air, it’s the perfect time for a winter river cruise through the Netherlands and Belgium. This atmospheric journey combines historic cities, maritime traditions, and the special atmosphere of the Advent season into an unforgettable experience.
Your journey begins in Düsseldorf, where you’ll be welcomed aboard your comfortable ship. Soon, the ship will glide down the Rhine toward the Netherlands. In Venlo, charming alleys, cozy squares, and typical Dutch hospitality await you. Especially during the pre-Christmas season, the city reveals its very own charm and invites you to take a leisurely stroll.
The journey continues to Maastricht, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Netherlands. The elegant Old Town, with its historic buildings, small boutiques, and atmospheric cafés, offers the ideal backdrop for winter explorations. The extended stopover allows you to get to know the city at your own pace and enjoy the special atmosphere of the season.
Roermond is another highlight of the journey. This picturesque town captivates visitors with its historic old town, numerous churches, and charming waterfront location. In December, festively decorated streets and squares create a particularly festive atmosphere.
Another highlight is Gorinchem, one of the most beautiful fortified towns in the Netherlands. The well-preserved city walls, historic buildings, and cozy atmosphere make a visit a special experience. A stroll along the old fortifications offers a fascinating glimpse into the region’s eventful history.
Finally, you’ll return to Düsseldorf. Throughout the entire journey, you’ll enjoy first-class comfort on board, culinary delights, and relaxing moments with views of the winter river landscapes. This cruise combines culture, enjoyment, and the special magic of the pre-Christmas season into an atmospheric travel experience.
The VIVA RUBY is the smallest ship in our fleet – and also one of the most exclusive. With space for a maximum of 80 guests, it offers a particularly personal and informal atmosphere on board. Following the extensive renovation in 2025, the ship has 40 comfortable outside double cabins, including 32 elegant double cabins on two decks and 8 spacious suites on the top deck. On the Diamond Deck, you will find cabins with French balconies from which you can enjoy the passing scenery from your bed. Each cabin is comfortably equipped with TV, radio, minibar, safe, hairdryer, air conditioning, shower and WC. You are warmly welcomed in the inviting entrance hall with reception. Directly adjacent is the stylish lounge with panorama bar and dance floor, which invites you to linger and socialize. On the Smaragd Deck, a small boutique invites you to browse and discover. The VIVA RUBY’s restaurant offers culinary delights for all the senses – in a timelessly elegant ambience that invites you to linger and enjoy.
Ship Profile & Stats
- Length: 85m
- Maiden Voyage: 2002
- Refurbished: 2025
- Passenger Capacity (dbl): 80
OUR START Just in time for the start of the winter season in 2018/2019, we set sail as a premium provider of river cruises. Since then, we have dedicated ourselves to comfortable travel on water – with a convincing all-inclusive offer for our guests as well as exclusive destinations in Europe.
OUR BASIS Behind the VIVA Cruises brand is the renowned Swiss shipping company Scylla AG, which currently owns a fleet of 40 ships. With VIVA Cruises and our company headquarters in Düsseldorf, we would like to establish ourselves as an international river cruise operator.
OUR DRIVE “Enjoy the moment” is our motto. How we live it every day? Through our dedicated team paired with high quality ships, we create for our guests places of experience with high standards. We focus on an extraordinary good relationship between our crew and our guests – and that with premium quality at fair prices.
OUR TEAM Your vacation is a matter of the heart for us. For this reason, we work as a young and competent team in Düsseldorf every day to make your dream cruise aboard our ships possible. We work future- and growth-oriented and always give our best to turn your trip into unique feel-good moments.
VIVA’s Mission and Vision We give everything to offer our guests remarkable river cruises, that will be remembered for a long time and will let them recall wonderful moments.
In doing so, we pursue the vision that excellent service and a fair price-performance ratio can be easily combined and perfectly implemented.
Therefor, we do our utmost to steer more sustainably into the future and work on it every day.
Select the Cabin to view detail.
Double Cabin on Emerald Deck.
Double Cabin on Diamond Deck.
Suite on Diamond Deck.
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