VIVA Cruises: Going With the Luxurious Flow of Life
Whether you are sailing down a river or across the ocean, cruises are a once-in a-lifetime experience. Luckily, in South Africa, Whitestar Cruise & Travel, who represents VIVA Cruises, specialises in providing handpicked cruise experiences.
If you are looking for a river cruise through the heart of Europe for your next escape, or a cruise from South Africa to the rest of the world, you are at the right place.
Whitestar Cruise & Travel
Established in 2004, this Johannesburg-based cruise operator offers premier experiences on sea. Owned by Shaun McCarthy, Whitestar offers a personalised service to find the perfect cruise for you every time.
Despite being a premium cruise company in Southern Africa, Whitestar has connections all over the world. With a direct line to international cruise companies, you can set sail anywhere your heart desires.
Whitestar aims to provide South Africans with the opportunity to cross a cruise off their bucket list and will ensure you do it in style.
VIVA Cruises: Embrace the Moment
Co-founded by Andrea Kruse and Arno Reitsma, VIVA Cruises was born in 2018. It was a project that aimed to redefine river cruising and shape a new travel experience in Europe. By 2026, VIVA Cruises will operate eight dedicated VIVA ships. Six of these ships cruise eleven and a half months of the year. Currently, 50% of their guests are international and they anticipate that it will increase to 60% this year. Of course, you could be included in that number!
A VIVA cruise is all-inclusive, meaning each person will experience dining, drinks, seating and accommodation – all included in the price they pay. There is only one price for each VIVA cruise, ensuring all passengers aboard are treated equally and exceptionally.
Specialised experiences on board take your trip to the next level. Also, they provide gourmet dining with breakfast buffets, lunches and multi-course dinners. There are no set times for meals, allowing you to be flexible and relaxed whilst on holiday. Furthermore, VIVA has beverages on hand all day, whether you’re keen on an alcoholic tipple or non-alcoholic refreshment. There’s also a High Tea once per cruise, where passengers are served sweet and savoury delights with exclusively brewed teas. Lastly, the amenities are endless too, with a minibar always stocked in your cabin and bathroom amenities that include beauty products from premium brands like Rituals. All that while their onboard Wi-Fi keeps you connected to land.
Another fun fact about VIVA ships is that they stop in city centres, allowing guests to exit the ship and explore the timeless towns, villages and capitals of Europe. As an exciting add on, the ships have their own collection of bicycles that guests can use to tour around on land. There are also guided tours and specific on-land experiences offered by VIVA at each stop. The cuisine on board the ship often also matches that of its current destination, allowing passengers to submerge themselves in culture and cuisine both on and off the ship.
Browse VIVA’s upcoming river cruises here.
VIVA Boutique: The Next Chapter
VIVA is entering a new chapter in the form of their VIVA Boutique project. This refurbished luxury ship will be taking to the Seine River in Paris. Initially an older ship in VIVA’s parent company’s fleet, VIVA Beyond is currently having an exciting facelift! Cabins are being redesigned to include luxury suites with walk-in closets and spectacular balconies for passengers to maximise on their views. There will also be three dining options – Riverside, Bistro and Moments – so you can choose a new occasion every day. Ultimately, the aim is for VIVA Boutique to be the ultimate lifestyle travel experience.
If you want to go to sleep overlooking one city’s flickering lights and wake up to the sun rising in another place, perhaps VIVA Cruises is the answer. Represented by Whitestar Cruise & Travel in South Africa, they might just be able to show you the world from a different angle!
