VIVA TWO, the second build ship of European river cruise specialist, VIVA Cruises, was awarded “Best New River Ship” on Wednesday's Cruise Critic UK Editors' Picks Awards. VIVA TWO was praised for its innovative split-level layout and its three restaurants, amongst other features.

Cruise Critic, the world's leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, named the winners of its 15th annual Cruise Critic UK Editors' Picks Awards in an event in London on Wednesday. The awards recognise the best cruise lines of the year for UK cruisers, as chosen by the site's international team of cruise experts.

The judge panel said that “VIVA TWO is decidedly different from other riverboats and showcases an innovative split-level layout and extensive use of glass, allowing light to flood in. The bar is a standalone venue separate from the lounge, which is unusual for a riverboat, and VIVA TWO also stands out for having three distinct restaurants, all included in the price and featuring an extra-special dinner with wine pairings.”

Andrea Kruse, COO of VIVA Cruises, said: “We are absolutely thrilled about winning this award – our very first award so a very special one in our hearts. We have just celebrated the fifth anniversary of VIVA Cruises, so this accolade acknowledges all the hard work that the team has put into this exciting venture. We are confident this is the first of many more awards!”

Guided by the Cruise Critic editorial team's impartial cruise expertise – based on first-hand experiences and industry knowledge – the awards name the best-in-industry, while also helping travellers select the best cruise for their specific interests and needs.

“This was a phenomenal year for the cruise industry”, explains Adam Coulter, executive editor of Cruise Critic UK & AU. “Between record-breaking sales and capacity numbers exceeding 100 percent, we saw travellers flock to the seas for high-value holidays. And for UK-based travellers, the introduction of ground-breaking new ships has helped to drive interest in cruising even more.”

For the full details of this year's winners, visit 2023 Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards.

VIVA TWO, launched in April 2023, features 95 stylish and comfortable cabins for up to 190 passengers and comes with an open lounge area and new dining options. As the Cruise Critic award highlights, VIVA TWO is home to three restaurants: VIVA's Bistro, offering a casual atmosphere and a wide selection of snacks and smaller dishes – as well as a privilege view from the back of the ship; Riverside, the main restaurant featuring a wide selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner menus; and MOMENTS, the place to go for top-class specialty food, accompanied with wine pairing.

VIVA TWO will be sailing from/to Passau or from/to Vienna on the Danube in 2024.

For more information about VIVA Cruises, please visit: www.viva-cruises.com