VIVA UNIQUE to Sail Italy's Po River in 2027
VIVA Cruises is expanding its premium VIVA Boutique line with VIVA UNIQUE, a purpose built ship that will begin sailing Italy's Po River in 2027. The move follows next year's launch of sister ship VIVA BEYOND on the Seine River in France. Early details point to themed itineraries focused on cuisine, art, and culture, plus three dining venues and a suite heavy layout aimed at upscale river travelers.
Key Points
- Why it matters: VIVA UNIQUE extends VIVA Boutique into Italy with a new Po River cruise option.
- Travel impact: More premium itineraries in Venice, Chioggia, Polesella, Verona, and Bologna.
- What's next: VIVA BEYOND launches on the Seine in 2026, then VIVA UNIQUE in 2027.
- Suites dominate the cabin mix, with new Unique Suites up to 323 square feet.
- Three dining venues include fine dining at MOMENTS and a casual Trattoria.
Snapshot
VIVA UNIQUE will join the newly created VIVA Boutique collection as its second vessel, offering weeklong Po River cruise itineraries that combine Venice and the lagoon with lesser traveled northern Italian ports. The concept mirrors VIVA BEYOND on the Seine, which introduces the brand's premium positioning to France in 2026. On board, travelers can expect three restaurants, including Italian inspired fine dining at MOMENTS, an informal Trattoria, and a main restaurant serving international and regional dishes. More than half of the 52 cabins will be suites, including new Unique Suites measuring up to 30 square meters, about 323 square feet. Amenities will include a wellness area, a fitness room, and a sun deck pool.
Background
VIVA Boutique is VIVA Cruises' new premium sub brand designed to blend boutique hotel style with destination intensive river itineraries. The first ship, VIVA BEYOND, debuts on the Seine River in spring 2026 with Paris to Normandy routes and an emphasis on French culture, cuisine, and design. VIVA UNIQUE carries that concept to Italy in May 2027 with Po River cruise itineraries starting in Venice and reaching Chioggia and Polesella, with optional excursions to Verona and Bologna. Italy's Po is a dynamic waterway influenced by seasonal levels, so prospective guests should watch conditions as sailings approach. For current hydrology context, see Po River Water Levels Outlook, Week of September 15, 2025 and our live River Levels dashboard.
Latest Developments
VIVA UNIQUE itineraries center on Italy's cuisine, art, and culture
Itineraries are being framed around three themes, culinary flavors, lagoon discovery, and Italian masters, matching VIVA Boutique's promise of deeper cultural immersion. Port calls will highlight Venice and the northern lagoon, along with Chioggia and Polesella for inland access to Bologna and Verona. Optional excursions to Murano and Torcello appear in early planning materials, alongside time in Cremona and Mantua on select departures. This mix gives travelers headline sights and smaller towns that typical big ship routes miss, while keeping daily distances reasonable on the Po River cruise program. Bookings for 2027 have opened through VIVA's channels, signaling strong confidence in the deployment timeline.
Suite forward design and three venue dining across VIVA Boutique
VIVA UNIQUE will accommodate 104 guests in 52 cabins, with more than half configured as suites, including the new Unique Suites topping out at roughly 323 square feet. Dining spans the fine dining MOMENTS restaurant, VIVA's Trattoria for relaxed Italian classics, and a main restaurant that rotates international dishes with regional specialties. Guests can expect spa and fitness facilities, plus a pool on the sun deck for lagoon and river viewing. The brand's all inclusive approach, covering meals, a broad beverage selection, Wi Fi, and gratuities, carries over from the core VIVA product into the VIVA Boutique offering, aligning with premium traveler expectations.
Sequencing with VIVA BEYOND on the Seine River
The rollout starts with VIVA BEYOND on France's Seine River in 2026, then shifts to Italy with VIVA UNIQUE in 2027. VIVA BEYOND, a 110 meter ship carrying 112 guests in 56 cabins, will operate Paris to Normandy itineraries that showcase Impressionist heritage, Calvados tasting, and the Alabaster Coast. For travelers planning multi year river ambitions, the sequence creates a coherent two country arc, a Seine River cruise one year, followed by a Po River cruise the next, both under the same premium VIVA Boutique service blueprint.
Analysis
VIVA Cruises is positioning VIVA Boutique as a focused premium play, not a mass expansion, and the Po River cruise choice is savvy. Italy remains a top demand generator, yet the Po has been lightly served relative to the Danube and Rhine. By staking a claim with a small, suite heavy ship, VIVA can price for yield while delivering the intimacy that river guests reward. The culinary led MOMENTS concept also reads as on brand for Italy, where food and wine are key purchase drivers. The challenge is operational, not conceptual. The Po is sensitive to seasonal water levels and dredging windows, which can force itinerary tweaks. Setting expectations early, building in lagoon heavy alternatives, and keeping transfers efficient will matter. On the competitive set, a back to back VIVA Boutique strategy, a Seine River cruise followed by a Po River cruise, gives loyalists a two year pathway, and it may persuade new to river travelers who want marquee capitals and quieter provincial charms under a consistent service model. If VIVA keeps the promise on suite amenities and shore programming, VIVA UNIQUE should resonate with premium travelers seeking smaller crowds and highly curated days ashore.
Final Thoughts
VIVA UNIQUE adds needed variety to Europe's river map, opening a premium lane on Italy's Po while VIVA BEYOND brings the same playbook to the Seine. Travelers comparing a Po River cruise to a Seine River cruise now have one brand, two countries, and a consistent onboard experience to weigh for 2026 and 2027. If your plans point toward Venice, Bologna, or Verona with a boutique hotel on water, keep an eye on booking windows and water level updates. The combination of culinary depth, smaller ports, and suite forward layouts makes a strong case for VIVA UNIQUE.