VIVA Cruises is offering students who participated in the Cruise Career Springboard programme in summer 2025 the chance to join a Rhine river cruise

Students from NESCOT and Itchen College in Southampton competed for the opportunity to join the fam trip, with six participants from each college travelling to Dusseldorf on 16 February.

The programme will include a visit to the VIVA Cruises offices, a sightseeing tour of Dusseldorf and a four day river cruise to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Nijmegen.

Edwina Lonsdale, joint founder of the Cruise Career Springboard, said: “The programme aligns beautifully with VIVA Cruises’ vision and DNA, as the company is focussed on supporting young professionals, as well as transforming the perception of river cruising as a holiday choice for old people.

“It supports the aims of Cruise Career Springboard to introduce young adults to the amazing world of cruising, and the many pathways into a career in this dynamic and vibrant sector of the travel industry.”

The students will be encouraged to be active on social media and will also attend specially created workshops on a range of topics, including ways to get young people interested in river cruising.

There will be an end-of-cruise evaluation, followed by a more formal presentation when back in the UK with a prize for the best student – a place on another VIVA itinerary and the opportunity to bring their parents with them.

Lonsdale adds: “This is an extraordinarily generous offer from VIVA Cruises and the colleges have embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm. We know the students will benefit enormously from the trip and we look forward seeing their final presentations.”

The aim of the Cruise Career Springboard, now in its fourth year, is to open young peoples’ minds to the vast range of roles, disciplines and opportunities in the industry, even if you join straight from school. The 2026 programme is up and running, with the launch event to take place onboard Majestic Princess on 17 April.