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VIVA eyes UK market expansion with dedicated team members

Viva Cruise VIVA Enjoy

VIVA Cruises will dedicate two team members to the UK later this year in a bid to bolster its presence overseas

Speaking onboard the line’s newest vessel, VIVA Enjoy, CEO and co-founder Andrea Kruse highlighted the importance of the company’s international source markets.

“Half of our business comes from our international markets, and we can see this increasing to 60 per cent by the end of the year,” she explained.

“Scandinavia is one of our best performing markets, and there’s no reason the UK can’t be as well one day. Some international markets are faster than others.”

Kruse praised the line’s global travel agent partners for helping the line increase its reach. “You just need to find the right outlet to sell the product,” she continued.

“This is why our trade partners are so important, as once they have experienced our ships they can translate what it’s like to be on board to their customers.”

She added: “We hosted 800 UK agents during the last CLIA RiverView Conference in Amsterdam on VIVA One, and we will do the same this year in Budapest on VIVA Two.”

Kruse spoke during the christening ceremony of VIVA Enjoy, which launched last year. Godmother and river cruise expert Jeannine Williamson blessed the vessel in Dusseldorf on Tuesday (14 January) before it departed on a two night sailing to Frankfurt.

The decision to pick Williamson as godmother, Kruse said, was inspired by her “dedication and commitment” to VIVA and the wider river cruise industry over the years.

It also highlighted the importance of the UK market to VIVA. “The UK currently only makes up around 3-4 per cent of our total business. But later this year we will be dedicating two team members to the UK and one day we may open an office to help drive sales further.”

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