VIVA Cruises has appointed Stefan De Schepper as its new Chief Financial Officer. With him on board, the company strengthens its management team as its operations on European rivers grow.

• Düsseldorf-based VIVA Cruises' customer mix is divided into 54 % in the DACH countries and 46 % in other markets.
• The goal for 2025 is for 15% of VIVA Cruises' customers to come from the Nordic region.
• VIVA Cruises offers a premium all-inclusive concept, modern and timeless design and an international atmosphere. Green Award Gold certification.

The last few years have been a great success for VIVA Cruises, which has experienced an increasing demand for modern premium river cruises with a focus on comfort, high quality and personal service. To support growth and ensure that development continues at a healthy and sustainable pace, Stefan De Schepper now takes on the role of CFO.

Stefan has a strong profile with a background in finance with specialization in accounting and auditing, and brings solid experience from both the travel and hotel industries. For the past seven years, he has been part of Scylla Group, where as Group Finance Director he was responsible for the financial strategy, business optimization through data and automation – and not least for driving the group's sustainability initiatives.

I am excited to take on this new role at such a dynamic time for VIVA,” says Stefan De Schepper. ”My focus will be to deliver the financial insights needed to support the company’s operational goals, while ensuring that both short-term and long-term strategic objectives are achieved. Ultimately, everything we do behind the scenes has one purpose: to ensure our guests have the best possible experience.

Andrea Kruse, CEO of VIVA Cruises, continues:

VIVA Cruises' journey began in 2018 and it has only gone one way – forward. With Stefan De Schepper on board, literally speaking, and the launch of VIVA Cruises' new boutique line VIVA BOUTIQUE in spring 2026, as well as other new and exciting cruises, we underline that our ambition level is sky-high. Our motto is, as you know, 'Enjoy the moment' and we do our utmost to live up to that promise. We are very much looking forward to the next stage.

The appointment of Stefan De Schepper is a natural step in VIVA Cruises' ambition to be one of the leading players in modern river cruises in Europe - with a focus on personal service, good guest experiences and a responsible approach to the future of travel.

ABOUT VIVA CRUISES

VIVA Cruises, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Düsseldorf, is Europe's most modern river cruise operator and part of the reputable Swiss shipping company Scylla AG, which will soon have more than 50 river ships. 

Under the motto ”Enjoy the Moment” An international crowd can enjoy daily gourmet meals and an all-inclusive offer with high-quality wines and spirits from the entire bar menu, as well as a coffee machine and minibar filled daily in all cabins. Wi-Fi and gratuities are also included in the cruise price. The sailings, some of which are year-round, take place on the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube as well as the Seine, Rhône and Douro. VIVA Cruises' fleet continues to grow dynamically every year. The ships, powered by synthetic GTL fuel (from 2026 HVO), also use shore power and solar panels for energy supply. 

With VIVA Boutique VIVA Cruises is launching a new product line: elegant boutique ships, mostly with suites, fewer guests and an even more exclusive culinary offering. The first ship in the VIVA Boutique fleet will be VIVA BEYOND from spring 2026 on various itineraries from Paris.