Viking Embla

Sailing the Danube on Viking Embla

Viking Embla is a 135-metre longship designed specifically for river cruising, carrying 190 guests and crewed by 53. Built in 2017 and godmothered by Princess Alexandra Lobkowicz Viking, she sits in the heart of Viking River Cruises‘ Danube fleet, threading through central and south-eastern Europe on seven-night, one-way journeys. The river is her whole story — a route that takes in imperial capitals, medieval wine towns, Baroque monasteries and the raw geology of the Iron Gates gorge, all without unpacking more than once.

The Viking River Fare is the line’s standard tariff, and it bundles in rather more than the cruise itself: a complimentary shore excursion at every port, full onboard dining with regional specialities, beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, round-the-clock coffees, teas and bottled water, free Wi-Fi, and UNESCO site visits. Drinks at other times carry an individual charge at the bar unless you have added a package. For most guests the fare means the main costs are settled before they board.

On board Viking Embla

The ship is designed around the view. The Aquavit Terrace® extends the dining room outdoors, letting guests take breakfast and lunch with the passing riverbank as a backdrop — vineyards above Krems, the spires of Vienna, the plains of the Hungarian Puszta. Inside, the Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along its length, with a bar and a natural gathering place for the evening. Both are included in the fare.

The Sun Deck at the top of the ship gives 360-degree views and doubles as a walking track — a rare luxury on a river vessel, and the same running track is listed separately as the Walking Track for those who want a structured lap of the deck in the morning air. Note that the Sun Deck closes briefly during canal passages and low-bridge transit for safety. A small Herb Garden on board supplies the culinary team with fresh herbs for the regional dishes served daily, and a quiet Library with a curated book collection offers a retreat from the communal spaces.

Cabins on Viking Embla

Across 95 cabins, Viking Embla offers eight grades spread across outside, balcony and suite categories. Outside cabins include river-view staterooms with half-height picture windows and early 3 PM stateroom access on embarkation day — practical extras that ease the first afternoon aboard. The single balcony grade sits above, and five suite grades offer 35% more floor space than the standard inside cabin, with French balconies featuring floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and, in the higher grades, a private full-size veranda with direct access to river air and open views. Every grade and its full details — dimensions, deck positions, what is included — are on the Viking Embla cabins and deck plans page.

Where Viking Embla sails

All of Viking Embla’s sailings run the Danube River, departing from Budapest, Hungary. The main programme is a seven-night, one-way journey running in March and April in 2027 and 2028, travelling from Budapest westward through the Wachau Valley, calling at Vienna, Krems, Wachau, Kalocsa and Passau, or eastward toward Bucharest via Osijek, Belgrade and the Iron Gates gorge. Most sailings on the main route call at Vienna, Wachau, Krems, Passau, Kalocsa, Osijek, Belgrade and the Iron Gates — though individual itineraries vary, and not every port appears on every departure. Three further single sailings depart from Passau, Regensburg and Bucharest respectively. The programme is seasonal: a spring departure in March or April suits guests who want the Danube before the summer crowds, with cooler temperatures and the river valleys beginning to green.

Seven-night Danube sailings from A$5,995pp* are available through the main Budapest programme. Because these sailings touch Hungary, Germany and Romania, they suit guests building a broader European itinerary — Cruise1st puts the flights, hotels either side and transfers on the same booking as the cruise, so nothing needs to be arranged separately.

Viking River Cruises’ Danube fleet

Viking Embla is one of eight ships Viking River Cruises operates on the Danube. The others currently on sale with Cruise1st are Viking Eldir, Viking Vali, Viking Lif, Viking Vidar, Viking Aegir, Viking Gullveig and Viking Baldur.

The wider Viking River Cruises fleet spans the Rhine, the Moselle, the Mississippi and the Mediterranean alongside the Danube. Ships currently on sale on the Rhine include Viking Gefjon, Viking Rota, Viking Gersemi and others; Viking Mississippi sails the American river of the same name. The full line — including its ocean fleet — is covered on the Viking River Cruises and Viking Cruises pages.

Booking Viking Embla with Cruise1st

Cruise1st’s Best Price Guarantee applies to every Viking Embla sailing we sell — if you find the same holiday cheaper elsewhere, we match it. Our Australian cruise experts are on the phone seven days a week before you book, so you can talk through cabin grades, fare inclusions and the best departure for your travel dates with someone who knows the river. And because Viking Embla’s sailings all begin in continental Europe, we put the whole trip together as a Cruise1st Package — flights from Australia, hotels in Budapest or whichever city you join at, transfers to and from the ship, and the cruise itself, on a single booking.

Questions about Viking Embla

Does Viking Embla have Wi-Fi?

Yes. Free Wi-Fi is included as part of the Viking River Fare on every sailing — it is not an add-on or a charged extra.

What is included in the Viking River Fare?

The Viking River Fare covers all onboard dining with regional specialities, beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, coffees, teas and bottled water throughout the day and night, a complimentary shore excursion at every port of call, UNESCO site visits and free Wi-Fi. Drinks ordered at the bar outside meal times are charged individually unless you have booked a drinks package.

When does Viking Embla sail the Danube?

The sailings currently on sale depart in March and April — a spring programme running across 2027 and 2028. The season makes it a good fit for travellers who prefer the Danube before high summer, with uncrowded cities and the river valleys coming into blossom.

Can Cruise1st book my flights and hotels alongside the cruise?

Yes. Because Viking Embla’s sailings depart from Budapest, Passau, Regensburg and Bucharest, most Australian guests will want flights and at least one hotel night at either end. Cruise1st packages the flights, pre- or post-cruise hotels and all transfers together with the cruise on a single booking — so nothing is left to arrange separately.

Which ports does Viking Embla typically visit on the Danube?

On the core Budapest-originated routes, most sailings call at some combination of Vienna, Wachau, Krems, Passau, Kalocsa, Osijek, Belgrade and the Iron Gates — the exact ports depend on the specific departure and direction of travel. The itinerary detail for each sailing is shown on the individual voyage pages.