Viking Freya

Sailing the Rhine on Viking Freya

Viking Freya was built in 2012 to take guests deep into the heart of Europe along the Rhine, one of the continent’s most rewarding rivers. At 135 metres long and carrying up to 190 guests, she is intimate enough that the towns feel close and unhurried, yet well-equipped for a full week aboard. Viking River Cruises designed her around the idea that the destination is the draw — so the ship steps back and lets the river do the work, docking in the centre of towns rather than at industrial terminals.

Her godmother is Rebecca Eaton, the long-serving executive producer of Masterpiece on PBS, a fitting choice for a line that stakes its reputation on cultural depth. The 95 cabins are split across outside staterooms, balcony staterooms and suites in four grades — the full breakdown, including deck plans, is on the Viking Freya cabins and deck plans page. Outside staterooms come with a half-height picture window and twice-daily housekeeping; suite guests have floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a private veranda or a French balcony, depending on grade.

On board Viking Freya

The public spaces are few, well-considered and all open to every guest. The Aquavit Terrace® is the social heart of the ship — an al fresco dining area where breakfast and lunch are served with the passing riverbank as a backdrop. Up top, the Sun Deck gives a full 360-degree view and doubles as a walking track for a morning circuit or an evening stroll; note that it closes briefly during canal passages and low bridge crossings. The Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along its length and has a bar for drinks ordered individually (or included if you have a beverage package). For quieter moments, the Library holds a curated collection of books suited to the journey — history, travel writing and fiction drawn from the regions the ship passes through. A small Herb Garden on board supplies the galley with fresh herbs for the regional dishes served on board, and guests are welcome to visit it at any time.

The Viking River Fare — what your cruise includes

Every Viking Freya sailing is sold under the Viking River Fare, which bundles a meaningful set of inclusions into the base price. A complimentary shore excursion is included at every port of call. Full onboard dining — with regional specialities prepared using those on-board herbs — is included, and beer, wine and soft drinks are poured with lunch and dinner without surcharge. Coffees, teas and bottled water are available around the clock at no extra cost. Wi-Fi is included throughout the ship, and UNESCO site visits are covered where the itinerary passes them. It is a genuinely comprehensive starting point, and Cruise1st can help you identify the cabin grade and any additional options that best fit your trip.

The Rhine from Trier to Basel

All sailings currently on sale run as one-way, 7-night journeys from Trier, Germany to Basel, Switzerland, following the Rhine downstream through one of Europe’s most scenic river corridors. The route is a late-season programme, departing in November and December 2026. Most sailings on this route call at Bernkastel-Kues and Cochem in the Moselle wine country before joining the Rhine proper at Winningen and Koblenz, where the two rivers meet. From there the ship continues through Mainz, Speyer, Strasbourg and Mannheim before arriving in Basel. Fares on this route start from A$3,395pp*.

Because these sailings depart from Germany and end in Switzerland, they sit naturally at the centre of a longer European trip. Cruise1st books the flights from Australia, any hotel nights you want either side, and the transfers — all on a single booking, shaped around your dates.

Cabins on Viking Freya

The ship carries 95 cabins across 8 grades, divided into outside staterooms (2 grades), balcony staterooms (2 grades) and suites (4 grades). Outside staterooms bring direct natural light and river views through a half-height picture window, with twice-daily housekeeping and a dedicated steward throughout. Suite guests enjoy either full-size private veranda access or French balcony sliding doors — your own open-air space for morning coffee with the Rhine drifting past. Every grade and its exact specification is laid out on the cabins and deck plans page.

The Viking River Cruises fleet

Viking River Cruises operates one of the largest river fleets in the world, with 30 ships currently on sale through Cruise1st. They are grouped below by the waters they sail.

Ships that sail the Rhine River, Europe

• Viking Gefjon
• Viking Rota
• Viking Gersemi
• Viking Hervor
• Viking Annar
• Viking Honir
• Viking Dagur
• Viking Haki
• Viking Sigrun
• Viking Sigyn
• Viking Herja
• Viking Egdir
• Viking Hild
• Viking Hlin

Ships that sail the Danube River, Europe

• Viking Eldir
• Viking Vali
• Viking Lif
• Viking Vidar
• Viking Aegir
• Viking Gullveig
• Viking Baldur
• Viking Embla

Ships that sail the Moselle River, Europe

• Viking Idi
• Viking Alsvin

Ships that sail the Maas

• Viking Mimir

Ships that sail the United States

• Viking Mississippi

Ships that sail the Transatlantic

• Viking Vela
• Viking Astrea
• Viking Lyra

Ships that sail the Western Mediterranean

• Viking Libra

The full Viking River Cruises page lists the complete fleet and what sailing with the line is like. Viking also operates ocean ships; the Viking Cruises page covers those alongside the river fleet.

Booking Viking Freya with Cruise1st

Cruise1st backs every booking with a Best Price Guarantee and has Australian cruise specialists available by phone seven days a week — before you book and when you need advice on cabin grade, fare inclusions or the best departure date. Because Viking Freya sails between Germany and Switzerland, every booking benefits from our Cruise1st Packages service: we put the return flights from Australia, the hotel nights in Trier or Basel, and the airport and port transfers onto the same booking as the cruise, so there is nothing left to arrange separately.

Questions about sailing the Rhine on Viking Freya

What does the Viking River Fare actually cover?

The Viking River Fare includes a shore excursion at every port, all onboard meals with regional specialities, beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, unlimited coffees, teas and bottled water throughout the day, Wi-Fi across the ship, and UNESCO site visits where the itinerary includes them. It is a genuinely full-board experience; the main additional cost is drinks ordered outside mealtimes at the bar.

When does Viking Freya sail the Rhine?

The sailings currently on sale are a late-season programme, with departures in November and December 2026. The route runs one-way from Trier to Basel over 7 nights, so it suits travellers who want to combine the cruise with a few days in the Moselle wine region at the start or in Basel at the end — both of which Cruise1st can arrange alongside the cruise.

Can I use the Sun Deck throughout the voyage?

The Sun Deck is open and free to use for the vast majority of the journey, and it also serves as the walking track. The only exception is during canal passages and when passing under low bridges, when guests are asked to come below for safety — a brief and infrequent restriction on a river cruise of this kind.

How many guests does Viking Freya carry?

Viking Freya carries up to 190 guests and 53 crew across 95 cabins. That ratio — roughly 3.6 guests per crew member — keeps the service attentive and the atmosphere relaxed. The ship is small enough to dock in town centres rather than at out-of-town terminals, which means less time transferring and more time in the places you came to see.

Is Wi-Fi included, and does it reach the cabins?

Wi-Fi is included in the Viking River Fare at no extra charge. Viking lists it as a shipwide inclusion, covering the lounge, the terrace and the cabin areas throughout the voyage.