Viking Gersemi

Sailing the Rhine on Viking Gersemi

Viking Gersemi launched in 2020 and runs exclusively on the Rhine, the river that connects the Swiss city of Basel to the Dutch coast at Amsterdam through Germany’s most storied wine country and medieval river towns. At 135 metres and 95 cabins for 190 guests, she is a purpose-built river ship: narrow enough to pass through the Rhine’s locks and low-slung enough to clear its bridges, yet spacious enough to carry a proper lounge, an al fresco dining terrace and a full-length sun deck. Viking River Cruises runs her as part of its Rhine programme, and the fare structure — the Viking River Fare — bundles a great deal into the base price from the moment you board.

What the Viking River Fare includes

Every sailing on Viking Gersemi is sold under the Viking River Fare, which covers complimentary shore excursions at every port, full onboard dining with regional specialities, and beer, wine and soft drinks served at lunch and dinner. Coffee, tea and bottled water are available around the clock, and free Wi-Fi is included throughout. UNESCO site visits are also part of the fare, so the headline price on each sailing covers far more than a berth and a bunk.

On board Viking Gersemi

The ship’s layout is designed around the river. The Aquavit Terrace® extends to the bow and serves breakfast and lunch al fresco — a glass of something local in hand, the riverbank sliding past — and is included in the fare. Inside, the Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along the full width of the ship, so the Rhine panorama is always present whether you are reading, chatting or ordering a drink at the bar. Beverages beyond the included wine and beer carry a charge here unless a package applies.

The Sun Deck at the top of the ship gives 360-degree views and houses the ship’s Walking Track — an easy way to stay active while the landscape changes around you. The culinary team grows herbs in the on-board Herb Garden, using them daily in the regional dishes served below; the garden itself is open to all guests to wander through. A quiet Library with a curated collection provides somewhere to retreat with a book between ports. Note that the Sun Deck closes during canal passages and under low bridges for safety.

Cabins on Viking Gersemi

Across 95 cabins there are eight grades in total, spread across outside, balcony and suite categories. Outside staterooms come in two grades and feature half-height picture windows for natural light and river views, with daily housekeeping and an en-suite throughout. Balcony cabins account for two further grades. Suite grades run to four options across Decks 2 and 3, with French-balcony sliding glass doors that bring river air directly into the room and lift access from both decks. Every grade detail — dimensions, layouts and the full deck plans — lives on the Viking Gersemi cabins and deck plans page.

Where Viking Gersemi sails

All eight sailings currently on sale are one-way, 7-night Rhine journeys. The river runs from the Swiss border to the Dutch coast, and Viking Gersemi works it in both directions from three embarkation points.

• Basel to Trier or Amsterdam — four departures, running in December 2026 and December 2028, travelling northwards through Strasbourg, Speyer, Mannheim, Mainz, Koblenz and Winningen before reaching either Trier or Amsterdam. These seasonal departures suit anyone drawn to the Rhine in the Christmas market season.
• Amsterdam to Basel — two departures in March and December 2027, heading south from the Dutch waterways through Dordrecht, Cologne, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, Speyer and Strasbourg before finishing in Breisach and Basel. Cruises from Amsterdam lists every sailing available from that port.
• Trier to Basel — two departures in March and November 2028, running south through Bernkastel-Kues, Cochem, Winningen, Koblenz, Mainz, Mannheim and Strasbourg. This is a seasonal programme bookending spring and autumn on the Moselle and Rhine.

All three routes share the Rhine’s core stretch and many of the same ports, but each gives a different start and finish city with its own character — Basel’s art museums, Amsterdam’s canals, Trier’s Roman heritage. Because departures are from Switzerland, Germany or the Netherlands, the cruise naturally sits at the centre of a wider European trip, and Cruise1st assembles the flights, hotels either side and transfers on the same booking through Cruise1st Packages.

Viking River Cruises’ Rhine fleet

Viking Gersemi is one of fourteen Viking ships sailing the Rhine. The others currently on sale with Cruise1st are Viking Gefjon, Viking Rota, Viking Hervor, Viking Annar, Viking Honir, Viking Dagur, Viking Haki, Viking Sigrun, Viking Sigyn, Viking Herja, Viking Egdir, Viking Hild and Viking Hlin.

Viking also operates on other rivers. For the Danube, ships include Viking Vali, Viking Eldir, Viking Lif, Viking Vidar, Viking Aegir, Viking Gullveig, Viking Baldur and Viking Embla. Viking Mississippi sails the Mississippi in the United States, and the fleet also covers the Moselle, the Maas, the Western Mediterranean and transatlantic routes. The full line is covered on the Viking River Cruises page.

Booking Viking Gersemi with Cruise1st

Cruise1st holds the line’s Best Price Guarantee and has Australian cruise experts available seven days a week — local specialists who know the Rhine routes and can match the right sailing to your dates and travel style. Because Viking Gersemi’s ports are all in Europe, almost every booking benefits from putting the international flights, pre- or post-cruise hotel nights and airport transfers onto the same itinerary as the cruise itself. That is what Cruise1st Packages does: one booking, one point of contact, the whole trip sorted.

Questions about cruising the Rhine on Viking Gersemi

Is Wi-Fi included on Viking Gersemi?

Yes. Free Wi-Fi is part of the Viking River Fare on every sailing, so there is no separate charge for staying connected as the ship moves between ports.

Are shore excursions included in the fare?

The Viking River Fare includes a complimentary shore excursion at every port of call, as well as guided UNESCO site visits where the route passes them. Optional excursions beyond the included programme may carry a charge.

What is the Sun Deck like, and when is it closed?

The Sun Deck runs the full length of the top of the ship and carries the walking track, giving unobstructed views in every direction. It is open for relaxing and exercise whenever the ship is on the open river, but closes during canal passages and when passing under low bridges — a practical limit of river cruising on the Rhine that applies to all ships of this type.

Can I join the cruise from Australia on a single booking?

Yes. Because Viking Gersemi’s sailings depart from Basel, Trier or Amsterdam, the cruise sits naturally in the middle of a European trip. Cruise1st puts the flights from Australia, any hotel nights at the start or finish, and the airport transfers together with the cruise on one booking — so there is a single itinerary and a single point of contact for the whole holiday.

Which cabin grade should I book on Viking Gersemi?

The right grade depends on how much time you plan to spend in the cabin, how much natural light matters, and whether direct river-air access is a priority. Outside staterooms are well-appointed and practical; suite grades on Decks 2 and 3 add French-balcony doors and lift access. The cabins and deck plans page shows every grade with full layout detail to help you choose.