Viking Hermod

Sailing the Rhône on Viking Hermod

Viking Hermod follows the Rhône from Lyon southward to Avignon on seven-night, one-way itineraries that run in March. It is a deliberately seasonal programme — two departures in March 2027 and March 2028 — shaped around the quieter, unhurried pace of early spring on the river. The route calls at Vienne, Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage and Viviers before reaching Arles and Avignon, threading through a stretch of France where Roman heritage, Côtes du Rhône vineyards and Provençal villages sit within a short walk of the riverbank. Sailings start from A$5,795pp*.

All sailings on this route are one-way, departing Lyon and finishing in Avignon, so they pair naturally with time in both cities — something Cruise1st puts together as a single booking, including the flights into Lyon and home from Paris (or any other routing that suits), hotel nights and transfers.

Life on board

Viking Hermod carries 190 guests and 53 crew across 95 cabins, keeping the ratio intimate enough that the ship feels genuinely unhurried. The public spaces are few and purposeful: a Lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and a bar where you can order drinks individually, an Aquavit Terrace® for al fresco breakfast and lunch while the riverbanks scroll past, and a Library stocked with a curated collection for quiet reading. On the top of the ship, the Sun Deck offers 360-degree views and a Walking Track — access is restricted during canal passages and under low bridges, but for most of the Rhône journey it is wide open. A small Herb Garden on board supplies the culinary team with fresh ingredients for the regional dishes served each day.

What the Viking River Fare includes

Viking River Cruises operates a single, structured tariff called the Viking River Fare. It is not a bare-bones fare: included in every booking are a complimentary shore excursion at every port, full onboard dining with regional specialities, and beer, wine and soft drinks served at lunch and dinner, plus round-the-clock coffees, teas and bottled water. Wi-Fi is also included, as are UNESCO site visits. Beverages beyond those listed — spirits, premium labels and the like — carry an individual charge at the Lounge bar. The fare gives most guests everything they need on board without having to track a running tab.

Cabins on Viking Hermod

Across 95 cabins there are eight grades in three families. Outside cabins — two grades — feature a river-view window in a half-height design, bringing in natural light and river scenery. Balcony cabins offer two grades with direct outdoor access. Suites run to four grades and share two design features: a French balcony with floor-to-ceiling glass doors for fresh river air, and on the higher grades a private veranda of your own. The full breakdown of grades, sizes and positions by deck is on the Viking Hermod cabins and deck plans page.

Viking River Cruises’ wider fleet

Viking Hermod is one of 30 Viking River Cruises ships currently on sale through Cruise1st. The fleet is grouped by river:

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

Danube River, Europe — Viking Eldir, Viking Vali, Viking Lif, Viking Vidar, Viking Aegir, Viking Gullveig, Viking Baldur, Viking Embla

Moselle River, Europe — Viking Idi, Viking Alsvin

Maas — Viking Mimir

United States — Viking Mississippi

Transatlantic — Viking Vela, Viking Astrea, Viking Lyra

Western Mediterranean — Viking Libra

The full Viking River Cruises page has the complete fleet and everything you need to know about the line.

Booking Viking Hermod with Cruise1st

Because Viking Hermod sails in France, most Australian travellers will fly in. Cruise1st packages the flights, pre- and post-cruise hotel nights and transfers into a single booking alongside the cruise itself — that is what Cruise1st Packages does, and it means one point of contact for the whole holiday. Our Best Price Guarantee backs every booking, and our Australian cruise experts are on the phone seven days a week if you want to talk through the itinerary, the cabin grade or the shore excursion programme before you commit.

Questions about sailing the Rhône on Viking Hermod

When does Viking Hermod sail the Rhône?

The current programme runs in March only — two departures, one in March 2027 and one in March 2028. It is a seasonal route and not a year-round sailing, so availability is limited to those two windows.

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

Wi-Fi is included in the Viking River Fare. The facts we have confirm it is part of the standard tariff; for coverage by deck and cabin, the cabins and deck plans page is the place to check before you book.

Can I add a river cruise to a wider France holiday?

Yes — and it is the natural way to structure a trip that starts in Lyon and ends in Avignon (or beyond). Cruise1st puts the inbound flights, any hotel nights you want in Lyon or Paris before or after, the transfers and the cruise on a single booking. Call our team and they will shape it around your dates.

What shore excursions are included?

The Viking River Fare includes a complimentary shore excursion at every port of call, as well as UNESCO site visits where the route passes them. Additional excursions beyond the included one at each stop can be added, usually at an individual charge; Viking’s shore excursion programme is detailed at the time of booking.