Viking Hild

Sailing the Rhine on Viking Hild

Viking Hild works the Rhine between Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands, taking 190 guests through one of Europe’s most storied river corridors. Built in 2017, she is a modern longship with the clean Scandinavian aesthetic Viking River Cruises is known for: open sight-lines, floor-to-ceiling glass, and an emphasis on the river as the main event. The ship runs only seven-night sailings, so every departure is a complete, unhurried week on the water.

What sets a Viking river ship apart from an ocean cruise is how close the river keeps you to the landscape. The Rhine carries Viking Hild through the vineyards and castle-topped ridges of the Rhineland, past medieval market towns and cathedral cities that most travellers only glimpse from a train window. On board, the pace is calm and sociable — small enough that you quickly know the faces around you, large enough to feel fully equipped.

On board Viking Hild

The ship’s public spaces are designed around the view. The Aquavit Terrace® extends out over the water at the bow and is where many guests take breakfast and lunch, watching the Rhine’s banks slide by — it is included in the cruise fare and open to all. The Lounge runs along the upper deck with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the passing scenery; drinks are available at the bar, with beverages charged individually unless a package is booked.

Up top, the Sun Deck gives 360-degree views and houses a Walking Track for anyone who wants to stay active without going ashore — both are included and open to all, though the deck closes during canal passages and when passing under low bridges. For a quieter hour, the Library holds a curated book collection and reading space, also included. One detail that is quietly charming: the ship maintains a working Herb Garden on board, and the culinary team draws from it daily to flavour regional dishes.

Cabins on Viking Hild

Across 95 cabins, Viking Hild offers eight grades spread across outside, balcony and suite categories. The four outside grades share Freyja toiletries, twice-daily housekeeping and a dedicated stateroom steward throughout; some open onto the river via a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door, while others have a half-height picture window that floods the cabin with natural light. The two suite grades step up to a full-size private veranda with sliding glass doors — a proper outdoor space for morning coffee or watching the Rhine in the late afternoon. The Viking Hild cabins and deck plans page has every grade laid out with full detail.

The Viking River Fare

Every sailing on Viking Hild is sold under the Viking River Fare, which is notably generous for a river cruise. It bundles 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 and UNESCO site visits are also included. The fare does not cover all beverages at all times, so drinks outside meals are charged individually unless a package is added, but for the core experience — eating, drinking at mealtimes, going ashore and connecting online — the fare covers it.

Where Viking Hild sails

All of Viking Hild’s sailings follow the Rhine, with departures from Basel and Trier. These two routes cover the same stretch of river in opposite directions and together account for the great majority of her programme.

Basel to the Rhine valley and Moselle: Three sailings depart Basel in May and November on seven-night, one-way itineraries. Most call at Strasbourg, Speyer, Mainz, Koblenz, Winningen, Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues and Trier, threading from Switzerland through the Alsace and down into the Moselle wine country. This is a strongly seasonal run — late spring and late autumn — and fares from A$3,395pp* make it the most accessible entry point on the ship.

Trier to Basel: Two sailings run the same corridor in reverse, departing Trier in March and December and ending in Basel. Most itineraries on this route call at Bernkastel-Kues, Cochem, Winningen, Koblenz, Mainz, Speyer, Strasbourg and Mannheim — giving a slightly different port mix and a December departure that suits travellers looking for the Rhine’s Christmas market season. Fares on this route from A$6,595pp*.

A further single-departure sailing is available beyond these two routes. Because the embarkation ports — Basel in Switzerland, Trier in Germany, and in some cases Amsterdam in the Netherlands — all require a flight from Australia, Cruise1st treats this cruise as the middle of a longer trip: we book the flights, the hotel either side and the transfers, as one holiday.

Planning a Rhine cruise from Australia

River cruises on the Rhine are sold as the centrepiece of a European trip, not as standalone fares, and that is exactly how Cruise1st builds them. The Viking River Cruises page shows the full programme across the line; for Australians looking to combine their Rhine sailing with time in Basel, Amsterdam or any of the cities along the route, our specialists are available seven days a week to put the whole journey — flights, pre- or post-cruise hotels, transfers and the cruise itself — on a single booking under the Cruise1st Packages promise.

Cruise1st also backs every booking with its Best Price Guarantee, so if you find the same sailing cheaper, we match it.

Viking River Cruises’ Rhine fleet

Viking Hild sails alongside thirteen other ships on the Rhine River, Europe programme. Listed by activity on the river, her companions include Viking Gefjon, Viking Rota, Viking Gersemi, Viking Hervor, Viking Annar, Viking Honir, Viking Dagur, Viking Haki, Viking Sigrun, Viking Sigyn, Viking Herja, Viking Egdir and Viking Hlin.

Viking also operates on the Danube, the Moselle, the Mississippi and beyond. The Viking River Cruises page has the full picture across all waterways.

Questions about booking Viking Hild

Does the Viking River Fare include shore excursions?

Yes. The Viking River Fare includes one complimentary shore excursion at every port of call, as well as guided visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the route. Additional excursions can be added separately.

Is Wi-Fi included on Viking Hild?

Yes — Wi-Fi is included in the Viking River Fare for all guests, with no additional charge.

When does Viking Hild sail the Rhine?

The Basel-departure sailings run in May and November; the Trier-departure sailings run in March and December. These are seasonal programmes, not year-round departures, so the available windows are specific — it is worth checking dates early, particularly for the Christmas-market season sailings in November and December.

Can Cruise1st arrange flights and hotels with the Rhine cruise?

Yes, and this is exactly how most Australians book it. Because every Viking Hild sailing departs from Europe, Cruise1st puts the whole trip together — flights from Australia, accommodation before and after the cruise, and transfers — as one holiday on one booking. That is what the Cruise1st Packages service is built for, and our specialists are on the phone seven days a week to shape it around your dates and preferences.

What is the best cabin type on Viking Hild for the Rhine scenery?

The outside cabins with a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door give a direct connection to the river without stepping into public areas — a genuinely different experience from a standard window. Suite guests get a full private veranda for the same effect with more space. The cabins and deck plans page shows every grade and its position on the ship, which is the most useful tool for choosing.