Viking Hlin

Sailing the Rhine on Viking Hlin

Viking Hlin makes the Rhine her sole focus. Built in 2014 and running at 135 metres with a crew of 53 looking after 190 guests across 95 cabins, she is a purposefully scaled ship — intimate enough that the same faces appear at breakfast and again at dinner, wide enough that there is always a comfortable corner to call your own. Viking River Cruises designed her around the idea that the river itself is the destination, and the ship’s layout reflects that: panoramic windows in the Lounge, an open Sun Deck for wide-angle views, and a pace that lets the landscape do the work.

On board Viking Hlin

The ship’s public spaces are few and well-considered. The Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along its length, framing the passing riverbank as guests settle in with a drink at the bar — beverages carry an individual charge unless a package has been booked. The Aquavit Terrace® takes the same view outdoors: an al fresco dining area where breakfast and lunch are served with the river scrolling past, included in the cruise fare. The Sun Deck at the top of the ship offers a full 360-degree panorama and a Walking Track for anyone who wants to stretch their legs between ports — access is restricted during canal passages and under low bridges for safety. A Library in a quieter corner of the ship holds a curated book collection for reading away from the flow of things. And an on-board Herb Garden supplies the galley with fresh herbs daily, a small but genuine detail that runs through every meal served on board.

Cabins on Viking Hlin

The 95 cabins span eight grades across three families. Outside cabins — two grades — offer river-view staterooms with half-height picture windows and a 12-noon embarkation time with 3 pm stateroom access, so guests can settle in and freshen up before the first dinner. Balcony cabins — two grades — step up to private outdoor space. The suite family covers four grades, ranging from French balcony options with an opening glass door for direct river air to full veranda suites with private outdoor space and unobstructed sightlines. The Viking Hlin cabins and deck plans page has every grade in full, with measurements and position on board.

What the Viking River Fare includes

All sailings on Viking Hlin are sold under the Viking River Fare, a structured tariff that bundles a complimentary shore excursion at every port, full onboard dining with regional specialities, and beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner — plus round-the-clock coffees, teas and bottled water. Free Wi-Fi and UNESCO site visits are also covered. It is not an all-inclusive fare — additional drinks and optional excursions carry their own charges — but the core of the cruise is paid before departure, which makes budgeting straightforward.

Where Viking Hlin sails

Viking Hlin sails the Rhine exclusively, running 7-night one-way voyages in both directions between Basel in Switzerland and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The two principal programmes are both seasonal.

The Basel to Amsterdam route sails in November, calling at ports including Breisach, Strasbourg, Speyer, Mannheim, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, Cologne and Kinderdijk on its way downstream. Fares start from A$4,795pp*. The Amsterdam to Basel direction runs in December and March, calling at Cologne, Rüdesheim, Koblenz, Kinderdijk, Dordrecht, Strasbourg and Breisach among others on the upstream passage, from A$5,595pp*.

Both directions trace the same stretch of water — the upper Rhine through Alsace and Baden, the Middle Rhine gorge with its castle-topped ridges, and the broad Dutch delta approaching Amsterdam — but the rhythm differs by season: November departures from Basel catch the Christmas market season taking shape in Strasbourg and Cologne, while the December and March sailings from Amsterdam bracket the quieter winter river. Calls listed are those most sailings make; individual itineraries vary.

Because Basel and Amsterdam are both a long-haul flight from Australia, the cruise sits naturally at the centre of a wider European trip. Cruise1st puts the flights, hotels either side and transfers on the same booking — see our Cruise1st Packages for how that works in practice.

Viking River Cruises’ Rhine fleet

Viking Hlin is one of fourteen Viking River Cruises ships currently sailing the Rhine. The others in that group are 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 Hild.

Viking also operates ships on the Danube — including Viking Vali — the Moselle, the Maas, and in the United States on Viking Mississippi. The full picture of what the line offers is on the Viking River Cruises page.

Booking Viking Hlin with Cruise1st

Cruise1st offers a Best Price Guarantee on Viking Hlin sailings — if you find the same cruise cheaper elsewhere, we match it. Our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to talk through routes, cabin grades and what the Viking River Fare covers before you commit. And because every Viking Hlin departure is in Europe, we build the whole journey — flights from Australia, hotels in Basel or Amsterdam either side of the cruise, and all transfers — on a single booking through our Cruise1st Packages service, so nothing is left to chance.

Questions about Viking Hlin

Does the Sun Deck stay open the whole voyage?

Mostly, but not always. The Sun Deck closes temporarily during canal passages and when the ship passes under low bridges — a practical reality on the Rhine, which passes through several lock systems between Basel and Amsterdam. It reopens as soon as the passage is clear.

Are drinks included in the fare?

Beer, wine and soft drinks are included at lunch and dinner, and coffee, tea and bottled water are available around the clock. Drinks ordered outside meal service — at the Lounge bar during the evening, for instance — are charged individually unless you have booked a drinks package on top of the base fare.

Is Wi-Fi available on board?

Yes. Free Wi-Fi is included in the Viking River Fare across the ship, so there is no need to purchase a separate package for internet access during the voyage.

What shore excursions are included?

The Viking River Fare covers one complimentary shore excursion at every port of call, as well as visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the route. Additional or alternative excursions can be purchased, but the core programme ashore is paid before you sail.

How do Australians reach Basel or Amsterdam to join the ship?

Both cities are well connected from Australian gateway airports via European hubs, but neither is a direct sailing from home. Cruise1st puts the return flights, any pre- or post-cruise hotel nights and all transfers on the same booking as the cruise — one conversation, one itinerary, one point of contact if anything changes. Speak to our Australian cruise experts seven days a week to put it together.