Viking Idun

Sailing the Rhine on Viking Idun

Viking Idun works the Rhine, one of Europe’s great travel corridors, on 7-night one-way voyages between Trier in Germany and Basel in Switzerland. The itineraries run in both directions, so travellers can choose whether they begin in Germany’s oldest city — founded by the Romans and steeped in two millennia of history — or end there after joining the ship in Basel. Because the sailings depart from Germany and Switzerland, Cruise1st books the flights, hotels and transfers alongside the cruise, putting the whole European trip on one itinerary from Australia.

Both sailings currently on sale are 7-night one-way departures on the Rhine. With only two departures on the books at present, demand can concentrate quickly — the Viking River Cruises page shows the full programme across the fleet if you want to compare dates and routes. Sailings start from A$3,395pp*.

Life aboard Viking Idun

With 190 guests and 53 crew across 95 cabins, Viking Idun is intimate by design. The ratio of crew to guest means service is attentive without being formal, and the scale of the ship makes it straightforward to feel at home quickly. She was launched in 2012, with Harvard physicist Lisa Randall serving as her godmother.

The Aquavit Terrace® is the social heart of the ship at mealtimes — an al fresco dining space open to all guests for breakfast and lunch, with the river gliding past on either side. It is included in the cruise fare, and on a clear morning between Trier and Rüdesheim it is one of the better breakfast tables in Europe. The Lounge offers floor-to-ceiling windows and a full bar for evenings, with the panorama shifting as the ship moves through locks and past vine-covered hillsides. Beverages here are charged individually unless a drinks package has been added to the booking.

The Sun Deck at the top of the ship gives 360-degree views of the river valley and doubles as the site of the Walking Track, so guests can stay active while watching the landscape change. Access to the Sun Deck is restricted during canal passages and under low bridges for safety — the crew will advise. Below, a small Herb Garden supplies the galley with fresh herbs that go into the regional dishes served on board, and guests are free to visit it throughout the voyage. For quieter moments, the Library holds a curated collection and offers a calm corner away from the communal spaces.

The Viking River Fare

Every sailing on Viking Idun is sold under the Viking River Fare, which bundles a meaningful amount into the headline price. It covers a complimentary shore excursion at every port, full onboard dining with regional specialities, and beer, wine and soft drinks served at lunch and dinner. Round-the-clock coffees, teas and bottled water are included throughout the day, as is free Wi-Fi across the ship and visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites where the route passes them. For Australian travellers weighing up a river cruise, the included excursions matter: a port-intensive 7-night Rhine itinerary with every stop covered means the shore programme is effectively built in.

Cabins on Viking Idun

The ship carries 95 cabins across 8 grades, divided between outside staterooms, balcony cabins and suites. The four outside grades share a set of practical touches well suited to a river ship: early 3pm stateroom access to settle in before the day’s sailing, private river-view outdoor space reached directly from the cabin, and half-height picture windows that flood the room with natural light and scenery. The two balcony grades step things up with fuller outdoor access, and the two suite grades add a private veranda and the same early access. Full dimensions, floorplans and grade-by-grade detail are on the Viking Idun cabins and deck plans page.

Viking River Cruises’ Rhine fleet

Viking Idun is one of fourteen Viking River Cruises ships currently sailing the Rhine. The others on that river — each with its own sailing schedule — 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, Viking Hild and Viking Hlin.

Viking also operates on other waterways. On the Danube you’ll find Viking Vali and seven further ships; Viking Mississippi sails the United States; and ships on the Moselle, the Maas and the Western Mediterranean round out the European river programme. The Viking River Cruises page lists the full fleet with current availability.

Booking Viking Idun with Cruise1st

Cruise1st offers a Best Price Guarantee on every sailing, and Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to help choose the right cabin grade, fare inclusions and itinerary direction. Because Viking Idun sails in Germany and Switzerland, there is travel to arrange beyond the cruise itself — Cruise1st packages the flights from Australia, hotel nights at either end and all transfers into one booking through its Cruise1st Packages service, so nothing has to be coordinated separately.

Questions about Viking Idun and the Rhine

Does Viking Idun have a lift between decks?

The ship facts provided to us do not confirm a lift. If accessibility between decks is important for your trip, our team can check the latest vessel information before you book — call Cruise1st seven days a week and an Australian river cruise specialist will find out.

Is Wi-Fi included on Viking Idun?

Yes. Free Wi-Fi is included under the Viking River Fare on every sailing, with no package required to access it.

Which direction is better — Trier to Basel or Basel to Trier?

Both are 7-night one-way sailings covering the same stretch of river, so the scenery is the same either way. The practical difference is which city you spend your first and last nights in. Basel offers fast connections into central Europe, while Trier gives you one of Germany’s best-preserved Roman cities as a starting or finishing point. We can build either direction into a full holiday with flights and hotel nights on each end — talk to our team about which suits your wider itinerary.

What shore excursions are included on the Rhine itinerary?

The Viking River Fare covers a complimentary shore excursion at every port of call, as well as visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites where the route passes them. Additional or premium excursions can be added, and our team can advise on what is typically available on the Trier–Basel and Basel–Trier routes.

Can Cruise1st book my flights and hotels alongside the cruise?

Yes — this is exactly what the Cruise1st Packages service is for. Because both embarkation ports (Trier and Basel) require a flight from Australia, we put flights, any hotel nights at either end, transfers and the cruise itself onto one booking. You deal with one itinerary and one point of contact throughout.