Viking Kari

Sailing the Seine on Viking Kari

Viking Kari works a single river with real focus. She departs Paris for every sailing currently on sale, and her two distinct programmes give you a choice of depth: a week-long round-trip that keeps the Seine at the centre, or a 14-night one-way journey that extends south from the river into Lyon and Avignon.

The 7-night round-trip runs in November and December, looping out of Paris and back through Rouen, Vernon, La Roche-Guyon, Les Andelys and Le Pecq, with scenic cruising on the Seine itself filling the stretches between. It is an atmospheric programme for the late-autumn months, when the valley is quiet and the light over the water is low and golden. Fares for this programme start from A$3,995pp*.

The 14-night one-way sailing departs Paris in March — with departures in both 2027 and 2028 — and runs south through the Seine before connecting to the Rhône valley, calling at Rouen, Vernon, La Roche-Guyon, Les Andelys, Le Pecq, Lyon and Vienne before finishing in Avignon. This is a longer journey that pairs the Norman landscape with Provence and the southern reaches of France. Fares for this route start from A$10,890pp*. For both programmes, Cruise1st puts the flights from Australia, the Paris hotel and all transfers on the same booking — the cruise is the middle of a longer trip, shaped around you.

Sailings depart from Paris. You can browse sailings from Paris and the Seine gateway to compare dates and fares in full.

On board Viking Kari

At 125 metres and carrying 168 guests with a crew of 46, Viking Kari is sized for the Seine — small enough to moor in the heart of each town, large enough to offer genuine comfort across six public spaces and 84 cabins. She was built in 2020 and carries the design language that Viking River Cruises has refined across its European fleet: clean Scandinavian interiors, an emphasis on natural light and an herb garden on deck that the culinary team actually uses.

The Aquavit Terrace® is the signature dining space, an al fresco terrace where breakfast and lunch are served with the river passing alongside — the kind of unhurried meal that makes river cruising what it is. The main Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along its length, framing the Seine as the ship moves, and the bar there serves drinks individually charged unless you have added a package. The Library offers a curated book collection in a quiet corner, good for the hours between ports. Up on the Sun Deck, a running track circles the ship for 360-degree river views — though access is restricted during canal passages and under low bridges for safety. And tucked into the ship is the Herb Garden, a working green space that supplies the kitchen with fresh herbs and stands as a small, genuine detail of what Viking means by an environmentally minded ship.

Cabins on Viking Kari

Viking Kari carries 84 cabins across eight grades, spread across three families. Outside staterooms come in two grades and include a heated bathroom floor, an anti-fog mirror and a river-view picture window for direct access to the passing scenery. Balcony cabins offer two grades with direct outdoor access. Suites run to four grades and include French balconies with floor-to-ceiling opening panels, full-size private verandas, and cabins that give 50% more space than the French Balcony staterooms. The full breakdown of grades, sizes and deck positions lives on the Viking Kari cabins and deck plans page.

What the Viking River Fare includes

Every Viking Kari sailing is offered under the Viking River Fare, which bundles a meaningful set of inclusions into the base price: a complimentary shore excursion at every port, full onboard dining with regional specialities, beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, and round-the-clock coffees, teas and bottled water. Wi-Fi is included, as are UNESCO site visits. For Australian travellers assessing the true cost of a river cruise, the Viking River Fare removes most of the daily add-ons that build up on other lines — what you see at booking is close to what you spend on board.

Why book Viking Kari with Cruise1st

Cruise1st offers a Best Price Guarantee on Viking River Cruises sailings, backed by Australian cruise experts available seven days a week. Because every Viking Kari sailing departs from France, the cruise is naturally the centrepiece of a longer trip — and our Cruise1st Packages put the flights from Australia, the Paris hotel before or after the cruise, and all transfers onto a single booking. Nothing to coordinate separately.

Viking River Cruises’ wider fleet

Viking Kari is one of 30 Viking River Cruises ships currently on sale through Cruise1st, each assigned to a specific waterway. The fleet is organised by river rather than by class, because the river is what changes from one ship to the next.

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

You can also browse the full Viking River Cruises page for the complete fleet and an overview of what sailing with Viking is like.

Questions about sailing the Seine on Viking Kari

Does the Viking River Fare really cover excursions at every port?

Yes. The Viking River Fare includes a complimentary shore excursion at every port of call, so there is a guided option ashore wherever the ship docks — from walking Rouen’s medieval centre to visiting the châteaux of the Seine valley. Additional excursions can be added, but the included ones give each port real structure without extra cost.

What is the difference between the 7-night and 14-night programmes?

The 7-night sailing is a round-trip from Paris that stays on the Seine, calling at Normandy towns and returning to the capital — a focused introduction to the river. The 14-night one-way sailing extends the journey south through the Rhône valley, ending in Avignon, and effectively combines two rivers in a single voyage. It is a March departure rather than a November or December one, so the season and the landscape are different as well as the length.

Can Cruise1st arrange flights and accommodation with the cruise?

Yes — this is one of the things Cruise1st does straightforwardly. Because Viking Kari sails from Paris, the cruise sits naturally in the middle of a longer France trip, and our team books the return flights from Australia, the Paris hotel before or after the voyage and all transfers as part of the same holiday. You can reach our Australian cruise experts seven days a week to put it together.

Is there Wi-Fi on board Viking Kari?

Wi-Fi is included in the Viking River Fare at no additional charge, covering the duration of the cruise.

Which cabin grade should I choose?

That depends on how much time you expect to spend in your cabin and how important outdoor river access is to you. Outside staterooms offer river views through a picture window; balcony cabins give direct outdoor access; and suites at the top of the range offer larger living spaces, French balconies with opening floor-to-ceiling panels or full private verandas. The Viking Kari cabins and deck plans page has every grade laid out with deck positions, which makes the choice considerably easier.