Viking Lofn

Sailing the Rhône on Viking Lofn

Viking Lofn works one of Europe’s most rewarding river routes — the Rhône, running from the sun-soaked south of France northward through wine country and into the heart of the country. Her sailings are all one-way, ranging from seven to fourteen nights, departing from either Avignon or Lyon and ending in Paris, Lyon or Avignon depending on the direction and duration. Because every departure is in France, the cruise naturally sits in the middle of a longer trip — Cruise1st books the flights, the hotel either side and the transfers as one holiday, so nothing is left to piece together separately.

The itineraries connect a string of places that reward slow travel: Avignon’s papal palace, the vineyards of the Rhône Valley, the Roman ruins of the south and the grand boulevards of Lyon, France’s food capital. Sailings from Lyon take guests downstream through Provence, while those ending in Paris allow time in the capital — departures through Le Havre and Paris extend the journey into the Seine.

Life aboard Viking Lofn

At 135 metres and 190 guests with a crew of 53, Viking Lofn is an intimate ship — the ratio of crew to guests means service is attentive and the atmosphere is relaxed rather than resort-like. She launched in 2015 and carries the hallmarks of Viking’s longship design: clean Scandinavian interiors, panoramic windows throughout and a layout that keeps the river always in view.

The Aquavit Terrace® is the heart of outdoor life on board — an al fresco dining space where breakfast and lunch are served with the riverbank sliding past, included in the fare. When conditions allow, the Sun Deck at the top of the ship offers 360-degree views and a walking track, though it closes during canal passages and under low bridges for safety. The Walking Track itself is an easy way to stay active without leaving the ship, with open-air river views as you go.

Inside, the Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along the waterline, making it the natural place to settle with a drink while the landscape changes — beverages carry an individual charge unless a package has been added to the booking. The Library offers a curated book collection in a quiet corner of the ship, included for all guests. One of the more unusual touches is the on-board Herb Garden: a small working garden whose herbs the culinary team uses daily in regional dishes — something between a conversation piece and a genuine part of how the kitchen operates.

The Viking River Fare — what’s included

Viking Lofn sails on the Viking River Fare, which bundles a meaningful set of inclusions into the base price: a complimentary shore excursion at every port of call, 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 covered. For a river cruise where the shore programme is as important as the ship itself, having excursions already included removes a significant variable from the total cost of the holiday.

Cabins on Viking Lofn

Across 95 cabins there are eight grades spanning three families. The two outside stateroom grades feature half-height picture windows — natural light and riverside scenery without a full balcony footprint. The two balcony grades step things up for those who want their own outdoor space, while the four suite grades range from French-balcony staterooms — where floor-to-ceiling doors open to bring in fresh river air — through to full veranda suites with step-out space directly onto the river. Full grade-by-grade details, dimensions and deck plans are on the Viking Lofn cabins and deck plans page.

Why book with Cruise1st

Because Viking Lofn sails entirely in France, Australian guests are flying to get there — and that journey is exactly what Cruise1st Packages are built for: flights, hotels and transfers on the same booking as the cruise, shaped to what you actually want. Our Best Price Guarantee applies site-wide, and Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to help you choose the cabin grade and fare inclusions that suit your trip before you commit to anything.

Viking River Cruises’ wider fleet

Viking River Cruises runs one of the largest European river fleets available to Australian travellers, with 30 ships currently on sale through Cruise1st. Viking Lofn is the Rhône ship; the rest of the fleet covers the other great European waterways and beyond:

The ships that sail the 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

The ships that sail the Danube River, Europe

• Viking Eldir
• Viking Vali
• Viking Lif
• Viking Vidar
• Viking Aegir
• Viking Gullveig
• Viking Baldur
• Viking Embla

The ships that sail the Moselle River, Europe

• Viking Idi
• Viking Alsvin

The ships that sail the Maas

• Viking Mimir

The ships that sail the United States

• Viking Mississippi

The ships that sail the Transatlantic

• Viking Vela
• Viking Astrea
• Viking Lyra

The ships that sail the Western Mediterranean

• Viking Libra

Viking also operates ocean ships; you can explore the full Viking Cruises fleet separately.

Questions about Viking Lofn and the Rhône

How long are the Rhône sailings on Viking Lofn?

Current sailings run from seven to fourteen nights. The seven-night itineraries are the most common and suit a first river cruise well; the longer sailings extend the journey to take in a broader stretch of the river and give more time ashore in each region.

Where do the sailings start and finish?

Departures leave from Avignon or Lyon; end points include Avignon, Lyon and Paris depending on the route and direction. Because all ports are in France, Cruise1st assembles the flights, hotels and transfers as part of the same booking — there is no need to arrange any part of the journey separately.

Are drinks included on Viking Lofn?

The Viking River Fare includes beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, plus coffees, teas and bottled water throughout the day. Drinks ordered at the bar in the Lounge outside of meals carry an individual charge unless a beverage package has been added to the booking.

Are shore excursions included in the fare?

Yes — the Viking River Fare covers a complimentary excursion at every port of call, as well as UNESCO site visits. These are built into the base fare, so the core shore programme does not carry an additional cost.

How much does a Rhône cruise on Viking Lofn cost?

Sailings currently start from A$3,595pp*. Cruise1st’s Best Price Guarantee applies, and our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to help you match the right cabin grade and departure to your budget and travel dates.