Viking Modi

Sailing the Rhine and Danube on Viking Modi

Viking Modi has sailed for Viking River Cruises since 2015, carrying up to 190 guests along stretches of river that take in medieval market towns, vineyard slopes, gorges and UNESCO-listed city centres. She is a longship in the classic Viking mould: 135 metres of river-going vessel with 53 crew dedicated to fewer than 200 guests, which keeps the ratio personal and the atmosphere unhurried. Her sailings are one-way journeys — you board in one city and step ashore in another — and the itineraries on sale run from a week to just over a fortnight.

The majority of her programme runs the Rhine, departing from Basel in Switzerland or Amsterdam in the Netherlands. A further sailing heads east on the Danube, leaving Nuremberg and finishing in Budapest. All are one-way itineraries, which means the landscape changes every day and there is no retracing of water.

Because Basel, Amsterdam, Nuremberg and Budapest all require a flight from Australia, the cruise naturally sits at the centre of a longer European trip. Cruise1st books the flights, the hotel either side and the transfers as one holiday alongside the cruise, so there is nothing to piece together separately. Our Cruise1st Packages are designed for exactly this kind of trip.

On board Viking Modi

The ship is designed to feel open to the river at every turn. The Aquavit Terrace® extends the dining space outdoors, and it is where most guests gravitate for breakfast and lunch — river scenery on one side, regional food on the other, and the whole thing included in the fare. The Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along the waterline, offering panoramic views whether you are having a coffee or a pre-dinner drink at the bar (beverages beyond the included allowance are charged individually). Both spaces reward simply being still and watching Europe pass.

The Sun Deck at the top of the ship gives 360-degree views and houses the Walking Track — a simple way to stay active without losing sight of the river. Note that the Sun Deck closes briefly during canal passages and under low bridges for safety. Alongside it, the ship maintains a working Herb Garden: the culinary team harvests from it daily to prepare the regional dishes served below, and guests are welcome to explore it at any time. For quieter moments, the Library holds a curated collection of books in a corner away from the main thoroughfares.

What the Viking River Fare includes

Viking Modi sails on the Viking River Fare, which bundles a meaningful amount into the headline price. Every port comes with a complimentary shore excursion, so there is a guided experience waiting at each stop without anything to pre-purchase. Full onboard dining — including the regional specialities the kitchen is known for — is covered, as are beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, plus coffee, tea and bottled water throughout the day. Wi-Fi is included across the ship, and UNESCO site visits are built into the programme where the river passes them. It is a fare structure that leaves relatively little to pay on board, which suits longer itineraries where the extras can otherwise accumulate.

Cabins on Viking Modi

Across 95 cabins there are eight grades, grouped into three broad families. The two outside grades feature a half-height picture window and 3 PM stateroom access — useful on embarkation days when you want to settle in before the evening programme. The two balcony grades step up to private outdoor access. The four suite grades offer 52% more floor space than the standard staterooms, with either a French balcony — a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door that opens to the river — or a full-size private veranda. Full grade details, dimensions and deck plans are on the Viking Modi cabins and deck plans page.

Rhine and Danube itineraries currently on sale

All five sailings currently available are one-way journeys ranging from 7 to 17 nights. Four run the Rhine, and one heads down the Danube. Embarkation ports are Basel (three sailings), Amsterdam (one sailing) and Nuremberg (one sailing), with disembarkation in Basel, Amsterdam, Nuremberg or Budapest depending on the route. The sailings from Amsterdam suit guests who want to begin in one of Europe’s most rewarding short-stay cities, while the Danube sailing ends in Budapest — a natural anchor for a few extra nights either side. Fares start from A$4,795pp*.

Viking River Cruises’ wider European fleet

Viking River Cruises currently has 30 ships on sale through Cruise1st. They are grouped below by the river or region each one sails, which is the most useful way to find the right ship for a particular waterway.

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

Ships that sail the Danube River, Europe
Viking Eldir, Viking Vali, Viking Lif, Viking Vidar, Viking Aegir, Viking Gullveig, Viking Baldur, Viking Embla

Ships that sail the Moselle River, Europe
Viking Idi, Viking Alsvin

Ships that sail the Maas
Viking Mimir

Ships that sail the United States
Viking Mississippi

Ships that sail the Transatlantic and Western Mediterranean
Viking Vela, Viking Astrea, Viking Lyra, Viking Libra

The full fleet and what sailing with the line is like can be explored on the Viking River Cruises page.

Booking Viking Modi with Cruise1st

All sailings on Viking Modi depart from European ports, so the cruise is the centrepiece of a longer trip rather than a standalone booking. Cruise1st puts the flights from Australia, the hotel nights either side — in Basel, Amsterdam, Nuremberg or Budapest — and the transfers all on one booking with the cruise, so nothing is left to arrange separately. That is what our Cruise1st Packages are built for. Our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to help pick the cabin grade and the fare inclusions that suit your travel style, and every booking is backed by our Best Price Guarantee.

Questions about sailing the Rhine and Danube on Viking Modi

Does the Viking River Fare cover shore excursions?

Yes. The Viking River Fare includes a complimentary guided shore excursion at every port of call, so there is a structured experience waiting ashore each day without anything to book or pay separately. UNESCO site visits where the route passes them are also included.

Is Wi-Fi available on board Viking Modi?

Wi-Fi is included for all guests as part of the Viking River Fare — no package or top-up is needed. This covers the cabins as well as the communal spaces on board.

What happens to the Sun Deck when the ship passes under low bridges?

The Sun Deck closes temporarily during canal passages and when the ship passes under low bridges, for safety reasons. These closures are brief and are a normal feature of river cruising in Europe — the Lounge and Aquavit Terrace® remain open throughout.

Can Cruise1st arrange the flights and hotels alongside the cruise?

Yes, and this is the most practical way to book a Viking Modi sailing from Australia. Because every departure is in Europe — Basel, Amsterdam or Nuremberg — the cruise is the middle of a longer trip, and Cruise1st books the flights, the hotel nights in the embarkation and disembarkation cities, and the transfers as one holiday. Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to put this together.

Which cities do the one-way itineraries connect?

The Rhine sailings currently on sale run between Basel and Amsterdam in both directions, while the Danube sailing departs Nuremberg and finishes in Budapest. Because all are one-way, you can combine the cruise with hotel stays in two different cities — one at each end — which suits guests building a broader European itinerary.