Viking Skadi

Sailing the Seine and Danube on Viking Skadi

Viking Skadi was launched in 2013 and carries up to 190 guests with a crew of 53 — a ratio that keeps the service attentive without the ship feeling crowded. She was named by godmother Lady Fiona Carnarvon OC and operates under Viking River Cruises, the line that pioneered the modern European river itinerary. The result is a ship designed entirely around the waterway: shallow enough to pass through historic locks, long enough at 135 metres to hold a proper sun deck and a lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, and compact enough that every guest sees the river from somewhere on board.

On board Viking Skadi

The ship’s public spaces are few but well-chosen. The Aquavit Terrace® is the al fresco dining spot, open for breakfast and lunch where guests can eat with Europe’s river landscapes moving past — included in the fare. Inside, the Lounge runs a full bar against panoramic windows; beverages are charged individually unless a package has been arranged. For something quieter, the Library holds a curated book collection in a corner away from the main thoroughfare. Up top, the Sun Deck gives 360-degree views and doubles as a walking track — the same route listed separately as the Walking Track — though it closes during canal passages and under low bridges for safety. A small Herb Garden on board supplies the culinary team with fresh herbs for regional dishes each day; guests are welcome to visit it whenever they like.

Cabins and suites

Across 95 cabins and eight grades, Viking Skadi offers three broad families — outside staterooms, one balcony category, and five suite grades. The outside staterooms share early embarkation at noon and stateroom access from 3 pm, plus the river-view half-height picture window that lets natural light in without a full balcony. The suite categories step up to French balconies — floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open the cabin to the river — and the top grades add a private full-size veranda. Full grade details, sizes and deck plans are on the Viking Skadi cabins and deck plans page.

The Viking River Fare

Every sailing on Viking Skadi is priced under the Viking River Fare, which 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. Wi-Fi and UNESCO site visits are also covered. It is a genuinely inclusive tariff — the main additional cost guests encounter is drinks ordered outside meal service in the Lounge.

Where Viking Skadi sails

Current sailings on Skadi run across two rivers. On the Seine, she departs Paris on 7-night round-trips, calling at Rouen, Vernon, La Roche-Guyon, Les Andelys, Le Pecq and scenic stretches of the river itself, with November and December departures through to December 2027. On the Danube, two further sailings are on sale, departing from both Passau and Budapest — 7-night one-way itineraries that trace the river between Germany and Hungary.

Paris departures can be found through the sailings page for Le Havre (Paris), France; Danube travellers can browse by Budapest, Hungary or Passau, Germany. Because every departure requires flying to Europe, we put the flights, hotels either side and transfers on the same booking as the cruise — one holiday, shaped to what you want.

Who Viking Skadi suits

Viking Skadi is built for river cruising and nothing else — no sea days, no vast atrium, no crowds. Guests who want to wake up each morning in a different historic town, step ashore independently with a shore excursion already included, and return to a ship where they know the bar staff by name tend to find this format exactly right. The inclusive fare and the shore excursion at every port make it a natural fit for first-time river cruisers who want the holiday organised without it feeling rigid.

Why book with Cruise1st

Cruise1st offers a Best Price Guarantee on Viking River Cruises sailings, backed by Australian cruise experts available seven days a week before you book. Because Viking Skadi sails in France, Germany and Hungary, most Australian guests want flights, pre- or post-cruise hotels and transfers bundled with the cruise — that is exactly what Cruise1st Packages does, putting everything on one booking. Whatever cabin grade or fare inclusions suit your circumstances, we help you work it out before you commit.

Viking River Cruises’ wider fleet

Viking River Cruises currently has 30 ships on sale with Cruise1st. They are grouped below by the river they sail.

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

Transatlantic: Viking Vela, Viking Astrea, Viking Lyra

Western Mediterranean: Viking Libra

United States: Viking Mississippi

Maas: Viking Mimir

The Viking River Cruises page has the full fleet and an overview of what sailing with the line is like.

Questions about sailing on Viking Skadi

Does Viking Skadi have a lift between decks?

The facts we hold for Viking Skadi do not confirm a lift between decks. If this matters for your booking — particularly if you are travelling with limited mobility — our Australian cruise experts can confirm it before you commit. Call seven days a week.

What does the Viking River Fare actually include at dinner?

At lunch and dinner the Viking River Fare covers beer, wine and soft drinks as standard, alongside the full dining menu with regional specialities. Coffees, teas and bottled water are available around the clock. Drinks ordered outside meal service in the Lounge are charged individually, though packages can be arranged.

Can I travel to Paris or Budapest as part of the same booking?

Yes — because Viking Skadi departs from Paris, Passau and Budapest, most Australian guests want to combine the cruise with flights and a few nights in the city either side. Cruise1st Packages puts the flights, hotel and transfers on the same booking as the river cruise, so there is one itinerary and one point of contact throughout.

How far in advance do I need to book a Seine sailing?

Current sailings run from November 2026 through to December 2027, so there is a reasonable window — but Seine itineraries in November and December sell steadily as guests combine them with the Christmas markets at the river towns. The cabins and deck plans page shows what is still available across the eight grades.