Viking Skirnir

Aboard Viking Skirnir

Launched in 2015, Viking Skirnir carries 190 guests and 53 crew along 135 metres of hull — a scale that keeps the experience genuinely intimate while still offering a full range of spaces to retreat to or gather in. She was built for the European rivers that reward slow travel: the Rhine winding past castles and vineyards, the Danube threading through capital cities. The godmother of the ship is Donora Anderson Viking Skirnir, and the vessel reflects the understated Scandinavian design sensibility that runs through the Viking River Cruises fleet.

The tone on board is relaxed and unhurried. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the Lounge frame the passing riverbank as you settle in with a drink from the bar — beverages carry an individual charge unless you have added a package — and swap stories with fellow guests about the day ashore. The Library offers a curated book collection in a quiet corner of the ship, away from the main flow of traffic, and is included in your fare. When the weather is with you, the Sun Deck at the top of the ship opens up 360-degree views and a walking track that doubles as a running track; access is restricted during canal passages and under low bridges for safety, but those moments are part of the river experience themselves.

One of the more distinctive touches on board is the Herb Garden — a working garden where fresh herbs are grown during the voyage and used daily by the culinary team to create regional dishes. It is a small thing that connects the cooking to the landscape in a way that menus alone cannot. Al fresco meals on the Aquavit Terrace® make the most of that cooking while keeping the river right in front of you; breakfast and lunch are served there, and both are included in your cruise.

The Viking River Fare

Every sailing aboard Viking Skirnir is priced under the Viking River Fare, which bundles a meaningful amount into the headline price. At every port of call a complimentary shore excursion is included, so you are not choosing between going ashore and staying within budget. Onboard dining — full meals with regional specialities — is covered throughout, along with 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. It is a fare structure worth understanding before you compare prices: the inclusions remove several of the extras that can quietly inflate the final cost on other lines.

Cabins on Viking Skirnir

Across 95 cabins, Viking Skirnir offers eight grades spread across outside, balcony and suite categories. The two outside grades share river-view staterooms with half-height picture windows — natural light and scenery without the full balcony footprint — and the ship’s 12 pm embarkation and 3 pm stateroom access policy means you can be settled in well before sailing. The four suite grades step up to 37% more space than the French Balcony staterooms, with French-balcony glass doors that open directly to the river; suites are available on both mid and upper decks, giving you a choice of perspective. The Viking Skirnir cabins and deck plans page has every grade with its full specification — that is the right place to choose between them.

Where Viking Skirnir sails

Viking Skirnir’s current programme runs across the Rhine and the Danube on one-way itineraries ranging from seven to seventeen nights. On the Rhine, sailings depart from Basel, Switzerland and Amsterdam in the Netherlands, connecting the Swiss city with the Dutch coast via the castles, cathedral towns and wine villages of the middle Rhine valley. On the Danube, a sailing departs from Nuremberg and runs through to Budapest, taking in the Austro-Hungarian cities that line the river’s middle stretch. All five sailings currently on sale are priced from A$4,795pp*.

Because the ship departs from Basel, Amsterdam and Nuremberg — all cities you will fly into — these cruises sit naturally at the centre of a broader European trip. Cruise1st puts the flights, hotels either side and transfers on the same booking as the cruise, so nothing is left to arrange separately. Sailings from Amsterdam are a popular starting point for the Rhine programme, while Basel serves as both an embarkation and disembarkation port depending on the direction of travel.

Viking River Cruises’ fleet by waterway

Viking River Cruises operates 30 ships across Europe and North America, grouped here by the river or region each one sails. Viking Skirnir sails the Rhine and Danube; the ships below cover those rivers and the rest of the network.

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

United States
Viking Mississippi

Maas
Viking Mimir

Transatlantic
Viking Vela, Viking Astrea, Viking Lyra

Western Mediterranean
Viking Libra

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

Booking Viking Skirnir with Cruise1st

Cruise1st’s Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to help you match the right itinerary, cabin grade and fare inclusions to what you are looking for — and to put the whole holiday together on one booking, from flights and hotels to transfers and the cruise itself, through our Cruise1st Packages. Every booking is covered by our Best Price Guarantee.

Questions about sailing on Viking Skirnir

Is Wi-Fi included on Viking Skirnir?

Yes. Wi-Fi is covered under the Viking River Fare, which applies to every sailing currently on sale. You do not need to purchase a separate connectivity package.

Do I need to arrange flights to join the ship?

All current sailings depart from Basel, Amsterdam or Nuremberg — cities you will fly into from Australia. Cruise1st books the flights, hotels either side and transfers as part of the same holiday, so there is nothing left to arrange independently. Speak to our team about putting together the full itinerary.

What shore excursions are included?

The Viking River Fare includes a complimentary guided shore excursion at every port of call, as well as UNESCO site visits where the itinerary includes them. Additional excursions may be available at an extra cost.

Which cabin type suits a first-time river cruiser?

The outside staterooms are a solid entry point — river-view windows, 12 pm embarkation access and the same dining and shore excursion inclusions as the suites. If you want fresh air from your cabin, the balcony and suite grades add French-balcony glass doors that open directly to the river. The cabins and deck plans page lays out every grade side by side to make the comparison straightforward.

Can I sail the Rhine and the Danube on the same trip?

Viking Skirnir sails both rivers, but the Rhine and Danube programmes are separate itineraries rather than a single combined voyage. If you want to combine both rivers, speak to our team — they can help you sequence two back-to-back sailings or identify the right itinerary for the journey you have in mind.