Viking Tialfi

Sailing the Rhine on Viking Tialfi

Viking Tialfi runs the Rhine in both directions, and the two routes give a pleasingly different perspective on the same river. Her programme through late 2026 and into early 2027 is built around seven-night one-way passages, all operated by Viking River Cruises.

The southbound route departs Basel and finishes in Amsterdam, sailing November and December 2026. It calls at a string of riverside towns that together read like a tour of the upper and middle Rhine — Breisach, Strasbourg, Speyer, Mannheim, Rüdesheim, Koblenz and Cologne — before reaching Kinderdijk and the Dutch lowlands. Fares on this route start from A$4,795pp*.

The northbound route reverses the journey, departing Amsterdam and finishing in Basel. These sailings depart in December 2026 and March 2027, calling at Dordrecht, Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Strasbourg, Speyer and Breisach on the way south. Fares start from A$5,095pp*.

Beyond the Rhine, Viking Tialfi also has a Danube departure on sale — departing Budapest for a one-way passage further along the river. The sailings from Amsterdam are worth exploring if you want to begin your Rhine journey in the Netherlands.

Because Basel, Amsterdam and Budapest all require a flight from Australia, the cruise sits naturally at the centre of a wider European trip. We book the flights, the hotel either side and all transfers as one holiday — nothing to arrange separately.

On board Viking Tialfi

At 135 metres long and built in 2016, Viking Tialfi is a modern river longship designed to navigate the Rhine’s locks, bridges and varying water levels. Her 53 crew look after 190 guests, a ratio that keeps service attentive without feeling overworked.

The Aquavit Terrace® is the heart of daytime life aboard: an al fresco dining space at the stern where breakfast and lunch are served with the passing riverbank as a backdrop. It is included in the cruise fare and open to all guests, and on a sunny November morning sailing through Alsace, there is nowhere better to be.

The Lounge runs along the upper deck with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the river on both sides — a natural gathering place after excursions, with a bar where beverages are charged individually unless a package has been booked. The Sun Deck above is open for walking and relaxing, and also carries a Walking Track for anyone who wants to stretch their legs between ports. Access to the Sun Deck is restricted during canal passages and under low bridges for safety reasons.

A quiet Library with a curated book collection offers a retreat when the river calls for reflection rather than activity. Perhaps most characteristically Viking, the Herb Garden on board grows fresh herbs that the culinary team uses daily in the regional dishes served throughout the ship — a small detail that connects what is on the plate to where the ship is sailing.

Cabins and suites on Viking Tialfi

Across 95 cabins, Viking Tialfi offers eight grades spread across outside, balcony and suite categories. Five outside grades provide the entry points: some with a French balcony — a full-height glass door that opens to river air without a separate terrace — and others with a half-height picture window that brings in natural light and views. Balcony cabins step up to two grades with private outdoor space, and a single suite category sits at the top of the range. Full details of every grade, including deck positions and layouts, live on the Viking Tialfi cabins and deck plans page.

What the Viking River Fare includes

Viking River Cruises operates a single structured fare — the Viking River Fare — that bundles a generous core of inclusions into the headline price. Every port of call comes with a complimentary shore excursion, so the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Strasbourg and the Loreley viewpoint above the Rhine gorge are covered without extras. All onboard dining is included, with regional specialities prepared using herbs from the ship’s own garden. Beer, wine and soft drinks are served with lunch and dinner at no extra charge, and coffee, tea and bottled water are available around the clock. Wi-Fi is included throughout the ship. The fare is not all-inclusive — spirits and premium drinks carry a charge — but the bundle means most guests find the daily cost largely settled before they step aboard.

Viking River Cruises’ fleet on the Rhine and beyond

Viking Tialfi is one of fourteen Viking River Cruises ships currently sailing the Rhine. The others on that river include 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 and Viking Hlin.

On the Danube you will find Viking Vali, Viking Eldir, Viking Lif, Viking Vidar, Viking Aegir, Viking Gullveig, Viking Baldur and Viking Embla. The Moselle is covered by Viking Idi and Viking Alsvin. Viking Mississippi sails US river itineraries, while Viking Mimir works the Maas. Ocean voyages are operated by ships including Viking Orion, Viking Venus and Viking Neptune — the full picture is on the Viking River Cruises and Viking Cruises pages.

Why book Viking Tialfi with Cruise1st

Cruise1st backs every booking with its Best Price Guarantee and has Australian cruise experts available by phone seven days a week — people who know the Rhine programme and can help you match the right sailing, the right cabin grade and the right fare inclusions to what you actually want. Because every Viking Tialfi sailing departs from Europe, the cruise is the middle of a longer trip: our Cruise1st Packages put the flights, the hotels either side and the transfers on one booking alongside the cruise, so nothing is left to chance.

Questions about sailing the Rhine on Viking Tialfi

How long are the sailings currently on sale?

All Viking Tialfi sailings currently on sale are seven nights. They run as one-way passages — either Basel to Amsterdam or Amsterdam to Basel — so the ship’s time on the river is fully used sailing rather than retracing the same stretch.

When do the Rhine sailings depart?

The Basel-to-Amsterdam sailings run in November and December 2026. The Amsterdam-to-Basel direction departs in December 2026 and again in March 2027. The November and December departures will find the Rhine towns dressed for Christmas markets, which is one of the most popular times to sail this river.

Are drinks included on Viking Tialfi?

The Viking River Fare includes beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, plus coffee, tea and bottled water throughout the day. Spirits and premium beverages carry an additional charge. The Lounge bar is open between meals, with drinks billed individually unless a beverage package has been added to the booking.

Is there Wi-Fi on board?

Yes — Wi-Fi is included in the Viking River Fare and available throughout the ship at no extra charge.

What shore excursions are included?

The Viking River Fare covers one complimentary shore excursion at every port of call. On a Rhine itinerary this typically means guided visits to the historic centres of cities like Strasbourg, Cologne and Rüdesheim. Additional excursions can be added, and UNESCO site visits are part of the included programme.