Viking Ullur

Sailing the Danube on Viking Ullur

Viking Ullur carries 190 guests along the Danube, one of Europe’s great waterways, passing through the UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley, the spires of Vienna, the baroque old town of Bratislava and the medieval centre of Regensburg before arriving in Passau or continuing further downstream. Built in 2019 and operated by Viking River Cruises, she is a modern longship designed for the river: 135 metres in length, with the shallow draft and clean lines that let her navigate the Danube’s varied reaches. Her godmother is Linh Banh Viking Ullur.

All current sailings from Viking Ullur are seven nights and run as one-way itineraries — the kind of journey that moves with the river rather than doubling back, so the view from the window is always changing. Because every departure leaves from Budapest, Passau or Regensburg — cities the reader will likely fly into — the cruise sits naturally at the centre of a wider Central European trip, and Cruise1st can book the flights, the hotel either side and all transfers as one joined-up holiday.

Where Viking Ullur sails

All sailings currently on sale are on the Danube, departing from Budapest. The seven-night, one-way programme runs from Budapest, calling at ports including Vienna, Wachau, Krems, Bratislava, Linz, Kalocsa and Passau, before finishing in Passau or Regensburg. A separate sailing departs from Bucharest, travelling the lower Danube in the opposite direction. These routes operate in December, March and November — a seasonal programme bookended by the quieter months, with the December departure offering a distinctive Christmas-market flavour through some of Europe’s most atmospheric river cities.

Three further single-departure sailings round out the current programme on different start points, making Viking Ullur a genuinely varied Danube option across the season. Sailings start from A$3,395pp*.

On board Viking Ullur

Viking Ullur is a thoughtfully compact ship — 95 cabins across 190 guests, served by 53 crew — which means attentive service and an intimate atmosphere that larger vessels rarely match. The public spaces are few but well chosen, and all are open to everyone on board.

The Aquavit Terrace® is the signature dining space, an al fresco deck that brings the river landscape right to the breakfast and lunch table. Inside, the Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along the waterline, making it the natural place to watch the scenery drift by over a drink — beverages are charged individually unless you have booked a package. Up on the Sun Deck, a Walking Track circles the top of the ship for 360-degree river views, though access is closed during canal passages and when passing beneath low bridges. A Library in a quieter corner of the ship holds a curated book collection — a good place to settle in with something about the region you are passing through. And the Herb Garden is an on-board green space whose herbs feed directly into the galley’s daily regional cooking.

The Viking River Fare — what is included

Viking Ullur sails under a single fare structure, the Viking River Fare, which is worth understanding before comparing prices. It bundles a complimentary shore excursion at every port, full onboard dining with regional specialities, and beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner. Coffees, teas and bottled water are available around the clock, Wi-Fi is included, and UNESCO site visits are covered. The result is a fare where most of a day ashore and most of what you eat and drink is already paid for — which makes the headline price a more complete picture of the holiday than it first appears.

Cabins on Viking Ullur

Viking Ullur has 95 cabins across eight grades, divided into three families. Outside staterooms — two grades — feature a half-height picture window that gives direct views of the passing riverbank without stepping outside. Balcony cabins bring more light and air, in two grades. Suites, across four grades, go further: a French balcony lets you open the cabin entirely to the river, while the top grades add a private river-view veranda — your own outdoor deck for morning coffee or an evening watching the lights of a city come into view. The Viking Ullur cabins and deck plans page has every grade in full, with layouts and positions on the ship.

Booking Viking Ullur with Cruise1st

Because every Viking Ullur sailing departs from Central Europe, the cruise is the centrepiece of a longer trip — and that is exactly what Cruise1st is set up to build. We book the flights from Australia, the hotel nights in Budapest or wherever you join and leave the ship, and all the transfers between them, as one holiday on a single booking. Whatever cabin grade and fare inclusions suit your plans, our Australian cruise experts can shape the whole thing — and they are available seven days a week to talk it through before you commit.

Every Cruise1st booking is backed by our Best Price Guarantee, and our Cruise1st Packages make it straightforward to add flights, hotels and transfers alongside the cruise itself.

Viking River Cruises’ Danube fleet

Viking Ullur sails alongside a number of other Viking River Cruises ships on the Danube. The ships that share this waterway include Viking Vali, Viking Eldir, Viking Lif, Viking Vidar, Viking Aegir, Viking Gullveig, Viking Baldur and Viking Embla. For the Rhine, Viking operates a larger group including Viking Hervor, Viking Annar and others. The Moselle is served by Viking Idi and Viking Alsvin, the Mississippi by Viking Mississippi, and the Maas by Viking Mimir. Ocean voyages are handled by ships including Viking Orion and Viking Neptune. The full picture of what Viking offers is on the Viking River Cruises page.

Questions about sailing the Danube on Viking Ullur

What does the Viking River Fare actually cover on a typical day?

The Viking River Fare includes all onboard meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner — with beer, wine and soft drinks served at lunch and dinner, and coffee, tea and bottled water throughout the day. Ashore, a guided excursion is included at every port of call, along with visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites where the route passes them. Wi-Fi is covered too, so there is no need to budget separately for the basics of daily life on board.

Are the Danube sailings suitable for solo travellers?

Viking Ullur’s facts do not include specific solo supplement details, so we would recommend calling our Australian cruise experts — available seven days a week — who can check current solo pricing for the specific departure you have in mind.

When does Viking Ullur sail the Danube, and is it year-round?

No — the current programme on sale is seasonal. Departures from Budapest run in December, March and November, making Viking Ullur a good fit for travellers who want the Danube at the edges of the main European summer season, including the Christmas-market sailings in December. If you are flexible on timing, our team can check availability across the full calendar.

Can Sun Deck access be restricted during the cruise?

Yes. The Sun Deck is open to all guests as standard, but access is closed during canal passages and when the ship passes under low bridges — a practical feature of river cruising that applies on the Danube’s more constrained sections. The Aquavit Terrace® and Lounge offer indoor or sheltered alternatives at those times.

How do I get to Budapest to join the ship?

Budapest is served by direct and connecting flights from major Australian cities. Because the cruise is a one-way voyage — you join in one city and disembark in another — the transfers and any hotel nights either side need to be arranged as part of the overall trip. Cruise1st handles exactly this: we put the flights, the hotels in Budapest or your disembarkation city, and all transfers on the same booking as the cruise, so the whole journey is sorted in one conversation.