Viking Var

Sailing the Danube on Viking Var

Viking Var glides one of Europe’s great waterways, the Danube, threading through Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and Germany on seven-night one-way passages. Sailings currently on sale depart from Budapest, heading upstream through Bratislava, Vienna, Krems, the vine-clad Wachau valley, Linz and Passau, finishing at either Passau or Regensburg. It is a programme that runs in November and again in spring from April, so it draws guests who want to see the Danube at its quietest or catch Central Europe as the season opens. The route covers some of the Danube’s most storied stretches — the baroque spires of Vienna, the medieval rooftops of Regensburg and the UNESCO-listed Wachau gorge are all regular calls.

Beyond the two grouped routes, three individual departures complete the current programme — bringing the total to five sailings ranging from seven to seventeen nights. Because every sailing is a one-way journey, the ship is always moving: there are no turnaround days at anchor and no repeated scenery.

On board Viking Var

At 135 metres and 190 guests served by 53 crew, Viking Var is shaped for attentive, unhurried travel. The ratio means the public spaces never feel crowded, and the ship’s design keeps the river always present.

The Aquavit Terrace® is the ship’s signature dining space — a glass-enclosed al fresco area at the bow where breakfast and lunch are served with the passing riverbank for company. The Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along its length, making it as much an observation room as a bar; beverages are charged individually unless a package has been added to the booking. When the weather is right, the Sun Deck offers 360-degree views and a Walking Track for anyone who wants to stay moving between ports — though access is restricted during canal passages and when passing under low bridges. A quiet Library stocked with a curated collection sits in a tucked-away corner for reading between stops, and an on-board Herb Garden supplies the kitchen with fresh cuttings for the regional dishes served each day.

The Viking River Fare — what your cruise includes

Viking River Cruises operates a single bundled fare structure called the Viking River Fare. It covers a complimentary shore excursion at every port of call, full onboard dining with regional specialities, and beer, wine and soft drinks served at lunch and dinner — plus coffees, teas and bottled water around the clock. Wi-Fi is included throughout the ship, and the fare extends to UNESCO site visits along the route. It is a genuinely inclusive foundation: the main decisions at booking are cabin grade and any optional extras, not which dining venues to unlock.

Cabins on Viking Var

Viking Var carries 95 cabins across eight grades, divided between outside staterooms, balcony cabins and suites. The two outside grades share a river-view picture window that gives a direct sightline to the passing scenery without stepping onto public decks — a practical choice for guests who want the view but spend most of their time ashore. The balcony grades and four suite grades step up through French balconies and full private verandas, with suite options available on both Deck 2 and Deck 3 depending on whether a quieter lower-deck position or mid-ship convenience suits better. Every grade and the deck plans are on the Viking Var cabins and deck plans page.

Booking a Danube holiday with Cruise1st

All sailings on Viking Var depart from Central European cities — Budapest, Passau and Regensburg — that Australian guests reach by flying in. That makes the cruise the natural centrepiece of a wider trip, and Cruise1st puts the flights, hotels either side and transfers on the same booking so nothing is left to piece together separately. Our Cruise1st Packages are designed exactly for this: one booking, one point of contact, everything confirmed together. Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to help match the right cabin grade and fare to what you actually want from the trip, and every booking is covered by our Best Price Guarantee.

The Viking River Cruises fleet

Viking River Cruises operates across a wide range of European and international waterways, and Viking Cruises extends the fleet to ocean and expedition voyages. The river ships are grouped by the waterway they sail, so if the Danube is not quite the right fit, another river may be.

Ships that sail the Danube River, Europe:

• Viking Eldir
• Viking Vali
• Viking Lif
• Viking Vidar
• Viking Aegir
• Viking Gullveig
• Viking Baldur
• Viking Embla
• Viking Var (this ship)

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 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: Viking Vela, Viking Astrea, Viking Lyra.

Ships that sail the Western Mediterranean: Viking Libra.

Questions about sailing the Danube on Viking Var

What does the Viking River Fare actually cover on Viking Var?

The Viking River Fare includes all onboard meals with regional specialities, beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, coffees and teas all day, a shore excursion at every port, Wi-Fi throughout the ship, and UNESCO site visits along the route. The main on-the-day cost to watch for is the bar tab — drinks beyond those served at mealtimes are charged separately unless a beverage package has been added.

Are the Danube sailings seasonal or do they run year-round?

The sailings currently on sale run in two distinct windows: departures in November 2026 and in April 2027. The Danube programme is seasonal rather than continuous, so if a specific travel window matters, it is worth checking the available dates early — the shoulder-season departures suit guests who prefer the river with fewer crowds and a quieter pace ashore.

How does the Sun Deck work on a river ship?

The Sun Deck runs the full length of the ship’s top level and is open to all guests, with the walking track circling it. The important caveat on a river ship is that access is restricted during canal passages and whenever the ship passes under low bridges, which is a regular feature of Danube cruising — so the deck is a great place to be on open stretches but closes briefly at certain points along the route.

What is the smallest cabin on Viking Var and is there a river view from it?

The entry-level grades are the two outside stateroom categories, each with a half-height picture window that gives a direct sightline to the river. It is a fixed window rather than a door or balcony, but the view is there without needing to go up to a public deck. Full details of every grade — dimensions, deck positions, what is included — are on the Viking Var cabins and deck plans page.

Can Cruise1st arrange the flights and hotels around a Viking Var cruise?

Yes — because every sailing departs from and arrives at Central European cities, most Australian guests want flights and at least a night’s hotel on each end. Cruise1st books all of it together: flights from Australia, hotel nights in Budapest, Passau or Regensburg, transfers between airport and ship, and the cruise itself — as one Cruise1st Package, on a single booking. Our Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to put it together.