Viking Vilhjalm

Sailing the Danube on Viking Vilhjalm

Viking Vilhjalm is one of Viking River Cruises’ dedicated Danube ships, launched in 2016 and sized at 135 metres for 190 guests and a crew of 53. That ratio — roughly one crew member for every four guests — means the service is attentive without being intrusive, which is characteristic of Viking’s river fleet. Her godmother is Beryl Gibson, and she has sailed the Danube since the year of her launch.

The itineraries currently on sale are seven-night, one-way sailings between Budapest and Passau, running in both directions. Budapest to Passau and Passau to Budapest are each individual departures, so the direction you choose shapes what you see first and last — the Ottoman and Habsburg grandeur of Budapest at one end, the German cathedral city where three rivers meet at the other.

Because every Viking Vilhjalm sailing departs from Europe, Cruise1st puts the flights from Australia, the hotel nights either side and the airport transfers onto the same booking as the cruise itself, so there is a single itinerary to manage rather than several separate ones.

What the Viking River Fare includes

Viking River Cruises operates a single, structured tariff called the Viking River Fare, and it is worth understanding what it covers before comparing prices. The fare includes a complimentary shore excursion at every port, full onboard dining with regional specialities, and beer, wine and soft drinks served at lunch and dinner. Coffees, teas and bottled water are available around the clock. Free Wi-Fi is included, as are UNESCO World Heritage Site visits where the itinerary passes them. It is not an all-inclusive fare — additional drinks ordered outside mealtimes carry an individual charge — but the core of the experience is bundled in, which makes the daily rhythm straightforward.

On board Viking Vilhjalm

For a ship carrying 190 guests, Viking Vilhjalm’s public spaces are well considered. The Aquavit Terrace® is the signature al fresco dining space, open for breakfast and lunch with the river rolling past on both sides — a good place to put faces to names on the first morning out of port. Inside, the Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along the river-facing walls, so the view follows you to the bar; note that drinks ordered here are charged individually unless a package has been added to your booking.

The Sun Deck at the top of the ship gives 360-degree views and doubles as an outdoor walking space — a running track circles it, though access is restricted during canal passages and when the ship passes under low bridges, which happens regularly on the Danube. The Walking Track on the same deck is a straightforward way to stay active without paying extra. For a quieter moment, the Library holds a curated book collection in a corner designed for focused reading away from the communal areas. And the Herb Garden is a small but characteristic Viking touch — fresh herbs grown on board that the culinary team uses daily in the regional dishes served in the dining spaces.

Cabins on Viking Vilhjalm

Across 95 cabins, Viking Vilhjalm offers eight grades spread across three families. The outside category runs to four grades, ranging from river-view staterooms with half-height picture windows — which let in natural light and scenery without the full balcony premium — to French Balcony staterooms with direct access to fresh air and open river views. Balcony cabins occupy two grades, and two suite grades sit at the top of the range, each with a full-size private veranda and outdoor furniture for genuine open-air time on the river.

The full breakdown of grades, dimensions and deck positions is on the Viking Vilhjalm cabins and deck plans page, which is the right place to compare grades and choose the cabin that suits you.

Who Viking Vilhjalm suits

River cruising is a different holiday from ocean cruising: the ship is small enough to dock in the heart of each city rather than a container port on its outskirts, the pace is gentler, and the landscape is always close. Viking Vilhjalm’s size — 190 guests — means the group is intimate without being claustrophobic, and the included excursion at every port means there is always a structured option ashore if you want one, and nothing stopping you going your own way. The Danube itinerary between Budapest and Passau is one of the classic European river routes, passing through Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany, so it suits a first river cruise as much as a seasoned one.

Whatever the right cabin and fare look like for your trip, Cruise1st’s Australian cruise experts are available seven days a week to work through the options, and we put the whole holiday — flights, hotels either side, transfers and the cruise itself — on one booking.

Viking River Cruises’ Danube fleet

Viking River Cruises runs a large fleet of river ships across Europe and beyond — 30 ships currently have sailings on sale through Cruise1st. The ships that sail the Danube alongside Viking Vilhjalm are:

• Viking Eldir
• Viking Vali
• Viking Lif
• Viking Vidar
• Viking Aegir
• Viking Gullveig
• Viking Baldur
• Viking Embla

The Rhine fleet, the Moselle ships and the Mississippi boat each sail their own waterways. You can explore the full programme on the Viking River Cruises page, or browse Viking Cruises for the ocean fleet alongside.

Booking Viking Vilhjalm with Cruise1st

Cruise1st offers a Best Price Guarantee on every sailing and Australian cruise experts are on hand seven days a week to help before you book. Because Viking Vilhjalm sails in Europe, most Australian travellers need flights, pre- or post-cruise hotel nights and transfers — our Cruise1st Packages put all of that on one booking, so there is one confirmation and one point of contact for the whole trip. Whatever cabin grade and fare inclusions suit your plans, we help you work through the options before anything is committed.

Questions about sailing the Danube on Viking Vilhjalm

What does the Viking River Fare actually include at dinner?

At both lunch and dinner, the Viking River Fare covers beer, wine and soft drinks as part of the meal. Full onboard dining with regionally inspired dishes is included throughout the cruise. Drinks ordered outside of mealtimes — at the Lounge bar between services, for example — are charged individually unless you have added a drinks package to your booking.

Can I access the Sun Deck at all times?

The Sun Deck is open to all guests and is included in the cruise, but access is restricted during canal passages and when the ship passes under low bridges — both of which occur regularly on the Danube. The crew will advise when access is limited; it is temporary and the deck reopens once the passage is clear.

Which direction should I sail — Budapest to Passau or Passau to Budapest?

Both are seven-night one-way sailings covering the same stretch of river, so the experience on board is essentially the same. The choice comes down to which city you want to arrive in and which you prefer to leave from — Budapest’s thermal baths and ruin bars make a strong opening or closing act, while Passau’s position at the confluence of three rivers is a memorable end or beginning. If you are building a wider European trip around the cruise, the direction often follows where your flights land and depart from, which is something our team can help map out.

Is Wi-Fi included, and does it reach the cabins?

Yes — Wi-Fi is included in the Viking River Fare across the ship. River Wi-Fi speeds vary with signal coverage along the waterway, which can be patchy in rural stretches, but connectivity is generally available in the cabins and public spaces.

How far in advance should I book a Danube sailing?

There are currently two sailings available on Viking Vilhjalm, so the choice of departure date and cabin grade is limited. For a ship of 95 cabins on a popular European river route, booking early is the practical way to secure the grade you want — particularly the suite categories, which are the fewest in number. Our experts can check live availability and hold a cabin while you finalise flights and dates.