Viking Hild

Sailing the Rhine on Viking Hild

Viking Hild was built in 2017 and named by her godmother, Princess Stephanie Rosenberg Hild. She carries 190 guests and a crew of 53 across a 135-metre hull purpose-built for the rivers of Europe — a scale that lets her dock in the heart of towns that larger ships cannot reach. Every sailing is seven nights long, threading through the wine regions, Roman towns and UNESCO-listed landscapes that make the Rhine one of the world’s great inland waterways. All itineraries currently on sale from Amsterdam, Basel and Trier run as one-way journeys, so the river always moves beneath you rather than retracing its own steps.

On board Viking Hild

Viking’s design philosophy on the Rhine is to keep the ship uncluttered and the river always visible. The Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along its full length so the passing landscape is never out of sight; a bar is on hand and beverages are charged individually unless a package is booked. When the weather is kind, the Aquavit Terrace® moves dining outside — breakfast and lunch are served al fresco, with Europe’s riverbanks as the backdrop, all included in your cruise. Up on the Sun Deck, a Walking Track circles the top of the ship for 360-degree views and a simple way to stay active underway; note that the deck closes during canal passages and low-bridge crossings for safety.

A small Herb Garden on board supplies the culinary team with fresh ingredients daily, and guests are welcome to visit it at any time. For quieter moments, the ship’s Library holds a curated collection of books suited to the journey — histories of the Rhine valley, travel writing and fiction — all available to guests at no charge.

Cabins on Viking Hild

Across 95 cabins there are eight grades to choose from, spread across three families. The four outside grades share Freyja premium toiletries, daily water replenishment, twice-daily housekeeping and a dedicated stateroom steward throughout the voyage; some open onto the river through a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door, others through a half-height picture window that fills the room with natural light. The two balcony grades step things up with private outdoor space. At the top, two suite grades come with a full-size private veranda — a floor-to-ceiling sliding door and room for morning coffee or a sundowner as the Rhine passes by — alongside Freyja toiletries and daily water. For every grade, size, layout and exact deck position, the Viking Hild cabins and deck plans page has the full detail.

The Viking River Fare

Viking River Cruises operates a single, clearly defined fare tier aboard Viking Hild. The Viking River Fare bundles a complimentary shore excursion at every port, full onboard dining with regional specialities, beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, and round-the-clock coffees, teas and bottled water. Wi-Fi and UNESCO site visits are also included. It is not all-inclusive in the strictest sense — spirits and premium beverages carry an individual charge — but the core of the holiday is covered from the moment you board. CruiseAway’s cruise experts can walk through exactly what is and is not in the fare when you call, and help match the right cabin grade to it.

Where Viking Hild sails

All sailings currently on sale follow the Rhine, running as one-way seven-night journeys between Basel, Trier and Amsterdam. The two main programmes work in opposite directions along the same stretch of river.

Basel to Trier or Amsterdam — three departures, running in May and November between 2026 and 2027. Sailing out of Basel, Switzerland, itineraries on this route typically call at Strasbourg, Speyer, Mainz, Koblenz, Winningen, Cochem, Bernkastel-Kues and Trier on the way north. Fares from A$3,395pp*.

Trier to Basel — two departures, running in March and December 2027. Departing from Trier, Germany, the southbound route follows the Moselle and Rhine through Bernkastel-Kues, Cochem, Winningen, Koblenz, Mainz, Speyer, Mannheim and Strasbourg before arriving in Basel. Fares from A$6,595pp*.

A further single-departure sailing rounds out the programme; together the two main routes account for over 80 per cent of her current availability. All ports named above appear on most — but not necessarily all — sailings on each route.

Booking Viking Hild with CruiseAway

Basel, Trier and Amsterdam all require a flight from Australia, which makes Viking Hild a natural fit for a longer European trip. CruiseAway puts the cruise, the flights, the hotel nights either side and all the transfers on a single booking through our DreamAway Packages — one itinerary, one point of contact, nothing left to chance. Our cruise experts know the Rhine itineraries in detail and can advise on the best departure dates and cabin grades for your circumstances. Every booking is covered by our Best Price Guarantee.

Viking River Cruises’ Rhine fleet

Viking Hild is one of fifteen ships Viking River Cruises operates on the Rhine. The others currently on sale are Viking Idi, Viking Alsvin, Viking Gefjon, Viking Gersemi, Viking Hervor, Viking Annar, Viking Dagur, Viking Sigrun, Viking Haki, Viking Hlin, Viking Sigyn, Viking Herja, Viking Mimir and Viking Egdir. The line also runs ten ships on the Danube and vessels on the Transatlantic and Western Mediterranean routes — the full picture is on the Viking River Cruises page.

Questions about sailing the Rhine on Viking Hild

Which direction is better — Basel northbound or Trier southbound?

Both cover much the same stretch of the Rhine and call at many of the same towns, but in opposite order. The Basel northbound departure tends to run in May and November and builds toward the Moselle wine villages; the Trier southbound departure runs in March and December and arrives in Basel with the Alps as a backdrop. The best choice usually comes down to travel dates and which end of the river you would rather fly into — our cruise experts can help match that to the right departure.

Is Wi-Fi available in the cabins?

Yes. Wi-Fi is included in the Viking River Fare across the ship, and that covers cabin access as well as the public spaces.

What shore excursions are included?

The Viking River Fare includes a complimentary guided shore excursion at every port of call, as well as access to any UNESCO World Heritage sites along the route. These are arranged by Viking, so there is no need to book them separately — they are simply part of the itinerary.

Can I combine Viking Hild with time in Amsterdam, Basel or Trier?

Easily. Because the ship boards and disembarks at city-centre docks in Basel, Trier and Amsterdam, any of them makes a natural base for a few nights before or after the cruise. CruiseAway builds those hotel nights and the connecting flights into the same booking, so the whole trip — from home to the Rhine and back — is handled in one go.

What is the Sun Deck like, and when is it closed?

The Sun Deck runs the full length of the top of the ship and includes the Walking Track, giving 360-degree views of the river and its banks. It is open and free to use whenever the ship is on open water. For safety, it closes during canal passages and when the ship passes beneath low bridges — something that happens regularly on Rhine itineraries — but reopens as soon as it is safe to do so.