Viking Lif

Sailing the Danube on Viking Lif

The Danube is one of Europe’s great river journeys, and Viking Lif is built for it. Launched in 2014 and carrying 190 guests with a crew of 53, she threads the river’s most rewarding stretch — from the grand boulevards of Budapest, through the baroque splendour of Vienna, past the vine-terraced slopes of the Wachau Valley, and on to the working river towns of Linz and Passau. At 135 metres she fits the locks and bridges that an ocean ship never could, which is precisely the point: the Danube’s most memorable ports are ones you can only reach this way.

Aboard Viking Lif

The ship is designed around the river rather than around itself. The Aquavit Terrace® brings al fresco dining to the water’s edge — breakfast and lunch taken with the passing riverbank as your backdrop, included in every fare. At the top of the ship, the Sun Deck gives 360-degree views and a walking track for anyone who wants to stay active between ports; access is restricted during canal passages and under low bridges for safety, as it is on any river ship. The Lounge runs floor-to-ceiling windows along its length, making it a natural gathering point for a drink and a conversation after a day ashore — beverages are charged individually unless you have booked a package. For a quieter hour, the Library holds a curated collection of books in a corner away from the main flow of the ship, included and open to all. One of the more unusual touches is the Herb Garden, a working plot on board whose harvest goes directly to the galley — the culinary team uses it daily to make regional dishes that reflect each stretch of the river.

Cabins on Viking Lif

Across 95 cabins there are eight grades in three broad families. Outside staterooms come in two grades, each with a half-height picture window that brings in natural light and river views without stepping onto a deck — they also include twice-daily housekeeping and a dedicated stateroom steward. Balcony cabins offer two grades with direct outdoor access. Suites run to four grades spread across decks 2 and 3, with French balconies that let you open the glass door and feel the river breeze, and private verandas with their own outdoor retreat. The full breakdown of grades, sizes and positions is on the Viking Lif 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 complimentary shore excursion at every port, full onboard dining with regional specialities, and beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, along with round-the-clock coffees, teas and bottled water. Free Wi-Fi and UNESCO site visits are also covered. It is not an à-la-carte model: most of what a guest needs day to day is already in the price, which makes budgeting for the trip straightforward.

Where Viking Lif sails

All of Viking Lif’s sailings are on the Danube, departing from Budapest. The sampled routes are seven-night one-way passages running in December and March, calling at ports that include Bratislava, Vienna, Wachau, Krems, Linz and Passau upstream, or Kalocsa and Osijek downstream toward Bucharest — though the precise ports vary by sailing. Fares on these routes start from A$3,395pp*. The full programme includes sailings departing from Amsterdam, Bucharest and Passau as well, running between 7 and 21 nights.

Because every sailing departs from Central or Western Europe, the cruise typically sits at the heart of a longer trip from Australia. CruiseAway builds the flights, the hotel nights either side and the transfers as one holiday alongside the cruise — so there is nothing to piece together separately.

Viking River Cruises’ Danube fleet

Viking Lif sails alongside nine other ships on the Danube River, Europe. Browse the ones currently on sale:

• Viking Eldir
• Viking Vali
• Viking Rota
• Viking Vidar
• Viking Honir
• Viking Gullveig
• Viking Embla
• Viking Aegir
• Viking Baldur

Viking also operates ships on the Rhine River, Europe — among them Viking Idi, Viking Alsvin, Viking Gefjon, Viking Gersemi, Viking Hervor, Viking Annar, Viking Dagur, Viking Sigrun, Viking Haki, Viking Hlin, Viking Hild, Viking Sigyn, Viking Herja, Viking Mimir and Viking Egdir — as well as ships on the Transatlantic (Viking Astrea, Viking Lyra, and Viking Vela) and the Western Mediterranean (Viking Libra). The full picture of what Viking River Cruises offers is on the Viking River Cruises page.

Booking Viking Lif with CruiseAway

CruiseAway’s cruise experts know the Viking River Cruises product in detail — the fare inclusions, the cabin grades and which itinerary fits a given travel style — and they are there to help you choose. Every booking is covered by our Best Price Guarantee. Because Viking Lif sails from Central and Western Europe, most Australian guests will fly to join her: our DreamAway Packages put the flights, hotels and transfers on the same booking as the cruise, so the whole journey is handled in one place.

Questions about Viking Lif and the Danube

How long are the sailings on Viking Lif?

Current sailings run from 7 to 21 nights, with a median of 14 nights. The sampled routes are seven-night one-way passages, but the full programme includes longer itineraries that extend the Danube journey toward the Black Sea or combine it with other rivers.

Which ports does Viking Lif depart from?

Sailings currently on sale depart from Budapest, Bucharest, Amsterdam and Passau. Budapest is the most common starting point, followed by Bucharest and Amsterdam. The route and duration shape which port is the right one for a given trip — CruiseAway’s cruise experts can walk through the options.

Is the Sun Deck always open?

The Sun Deck is open for most of the journey, but access is restricted during canal passages and when the ship passes under low bridges — this is standard practice on all river ships and applies to Viking Lif as it does to every vessel on the Danube.

What does the Viking River Fare cover on board?

The Viking River Fare includes all onboard dining with regional specialities, beer, wine and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, coffees, teas and bottled water throughout the day, free Wi-Fi, a shore excursion at every port and UNESCO site visits. Beverages beyond the included drinks — spirits and premium orders, for example — are charged separately at the Lounge bar unless you have added a drinks package.

Can CruiseAway arrange flights and hotels alongside the cruise?

Yes. Because Viking Lif sails from Europe, the cruise is usually the centrepiece of a longer trip from Australia. CruiseAway’s DreamAway Packages cover the flights, hotel nights either side of the sailing and transfers, all on one booking — so there is nothing to coordinate separately before or after the ship.