Itinerary
Travel through the heart of Europe
Absorb the atmosphere of Budapest’s Café Gerbeaud and learn the Viennese waltz. Sample the food and wine of Austria’s Wachau Valley. Admire Rhine Valley vistas from a 900-year-old castle. Our most iconic itinerary traces the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers between the stunning landscapes of Hungary and the windmill-dotted waterways of Holland, with engaging encounters at every bend.
| Day by Day | Cruise Ports | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saturday, June 8, 2024 | Budapest, Hungary |
| 2 | Sunday, June 9, 2024 | Budapest, Hungary |
| 3 | Monday, June 10, 2024 | Vienna, Austria |
| 4 | Tuesday, June 11, 2024 | Vienna, Austria |
| 5 | Wednesday, June 12, 2024 | Melk, Austria |
| 6 | Thursday, June 13, 2024 | Passau, Germany |
| 7 | Friday, June 14, 2024 | Regensburg, Germany |
| 8 | Saturday, June 15, 2024 | Nuremberg, Germany |
| 9 | Sunday, June 16, 2024 | Bamberg, Germany |
| 10 | Monday, June 17, 2024 | Würzburg, Germany |
| 11 | Tuesday, June 18, 2024 | Wertheim, Germany |
| 12 | Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | Koblenz, Germany |
| 13 | Thursday, June 20, 2024 | Cologne, Germany |
| 14 | Friday, June 21, 2024 | Kinderdijk, The Netherlands |
| 15 | Saturday, June 22, 2024 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
1. Budapest, Hungary
Welcome to Budapest, capital of Hungary. Transfer to your ship from the airport.* After boarding, the afternoon is yours to relax or do a bit of exploring. Tonight, return to your ship for a traditional Hungarian dinner. (Dinner)
2. Budapest, Hungary
Today we visit highlights of the hilly Buda and cosmopolitan Pest sides of the city, starting with Pest’s National Opera House and historic Heroes’ Square. In Buda, walk along Castle Hill to Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church. Enjoy lunch on board your ship; the rest of the day is yours to explore the city. You may choose to join us on an optional excursion to experience the thermal springs, restorative natural spas whose waters locals have bathed in for centuries. Or, perhaps select another of our optional excursions designed to allow you to delve deeper into the history, culture and cuisine of this fascinating city. Return to your ship for dinner and evening departure. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
3. Vienna, Austria
Enjoy a day of scenic cruising along the beautiful Danube toward Vienna. As we sail, perhaps join this morning’s German language lesson to learn a few key words and phrases. You may also choose to attend an afternoon presentation on Viennese coffee houses. We arrive early this evening. After dinner, relax or enjoy an optional classical concert. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
4. Vienna, Austria
Today we tour the Austrian capital of Vienna. Ride along the Ringstrasse, which replaced the city walls in the mid-19th century. See some of the city’s baroque architecture, including the world-famous Opera House, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace. Return to your ship for lunch. The rest of the day is yours to further explore. As always, your Program Director can help you plan your free time. Alternately, you may wish to join us on one of the day’s optional excursions, perhaps touring Schönbrunn Palace, the “Versailles of Vienna,” visiting the Spanish Riding School’s famed Lipizzaner stallions, or celebrating a local tradition this evening at a high-spirited Heurigen dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
5. Melk, Austria
Today, visit the abbey at Melk, a 900-year-old Benedictine monastery featuring Austria’s finest Italian baroque architecture. See its wonderful frescoes and admire the comprehensive collection of medieval manuscripts in its library. Rejoin your ship and cruise through dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
6. Passau, Germany
Arrive this morning in Passau, at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers. Your guided walk along the town’s narrow streets takes you through Old Town and past traditional patrician houses. Admire the New Bishop’s Residence and see the impressive baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral; its ornate interior is home to one of Europe’s largest church organs. Enjoy lunch on board your ship, and return to the city for further exploration on your own. Alternately, set out this morning with your guide to enjoy a full-day optional tour of picturesque Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and setting of The Sound of Music. We depart just before dinner and cruise through the night. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
7. Regensburg, Germany
Arrive in Regensburg after breakfast and tour this wonderfully preserved medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including structures dating back to Roman times. Discover many 13th- and 14th-century patrician houses and see the splendid St. Peter’s Cathedral. During free time, visit the Alte Würstküche (Old Sausage Kitchen), Germany’s oldest restaurant. Alternately, you may choose to disembark this morning and drive with your guide to Munich for an optional full-day tour of this cultural and historic city, rejoining your ship before our evening departure. Cruise through dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
8. Nuremberg, Germany
Cruise the Main–Danube Canal this morning. Or, instead, disembark for a short drive to the center of Nuremberg and use your free time to explore until lunchtime. After lunch, venture out on a tour of the city. Visit the ruins of Zeppelin Field, the Nazi parade grounds of the 1930s, and see the Palace of Justice, site of the infamous Nuremberg Trials. See the Old Town area as you walk past the Albrecht Dürer House and Main Market Square. Alternately, you may choose to join an optional afternoon World War II tour including the illuminating Documentation Center. Dinner is served on board your ship before we depart late this evening. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
9. Bamberg, Germany
Continue along the Main–Danube Canal this morning, arriving in Bamberg in early afternoon. Enjoy a tour of Bamberg, with its medieval city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your walking tour includes a visit to the magnificent 11th-century cathedral, reworked in late Romanesque style in the 13th century, and the picturesque city hall built on a tiny island in the middle of a river. Take some free time to enjoy Bamberg and sample some of the town’s distinctive smoke-flavored beer before returning on board. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
10. Würzburg, Germany
Today, tour Würzburg’s Bishops’ Residenz, one of Germany’s largest and most ornate baroque palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or, you may choose to disembark this morning to experience an optional full-day journey along Germany’s picturesque “Romantic Road” to Rothenburg, with its turreted city wall and impressive Gothic and baroque architecture. Rejoin your ship for dinner and an evening glassblowing demonstration. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
11. Wertheim, Germany
Wertheim is located at the confluence of the Main and Tauber Rivers. During your morning walking tour, experience life in a typical small German town. Stop in a bakery and a butcher shop, and learn about Wertheim’s glassblowing tradition. Enjoy free time to explore before returning to your ship for lunch. Alternately, depart this morning on an all-day optional excursion that offers a rare glimpse into noble life, enjoying Privileged Access visits to two very different castles: Schloss Mespelbrunn and Schloss Löwenstein. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
12. Koblenz, Germany
Today, we cruise past hilltop castles along the Rhine; this stunning stretch of the river is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to keep an eye out for the Lorelei Rock, which marks the river’s narrowest point; the rock is named after a legendary Rhine Maiden who lured sailors to their demise. This afternoon, we’ll stop to visit Marksburg Castle, the only Rhine fortress never destroyed. Rejoin your ship in Koblenz and dine on board. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
13. Cologne, Germany
Begin your day with a morning tour of Cologne, Germany’s fourth-largest city. Stroll through Old Town past St. Martin’s Church and see the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend your free time enjoying Cologne’s atmospheric waterfront, or perhaps join an optional excursion on which you ascend to the Dom’s roof for up-close views of the cathedral’s architecture and bird’s-eye vistas of Cologne. Afterward, return on board for dinner. Alternately, you may set off on an optional excursion to explore Cologne’s spirited beer culture, sampling Kölsch, a light, crisp beer brewed only in Cologne, and enjoying a brauhaus dinner. After, return to your ship for a late-evening departure. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
14. Kinderdijk, The Netherlands
We sail along the Rhine during the morning hours. Admire scenic views and enjoy a morning of enjoyable Dutch diversions: sample Dutch cheeses and jenever, a distilled juniper liquor, and take in a culturally enriching presentation on the Dutch Golden Age. This afternoon, your ship arrives in Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Disembark for an afternoon tour of this ingenious network of windmills and other flood management devices. You learn why the windmills were built and see how they work, plus you enter a working windmill for a tour of its mechanisms and living quarters. Board your ship for departure and dinner. Arrive in Amsterdam around midnight. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
15. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
After breakfast, disembark and proceed to the airport for your return flight.* Or, extend your journey with 2 additional nights in Amsterdam; take time to explore the city’s neighborhoods, museums and exciting nightlife. (Breakfast)
Viking Longship Skadi
Skadi – Norse Goddess of Winter
The giantess Skadi is the Norse goddess of winter. She is also associated with hunting and skiing. When her father is slain by the gods, Skadi straps on her armor and weapons and heads to Asgard, home of the gods, to avenge his death.
- Only 190 guests
- Crew: 53
- Length: 443 feet
- Year built: 2013
Ship Features
- 95 comfortable outside staterooms (25 Standard Staterooms, 22 French Balcony Staterooms, 39 Veranda Staterooms, 7 Veranda Suites, 2 Explorer Suites)
- All suites feature two full-size rooms with a veranda off the living room & a French balcony in the bedroom
- Sun Deck with 360-degree views & shaded sitting area; organic herb garden & solar panels; putting green & walking track
- Aquavit Terrace & Lounge, a revolutionary indoor/outdoor viewing area at the bow of the ship for al fresco dining
- Lounge & Bar with floor-to-ceiling glass doors
- Restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views
- Library & onboard shop
- Elevator from Middle to Upper Deck only; no elevator access for categories E & F
- Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
- Laundry service
- Ecologically friendly hybrid engines producing less vibrations for a smoother ride
- Flat-screen TV with infotainment system featuring a selection of live TV channels, complimentary Movies On Demand and in-house programming
Onboard Activities
GUEST SERVICES
Our onboard Guest Services is always open and can assist you with any questions. You can also drop off any cards or letters for mailing; if postage is required, a fee equal to this will be added to your shipboard account.
SHOP
Forget to bring something? Looking for a gift or memento? The onboard shop near Guest Services has everything you need to make your voyage comfortable and convenient, plus signature Viking keepsakes including books, clothing and jewelry.
THE LIBRARY
Tucked in a quiet corner, the onboard Library offers a selection of titles carefully curated by premier London bookseller Heywood Hill. Choose a book and settle in for a good read that is sure to inform and inspire you during your journey; we only ask that you please return your selections at the end of your journey.
THE LOUNGE
Boasting floor-to-ceiling windows, The Lounge is peaceful, serene and casual. Settle in with a cocktail from The Bar and watch the scenery pass by as you compare notes about the day’s discoveries with new friends.
HERB GARDEN
These “green” ships, feature an organic herb garden.
SUN DECK
On top of the ship, take in 360-degree views as you relax on the Sun Deck. Exercise en plein air on our walking track. And enjoy the fragrances of our onboard herb garden, harvested daily by the culinary staff and infused in our authentic regional dishes. For safety reasons, guest access to the Sun Deck is restricted during lock transits and when the ship is sailing under low bridges.
WALKING TRACK
Enjoy sunshine and fresh air while you take in 360-degree views of the scenery on the walking track.
Staterooms
Our purpose-built ships offer a wide variety of staterooms for your selection. From Veranda Staterooms to the abundance of extra perks and amenities in our spacious Explorer Suites, there is no finer way to travel. And whichever stateroom you choose, you will find it beautifully designed in the understated elegance for which Viking is known.
Onboard Dining
THE RESTAURANT
Enjoy a multicourse meal featuring regional cuisine and always available classics in the Restaurant, an upscale dining venue with panoramic windows with ever-changing views.
AQUAVIT TERRACE®
Located at the bow of the ship, the Aquavit Terrace is a casual outdoor space where your destination is your dining room. Serving both breakfast and lunch, it provides the most al fresco dining on Europe’s rivers.
Pre & Post Cruise Extensions
More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities.
Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.
