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Viking River Cruises

Viking Vili

Intimate ship Bliss scored

Launched in 2014, Viking Vili (named for the Norse god of will) was designed for river cruising. Since entering the river cruise market, Viking River Cruises has received numerous awards for its itineraries and innovative ship designs and onboard programming.

  • 190guests
  • 5,000gross tons
  • 6cruises now
  • $2,999fares from

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Viking Vili offers 14-night Grand European Tours and a 7-night Danube Waltz cruise.

At a glance

Viking Vili is an intimate-size cruise ship operated by Viking River Cruises, in service since 2014. It carries 190 guests and 50 crew (3.8 guests per crew member) at 5,000 gross tons. It ties with 54 other ships as the 2nd largest of 73 Viking River Cruises ships by guest capacity. On Cruiseable's Bliss scale it scores highest for cultural (8/10) and lowest for family friendly (0/10). It is rated 4 out of 5 by Cruiseable and 4 out of 5 by Cruise Critic. It has 6 cruises on sale, with lead fares from $2,999 to $5,299.

Builder's plate

Specs

Cruiseable
4 / 5
Cruise Critic
4 / 5
Guests
190
Crew
50
Gross tons
5,000
Decks
4
Length
443 ft
Beam
37 ft
Maiden voyage
2014
Space ratio
3.8
Gross tons per guest
Guests per crew
3.8
Speed (mph)
17

Bliss scores

What Viking Vili is best at

Ten dimensions scored by our editors on a 10-point scale. The Cruiseable app ranks every cruise against the mix you care about.

  1. Active 7.0
  2. Adventure and nature 6.0
  3. Cultural 8.0
  4. Dining 6.0
  5. Entertainment 5.0
  6. Family friendly 0.0
  7. Party 5.0
  8. Romantic 7.0
  9. Spa and fitness 6.0
  10. Staterooms 7.0

Our review

Viking Vili: See Vienna and Budapest on a grand tour

The 190-passenger Viking Vili takes travelers through scenic vistas of tulip fields, castles and charming riverside towns as well as stops in Vienna, Budapest and Amsterdam. 

Some of the innovative spaces on Viking Vili include the indoor-outdoor Aquavit Terrace at the bow of the ship, an expansive Sun Deck and interiors that represent spacious public spaces, lots of natural light and light-blonde wood accents. Viking Vili is a "green" ship because of energy-efficient hybrid engines, solar panels and an organic herb garden.

Longships transport guests in comfortable, understated elegance, with hotel-style beds and amenities like 26-inch flat-panel TVs and in-room refrigerators. Viking River Cruises, the big kahuna of river cruising, has received numerous awards for its itineraries and innovative ship designs and onboard programming.

Who will like sailing on Viking Vili

If you have an interest in exploring art, culture or history, then sailing on Viking Vili will make an ideal vacation, especially with the onboard educational activities available.

Where Viking Vili sails

Viking Vili sails the following itineraries:

  • Grand European Tour is a 14-night cruise along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. Cruise passengers will visit everything from the windmill-studded tulip fields in Holland to Germany's fairytale castles, as well as the Main-Danube Canal and Austria's Wachau Valley vineyards. Highlights include Budapest, Vienna and Amsterdam. 
  • Danube Waltz is a 7-night voyage that takes passengers on a voyage through Austria, Germany, Hungary and Slovakia along the storied Danube River. See the range of architectural wonders in Budapest and Bratislava, sail through the Wachau Valley and take a tour of the 900-year-old baroque Benedictine abbey at Melk.
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River cruising: It's about destination immersion

River cruising is about the destination probably more so than the ship. The ports of call shadow the onboard amenities; however, Viking helps guests learn about the local culture, history and highlights of the places that they visit. Don't be surprised to see local dishes on the menu or local entertainers sharing their music, dancing and stories.

Viking Vili includes daily tours with the cruise fare, which makes the hassle of figuring out logistics less challenging. Most tours are done around lunch and then you are free to do what you choose until the ship leaves port. You'll be given a nightly briefing in the evening before dinner to get updates on the next day’s call to discuss the upcoming day’s activities, tours and logistics. Plan to attend the session to discover highlights of the upcoming town's history, art, food, music and architecture.

Melk Abbey, a Benedictine abbey overlooking the Danube above the town of Melk, Austria.
Melk Abbey, a Benedictine abbey overlooking the Danube above the town of Melk, Austria. Volker Preusser / Courtesy of Austrian National Tourist Office

Dining

Viking Vili has one restaurant called, fittingly, The Restaurant. The atmosphere is casual yet elegant. Dinner is at a set time, and you are welcome to sit with whomever you wish. When Vili is not scheduled to leave port until later in the evening, treat yourself to a night on the town and sample cuisine at a nearby restaurant (at your own expense, but a nice way to experience the local culture).

The cruise line’s website says this about dining options on board: “For breakfast, choose from a selection of pastries, cereals, breakfast meats, egg dishes, fresh fruit and selected cheeses. At lunch, select from the soup and sandwich bar, or from a choice of entrées and dessert. And for dinner, expect a five-course menu with regional specialties. Wherever you sail, you will find enhancements reflecting the itinerary — it is all part of experiencing the local culture."

Don’t miss: Al fresco dining aboard Viking Vili One of the unique features on Viking Vili is the Aquavit Terrace, which is an outdoor space for you to watch the river while enjoying a coffee, cocktail, pint or al fresco dining. The Aquavit Terrace is equipped with grills for outdoor cooking.

Entertainment & activities

River cruising is very mellow. You won't find any large production shows or comedy clubs. What you will enjoy is some light piano music played by the house musician and local entertainers who are brought onto the ship to sing, dance or tell stories from the local perspective. After dinner, cruise passengers can hang out in the lounge and have an after-dinner drink, or they can walk back into town if the ship is not leaving port until later in the evening.

To complement your onshore excursions, take part in immersive learning and enhancement activities both on board and ashore. Classes in cooking specialties such as apple strudel and Alsatian flammkuchen; traditional performances of folk music and dance or waltzes by Strauss; and tastings of local cheeses, coffees, liqueurs and other delicacies are some examples of in-depth experiences that are included as an essential part of discovering more about the places through which you cruise.

Staterooms

There are 95 outside staterooms on Viking Vili (two Explorer Suites, seven Veranda Suites, 39 Veranda Staterooms, 22 French Balcony Staterooms and 25 Standard Staterooms). The top category on a Viking Longship is an Explorer Suite. These spacious cabins measure 445 square feet and offer 270-degree views from a wraparound veranda.

Overall cabins are average size for a river boat, but there is plenty of closet space and extra storage available under the bed. The bathroom has a pocket door, which is a nice feature because that design saves space.

Fun facts

  • Viking Longships are 443 feet long and 38 feet wide because those are the maximum dimensions possible for river ships navigating the locks on some of Europe's waterways. If they were even two inches longer or wider, they wouldn't fit in some locks. 
  • Viking names its ships after Norse mythology. Viking Vili is named for the Norse god of will.

Your take

Have you cruised on Viking Vili? What was it like? We'd love to hear about your own experience.

Interested in a cruise on this ship?

Interested in a cruise on Viking Vili? Contact a Cruiseable travel consultant at 1-877-322-3773, or by email, to get additional information and to find the best rates and value for your vacation dollar. 

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On board highlights

Dining

Where to eat on Viking Vili

  • Aquavit Terrace
    Aquavit Terrace Varied · Al fresco dining
    No additional cost
  • The Restaurant
    The Restaurant Varied · Breakfast, lunch & dinner
    No additional cost

Photos

Inside and out

Destinations 11

  • Klein-Venedig (Little Venice) is a colony of fishermen's houses on the River Regnitz in Bamberg, Germany.
    Klein-Venedig (Little Venice) is a colony of fishermen's houses on the River Regnitz in Bamberg, Germany.
  • Michaelsberg Abbey in Bamberg, Germany.
    Michaelsberg Abbey in Bamberg, Germany.
  • A close-up of the entrance to Bamberg Cathedral in Germany.
    A close-up of the entrance to Bamberg Cathedral in Germany.
  • Cologne's two large churches are visible from the Rhine River.
    Cologne's two large churches are visible from the Rhine River.
  • The city of Cologne, Germany. See it during a river cruise on the Rhine.
    The city of Cologne, Germany. See it during a river cruise on the Rhine.
  • The Rathaus, or city hall, of Hamburg, Germany.
    The Rathaus, or city hall, of Hamburg, Germany.
  • The historic city center of Bamberg, Germany, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
    The historic city center of Bamberg, Germany, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Old City Hall in Bamberg, Germany, is located on the river Regnitz near its confluence with the River Main.
    Old City Hall in Bamberg, Germany, is located on the river Regnitz near its confluence with the River Main.
  • Take time to browse at the Nuremberg Christmas Market; this stall sells prune men, a traditional Nuremberg gift.
    Take time to browse at the Nuremberg Christmas Market; this stall sells prune men, a traditional Nuremberg gift.
  • Nuremberg is well known for its Christmas Market, with Christmas decorations and local delicacies.
    Nuremberg is well known for its Christmas Market, with Christmas decorations and local delicacies.
  • The Sinwell Tower in Nuremberg, Germany, was built in the late 13th century to help protect its castle complex.
    The Sinwell Tower in Nuremberg, Germany, was built in the late 13th century to help protect its castle complex.

More photos 4

  • Viking Vili offers 14-night Grand European Tours and a 7-night Danube Waltz cruise.
    Viking Vili offers 14-night Grand European Tours and a 7-night Danube Waltz cruise.
  • Have lunch on the deck of your Viking Longship while taking in the impressive architecture of the Parliament building in Budapest and other storied cities along the Danube.
    Have lunch on the deck of your Viking Longship while taking in the impressive architecture of the Parliament building in Budapest and other storied cities along the Danube.
  • The contemporary foyer of Viking's fleet of European Longships.
    The contemporary foyer of Viking's fleet of European Longships.
  • Explore scenic, charming Boppard, Germany, in the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a Viking Longship.
    Explore scenic, charming Boppard, Germany, in the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a Viking Longship.

Sailing now

Cruises on Viking Vili

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  1. 14 Night Grand European Tour 14 nights · from Amsterdam Next Sep 25, 2026 18 dates from $5,299
  2. 14 Night Grand European Tour 14 nights · from Budapest Next Oct 9, 2026 17 dates from $5,299
  3. 7 Night Danube Christmas Delights 7 nights · from Budapest Next Dec 4, 2026 4 dates from $2,999
  4. 7 Night Danube Christmas Delights 7 nights · from Passau Next Dec 11, 2026 2 dates from $3,499
  5. 7 Night Danube Waltz 7 nights · from Budapest Next Apr 7, 2028 Fare on request
  6. 7 Night Danube Waltz 7 nights · from Passau Next Apr 14, 2028 Fare on request

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