Built in
2015
Capacity
98
Staterooms
49
Crew
33
Crew to guests
1 : 3.0
Length
110 m
US outlets
Yes
By
Viking River Cruises
Viking Astrild is a purpose-built river vessel designed to navigate the serene Elbe River, delivering an intimate and enriching cruising experience through one of Europe’s lesser-traveled yet culturally rich waterways. Unlike Viking’s classic Longships, Viking Astrild belongs to a more compact, custom class tailored to the Elbe’s unique dimensions—allowing it to sail between Berlin and Prague with ease and grace.
Accommodating just 98 guests, Viking Astrild offers an exceptional guest-to-crew ratio and an atmosphere of quiet sophistication. Its smaller size enhances the sense of exclusivity and fosters a deeply personal level of service throughout the voyage. Despite its modest footprint, the ship delivers many of the luxuries and design elements Viking is known for, including stylish public spaces, fine dining, and modern Scandinavian interiors.
Each stateroom on Viking Astrild is river-facing, ensuring uninterrupted views of the picturesque Elbe countryside. Guests can choose from well-appointed Veranda Staterooms and French Balcony categories, each outfitted with hotel-style beds, ample storage, heated bathroom floors, and flat-screen infotainment systems. The décor is light and contemporary, creating a calming retreat at the end of each day’s excursions.
Public areas aboard Viking Astrild are warm, inviting, and designed to highlight the scenery. The Observation Lounge serves as a comfortable hub for relaxing with a cocktail, attending onboard lectures, or simply watching the ever-changing landscape through floor-to-ceiling windows. The Sun Deck offers a peaceful open-air setting with shaded seating, ideal for reading or taking in panoramic river views as the ship glides past castles, vineyards, and timber-framed villages.
Dining is an elegant affair on Viking Astrild. The ship’s main restaurant features open seating, allowing guests to dine when and with whom they wish. Menus are regionally inspired, with local ingredients highlighting the cuisine of Germany and the Czech Republic. Complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks are served at lunch and dinner, and casual fare is always available in the lounge for lighter appetites.
The ship’s Elbe River itineraries are culturally immersive and historically rich. From the Gothic spires of Meissen and the baroque splendor of Dresden to the architectural legacy of Berlin and the artistic charm of Prague, Viking Astrild brings guests to the heart of Central Europe with expertly guided tours and curated excursions. Onboard enrichment includes presentations on regional history, politics, music, and art—ensuring a journey that’s as intellectually rewarding as it is visually stunning.
Dining
Meals aboard the 98-guest Viking Astrild move between two spaces. The Restaurant serves open-seating dining with menus that draw on the regions the ship visits, and the Aquavit Terrace offers a casual, al fresco setting for lighter fare and unhurried breakfasts.
Sailings on this ship
We'll email you the current itineraries we sell on Viking Astrild, plus the reasons travelers book with Small Ship Travel. Reply anytime to ask about specific cabins, dates, or itineraries.
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On board
Good to know
Wi-Fi is free on Viking's river ships across Europe, Egypt, and the Mississippi, and shared computers are available on board. The connection runs over cellular or satellite, so expect speeds to dip in locks, valleys, and remote stretches of river.
Daytime dress is casual: shorts in warm weather, slacks or jeans, and comfortable walking shoes. Evenings are elegant casual, with no formal nights; a jacket and tie are optional. Pack modest attire for shore excursions that visit religious sites.
Gratuities are always at your discretion. Viking publishes a recommended rate per guest, per night, which can be prepaid before sailing or settled on your shipboard account. We go over the details with you when you book.
Staterooms on Viking's European river ships carry both 110V US-style outlets and 220V outlets that take German Schuko two-pin plugs. If you need an adapter, any travel or electronics store will have one.
Vegetarian options appear at every meal, and the galley can prepare low-salt, diabetic, gluten-free, and low-cholesterol meals with advance notice. Tell us about dietary needs when you book, at least 90 days before departure, and remind the maitre d' once on board.
Guests who need mobility support travel with a companion who can assist, and wheelchairs must be no wider than 22 inches. Viking requires an accessibility form at least 30 days before departure; we take care of submitting it when you book with us.
The ships are nonsmoking throughout, including staterooms and verandas, with one designated outdoor smoking area. The policy covers e-cigarettes as well.
Laundry and pressing are complimentary in some stateroom categories and available for a modest fee in the rest, arranged through your stateroom steward. Dry cleaning is not offered on board. Ships on the Mississippi add free self-service launderettes.

Viking River Cruises is the largest river cruise line in the world, known for elegant ships, destination-led itineraries, and a strong cultural program. The voyages run along Europe's great rivers and reach the Nile, the Mekong, and the Mississippi, pairing comfort and enrichment with real time ashore. A modern fleet of purpose-built longships and a focus on thoughtful design set the tone for the whole experience.
Viking's river ships are built for comfort and discovery in equal measure, with a relaxed but refined feel on board. Each carries fewer than 200 guests, so the setting stays intimate, with generous public areas, all-outside staterooms, and attentive service from departure to return.
Built for discovery, Viking's river cruises ask you to slow down and read each region more closely than a packed land tour allows.
Whether you sail the heart of Europe or reach farther afield, Viking's itineraries balance the must-see landmarks with the smaller places that travelers tend to miss. Longer port time, well-built excursions, and curated cultural access run through every voyage.
Signature Voyages Include:
Every itinerary reflects Viking's interest in history, culture, and authenticity, giving guests an educational way to see the world.
We include Viking River Cruises in our collection for its consistent standards in design, service, and cultural engagement. Viking's commitment to immersive travel lines up with our own aim of building voyages that reward curiosity.
We work directly with Viking to help you choose the right itinerary, stateroom, and add-ons, so the trip fits your interests. Whether you are a first-time river cruiser or a returning guest after something new, we bring the insight and the follow-through to keep your voyage smooth.
Booking with Small Ship Travel gives you advisor-led planning, pre and post-cruise arrangements, and added value on your Viking river voyage. We handle the details from start to finish, so you can settle into the discovery, comfort, and cultural richness Viking is known for.
consultation
Reach out to our travel concierges today to create your perfect journey.