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Ship comparison

American Serenade vs Viking Ve

Viking River Cruises

Viking Ve

Cruises
7
From
$2,399

The verdict

Which should you choose?

American Serenade is an intimate American Cruise Lines ship carrying 180 passengers, in service since 2023. Viking Ve is an intimate Viking River Cruises ship carrying 190 passengers, in service since 2015.

Choose American Serenade if you want a more family-friendly ship or a newer ship: it outscores Viking Ve for family friendly (2.0 vs 0.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2023 (vs 2015).

Choose Viking Ve if you want more culture, a better-rated spa and gym or a lower starting fare: it outscores American Serenade for cultural (10.0 vs 7.0) and spa & fitness (7.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $2,399 (vs $4,255).

Side by side

Specifications

marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.

American SerenadeViking Ve
Cruise line American Cruise Lines Viking River Cruises
Ship size Intimate Intimate
Maiden voyagenewer highlighted 2023 (better) 2015
Gross tonnage 5,148 5,000
Passengers 180 190
Crew 43 50
Passengers per crew memberfewer is better 4.2 3.8 (better)
Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier 28.6 (better) 26.3
Decks 5 4
Length 269 ft 443 ft
Beam 56 ft 37 ft
Speed 14 mph 17 mph
Cruiseable ratingout of 10 9 / 10 (better) 8 / 10
Cruises on sale 10 7
Upcoming sailings 111 50
Cruise lengths 7 to 22 nights 7 to 14 nights
Fares fromlower highlighted $4,255 $2,399 (better)

Bliss scores

How they rate, out of 10

Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. American Serenade leads on 1 of the ten, Viking Ve on 7, with 2 level.

  • Active American Serenade: 7.0 Viking Ve: 8.0
  • Adventure & nature American Serenade: 5.0 Viking Ve: 6.0
  • Cultural American Serenade: 7.0 Viking Ve: 10.0
  • Dining American Serenade: 6.0 Viking Ve: 7.0
  • Entertainment American Serenade: 5.0 Viking Ve: 5.0
  • Family friendly American Serenade: 2.0 Viking Ve: 0.0
  • Party American Serenade: 5.0 Viking Ve: 6.0
  • Romantic American Serenade: 7.0 Viking Ve: 8.0
  • Spa & fitness American Serenade: 5.0 Viking Ve: 7.0
  • Staterooms American Serenade: 7.0 Viking Ve: 7.0

Viking River Cruises

Viking Ve

The 190-passenger Viking Ve offers travelers the choice of a two-week grand tour of Europe's waterways from Amsterdam to Budapest or a relaxing 9-night sailing through the tulip fields of Belgium and Holland.

Highlights

  • Sun Deck with 360-degree views and shaded sitting area; organic herb garden and solar panels; putting green, chess and walking track
  • Free shipwide Wi-Fi
  • "Balcony" cabins have floor-to-ceiling glass doors
  • Aquavit Terrace at the bow of the ship is great place to watch the river roll by

Sailing now

7 cruises on sale, from $2,399.

Questions

American Serenade or Viking Ve?

Which is bigger, American Serenade or Viking Ve?

American Serenade is bigger at 5,148 gross tons, against 5,000 gross tons for Viking Ve. American Serenade carries 180 passengers and Viking Ve carries 190.

Which ship is newer, American Serenade or Viking Ve?

American Serenade is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2023 against 2015 for Viking Ve.

Which has more space per passenger?

American Serenade, with 28.6 gross tons per passenger against 26.3 on Viking Ve. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.

Which has more crew per passenger?

Viking Ve, with one crew member for every 3.8 passengers against one for every 4.2 on American Serenade.

Which is better for families?

American Serenade scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 2.0 out of 10, against 0.0 for Viking Ve.

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