Royal Caribbean
Anthem of the Seas
- Cruises
- 34
- From
- $615
Ship comparison
Anthem of the Seas vs Viking Polaris
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Polaris
- Cruises
- 32
- From
- $7,499
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Anthem of the Seas is a mega Royal Caribbean ship carrying 4,180 passengers, in service since 2015. Viking Polaris is a small Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 378 passengers, in service since 2022.
Choose Anthem of the Seas if you want a more family-friendly ship, more of a party or better-rated entertainment: it outscores Viking Polaris for family friendly (10.0 vs 2.0), party (10.0 vs 6.0) and entertainment (10.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Viking Polaris if you want more adventure and nature, more space per passenger or a more romantic trip: it outscores Anthem of the Seas for adventure & nature (10.0 vs 4.0) and romantic (8.0 vs 4.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 79.8 gross tons per passenger (vs 40.1).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Anthem of the Seas | Viking Polaris | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Royal Caribbean | Viking Ocean Cruises |
| Ship size | Mega | Small |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2015 | 2022 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 167,800 | 30,150 |
| Passengers | 4,180 | 378 |
| Crew | 1,500 | 260 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.8 | 1.5 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 40.1 | 79.8 (better) |
| Cabins | — | 189 |
| Decks | 16 | 7 |
| Length | 1,141 ft | 665 ft |
| Beam | 134 ft | 79 ft |
| Speed | 25 mph | — |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 10 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 34 | 32 |
| Upcoming sailings | 70 | 115 |
| Cruise lengths | 3–18 nights | 7–80 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $615 (better) | $7,499 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Anthem of the Seas leads on 4 of the ten, Viking Polaris on 5, with 1 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Royal Caribbean
Anthem of the Seas
Royal Caribbean promised newly designed staterooms, game-changing technology, ground-breaking venues and excellent dining — and Anthem of the Seas certainly provides it. Active cruise passengers will love the interior design, sports and fitness options, and entertainment.
Highlights
- Head to the free RipCord by iFly, where you can skydive without the scary jumping-out-of-a-plane part.
- Play basketball, go roller skating and ride bumper cars at the SeaPlex.
- The new stateroom design includes family-friendly modular staterooms that interconnect and the first virtual balconies at sea.
- There are no set dining times, no assigned seats and no required formal nights.
Sailing now
34 cruises on sale, from $615.
About Anthem of the Seas Plan my cruise on Anthem of the Seas
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Polaris
Viking Polaris debuted in August 2022 with sailings from Norway to the Arctic. Polaris is the second expedition cruise ship introduced by Viking Cruises under its new Viking Expeditions brand, following Viking Octantis.
Sailing now
32 cruises on sale, from $7,499.
Questions
Anthem of the Seas or Viking Polaris?
Which is bigger, Anthem of the Seas or Viking Polaris?
Anthem of the Seas is bigger at 167,800 gross tons, against 30,150 gross tons for Viking Polaris. Anthem of the Seas carries 4,180 passengers and Viking Polaris carries 378.
Which ship is newer, Anthem of the Seas or Viking Polaris?
Viking Polaris is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2022 against 2015 for Anthem of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Viking Polaris, with 79.8 gross tons per passenger against 40.1 on Anthem of the Seas. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Viking Polaris, with one crew member for every 1.5 passengers against one for every 2.8 on Anthem of the Seas.
Which is better for families?
Anthem of the Seas scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 10.0 out of 10, against 2.0 for Viking Polaris.
Still deciding?
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