Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Magic
- Cruises
- 10
- From
- $393
Ship comparison
Carnival Magic vs Viking Vesta
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Vesta
- Cruises
- 98
- From
- $2,599
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Carnival Magic is a large Carnival Cruise Line ship carrying 3,690 passengers, in service since 2011. Viking Vesta is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 998 passengers, in service since 2025.
Choose Carnival Magic if you want a more family-friendly ship, a lower starting fare or more of a party: it outscores Viking Vesta for family friendly (8.0 vs 5.0) and party (8.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $393 (vs $2,599).
Choose Viking Vesta if you want a more romantic trip, more adventure and nature or a better-rated spa and gym: it outscores Carnival Magic for romantic (9.0 vs 2.0), adventure & nature (6.0 vs 2.0) and spa & fitness (10.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Carnival Magic | Viking Vesta | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Carnival Cruise Line | Viking Ocean Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Medium |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2011 | 2025 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2018 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 130,000 | 48,900 |
| Passengers | 3,690 | 998 |
| Crew | 1,367 | 465 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.7 | 2.1 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 35.2 | 49.0 (better) |
| Decks | 17 | 10 |
| Length | 1,004 ft | 784 ft |
| Beam | 122 ft | 101 ft |
| Speed | 29 mph | 23 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 8 / 10 | 10 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 10 | 98 |
| Upcoming sailings | 79 | 139 |
| Cruise lengths | 6–8 nights | 7–169 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $393 (better) | $2,599 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Carnival Magic leads on 3 of the ten, Viking Vesta on 7.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Magic
At 1,004 feet, Carnival Magic continued Carnival's Dream class tradition, with food and entertainment space in the Ocean Plaza, the splashy stylings of Carnival WaterWorks and The Lanai, a convenient and scenic half-mile outdoor wraparound promenade deck.
Highlights
- Exclusive teens-only Club O2
- Waterslides at Carnival WaterWorks
- Mini golf course at SportSquare
- Relaxing in Serenity Adult-Only Retreat
Sailing now
10 cruises on sale, from $393.
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Vesta
Viking Vesta joined Viking’s ocean fleet in July 2025. It carries just 998 guests in 499 staterooms, and every stateroom has a private veranda — one of the defining traits of Viking’s all-veranda ocean design.
Sailing now
98 cruises on sale, from $2,599.
Questions
Carnival Magic or Viking Vesta?
Which is bigger, Carnival Magic or Viking Vesta?
Carnival Magic is bigger at 130,000 gross tons, against 48,900 gross tons for Viking Vesta. Carnival Magic carries 3,690 passengers and Viking Vesta carries 998.
Which ship is newer, Carnival Magic or Viking Vesta?
Viking Vesta is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2025 against 2011 for Carnival Magic.
Which has more space per passenger?
Viking Vesta, with 49.0 gross tons per passenger against 35.2 on Carnival Magic. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Viking Vesta, with one crew member for every 2.1 passengers against one for every 2.7 on Carnival Magic.
Which is better for families?
Carnival Magic scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10, against 5.0 for Viking Vesta.
Still deciding?
Tell us what matters and we will match the sailing
Send your dates, budget and who is travelling, and our partner travel agency will come back to you about Carnival Magic, Viking Vesta or a ship that suits you better.