Cruiseable Plan my cruise

Ship comparison

Explora I vs Viking Neptune

The verdict

Which should you choose?

Explora I is a mid-size Explora Journeys ship carrying 912 passengers. Viking Neptune is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 930 passengers, in service since 2022. Explora I has no Bliss scores yet, so the verdict rests on the figures we do hold.

Choose Explora I if you want more space per passenger: it has 69.8 gross tons per passenger (vs 51.6).

Viking Neptune does not lead by a clear margin on any measure we track, so pick it for its itinerary or its dates.

Side by side

Specifications

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

Explora IViking Neptune
Cruise line Explora Journeys Viking Ocean Cruises
Ship size Medium Medium
Maiden voyagenewer highlighted — 2022
Gross tonnage 63,621 48,000
Passengers 912 930
Crew — 465
Passengers per crew memberfewer is better — 2.0
Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier 69.8 (better) 51.6
Decks — 10
Length 817 ft 745 ft
Beam 107 ft 94 ft
Speed — 23 mph
Cruiseable ratingout of 10 — 10 / 10
Cruises on sale 94 95
Upcoming sailings 155 161
Cruise lengths 5 to 129 nights 7 to 64 nights
Fares fromlower highlighted $2,600 $2,599 (better)

Bliss scores

How they rate, out of 10

Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday.

Explora I has no Bliss scores yet.

  • Active Viking Neptune: 8.0
  • Adventure & nature Viking Neptune: 7.0
  • Cultural Viking Neptune: 9.0
  • Dining Viking Neptune: 8.0
  • Entertainment Viking Neptune: 6.0
  • Family friendly Viking Neptune: 1.0
  • Party Viking Neptune: 6.0
  • Romantic Viking Neptune: 9.0
  • Spa & fitness Viking Neptune: 9.0
  • Staterooms Viking Neptune: 7.0

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking Neptune

Viking Neptune entered service in November 2022, joining Viking’s fleet of adults-only, all-veranda ocean ships built to feel more like a floating boutique hotel than a theme-park-at-sea.

Sailing now

95 cruises on sale, from $2,599.

Questions

Explora I or Viking Neptune?

Which is bigger, Explora I or Viking Neptune?

Explora I is bigger at 63,621 gross tons, against 48,000 gross tons for Viking Neptune. Explora I carries 912 passengers and Viking Neptune carries 930.

Which has more space per passenger?

Explora I, with 69.8 gross tons per passenger against 51.6 on Viking Neptune. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.

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 Explora I, Viking Neptune or a ship that suits you better.

Plan my cruise

Compare different ships