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Ship comparison

Explora I vs Viking Saturn

The verdict

Which should you choose?

Explora I is a mid-size Explora Journeys ship carrying 912 passengers. Viking Saturn is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 930 passengers, in service since 2023. 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 51.4).

Viking Saturn 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 Saturn
Cruise line Explora Journeys Viking Ocean Cruises
Ship size Medium Medium
Maiden voyagenewer highlighted — 2023
Gross tonnage 63,621 47,842
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) 51.4
Decks — 14
Length 817 ft 745 ft
Beam 107 ft 94 ft
Speed — 23 mph
Cruiseable ratingout of 10 — 9 / 10
Cruises on sale 94 88
Upcoming sailings 155 184
Cruise lengths 5 to 129 nights 7 to 28 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 Saturn: 8.0
  • Adventure & nature Viking Saturn: 7.0
  • Cultural Viking Saturn: 8.0
  • Dining Viking Saturn: 3.0
  • Entertainment Viking Saturn: 7.0
  • Family friendly Viking Saturn: 2.0
  • Party Viking Saturn: 3.0
  • Romantic Viking Saturn: 9.0
  • Spa & fitness Viking Saturn: 10.0
  • Staterooms Viking Saturn: 8.0

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking Saturn

The 930-passenger Viking Saturn launched in May 2023 as the ninth ship to join Viking Cruises' oceangoing fleet, sailing itineraries to many of the most enticing seaport destinations in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

Sailing now

88 cruises on sale, from $2,599.

Questions

Explora I or Viking Saturn?

Which is bigger, Explora I or Viking Saturn?

Explora I is bigger at 63,621 gross tons, against 47,842 gross tons for Viking Saturn. Explora I carries 912 passengers and Viking Saturn carries 930.

Which has more space per passenger?

Explora I, with 69.8 gross tons per passenger against 51.4 on Viking Saturn. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.

Still deciding?

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