Explora Journeys
Explora II
- Cruises
- 130
- From
- $1,800
Ship comparison
Explora II vs Viking Orion
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Orion
- Cruises
- 55
- From
- $5,999
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Explora II is a mid-size Explora Journeys ship carrying 912 passengers, in service since 2024. Viking Orion is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 930 passengers, in service since 2018. Explora II has no Bliss scores yet, so the verdict rests on the figures we do hold.
Choose Explora II if you want a lower starting fare, more space per passenger or a newer ship: its cruises start from $1,800 (vs $5,999), it has 70.1 gross tons per passenger (vs 51.4) and its maiden voyage was in 2024 (vs 2018).
Viking Orion 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 II | Viking Orion | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Explora Journeys | Viking Ocean Cruises |
| Ship size | Medium | Medium |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2024 (better) | 2018 |
| Gross tonnage | 63,900 | 47,800 |
| Passengers | 912 | 930 |
| Crew | — | 550 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | — | 1.7 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 70.1 (better) | 51.4 |
| Decks | — | 14 |
| Length | 817 ft | 745 ft |
| Beam | 108 ft | 95 ft |
| Speed | — | 23 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | — | 10 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 130 | 55 |
| Upcoming sailings | 163 | 105 |
| Cruise lengths | 4 to 29 nights | 10 to 92 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $1,800 (better) | $5,999 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday.
Explora II has no Bliss scores yet.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Explora Journeys
Explora II
Sailing now
130 cruises on sale, from $1,800.
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Orion
Sailing now
55 cruises on sale, from $5,999.
Questions
Explora II or Viking Orion?
Which is bigger, Explora II or Viking Orion?
Explora II is bigger at 63,900 gross tons, against 47,800 gross tons for Viking Orion. Explora II carries 912 passengers and Viking Orion carries 930.
Which ship is newer, Explora II or Viking Orion?
Explora II is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2024 against 2018 for Viking Orion.
Which has more space per passenger?
Explora II, with 70.1 gross tons per passenger against 51.4 on Viking Orion. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
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