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Ship comparison

Explora III vs Viking Saturn

The verdict

Which should you choose?

Explora III is a mid-size Explora Journeys ship carrying 922 passengers. Viking Saturn is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 930 passengers, in service since 2023. Explora III has no Bliss scores yet, so the verdict rests on the figures we do hold.

Choose Explora III if you want more space per passenger: it has 80.2 gross tons per passenger (vs 51.4).

Choose Viking Saturn if you want a lower starting fare: its cruises start from $2,599 (vs $4,160).

Side by side

Specifications

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

Explora IIIViking Saturn
Cruise line Explora Journeys Viking Ocean Cruises
Ship size Medium Medium
Maiden voyagenewer highlighted — 2023
Gross tonnage 73,904 47,842
Passengers 922 930
Crew — 465
Passengers per crew memberfewer is better — 2.0
Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier 80.2 (better) 51.4
Decks — 14
Length 879 ft 745 ft
Beam 108 ft 94 ft
Speed — 23 mph
Cruiseable ratingout of 10 — 9 / 10
Cruises on sale 109 88
Upcoming sailings 123 184
Cruise lengths 7 to 25 nights 7 to 28 nights
Fares fromlower highlighted $4,160 $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 III 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 III or Viking Saturn?

Which is bigger, Explora III or Viking Saturn?

Explora III is bigger at 73,904 gross tons, against 47,842 gross tons for Viking Saturn. Explora III carries 922 passengers and Viking Saturn carries 930.

Which has more space per passenger?

Explora III, with 80.2 gross tons per passenger against 51.4 on Viking Saturn. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.

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