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Ship comparison

Le Bougainville vs Viking Lif

The verdict

Which should you choose?

Le Bougainville is an intimate Ponant Cruises ship carrying 184 passengers, in service since 2019. Viking Lif is an intimate Viking River Cruises ship carrying 190 passengers, in service since 2014.

Choose Le Bougainville if you want more space per passenger, more crew per passenger or a better-rated spa and gym: it outscores Viking Lif for spa & fitness (7.0 vs 2.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, it has 53.8 gross tons per passenger (vs 26.3) and it has a crew member for every 1.7 passengers (vs 3.8).

Choose Viking Lif if you want a lower starting fare or better-rated entertainment: it outscores Le Bougainville for entertainment (6.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $2,399 (vs $4,180).

Side by side

Specifications

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

Le BougainvilleViking Lif
Cruise line Ponant Cruises Viking River Cruises
Ship size Intimate Intimate
Maiden voyagenewer highlighted 2019 (better) 2014
Gross tonnage 9,900 5,000
Passengers 184 190
Crew 110 50
Passengers per crew memberfewer is better 1.7 (better) 3.8
Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier 53.8 (better) 26.3
Decks 6 4
Length 430 ft 443 ft
Beam 59 ft 37 ft
Speed 14 mph 17 mph
Cruiseable ratingout of 10 7 / 10 9 / 10 (better)
Cruises on sale 40 10
Upcoming sailings 53 71
Cruise lengths 4–12 nights 7–22 nights
Fares fromlower highlighted $4,180 $2,399 (better)

Bliss scores

How they rate, out of 10

Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Le Bougainville leads on 6 of the ten, Viking Lif on 1, with 3 level.

  • Active Le Bougainville: 7.0 Viking Lif: 7.0
  • Adventure & nature Le Bougainville: 7.0 Viking Lif: 4.0
  • Cultural Le Bougainville: 7.0 Viking Lif: 7.0
  • Dining Le Bougainville: 8.0 Viking Lif: 7.0
  • Entertainment Le Bougainville: 5.0 Viking Lif: 6.0
  • Family friendly Le Bougainville: 5.0 Viking Lif: 2.0
  • Party Le Bougainville: 5.0 Viking Lif: 2.0
  • Romantic Le Bougainville: 8.0 Viking Lif: 7.0
  • Spa & fitness Le Bougainville: 7.0 Viking Lif: 2.0
  • Staterooms Le Bougainville: 7.0 Viking Lif: 7.0

Ponant Cruises

Le Bougainville

Featuring innovative and environmentally friendly equipment, elegantly designed cabins, spacious suites with large windows and lounge areas that open onto the outside, Le Bougainville launched in August 2019 as one of the new luxury expedition yachts from France-based Ponant cruise line.

Sailing now

40 cruises on sale, from $4,180.

Questions

Le Bougainville or Viking Lif?

Which is bigger, Le Bougainville or Viking Lif?

Le Bougainville is bigger at 9,900 gross tons, against 5,000 gross tons for Viking Lif. Le Bougainville carries 184 passengers and Viking Lif carries 190.

Which ship is newer, Le Bougainville or Viking Lif?

Le Bougainville is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2019 against 2014 for Viking Lif.

Which has more space per passenger?

Le Bougainville, with 53.8 gross tons per passenger against 26.3 on Viking Lif. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.

Which has more crew per passenger?

Le Bougainville, with one crew member for every 1.7 passengers against one for every 3.8 on Viking Lif.

Which is better for families?

Le Bougainville scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 5.0 out of 10, against 2.0 for Viking Lif.

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