Lindblad Expeditions
National Geographic Islander II
- Cruises
- 0
- From
- —
Ship comparison
National Geographic Islander II vs Viking Ra
Viking River Cruises
Viking Ra
- Cruises
- 2
- From
- $6,999
The verdict
Which should you choose?
National Geographic Islander II is an intimate Lindblad Expeditions ship carrying 48 passengers, in service since 1991. Viking Ra is an intimate Viking River Cruises ship carrying 52 passengers, in service since 2018.
Choose National Geographic Islander II if you want more adventure and nature, more space per passenger or better-rated staterooms: it outscores Viking Ra for adventure & nature (10.0 vs 5.0) and staterooms (7.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has 68.0 gross tons per passenger (vs 38.5).
Choose Viking Ra if you want more culture, a newer ship or a more romantic trip: it outscores National Geographic Islander II for cultural (10.0 vs 5.0) and romantic (8.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2018 (vs 1991).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| National Geographic Islander II | Viking Ra | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Lindblad Expeditions | Viking River Cruises |
| Ship size | Intimate | Intimate |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 1991 | 2018 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2022 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 3,264 | 2,000 |
| Passengers | 48 | 52 |
| Crew | 48 | 38 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 1.0 (better) | 1.4 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 68.0 (better) | 38.5 |
| Decks | 5 | 5 |
| Length | 269 ft | 413 ft |
| Beam | 45 ft | 92 ft |
| Speed | 17 mph | — |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | — | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | — | 2 |
| Upcoming sailings | — | 49 |
| Cruise lengths | — | 11 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | — | $6,999 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. National Geographic Islander II leads on 3 of the ten, Viking Ra on 3, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Lindblad Expeditions
National Geographic Islander II
The National Geographic Islander II, formerly sailing as Crystal Esprit, set sail in the Galápagos Islands year-round starting in August 2022. The sporty ship is named for the National Geographic Islander, which it is replacing.
About National Geographic Islander II Plan my cruise on National Geographic Islander II
Viking River Cruises
Viking Ra
Serenity and adventure combine in a cruise down the storied Nile River aboard Viking Ra, the river ship that debuted in 2018 from Viking River Cruises. Viking Ra (named after the ancient Egyptian Sun god Ra) can glide by thousand-year-old temples, villages and stunning landscapes in the course of an afternoon.
Sailing now
2 cruises on sale, from $6,999.
Questions
National Geographic Islander II or Viking Ra?
Which is bigger, National Geographic Islander II or Viking Ra?
National Geographic Islander II is bigger at 3,264 gross tons, against 2,000 gross tons for Viking Ra. National Geographic Islander II carries 48 passengers and Viking Ra carries 52.
Which ship is newer, National Geographic Islander II or Viking Ra?
Viking Ra is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2018 against 1991 for National Geographic Islander II.
Which has more space per passenger?
National Geographic Islander II, with 68.0 gross tons per passenger against 38.5 on Viking Ra. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
National Geographic Islander II, with one crew member for every 1.0 passengers against one for every 1.4 on Viking Ra.
Which is better for families?
They score the same for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 5.0 out of 10.
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 National Geographic Islander II, Viking Ra or a ship that suits you better.