Oceania Cruises
Riviera
- Cruises
- 76
- From
- $2,137
Ship comparison
Riviera vs Viking Vesta
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Vesta
- Cruises
- 99
- From
- $2,599
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Riviera is a mid-size Oceania Cruises ship carrying 1,250 passengers, in service since 2012. Viking Vesta is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 998 passengers, in service since 2025.
Choose Riviera if you want better-rated dining, better-rated staterooms or more culture: it outscores Viking Vesta for dining (10.0 vs 7.0), staterooms (10.0 vs 7.0) and cultural (10.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Viking Vesta if you want more of a party, a more family-friendly ship or a newer ship: it outscores Riviera for party (6.0 vs 0.0) and family friendly (5.0 vs 2.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2025 (vs 2012).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Riviera | Viking Vesta | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Oceania Cruises | Viking Ocean Cruises |
| Ship size | Medium | Medium |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2012 | 2025 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2019 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 66,084 | 48,900 |
| Passengers | 1,250 | 998 |
| Crew | 800 | 465 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 1.6 (better) | 2.1 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 52.9 (better) | 49.0 |
| Decks | 15 | 10 |
| Length | 785 ft | 784 ft |
| Beam | 106 ft | 101 ft |
| Speed | 23 mph | 23 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 9 / 10 | 10 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 76 | 99 |
| Upcoming sailings | 93 | 130 |
| Cruise lengths | 7 to 68 nights | 7 to 169 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $2,137 (better) | $2,599 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Riviera leads on 5 of the ten, Viking Vesta on 2, with 3 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Oceania Cruises
Riviera
Riviera debuted in 2012, shortly after her game-changing sister ship Marina, and the cruise line called them "the most beautiful, elegant and sophisticated ships to debut in the past 50 years." Designer touches are everywhere, from the Lalique Grand Staircase to the Owner's Suites furnished by the Ralph Lauren Home Collection, all of…
Sailing now
76 cruises on sale, from $2,137.
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Vesta
Viking Vesta joined Viking’s ocean fleet in July 2025. It carries just 998 guests in 499 staterooms, and every stateroom has a private veranda — one of the defining traits of Viking’s all-veranda ocean design.
Sailing now
99 cruises on sale, from $2,599.
Questions
Riviera or Viking Vesta?
Which is bigger, Riviera or Viking Vesta?
Riviera is bigger at 66,084 gross tons, against 48,900 gross tons for Viking Vesta. Riviera carries 1,250 passengers and Viking Vesta carries 998.
Which ship is newer, Riviera or Viking Vesta?
Viking Vesta is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2025 against 2012 for Riviera.
Which has more space per passenger?
Riviera, with 52.9 gross tons per passenger against 49.0 on Viking Vesta. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Riviera, with one crew member for every 1.6 passengers against one for every 2.1 on Viking Vesta.
Which is better for families?
Viking Vesta scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 5.0 out of 10, against 2.0 for Riviera.
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