Star Clippers
Royal Clipper
- Cruises
- 0
- From
- —
Ship comparison
Royal Clipper vs Viking Var
Viking River Cruises
Viking Var
- Cruises
- 9
- From
- $1,999
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Royal Clipper is an intimate Star Clippers ship carrying 227 passengers, in service since 2000. Viking Var is an intimate Viking River Cruises ship carrying 190 passengers, in service since 2013.
Choose Royal Clipper if you want a more romantic trip, more crew per passenger or more adventure and nature: it outscores Viking Var for romantic (9.0 vs 5.0) and adventure & nature (7.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has a crew member for every 2.1 passengers (vs 4.2).
Choose Viking Var if you want a newer ship, better-rated entertainment or a better-rated spa and gym: it outscores Royal Clipper for entertainment (6.0 vs 4.0) and spa & fitness (5.0 vs 4.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2013 (vs 2000).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Royal Clipper | Viking Var | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Star Clippers | Viking River Cruises |
| Ship size | Intimate | Intimate |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2000 | 2013 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2013 | — |
| Gross tonnage | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Passengers | 227 | 190 |
| Crew | 106 | 45 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.1 (better) | 4.2 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 22.0 | 26.3 (better) |
| Decks | 4 | 4 |
| Length | 439 ft | 443 ft |
| Beam | 54 ft | 37 ft |
| Speed | — | 17 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 7 / 10 | 9 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | — | 9 |
| Upcoming sailings | — | 92 |
| Cruise lengths | — | 7 to 11 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | — | $1,999 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Royal Clipper leads on 3 of the ten, Viking Var on 4, with 3 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Star Clippers
Royal Clipper
Royal Clipper, owned by Star Clippers Cruises, is a distinguished five-masted, fully-rigged sailing ship that offers a unique seagoing experience, blending the grandeur and tradition of classic sailing with modern amenities and luxurious service.
Viking River Cruises
Viking Var
The 190-passenger Viking Var offers travelers an idyllic weeklong getaway on the storied Danube River, calling on world-class cities Vienna and Budapest as well as small, charming riverside towns in Austria’s Wachau Valley and farther afield.
Highlights
- Sun deck with 360-degree views and shaded sitting area; organic herb garden and solar panels; putting green, chess and walking track
- Free shipwide wireless Internet service
- "Balcony" cabins have floor-to-ceiling glass doors
- Aquavit Terrace at the bow of the ship is great place to watch the river roll by
Sailing now
9 cruises on sale, from $1,999.
Questions
Royal Clipper or Viking Var?
Which is bigger, Royal Clipper or Viking Var?
They are the same size, 5,000 gross tons each. Royal Clipper carries 227 passengers and Viking Var carries 190.
Which ship is newer, Royal Clipper or Viking Var?
Viking Var is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2013 against 2000 for Royal Clipper.
Which has more space per passenger?
Viking Var, with 26.3 gross tons per passenger against 22.0 on Royal Clipper. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Royal Clipper, with one crew member for every 2.1 passengers against one for every 4.2 on Viking Var.
Which is better for families?
They score the same for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 2.0 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 Royal Clipper, Viking Var or a ship that suits you better.