Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Mars
- Cruises
- 68
- From
- $3,299
Ship comparison
Viking Mars vs Viking Vesta
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Vesta
- Cruises
- 99
- From
- $2,599
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Viking Mars is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 930 passengers, in service since 2022. Viking Vesta is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 998 passengers, in service since 2025.
Choose Viking Mars if you want a more romantic trip or better-rated staterooms: it outscores Viking Vesta for romantic (10.0 vs 9.0) and staterooms (8.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Choose Viking Vesta if you want a more family-friendly ship, more of a party or a lower starting fare: it outscores Viking Mars for family friendly (5.0 vs 2.0) and party (6.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $2,599 (vs $3,299).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Viking Mars | Viking Vesta | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Ocean Cruises |
| Ship size | Medium | Medium |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2022 | 2025 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 47,800 | 48,900 |
| Passengers | 930 | 998 |
| Crew | 465 | 465 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.0 (better) | 2.1 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 51.4 (better) | 49.0 |
| Decks | 10 | 10 |
| Length | 745 ft | 784 ft |
| Beam | 94 ft | 101 ft |
| Speed | 23 mph | 23 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 10 / 10 | 10 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 68 | 99 |
| Upcoming sailings | 121 | 130 |
| Cruise lengths | 7 to 28 nights | 7 to 169 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $3,299 | $2,599 (better) |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Viking Mars leads on 2 of the ten, Viking Vesta on 2, with 6 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Mars
The eighth ocean ship from Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Mars debuted in May 2022 and offers a rich set of itineraries throughout Europe, Australia and Asia.
Sailing now
68 cruises on sale, from $3,299.
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
Viking Mars or Viking Vesta?
Which is bigger, Viking Mars or Viking Vesta?
Viking Vesta is bigger at 48,900 gross tons, against 47,800 gross tons for Viking Mars. Viking Mars carries 930 passengers and Viking Vesta carries 998.
Which ship is newer, Viking Mars or Viking Vesta?
Viking Vesta is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2025 against 2022 for Viking Mars.
Which has more space per passenger?
Viking Mars, with 51.4 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?
Viking Mars, with one crew member for every 2.0 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 Viking Mars.
Still deciding?
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