Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Orion
- Cruises
- 60
- From
- $5,999
Ship comparison
Viking Orion vs Viking Vela
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Vela
- Cruises
- 111
- From
- $2,599
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Viking Orion is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 930 passengers, in service since 2018. Viking Vela is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 998 passengers, in service since 2024.
Choose Viking Orion if you want a more family-friendly ship or more crew per passenger: it outscores Viking Vela for family friendly (5.0 vs 2.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and it has a crew member for every 1.7 passengers (vs 2.2).
Choose Viking Vela if you want a lower starting fare, a more romantic trip or better-rated dining: it outscores Viking Orion for romantic (10.0 vs 8.0) and dining (9.0 vs 7.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $2,599 (vs $5,999).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Viking Orion | Viking Vela | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Ocean Cruises |
| Ship size | Medium | Medium |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2018 | 2024 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 47,800 | 47,800 |
| Passengers | 930 | 998 |
| Crew | 550 | 463 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 1.7 (better) | 2.2 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 51.4 (better) | 47.9 |
| Decks | 14 | 14 |
| Length | 745 ft | 784 ft |
| Beam | 95 ft | 101 ft |
| Speed | 23 mph | 23 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 10 / 10 | — |
| Cruises on sale | 60 | 111 |
| Upcoming sailings | 112 | 189 |
| Cruise lengths | 10–92 nights | 7–35 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $5,999 | $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 Orion leads on 1 of the ten, Viking Vela on 6, with 3 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Orion
Sailing now
60 cruises on sale, from $5,999.
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Vela
The 998-passenger Viking Vela debuted in December 2024 as the 10th ship in the upscale Viking Ocean Cruises fleet. This sophisticated ship was designed to embody the modern Scandinavian aesthetic, featuring elegant interiors and outdoor spaces and providing an intimate cruising experience.
Sailing now
111 cruises on sale, from $2,599.
Questions
Viking Orion or Viking Vela?
Which is bigger, Viking Orion or Viking Vela?
They are the same size, 47,800 gross tons each. Viking Orion carries 930 passengers and Viking Vela carries 998.
Which ship is newer, Viking Orion or Viking Vela?
Viking Vela is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2024 against 2018 for Viking Orion.
Which has more space per passenger?
Viking Orion, with 51.4 gross tons per passenger against 47.9 on Viking Vela. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Viking Orion, with one crew member for every 1.7 passengers against one for every 2.2 on Viking Vela.
Which is better for families?
Viking Orion scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 5.0 out of 10, against 2.0 for Viking Vela.
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