Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Sea
- Cruises
- 67
- From
- $2,999
Ship comparison
Viking Sea vs Viking Vesta
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Vesta
- Cruises
- 98
- From
- $2,599
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Viking Sea is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 930 passengers, in service since 2016. Viking Vesta is a mid-size Viking Ocean Cruises ship carrying 998 passengers, in service since 2025.
Choose Viking Sea if you want more crew per passenger: it has a crew member for every 1.7 passengers (vs 2.1).
Choose Viking Vesta if you want a better-rated spa and gym, a more romantic trip or a newer ship: it outscores Viking Sea for spa & fitness (10.0 vs 8.0) and romantic (9.0 vs 7.5) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2025 (vs 2016).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Viking Sea | Viking Vesta | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Ocean Cruises |
| Ship size | Medium | Medium |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2016 | 2025 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 47,800 | 48,900 |
| Passengers | 930 | 998 |
| Crew | 550 | 465 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 1.7 (better) | 2.1 |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 51.4 (better) | 49.0 |
| Decks | 14 | 10 |
| Length | 745 ft | 784 ft |
| Beam | 95 ft | 101 ft |
| Speed | 23 mph | 23 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 10 / 10 | 10 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 67 | 98 |
| Upcoming sailings | 141 | 139 |
| Cruise lengths | 7–28 nights | 7–169 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $2,999 | $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 Sea leads on 0 of the ten, Viking Vesta on 9, with 1 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Sea
Viking Ocean Cruises launched its second ocean cruise ship in April 2016. Nearly identical to its sister ship, Viking Star (see review), the 930-passenger Viking Sea focuses on destination immersion, giving guests ample time to explore ports large and small.
Highlights
- Local musicians playing regional music in three-deck atrium
- Offshore excursions introducing local culture
- All-veranda staterooms
- Afternoon tea service in the Wintergarten
Sailing now
67 cruises on sale, from $2,999.
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
98 cruises on sale, from $2,599.
Questions
Viking Sea or Viking Vesta?
Which is bigger, Viking Sea or Viking Vesta?
Viking Vesta is bigger at 48,900 gross tons, against 47,800 gross tons for Viking Sea. Viking Sea carries 930 passengers and Viking Vesta carries 998.
Which ship is newer, Viking Sea or Viking Vesta?
Viking Vesta is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2025 against 2016 for Viking Sea.
Which has more space per passenger?
Viking Sea, 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 Sea, with one crew member for every 1.7 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 4.0 for Viking Sea.
Still deciding?
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