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Ship comparison

Viking Sobek vs Wilderness Explorer

The verdict

Which should you choose?

Viking Sobek is an intimate Viking River Cruises ship carrying 82 passengers, in service since 2025. Wilderness Explorer is an intimate Un-Cruise Adventures ship carrying 74 passengers, in service since 1976. Viking Sobek has no Bliss scores yet, so the verdict rests on the figures we do hold.

Choose Viking Sobek if you want more space per passenger, a newer ship or more crew per passenger: it has 43.9 gross tons per passenger (vs 12.3), its maiden voyage was in 2025 (vs 1976) and it has a crew member for every 1.9 passengers (vs 2.8).

Choose Wilderness Explorer if you want more cruises to choose from: it has 9 cruises on sale (vs none).

Side by side

Specifications

marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.

Viking SobekWilderness Explorer
Cruise line Viking River Cruises Un-Cruise Adventures
Ship size Intimate Intimate
Maiden voyagenewer highlighted 2025 (better) 1976
Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted 2012
Gross tonnage 3,600 910
Passengers 82 74
Crew 43 26
Passengers per crew memberfewer is better 1.9 (better) 2.8
Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier 43.9 (better) 12.3
Decks 5 4
Length 186 ft
Beam 38 ft
Speed 23 mph 13 mph
Cruiseable ratingout of 10 8 / 10
Cruises on sale 9
Upcoming sailings 27
Cruise lengths 7–13 nights
Fares fromlower highlighted $7,300

Bliss scores

How they rate, out of 10

Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday.

Viking Sobek has no Bliss scores yet.

  • Active Wilderness Explorer: 10.0
  • Adventure & nature Wilderness Explorer: 10.0
  • Cultural Wilderness Explorer: 5.0
  • Dining Wilderness Explorer: 6.0
  • Entertainment Wilderness Explorer: 5.0
  • Family friendly Wilderness Explorer: 6.0
  • Party Wilderness Explorer: 5.0
  • Romantic Wilderness Explorer: 7.0
  • Spa & fitness Wilderness Explorer: 6.0
  • Staterooms Wilderness Explorer: 5.0

Un-Cruise Adventures

Wilderness Explorer

To complement the wild, natural surroundings of Wilderness Explorer from Un-Cruise Adventures, the interior of the 74-guest expedition ship has been designed with a Pacific Northwest feel, including the nautical-themed main lounge.

Sailing now

9 cruises on sale, from $7,300.

Questions

Viking Sobek or Wilderness Explorer?

Which is bigger, Viking Sobek or Wilderness Explorer?

Viking Sobek is bigger at 3,600 gross tons, against 910 gross tons for Wilderness Explorer. Viking Sobek carries 82 passengers and Wilderness Explorer carries 74.

Which ship is newer, Viking Sobek or Wilderness Explorer?

Viking Sobek is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2025 against 1976 for Wilderness Explorer.

Which has more space per passenger?

Viking Sobek, with 43.9 gross tons per passenger against 12.3 on Wilderness Explorer. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.

Which has more crew per passenger?

Viking Sobek, with one crew member for every 1.9 passengers against one for every 2.8 on Wilderness Explorer.

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