Viking Vs. Norwegian Cruise Lines: Choosing The Best

Viking and Norwegian are two of the world’s most popular cruise lines, but they each offer a very different cruising experience.

This comprehensive guide will compare and contrast the key differences between Viking and Norwegian cruises to help you decide which best suits your style and budget.

A Brief Comparison Table

Aspects	Viking	Norwegian
Ship Size	Smaller, intimate vessels – 930 guests max on ocean, under 200 on rivers	Larger contemporary ships – 2,500 to 4,200 guests
Destinations	Globetrotting options worldwide, with focus on Europe, Mediterranean, Asia, Egypt. Smaller ports.	Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda. Major tourist ports.
Onboard Vibe	Elegant, refined, sophisticated. Emphasis on enrichment, relaxation and scenery.	High-energy, lively. Focus on activities, entertainment, excitement.
Dining	Open-seating restaurants focused on local cuisine. All meals included.	Freestyle dining with up to 30+ venues. Cover charges apply for specialty dining.
Amenities	Lounges, spa, fitness center, pool, open decks. Enrichment lectures and classes.	Waterslides, go-karts, shows, casino, multiple bars/lounges. Tons of entertainment.
Service	Intimate, exceptional service. Nearly 1:1 staff:guest ratio.	Friendly, casual service. À la carte fees for most services.
Excursions	All tours and activities included in fare.	À la carte pricing for cruise line excursions. Can book independently.
Travelers	Couples & seniors 55+, some multi-generational. Upscale demographics.	Wide demographic appeal, especially families, active travelers, young couples.
Price	$$$$ Luxury pricing, but with outstanding inclusiveness.	$-$$ Mid-range to budget fares, paid à la carte.

Overview Of Viking Cruises

Viking is widely considered one of the world’s best luxury cruise lines. Their small, elegant ships carry fewer than 1,000 guests each and are designed for destination-focused travel.

Viking offers river cruises in Europe, Russia, Egypt and Asia as well as ocean cruises around the world. Onboard, you’ll find sophisticated Scandinavian design, culturally immersive experiences, and exceptional service. Viking prides itself on helping guests explore the world in comfort.

Some key things to know about Viking Cruises:

• Ship Size: Viking river ships carry less than 200 passengers. Ocean ships carry around 930 guests. Smaller ships provide a more intimate, boutique feel.
• Destinations: Viking visits over 480 ports on 6 continents. Key destinations include Europe, Mediterranean, Asia, Egypt, South America.
• Onboard Experience: Elegant, understated Scandinavian design. Spa, pools, choice of restaurants. Enrichment activities and lectures. Cooking classes and workshops.
• Price Range: $$$$. Viking is on the luxury end of cruising, but offers value compared to other upscale lines.
• Best For: Travelers 55+ seeking destination-focused cruising with extensive included excursions and few crowds. Those wanting comfort, relaxation and cultural immersion.

Overview Of Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line attracts a broad mix of ages and backgrounds. Their mid-sized contemporary ships offer fun, casual cruising with plenty of activities and entertainment options onboard.

Norwegian sails all over the world, but is particularly known for its incredible itineraries in Alaska and the Caribbean. Freestyle cruising gives you flexibility in when and where you dine, what you wear, and how you spend your time.

Key Norwegian Cruise Line features:

• Ship Size: 2,000 – 4,000 passengers. Newer “Breakaway Plus” class ships carry up to 4,200 cruisers.
• Destinations: Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England.
• Onboard Experience: Up to 20+ dining options per ship. Broadway shows and entertainment. Water slides, go-karts, laser tag, casinos, spa. Very active, lively atmosphere.
• Price Range: $$. Mid-range prices with regular sales and deals.
• Best For: Families, couples, groups and active travelers looking for a fun, high-energy casual cruise.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s do a deep dive on how Viking and Norwegian cruises compare across the factors most important to cruisers.

Ship Size And Design

Viking ships are among the most spacious in cruising, with an average capacity of just 930 guests on ocean cruises. Their river ships are even smaller, with most limited to 190 passengers. These intimate vessels allow access to smaller ports and offer a quiet, refined setting. You’ll never feel crowded on a Viking ship.

Norwegian ships are larger, averaging around 2,500 – 4,000 guests depending on the class. Some of their newest vessels like the Encore hold almost 4,200 cruisers. Norwegian’s larger size allows for more onboard activities and dining choices, but does mean busier public areas and potential waits at restaurants. Their newest ships feature impressive go-kart race tracks, laser tag arenas, water slides and more.

In terms of design and layout, Viking ships have an elegant, minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic with light colors and natural materials. Staterooms tend to be spacious. Norwegian ships have a more colorful, high-energy decor with funky patterns and lighting. Rooms have a smaller, contemporary feel.

Itineraries And Destinations

Viking is known for globetrotting itineraries spanning Europe, Asia, Egypt, Australia and South America. They offer culturally focused journeys including overnight stays in key ports, allowing more time for exploration. Their Europe river cruises are especially popular.

Norwegian is famous for its wide range of Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries, along with cruises to Alaska, Bermuda, Canada/New England and the Hawaiian islands. Norwegian’s Caribbean trips are particularly diverse, ranging from 5-day quick getaways to epic 14-day adventures across the eastern and western Caribbean.

Both Viking and Norwegian also sail throughout the Mediterranean, British Isles and Northern Europe during summer months. Viking attends to smaller ports while Norwegian focuses on major destinations like Barcelona, Florence and Rome. Both visit sought-after Scandinavian and Baltic destinations.

So Norwegian offers more regional diversity close to North America, while Viking provides the chance to journey further abroad in luxury.

Dining Choices

With just a few dining venues per ship, Viking takes a more traditional approach to meals. Restaurant menus focus on destination-inspired cuisine and locally sourced ingredients. Dining is open-seating, so you can enjoy your meals without strict dinnertimes. Complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks are offered with lunch and dinner.

Norwegian revolutionized cruising with its “freestyle dining” approach. Their ships have up to 30 different restaurants to choose from, ranging from formal main dining rooms to casual poolside grills. You can dine whenever and wherever you please, with no assigned seating or formal nights. Specialty dining does come at an extra fee.

So while Norwegian certainly provides more flexibility and options, Viking’s dining experience feels more refined and tied to regional flavors. Both lines cater to any dietary needs upon request.

Onboard Amenities

Viking has an understated onboard ambiance focused on relaxation and enrichment. Amenities include multiple lounges, a spa, fitness center, outdoor decks and an infinity pool on ocean ships. You’ll find quietly elegant spaces for reading, chatting with new friends or enjoying scenic views. Evenings may feature local cultural entertainment like jazz.

Norwegian ships have activities morning to night. You’ll find waterslides, go-karts, bowling alleys, dance clubs, theatres for Broadway-style shows, and one of the largest casinos at sea. Fitness lovers can dive into the massive Mandara spa, while kids enjoy age-specific programs and activities. Night owls have multiple lively bars and lounges to choose from.

So Norwegian helps even seasoned travelers avoid boredom, while Viking provides a refined retreat. Choose based on your preference for action versus relaxation.

Service And Inclusiveness

Viking has an industry-leading staff-to-guest ratio to ensure exceptional personalized service. Dining, excursions and Wi-Fi are all included in the fare, resulting in an all-inclusive, high-end experience. Crew members get to know you by name and strive to exceed expectations.

Norwegian offers friendly, casual service that matches their lively ambiance. You’ll pay à la carte for dining, excursions, spa treatments and Wi-Fi. While gratuities are included on some itineraries, you may opt to provide additional tips. Service can be hit or miss depending on the crew and circumstances.

Viking’s uniformly high-level service helps justify the higher fares. Norwegian is more budget-friendly, but the experience depends more on the unique crew.

Also watch the video of Viking Cruise!

Excursions

A key distinguisher for Viking is their inclusive, curated approach to excursions. Every itinerary offers numerous cultural tours and activities focused on immersion in regional sites and experiences. Local guides provide insider perspective. Viking even offers guided hikes, bike tours and kayaking for active exploration.

As a budget-friendly line, Norwegian charges individually for excursions. You can book cruise-sponsored tours at each port, or venture out on your own. Norwegian excursions leverage the cruise line’s clout to access highlights like exclusive beach clubs, while independent tours provide cost savings.

Viking’s all-inclusive excursions encourage discovery and meaningful experiences with less logistical hassle. Norwegian allows you to customize based on preferences and budget.

Demographics

With their sophisticated offerings and focus on comfort, enrichment and service, Viking naturally attracts more seasoned, affluent travelers. The average age hovers around 55 and older. Multi-generational families are less common. Most cruisers prefer Viking’s refined atmosphere and thoughtful pacing.

Norwegian appeals to a diverse mix of ages, backgrounds and lifestyles. Their ships attract everyone from young couples and singles to adventurous families with kids. Seniors and retirees enjoy Norwegian’s combination of activity, amenities and value. The lively vibe and flexible offerings have broad appeal.

Choose Viking if you want a refined adults-only escape. Norwegian is ideal for multi-generational groups and families seeking fun at sea.

Pricing And Value

Viking commands a luxury price point, with fares averaging $400-$500+ per person per day. Surface tours with hotels, meals and flights included can run $5,000-$10,000+ for 1-2 weeks. While not cheap by any means, Viking offers outstanding inclusiveness and service for the price.

Norwegian Cruise Line competes primarily on value. Average per day fares range from $100-$300+ depending on ship, itinerary and season. You’ll pay more for dining, excursions and amenities à la carte, but can control costs based on preferences. With Norwegian’s regular promotions and reduced kids fares, you get a lot for the money compared to upscale lines.

Viking is the clear choice for all-inclusive luxury and service, if budget allows. For families and budget-conscious travelers, Norwegian offers incredible experiences at a fraction of the price.

Also Read: Is Viking Air Better Than Viking Air Plus?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

Viking and Norwegian cruise lines offer vastly different experiences in terms of intimacy, inclusiveness, price, amenities, service and ambiance. However, they both excel at providing destination-rich itineraries.

Viking is the undisputed winner if you seek a refined escape with maximum cultural immersion. Norwegian is ideal for high-energy groups and families wanting flexibility, entertainment and value. Carefully consider your travel style, preferences and budget to decide which line offers the best fit.

Whichever you choose, you’ll create wonderful vacation memories exploring the world by sea. Bon voyage!