After a memorable experience on a recent Viking ocean cruise, we set out to plan our next voyage – only to find prices creeping higher year after year. Like many travellers, we want maximum value without compromising comfort, service and the experiences that make cruising special. Rebooking another Viking cruise seemed like a foregone conclusion, but when we started looking into prices it seemed post‑COVID prices had skyrocketed by 30–50%.
That’s why we looked beyond Viking, and Crystal Cruises came to our attention as a similar luxury or semi‑luxury cruise line. In this Viking vs Crystal Cruises comparison, we show how each stacks up on cost, inclusions, amenities and overall experience. The results may surprise devoted Viking fans – especially when we break down what you actually get for your money.
How to Check Live Viking vs Crystal Prices
Before choosing a side in the Viking vs Crystal Cruises debate, it’s worth checking real fares and inclusions for your dates and departure country. Here are the tools we use when researching and updating this comparison:
- Cruises – CruiseDirect: Browse and benchmark itineraries similar to Viking and Crystal to see how pricing and inclusions compare.
- Flights – KAYAK: Check the cost of flights to and from your embarkation and disembarkation ports, especially for Europe and the Mediterranean.
- Hotels – Booking.com: Price pre‑ and post‑cruise stays in cities like Lisbon, Rome or Athens so you can calculate your true trip total.
- Tours & shore days – GetYourGuide: Look up your ports to see independent tour prices and compare them with the excursions offered by each line.
Who Viking Ocean Cruises Is For
Viking positions itself around cultural immersion and destination learning. You won’t find casinos or kids’ clubs, and no children are allowed onboard. Instead, expect a serene, adult-focused ambiance with enrichment programming: destination lectures, cooking demos, and cultural performances. The design is distinctly Scandinavian, the public spaces are airy, and the speciality restaurants are thoughtfully curated. While Viking is widely seen as premium rather than ultra-luxury, many guests love its calm, refined vibe and destination-first approach. That said, some travellers feel Viking’s evening entertainment is understated, and dining—though good—can fall short of exceptional. We personally enjoyed the more lively entertainment in the Star Theatre and the late night cabaret performances in Torshavn. The Living Room performances both day and night are more classical pianist or string performers, so can understand some who say the entertainment is a bit sedate.
If you’re leaning towards Viking, our detailed Viking Mediterranean Odyssey review and Viking ocean cruise tips will give you a clearer sense of what life onboard actually feels like.
Viking’s Inclusions and Notable Policies
- Excursions: At least one complimentary excursion per port (but folded into your fare). If you choose a paid tour instead, you effectively pay twice at that port.
- Drinks: Beer and wine are included with lunch and dinner; tea/coffee are complimentary. Outside mealtimes, beverages are extra unless you purchase the Silver Spirits package (about $27 per person per day), which can be great value—even for mocktail drinkers.
- Gratuities: Not included for most markets (outside Australia/NZ/UK). Expect an automatic $17 per person, per day added to your onboard account.
Ships, Space, and Comfort:
Viking operates a consistent fleet of roughly 15 ocean ships (~48,000 GT) carrying about 930 guests and 465 crew. Guest-to-space ratio averages around 51, which is excellent in the industry and helps ships feel uncrowded. Newer vessels like Viking Vesta stretch capacity slightly (up to 998 guests) and introduce hydrogen-assisted tech, but overall, you’ll find a very consistent, spacious onboard experience across the fleet.
Comparing the Experiences: Viking Vs Crystal Cruises
Crystal Cruises: What’s Changed and What Stands Out
Crystal dates back to 1988, paused operations in 2022, and has since been revived by A&K Travel Group with two core ships—Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity—after major refurbishments. Passenger counts were intentionally reduced to expand staterooms and public spaces:
- Crystal Symphony: ~51,000 GT; 606 guests; guest-to-space ratio ~84
- Crystal Serenity: ~69,000 GT; 740 guests; guest-to-space ratio ~93
For a deeper dive into the ships themselves, our Crystal Cruises Luxury Comeback review looks closely at the refurbishment, cabins and onboard experience on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony.
Those ratios are among the best at sea, translating to exceptional spaciousness. Service levels are a hallmark too: Symphony sails with ~530 crew for 606 guests; Serenity with ~655 crew for 740 guests—and reports suggest ~80% of pre-2022 crew returned, reinforcing Crystal’s service culture.
Dining and Drinks: Where Crystal Leans Ultra-Luxury
- Dining: Nine venues, including two speciality restaurants. Notably, one speciality venue is the Michelin-rated Nobu concept. All guests receive at least two complimentary speciality reservations (more on voyages 11+ nights). Guests in Penthouse Suites get unlimited speciality dining—an edge over Viking’s reservation limits even for premium staterooms.
- Drinks: Crystal includes a full bar menu—wines, spirits, beers, cocktails, and mocktails—available any time, not just with meals. There’s no add-on drinks package; premium labels are extra. Guests can also bring their own alcohol onboard.
Excursions and Booking Windows
- Viking: One included excursion per port, plus optional paid tours. Access to excursions and pricing opens based on stateroom category—often about 100 days out for lower categories—limiting planning time.
- Crystal: Excursions are not included by default. However, for cruises sailing within the next 12 months, Crystal includes the cost of all shore excursions for booked guests and allows booking at the time of reserving your cruise. Crystal also publishes a comprehensive excursions list with pricing, making it easier to plan and budget early (prices may vary for sailings beyond 12 months).
Because both Viking vs Crystal Cruises operate in multiple currencies and often quote in USD or EUR, using a low‑fee multi‑currency card like the Wise travel card can reduce exchange fees on deposits, final payments and onboard spending. We also recommend good travel insurance for any ocean cruise, especially when flights and pre‑cruise hotels are involved.
Entertainment, Amenities, and Atmosphere
This is a key differentiator. Viking favours enrichment and cultural programming with a quieter evening scene. Crystal layers in more variety:
- Daytime: arts and crafts, wine tastings, board games and Bridge, yoga/Pilates, pickleball, paddle tennis, putting greens.
- Evenings: tribute acts, stand-up comedy, Broadway-style shows, live music, and robust lecture programs (sometimes with celebrity hosts).
- Extras: Crystal reintroduced casinos on both ships after guest feedback and features the elegant Connoisseur Club cigar lounge.
- Families: Crystal welcomes children and offers kids’ programs, though it’s not a family-focused line; you’ll mainly see kids during holiday periods.
Gratuities
- Crystal: All onboard gratuities are included.
- Viking: Gratuities are extra for most guests (outside AU/NZ/UK), typically $17 pp/day.
2027 Price Example:
Ok, so it’s pretty hard to do a direct price comparison between cruise lines, but we did the research and came up with this:
We looked at two near-identical 14-night sailings:
- Viking: Lisbon to Civitavecchia (Rome), Apr 16–30, 2027; lowest veranda category (V2)
- Crystal: Similar itinerary, Apr 12–26, 2027; comparable veranda category (Double guest room with veranda)
Viking came in at $10,598 (US) per person while Crystal came in at $9,170 (US) plus $1,000 ship credit.
While final pricing varies by date and promotions, the gap clearly favours Crystal. If you factor in a Viking drinks package and gratuities to the Viking base fare, you add another $616 per person to bring the total to $$11,214 for Viking. There are no included shore excursions with the Crystal base fare, but you do have the $1,000 ship credit which can be used for shore excursions.
Whichever line you choose, the key is to compare total trip cost rather than headline fare. Our guides on how to budget for a cruise and the free Cruise Budget Planner make it easy to plug in fares, flights, drinks, tips and excursions and see which option really gives you better value.
Quick Comparison
Verdict: Which Offers Better Value?
If you love Viking’s serene, culturally immersive style and child-free policy, it still delivers strong value—especially for travellers who prioritise the included daily tour and a quieter ship. But if you’re seeking more space, higher touch service, richer entertainment, and all-day included drinks with gratuities covered, Crystal now looks exceptionally compelling. For many itineraries—like the 2027 Lisbon-to-Rome example—Crystal’s total trip cost can undercut Viking once you tally everything you’ll likely spend.
Bottom line: Value depends on what you use. If you’re comparing premium and luxury cruise lines more broadly, our complete guide to the best cruise lines for seniors breaks down comfort, inclusions, atmosphere and overall value across the leading brands.
If you’ll enjoy the bar inclusions, speciality dining flexibility, and entertainment variety, Crystal may be the better buy. If you prize included basic excursions and a strictly adult, enrichment-first environment, Viking remains a top choice.<
If you choose Viking, check out our suggestions on how to find the best cruise deals and our Viking ocean cruise tips to help you get the most from your fare.
Have you sailed Viking or Crystal recently? Which inclusions matter most to you—excursions, drinks, dining, or entertainment? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear which line you think wins on value.
Watch our video on the comparison between Viking and Crystal
