Viking vs Oceania in the Mediterranean comes down to this: Viking includes a guided tour in every port and runs one design of ship, while Oceania includes gratuities, puts food first and runs ships of four classes, from 476 to 1,390 guests. For a one-week voyage Viking is usually the cheaper of the two; for longer voyages on Oceania’s small ships, Oceania usually is.
Those conclusions come from the 2027 fares rather than from brochures. We set Viking’s 38 Mediterranean itineraries against 81 Oceania voyages in the same waters, worked out the price per night of each, and then lined up the routes the two lines both sail: Barcelona to Rome, Venice to Athens, Athens to Istanbul, and two weeks from Rome to Athens. Both lines are now adults-only, both include specialty dining and Wi-Fi, and both are premium rather than true luxury, so the differences that matter are the ones below: what the fare leaves out, how big the ship is, which ports you get, and what you actually pay per night once gratuities are counted. For every line in the region side by side, see our guide to the best Mediterranean cruise lines.
At a glance: Viking and Oceania in the Mediterranean
| Viking | Oceania | |
|---|---|---|
| Ships | Near-identical ships of 930 or 998 guests | Four classes: 476 to 1,390 guests |
| Who can sail | 18 and over, every sailing | 18 and over, on bookings made since 7 January 2026 |
| Gratuities | $20 per person per night, added on US bookings | Included |
| Shore excursions | One guided tour in every port, included | Extra, unless you take the excursion credit instead of drinks |
| Drinks | Beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner | Wine and beer by the glass, or the excursion credit instead |
| Specialty dining and Wi-Fi | Included | Included |
| Mediterranean program | 38 itineraries of 8 to 36 days, plus five ocean crossings | 81 voyages of up to 16 nights in 2027 across eight ships |
| Typical price per night | About $435 (median lead-in fare), plus $20 in gratuities | About $400 (median 2027 fare), gratuities included |
| One-week voyages | Median about $400 a night, plus $20 | Median about $504 a night |
| Cheapest per night | About $286: Cities of Antiquity, 15 days, Rome to Athens | About $271: Nautica, 7 nights from Venice, 15 October 2027 |
| Winter | A “Quiet Season” of Mediterranean voyages | A “Quiet Mediterranean” season on Allura, November to March |
Viking vs Oceania in the Mediterranean: the short answer
If you want a calm, consistent ship, a tour in every port without having to plan anything, and a price that is mostly settled when you book, choose Viking. If you want the best food of the two, a choice of ship sizes from 476 to 1,390 guests, smaller and more unusual ports, and the lowest prices on longer voyages, choose Oceania. That is our judgment from the published fares, itineraries and policies; neither line has any say in it.
The surprise in the numbers is where each line is cheap. Viking prices its one-week voyages keenly: its seven 8-day Mediterranean itineraries have a median lead-in fare of about $400 a night, or about $420 with gratuities. Oceania’s twenty 7-night voyages in 2027 have a median of about $504 a night, because most of them are on Allura, its newer and dearer ship. Stretch to 9 to 12 nights on Insignia or Nautica, two of Oceania’s small Regatta-class ships, and the picture flips: those voyages cost about $280 to $345 a night, gratuities included, against about $400 to $465 for Viking’s 10- and 11-day voyages once its gratuities are added.
Which is cheaper, Viking or Oceania?
For one week, usually Viking: its 8-day voyages have a median of about $420 a night with gratuities, against about $504 for Oceania’s 7-night voyages. For 9 to 12 nights, usually Oceania, whose Insignia and Nautica voyages of that length cost about $280 to $345 a night with gratuities included. Across all voyages, Oceania’s median is a little lower.
Medians hide the choices that matter, so here are the routes both lines sail, with the fares that were on sale. Viking’s figures are its lead-in fares, the lowest price on each itinerary’s cheapest remaining departure, from an End of Season Sale valid to 30 September 2026, with $20 a night added for gratuities. Oceania’s are the lowest fares for specific 2027 departures, which already include gratuities. Both include port taxes and fees.
| Route | Viking | Oceania, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona and Rome, 7 nights | Iconic Western Mediterranean, Barcelona to Rome, with overnights in Barcelona and Livorno: $2,599, about $391 a night with gratuities | Nautica, 26 September, Rome to Barcelona: $2,099, about $300 a night. Allura, 22 October, same direction: $2,599, about $371. Allura, 2 July: $3,749, about $536 |
| Venice to Athens | Venice, the Adriatic & Greece, 7 nights from Chioggia: $3,499, about $520 a night with gratuities | Insignia, 15 October, 10 nights from Fusina to Piraeus: $2,899, about $290 a night |
| Athens and Istanbul, 7 nights | Ancient Mediterranean Treasures, Istanbul to Athens, with overnights in both: $2,699, about $406 a night with gratuities | Oceania Sonata, 14 October, Athens to Istanbul: $3,799, about $543 a night |
| Rome to Athens, two weeks and more | Cities of Antiquity, 14 nights: $3,999, about $306 a night with gratuities | Insignia, 6 October Rome to Venice plus 15 October Venice to Athens, 19 nights: $5,398, about $284 a night |
On two of the four routes, Oceania’s small ships undercut Viking by a wide margin; on one, Viking is clearly cheaper; and on the fourth the two are almost level. The Venice to Athens pairing is the starkest: Viking’s week costs about $520 a night once gratuities are added, and Insignia‘s ten nights about $290, on a route with similar Adriatic and Greek calls. Athens to Istanbul goes the other way, because the only 2027 Oceania voyage we found on that exact route is on the brand-new Sonata, priced at a maiden-season premium. And over two weeks from Rome to Athens, Viking’s best-value itinerary and a back-to-back pair of Insignia voyages cost almost the same per night.
A worked example: the Barcelona and Rome week for two
The one-week route between Barcelona and Rome is the most popular in the Mediterranean, and both lines sail it. For a couple, the numbers look like this:
| Viking, Iconic Western Mediterranean | Oceania Nautica, 26 September | Oceania Allura, 22 October | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fare for two | $5,198 | $4,198 | $5,198 |
| Gratuities for two | $280 | Included | Included |
| Total before extras | $5,478 | $4,198 | $5,198 |
| Tours included | One in every port | None, unless you take the excursion credit instead of drinks | None, unless you take the excursion credit instead of drinks |
| Drinks included | Beer and wine with lunch and dinner | Wine and beer by the glass, if you choose drinks | Wine and beer by the glass, if you choose drinks |
On Nautica, the couple starts $1,280 ahead. If you would have booked a tour in five ports, Oceania’s tours would have to average more than about $128 per person before Viking’s included tours made Viking the cheaper week, and Oceania’s excursion credit, if you choose it over drinks, narrows the gap further. On Allura at the same fare as Viking, the difference is just the gratuities, $280 in Oceania’s favor, against a tour in every port in Viking’s. Against Allura‘s July week at $3,749 each, Viking’s lead-in fare is more than $2,000 cheaper for the couple, although Viking’s own summer departures may cost more than its lead-in.
Price per night by ship and trip length
The two lines set their prices in different ways. Oceania’s prices follow the ship; Viking’s, with one design of ship, follow the length of the trip. Here is how the per-night fares spread out on each.
| Oceania ship, or Viking trip length | Voyages | Lowest | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceania Insignia (Regatta class) | 5 | $278 | $290 | $339 |
| Oceania Marina (O class) | 10 | $290 | $323 | $414 |
| Oceania Nautica (Regatta class) | 9 | $271 | $328 | $345 |
| Oceania Aurelia (the rebuilt Nautica) | 4 | $320 | $343 | $492 |
| Oceania Sirena (Regatta class) | 16 | $311 | $358 | $555 |
| Oceania Allura (Allura class) | 26 | $371 | $538 | $694 |
| Oceania Sonata (Sonata class) | 9 | $494 | $543 | $661 |
| Viking, 8 days | 7 | $371 | $400 | $500 |
| Viking, 10 to 13 days | 3 | $380 | $442 | $444 |
| Viking, 15 and 16 days | 16 | $286 | $428 | $693 |
| Viking, 19 to 22 days | 8 | $390 | $512 | $643 |
| Viking, 29 and 36 days | 4 | $414 | $491 | $606 |
Two things stand out. Viking’s cheapest nights are not on its shortest voyages but on one two-week itinerary, Cities of Antiquity, at $286; most of its two-week voyages cost about as much per night as its one-week ones, and its longest voyages cost more. And five of Oceania’s eight ships have medians below every Viking length group once Viking’s gratuities are added, while Allura and Sonata sit above all of them. The real question is less “Viking or Oceania?” than “Viking, or which Oceania ship?”
What does each fare include?
Viking includes a guided tour in every port, beer and wine with meals, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and spa access, but not gratuities on US bookings. Oceania includes gratuities, specialty dining and Wi-Fi, plus a choice of wine and beer by the glass or a shore excursion credit.
The two lists overlap more than either line’s marketing suggests. The real differences are three: who pays the gratuities, whether a tour is included in every port, and how drinks work.
| Item | Viking | Oceania |
|---|---|---|
| Gratuities | Not included on US bookings: $20 per person per night, added automatically | Included, for bookings made from 1 October 2024 on sailings from 2025 |
| Shore excursions | One complimentary tour in every port | Extra, or an excursion credit in place of the drinks benefit |
| Drinks | Beer, wine and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner; specialty coffee, tea and bottled water all day; Silver Spirits package $27 per person per night | Wine and beer by the glass, if you choose drinks over the excursion credit |
| Bringing your own wine | Allowed, with no corkage fee | Check at booking |
| Specialty restaurants | Included: Manfredi’s and The Chef’s Table | Included |
| Wi-Fi | Included | Included |
| Spa | Spa access included; treatments extra | Not listed among the inclusions |
| Laundry and room service | Self-service launderettes and 24-hour room service included | Not stated in the inclusions we could read |
| Airport transfers | Only if you buy Viking’s air | Not listed among the inclusions |
| Port taxes and fees | Included | Included in the agency fares we quote |
The included tour is Viking’s strongest card in the Mediterranean, where the sights are often a long way from the ship. At Civitavecchia for Rome, Livorno for Florence and Katakolon for Olympia, a tour that handles the transfer is worth real money, and Viking’s is in the fare. The included tours tend to be introductory city tours, and Viking sells more specialized ones on top. Oceania’s answer is the excursion credit, which you choose instead of the drinks benefit, and whose value varies by voyage. Ask for the figure before you choose: on a port-intensive voyage with a port almost every day, the credit can be worth more than the wine.
Gratuities are the other trap, and they matter more than they look. Viking’s $20 a night is $280 for a couple on a week, and $560 on two weeks. A good deal of what is written about Viking still says gratuities are included, and for bookings made in the US they are not, as Viking’s own FAQ says plainly.
Booking, deposits and tour reservations
When we read Viking’s fares, they were part of an End of Season Sale valid to 30 September 2026, advertising up to 35 percent off, reduced airfare and a $25 deposit, so a lead-in fare is a snapshot of a sale rather than a fixed price. Viking also opens reservations for its optional tours, the ones beyond the included tour in each port, in order of stateroom: 177 days before sailing for its Owner’s Suites, down to 130 days for standard Veranda staterooms, with no refunds within two days of a tour. That is why suite guests get the first pick of the limited-capacity tours.
Oceania’s booking terms change with its promotions, and its site blocks automated reading, so we could not set them out here. Two things to settle before paying a deposit: whether you want the drinks benefit or the excursion credit, and exactly how much the credit is worth on your voyage.
How do the Viking and Oceania ships compare?
Viking sails near-identical ships of 930 or 998 guests, every stateroom with a veranda. Oceania sails four classes: small Regatta-class ships of about 30,000 tons, Marina and Riviera at about 1,250 guests, Vista and Allura at 1,200, and the new Sonata at 1,390.
| Ship or class | Size | In the Mediterranean in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Viking’s original ships, such as Viking Sea and Viking Star | 47,842 tons, 930 guests, 745 feet | Both sizes sail Viking’s Mediterranean itineraries |
| Viking’s newer ships, such as Viking Mira | About 54,000 tons, 998 guests, 784 feet | A similar design, slightly larger |
| Oceania Regatta class: Insignia, Nautica, Sirena | 30,277 tons, about 670 to 684 guests (published figures vary) | The cheapest Oceania voyages, and the smallest ports |
| Oceania O class: Marina (Riviera is its sister) | About 1,250 guests | Marina in April and from late September to December |
| Oceania Allura class: Allura, Vista | 67,817 tons, 1,200 guests | Allura from April through the winter; Vista in June |
| Oceania Sonata | 86,000 tons, 1,390 guests | From its maiden voyage on 7 August 2027 |
| Oceania Aurelia (the rebuilt Nautica) | 30,277 tons, 476 guests, mostly suites | From 29 November 2027 |
What that means in practice: on Viking you know exactly what you are getting, because the ships are essentially the same, all staterooms have verandas, and there is no casino and no formal night. On Oceania, the ship you pick shapes the trip. The Regatta-class ships are small and club-like, with inside and ocean-view cabins as well as verandas, and they call at more of the small ports; Allura and Sonata are modern, roomier and more expensive; Aurelia, from late 2027, is the most exclusive of all, with suites for most of its 476 guests.
Neither line is luxury in the strict sense, meaning an all-suite ship of under about 750 guests with everything included. Viking’s ships are over that size, and Oceania’s are either over it or, like the Regatta class, not all-suite; only Aurelia, mostly suites for 476 guests, comes close. Our guide to luxury Mediterranean cruises covers the lines above both.
Which line has the better Mediterranean itineraries?
Viking for overnights and simplicity: most itineraries are combinations of the same 8-day routes, with nights in Barcelona, Livorno, Piraeus and Istanbul. Oceania for variety: seven homeports, 81 voyages in 2027 and many small ports, from Milos and Monemvasia to Palamós and Sarandë, that Viking does not visit.
Viking’s Mediterranean program is built from building blocks. Its seven 8-day routes, such as Barcelona to Rome, Rome to Athens and Venice to Athens, join end to end into most of its 15-, 22-, 29- and 36-day voyages. That makes it easy to understand and easy to extend. Its signature is the overnight: a night in Barcelona at the start of the Western Mediterranean week, a night in Livorno on almost every itinerary that calls there, so you can see Florence without rushing, and nights in Piraeus, Istanbul and Chioggia. The trade-off is range. Viking skips Mykonos altogether and calls at Santorini on only three of its Mediterranean itineraries, and many routes repeat the same ports.
Oceania’s program is bigger and less tidy. Its ships sail from seven homeports, Civitavecchia, Barcelona, Piraeus, Trieste, Fusina, Istanbul and Lisbon, and its small ships call at places Viking does not: Milos, Monemvasia, Gythion, Mytilene on Lesbos, Kavala, Hvar, Sarandë in Albania and Palamós on the Costa Brava. Oceania Sonata‘s first season adds overnights in Istanbul and Livorno. The cost is predictability: a Regatta-class voyage and an Allura voyage on similar routes are very different trips.
Venice, Florence and Istanbul: how each line handles the big three
- Venice. Neither line docks in central Venice, because ships of 25,000 tons or more have been barred from the Giudecca Canal since August 2021. Viking uses Chioggia, a fishing town at the southern end of the lagoon; Oceania uses Fusina on the mainland and Trieste. Plan the transfer into Venice either way.
- Florence. Viking’s overnight at Livorno is, in our view, the best arrangement in the Mediterranean for Florence, which is 65 miles (105 km) from the port. Oceania lists Livorno overnights on some of Sonata‘s voyages; on its other ships, check whether your Livorno call is a single day before planning Florence.
- Istanbul. Viking’s Istanbul voyages start or end with an overnight there. Oceania’s Sirena, Nautica, Marina and Sonata all begin voyages at Istanbul’s Galataport, and Sonata overnights there.
The Florence test: a Livorno day on each line
Florence shows the difference between the two lines’ itineraries better than any table. Livorno’s cruise berths are in the container port, where you cannot walk out, and Florence is 65 miles (105 km) away. Most Viking itineraries that call at Livorno stay overnight, so you can give one day to Florence and the other to Pisa, 16 miles away, or simply take Florence slowly. On a single-day call the arithmetic is tighter. Here is the all-aboard math, working back from the time every passenger must be on board, for a typical 08:00 to 18:00 call with all aboard at 17:30:
- 08:00 Ashore. Take the port shuttle through the container port into town, about €5 (about $6), a price to re-check on the day.
- 08:30 On to Livorno Centrale station, about 2 miles from the port, by bus or taxi.
- 09:00 Train to Florence: 1 hour 8 minutes to 1 hour 22 minutes, with about 36 trains a day, from about $14.
- 10:30 to 14:30 Four hours in Florence: the Duomo and one museum, not the Uffizi and the Accademia both.
- 14:45 Train back, reaching Livorno at about 16:05.
- 16:30 Shuttle to the ship, and aboard by about 17:00, half an hour before all aboard.
Four hours in Florence against the best part of two days: that is what Viking’s Livorno overnight buys, with a tour included on top. On Oceania, a ship’s tour to Florence, or the excursion credit spent on one, takes the stress out of the timetable, because cruise lines generally wait for their own late-running tours in a way they will not wait for independent travelers.
Winter: Viking’s Quiet Season and Oceania’s Quiet Mediterranean
Both lines now sell the Mediterranean in winter. Viking markets a “Quiet Season” of Mediterranean voyages, and Oceania keeps Allura in the region from November to March for what it calls the Quiet Mediterranean, with Oceania Aurelia joining in late 2027. Winter trades warmth for empty sights: Athens averages about 57°F (14°C) in December, and Greece’s cruise passenger fee drops to €4 at Santorini and Mykonos and €1 elsewhere from November to March. Our guide to the best time to cruise the Mediterranean covers every month.
Food, life on board and who you will sail with
Food is where most comparisons, including ours, give Oceania the edge. The line built its reputation on dining, and every fare includes its specialty restaurants, such as the Italian Toscana and the Polo Grill steakhouse, with more venues on the bigger ships. Viking’s food is good and simpler: a main restaurant, a buffet-style World Café, and two included alternatives, the Italian Manfredi’s and The Chef’s Table with its tasting menus. If dinner is the highlight of your day, Oceania is the stronger choice; if you would rather have three reliable options and an early night before a tour, Viking suits you.
Days feel different too. Viking’s are built around the included tour and the destination talks on board. Its dress code is elegant casual with no formal nights, and jeans are not worn in the evening except in the World Café. Viking’s embarkation starts at 11:00, its onboard account is in US dollars with no currency exchange aboard, and its staterooms have US and European two-pin sockets but no British three-pin ones, worth knowing if you are traveling from the UK. Oceania’s days are looser, because nothing is included ashore unless you choose the credit, and its ships add a casino, which Viking’s do not have. Viking also lets you bring your own wine aboard with no corkage fee, an unusual concession at this level.
Your fellow passengers will be adults on both. Viking takes no one under 18 on any sailing, and Oceania has accepted only adults on bookings made since 7 January 2026, saying its guests value a “serene atmosphere” and “unhurried pace”. Our guide to adults-only Mediterranean cruises puts both alongside Virgin Voyages.
For travelers with limited mobility, Viking’s rules are published and strict: mobility devices up to 22 inches wide and under 50 pounds, crew who will not lift guests, and tenders that cannot take motorized wheelchairs or scooters. Check Oceania’s equivalent rules before booking, and see our wheelchair-accessible Mediterranean cruise guide for which ports are hardest.
Which should you choose, Viking or Oceania?
Choose Viking for a one-week first Mediterranean cruise with a tour in every port, especially Barcelona to Rome or Istanbul to Athens. Choose Oceania for food, for longer voyages on its small ships, for unusual ports, or for the lowest price per night if you are flexible on dates.
Work through it in this order:
- How long is the trip? For seven nights, start with Viking, whose 8-day voyages have a median of about $420 a night with gratuities. For nine nights or more, start with Oceania’s Insignia and Nautica, at about $280 to $345.
- Will you take a tour in most ports? If yes, Viking’s included tours are worth a great deal, especially at Civitavecchia, Livorno and Katakolon. If you prefer to explore on your own, Oceania’s gratuities-included fare wins.
- How much does dinner matter? If it is the highlight of the day, Oceania. If three good options are plenty, Viking.
- Which ports do you want? For Florence without rushing, Viking’s Livorno overnight. For Mykonos, Milos or the smaller Greek and Adriatic ports, Oceania.
- Which ship size? For a known quantity, Viking. For the smallest ships and the lowest prices, Oceania’s Regatta class; for the newest, Allura or Sonata, at a price.
- When can you travel? Oceania’s cheapest weeks fall between late September and December; Viking’s lead-in fares change with its sales, so compare the same dates on both before booking.
For the full detail on each, our Viking Mediterranean guide sets out all of Viking’s itineraries with ports and per-night prices, and our Oceania Mediterranean guide prices every 2027 voyage ship by ship.
Viking vs Oceania FAQs
Is Viking or Oceania cheaper in the Mediterranean?
It depends on the length of the trip. For one week, Viking is usually cheaper, at a median of about 420 dollars a night with gratuities against about 504 dollars for Oceania’s 7-night voyages. For 9 to 12 nights, Oceania’s Insignia and Nautica are cheaper, at about 280 to 345 dollars a night with gratuities included.
Is Viking or Oceania better for a first Mediterranean cruise?
For most first-timers, Viking: one week from Barcelona to Rome, a tour in every port, overnights in Barcelona and Livorno, and a price that is mostly settled when you book. Oceania suits first-timers who would rather explore on their own, care most about dinner, or want a longer voyage for less per night.
Does Viking or Oceania include gratuities?
Oceania includes gratuities on bookings made from 1 October 2024 for sailings from 2025. Viking does not include them on US bookings: it adds 20 dollars per person per night to your onboard account, which is 280 dollars for a couple on a one-week voyage.
Which has better food, Viking or Oceania?
Most comparisons, including ours, give Oceania the edge. Its specialty restaurants are included in every fare, and the bigger ships add more of them. Viking’s food is good but simpler, with a main restaurant, a buffet and two included alternatives, Manfredi’s and The Chef’s Table.
Are Viking and Oceania both adults-only?
Yes. Viking accepts no one under 18 on any sailing. Oceania accepts only guests aged 18 and over on bookings made since 7 January 2026, while honoring earlier bookings that include children, so a few sailings may still have younger guests aboard.
Do Viking and Oceania include shore excursions?
Viking includes one guided tour in every port. Oceania does not include tours, but lets you choose a shore excursion credit instead of the wine and beer benefit. Viking’s included tours matter most at ports far from their sights, such as Civitavecchia for Rome and Livorno for Florence.
Which ships are bigger, Viking’s or Oceania’s?
It depends on the Oceania ship. Viking’s ships carry 930 or 998 guests. Oceania’s range from the 476-guest Oceania Aurelia and its small Regatta-class ships of about 30,000 tons to Allura at 1,200 guests and the new Oceania Sonata at 1,390, so an Oceania ship can be smaller or larger than Viking’s.
Which is better for Florence and Venice?
For Florence, Viking, whose itineraries almost always stay overnight at Livorno. For Venice, neither docks in the city: Viking uses Chioggia at the southern end of the lagoon, and Oceania uses Fusina on the mainland and Trieste, so plan a transfer either way.
For every way to make the Florence trip on a single-day call, including the train, a shuttle coach and ship’s tours with their prices, see our guide to getting from Livorno to Florence on a cruise day.
Where this guide goes deeper
This page is part of our cruise line comparisons, and it will link to the other head-to-heads as they publish: Royal Caribbean vs Celebrity in the Mediterranean, MSC vs Costa, and NCL vs Royal Caribbean. If Azamara is also on your shortlist, our guide to Azamara Mediterranean cruises, the small-ship line built around long port stays and late departures, will set it against both. For where Viking and Oceania sit among every line sailing the region, from MSC to Seabourn, go back to our comparison of all the Mediterranean cruise lines.
How we researched this guide
Viking’s itineraries, ports and lead-in fares come from its Mediterranean listings, read on 26 September 2026 during an End of Season Sale valid to 30 September; its inclusions from its Inclusive Value page; and its gratuities, drinks package, dress code, wine policy and mobility rules from its FAQ. We counted 43 Mediterranean itineraries and set aside five ocean crossings, leaving 38.
Oceania’s inclusions come from its Mediterranean page as shown in search results, because its site blocks automated reading, and from its Your World Included announcement; its age policy from its adults-only announcement of 7 January 2026. Its 2027 fares come from The Cruise Web’s listings of 26 September 2026: 81 voyages of up to 16 nights from Mediterranean and Lisbon homeports, leaving out two that head into the Atlantic via Madeira. Ship sizes come from the lines’ ship pages, announcements and published fleet data.
The two sets of fares are not identical in kind. Viking’s are lead-in prices for each itinerary’s cheapest remaining departure during a sale; Oceania’s are the lowest prices for specific 2027 departures. We add Viking’s published gratuities to make them comparable and flag the difference wherever it matters. We are an independent editorial site, not a cruise line or travel agent, and we have not sailed these voyages; the verdicts are our judgment from the published fares, itineraries and policies. What we could not verify: Oceania’s current inclusions on its own site, the value of its excursion credit on any given voyage, and the departure dates behind Viking’s lead-in fares.
Image credits
| Image | Photographer | Licence |
|---|---|---|
| Viking Star in Barcelona | Anthony Levrot | CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
| Oceania Riviera at Livorno | Piergiuliano Chesi | CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
| Viking Star at night in Sète | Christian Ferrer | CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
| The Grand Lounge on Oceania Vista | RL0919 | CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
| Viking Sea under way | Cavernia | CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
| Allura at the shipyard | Jacopo Tofani | CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
| Canal Vena, Chioggia | Didier Descouens | CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
| Hagia Sophia from the water, Istanbul | Ray Swi-hymn | CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
Published 19 October 2026. Fares, inclusions and policies were checked on 26 September 2026 and will change — verify anything you are about to pay for on the lines’ own sites.