Windstar Vs Viking Cruises: Which Luxury Cruise Line Is Better?

Both Windstar and Viking are often grouped together as “luxury cruises,” but they actually offer very different experiences.

One feels more like a small yacht while the other feels more like a small, luxury cruise ship.

I have sailed with both cruise lines and found that Viking suited me far better than Windstar

That is not to say that Viking is a better cruise line than Windstar – it is just that small ship cruising doesn’t suit my personal tastes so well.

Many people love the intimate atmosphere you find on a yacht with sails, or on a small cruise ship.

Ship Size And Atmosphere

Windstar Ships Feel Tiny

Windstar ships can carry only around 300 guests at most. Some of the smaller ships with sails only take around 150 passengers.

There is a yacht-style atmosphere onboard. The crew quickly get to know the guests and their preferences.

There is a “Marina” platform at the back of the ships, allowing for easy access to free water sports.

You can go kayaking, swimming, snorkelling, or use paddleboards, all equipment supplied at no additional charge.

They can dock at smaller ports that larger Viking ships can’t.

I took my Star Pride sailing from near Tower Bridge in London, a very small berth that only the smallest cruise ships can use.

Viking Ocean Ships Feel Like Proper Cruise Ships

Viking ships carry between 900 and 1,000 guests, so over three times as many as a Windstar ship.

Despite being larger, they still feel calm and uncrowded; there is a lot of public space per person.

Viking ships have more facilities and more indoor public spaces.

The ships are tastefully decorated throughout, creating a real “home from home ” feeling.

Which Feels More Luxurious?

Windstar can feel exclusive and personal.

Windstar cruises boast one of the most intimate crew-to-guest ratios in the cruise industry.

Typically, ratios range from 1:1.5 to 1:1.6.

For every 1.5 to 1.6 guests on board, there is one crew member dedicated to providing them with a highly personalised experience.

On a Viking Ocean Cruise, there is around one crew member for every two guests.

Viking ships are larger, but can still offer that personalised touch.

Entertainment And Public Spaces

Viking Has A Real Theatre

Viking has a proper theatre with production shows, lectures and enrichment talks.

They bring entertainers onboard from the cities they visit.

On my cruise, there was Opera in Italy and Rumba Catalana (a blend of traditional Andalusian flamenco with Afro-Cuban beats, salsa, and rock-and-roll) in Barcelona.

They also supplied blankets in the theatre, as sometimes the air conditioning can make the place quite chilly. That felt very luxurious!

Windstar Entertainment Is Much More Limited

Windstar focuses less on entertainment, though it does offer live music, small performances, and sail-away parties.

They also bring performers onboard from the places they visit.

Evenings are quieter overall on Windstar, without the choice of entertainment found on the bigger, Viking ships.

Windstar don’t have theatres onboard, any entertainment will happen in lounges or bars.

Indoor Spaces Matter More Than People Expect

Viking ships have a wonderful indoor pool area, with a Wintergarden seating area. There are lounges and multiple quiet spaces.

This matters on colder days and sea days. You can always find a quiet corner to sit and relax. I never saw the public areas full, in the way that you do on a mainstream cruiseline.

If you are sailing on Windstar’s smaller ships, indoor options are far more limited.

Dining Differences

Windstar Is More Limited By Ship Size

Smaller ships naturally have fewer dining venues.

On Star Pride, the buffet was not open at dinner time.

There were two free speciality restaurants, one of which was in a separate area of the buffet, which probably explains why the buffet was only open for breakfast and lunch.

One advantage of the high crew-to-passenger ratio is that you can tell the chef about any food intolerances or allergies you may have, and be certain that they will come up with delicious meals to suit your needs.

On Viking, we could eat in the main dining room whenever we chose, and it never seemed busy.

There were two free speciality restaurants, but we did have to book them once onboard.

Passengers in higher cabin grades than us had first choice when it came to booking speciality dining and excursions.

This meant that we had little choice when it came to the times of our bookings, we just had to take what was left.

Viking Feels More Flexible

Viking had multiple venues onboard to choose from.

The poolside grill was excellent, and we often ate there instead of the buffet.

Food Quality Comparison

Both lines serve high-quality food.

Windstar’s meals are beautifully presented and taste great.

None of us had any complaints about the food on either Windstar or Viking.

I don’t think you would be disappointed by the food choices on either cruiseline. Windstar’s meals were a little fancier, but the portions were still of a good size.

Cabins And Comfort

Windstar Cabins

Windstar cabins on both their Star Class Yachts and yachts with sails are beautifully appointed.

On Star Class ships, all cabins are suites.

Some of the more expensive suites on Star Class ships do have balconies, although I didn’t have one in mine.

Wind Class ships with sails don’t have balconies.

There is classic yacht styling and smaller-ship quirks, particularly on the Wind Class ships.

The Wind Class ships have working sails, which will give you a totally different cruising experience.

Viking Cabins

I booked the cheapest available cabin when I sailed on Viking Star.

It was close to the front of the ship, but it was really lovely and comfortable.

Cabins have luxury touches, such as heating mirrors in the bathroom to stop them steaming up, and a heated floor.

Unfortunately, the heated floor didn’t work in my cabin!

Cabins have a Scandinavian design, and the layout is practical.

Cabins of all grades have their own balconies.

Have a closer look at my Viking cabin in the video below:

Included Features

What Windstar Includes

• Included speciality dining.
• Watersports available free of charge from the Marina platform at the back of all ships.
• A smaller, more intimate experience.
• Open bridge access.
• A higher crew-to-guest ratio.

What Viking Includes

• Free WiFi.
• Beer and wine included with meals as standard.
• Thermal spa access.
• More entertainment, lectures and enrichment talks
  • There is a proper theatre onboard.
• More onboard facilities overall.

Destinations And Ports

Windstar Can Sail To Smaller Ports

• This is one of Windstar’s biggest strengths.
• Their smaller ships can dock in ports and visit locations larger ships cannot access. For example:
  • Star Pride docked at Tower Bridge in the heart of London when I sailed on her.
  • Larger Viking ships have to dock six miles further down the river, at Greenwich.

Viking Focuses On Destination-Heavy Itineraries Too

• Viking still focuses heavily on ports and cultural experiences, even though they can’t dock in the smaller places that Windstar do.
• On my recent Viking cruise, there was a free excursion included at every port.
  • Windstar excursions come at an extra charge.

Dress Code And Atmosphere

Windstar Feels Relaxed And Casual

• There are no formal nights onboard.
• There is a relaxed, yacht-club vibe.
• Non-distressed jeans are acceptable in the main dining room, but shorts, flip-flops and hats are not.

Viking Feels Calm And Sophisticated

• Viking also avoids formal nights.
• Dress codes are reasonably relaxed, but jeans aren’t allowed in the main dining room in the evenings.

There are no “formal nights” in the evening; evening dress is “elegant casual” for all dining venues, performances and special events. On these occasions, required attire for ladies includes a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional; jeans are not permitted.

Viking Ocean Cruises

Which Cruise Line Is Better?

I Prefer Viking

Viking simply suits my own preferences better.

I like to go to a show at the theatre in the evenings, and I enjoy all the different (quiet) venues onboard.

I enjoyed having the choice of indoor and outdoor pools, neither of which were ever busy.

I don’t need the wait staff to remember my name or my drink preferences, in fact, I can find that level of personal service a little uncomfortable!

Who Would Prefer Windstar?

• Travellers wanting:
  • A small-ship, yacht-style luxury experience.
  • The opportunity to dock in the heart of the cities you visit.
  • To avoid strict dress codes and formal nights.
  • To avoid crowds, rigid dining times, and long queues/ lines.
  • An unbeatable crew-to-passenger ratio, meaning personal service for all.

Who Would Prefer Viking?

• Travellers wanting:
  • To avoid the crowds found on mainstream cruise lines, but still have big ship facilities.
  • A good range of entertainment onboard.
  • Want to take advantage of the free excursions in every port.
  • Good food, with lots of choices when it comes to food venues.

Before You Go

Have a look at the cheapest cabin I booked on a luxury river cruise ship – the decor was eye-watering!

I Booked The Cheapest Cabin on a LUXURY River Cruise Ship

Find out about the nine luxury touches I loved when I sailed with Viking here:

9 Tiny Luxury Touches I Noticed on My Last Cruise (You Won’t Find These in the Brochure)