Viking has celebrated the launch of its expeditions, a significant milestone as the company begins its 25th anniversary. By the end of the year, Viking will have also welcomed a second expedition ship, as well as two new ocean-going vessels, new Viking Longships in Europe, and new ships purpose-built for the Nile, Mekong, and Mississippi rivers.
“When we founded Viking 25 years ago, we wanted to offer a different product to travelers. Our guests are enjoying voyages north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as to many other fantastic destinations,” said Torstein Hagen, President of Viking. “Antarctica has always inspired the most intrepid explorers; for many, visiting the ‘White Continent’ is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With the arrival of the Viking Octantis, we are offering our guests the opportunity to explore this unique part of the world in comfort and in the most responsible way possible.”
The Viking Octantis will spend the summer in Antarctica before traveling north to be christened in April 2022 in New York City by its godmother, Liv Arnesen, the world-renowned Norwegian explorer. Arnesen sailed aboard the Viking Octantis on the ship's first two Antarctic expeditions. Afterward, the Viking Octantis will head to the Great Lakes region for a series of voyages during the spring and summer. A second, identical sister ship, the Viking Polaris, will join the fleet in late 2022.
The new Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris Polar-class ships are purpose-built for expeditions, with an ideal size for safety and comfort in remote destinations. They offer more interior and exterior space than other expedition vessels
- The Classroom: panoramic auditorium for conferences, daily information sessions, documentaries and films.
- Finse Terrace: an open-air relaxation area just above sea level.
- The Hangar: a state-of-the-art marina.
- The scientific laboratory: developed in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and Akvaplan-Niva, to support research activities.
- The bow: a forward-looking platform.
- The expedition hub: a center for the expedition team to consult with guests about their expedition activities and share knowledge about destinations on an individual basis.
- The pools: three pools of different temperatures (caldarium, tepidarium, frigidarium), including a walk-through pool from which guests can admire the scenery.
- Nordic balcony: solarium that becomes an outdoor observation platform with an observation shelf to stabilize binoculars or a camera.
- Expedition ship suites: The Nordic Junior Suites and Explorer Suites on the Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are similar to those on Viking's fleet of ocean-going ships.
- Expedition equipment: pro military zodiacs designed for professional use; a fleet of tested two-seater polar kayaks; two 12-seater convertible special operations boats; and two six-seater submarines with swivel seats and 270-degree spherical windows.
- Enrichment onboard and ashore: enrichment in an expedition environment. Partnerships with the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as other prestigious scientific institutions. Thirty-six experts accompany each voyage.
