Viking continues to set new milestones in its expedition voyages, as the purpose-built Viking Octantis begins its inaugural season on the Great Lakes. Designed specifically to navigate this region, the Viking Octantis recently completed a round trip through the Welland Channel, a key section of the St. Lawrence Seaway connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, becoming the largest passenger vessel ever to transit the channel. The ship will remain on the Great Lakes until early October 2022. A second expedition vessel, the Viking Polaris, will debut later this year and join the Viking Octantis on the Great Lakes for the 2023 season.
“Our expedition ships were designed with the Great Lakes in mind. This region has historically been underserved by cruise lines, and we are thrilled by the warm and enthusiastic reception we have received from local communities,” said Torstein Hagen, President of Viking. “With our first season now underway, we are pleased with the strong demand from our guests and look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to these fantastic destinations in 2023.”
Viking's arrival in the Great Lakes brings with it the newest and most modern ships ever to explore this region of North America, as well as a major commitment to local tourism and economic development in the states of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio (starting in 2023) and the Canadian province of Ontario.
To help develop the science enrichment program for its Great Lakes voyages, Viking has partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), which conducts research on the dynamic environments and ecosystems of the Great Lakes and coastal regions to provide information for resource use and management decisions that lead to safe and sustainable ecosystems. Viking’s expedition vessels have also been designated official NOAA/U.S. National Weather Service weather balloon stations, from which regular launches take place.
During Viking’s inaugural 2022 season, the company is operating four new Great Lakes itineraries. Highlights include:
- Undiscovered Great Lakes (8 days; from Thunder Bay to Milwaukee)
- Great Lakes Explorer (8 days; from Milwaukee to Thunder Bay)
- Niagara and the Great Lakes (8 days; from Toronto to Milwaukee)
- Canadian Discovery (13 days; from New York to Toronto)
- Great Lakes Collection (15 days; from Toronto to Duluth)
The new polar-class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris ships accommodate 378 guests in 189 cabins. These expedition-ready vessels are ideally sized for safety and comfort in remote destinations. With more indoor and outdoor viewing areas than other expedition ships, guests are as close as possible to some of Earth's most magnificent landscapes.
