Viking Takes Delivery Of First Expedition Ship, Viking Octantis
Viking has exciting news to share and guests will not have to wait long to benefit from their amazing announcement. The cruise line announced today that it has taken delivery of Viking Octantis, “the company’s first of two new purpose-built expedition ships.”
The delivery occurred at Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway. The Viking Octantis will convey 378 guests and sets sail two days before Christmas toward South America where it will welcome guests in the New Year then voyage to Antarctica.
Viking Octantis will receive its official naming ceremony in April 2022 in New York City and Liv Arnesen, the famed explorer and educator, will have the honor. After the ceremony the ship will journey toward the Great Lakes from which it will make a series of voyages during spring and summer.
A second, identical sister ship, Viking Polaris®, will join the fleet in August 2022 and will take guests to the Arctic and Antarctica.
Viking Makes Exciting Announcement
Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, said, “Today is a proud day for the entire Viking family as we welcome our first expedition ship to the fleet and usher in a new era of exploration. Our guests have asked us to build on our award-winning river and ocean voyages to take them further, and that is just what we have done.”
The Chairman continued, “Leveraging our long history of destination-focused travel, enrichment and innovative ship design, we are now perfecting expedition voyages and offering curious travelers the opportunity to visit the world’s most pristine destinations in the most responsible way possible. With the arrival of Viking Octantis, Viking is now exploring all seven continents, and we look forward to welcoming her first guests on board in the coming weeks.”
Viking Takes Delivery Of First Expedition Ship
Viking’s new expedition ships were designed by Richard Riviere, who also designed Viking’s award-winning Longships and ocean ships. Viking’s expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, will each welcome nearly 400 guests in 189 staterooms. Viking’s newest ships are specifically designed for expeditions and are an ideal size for safety, comfort and onboard amenities in the most remote of destinations.
Among the ships’ highlights are Science Labs. Both ships boast on board labs in partnership with the University of Cambridge and Akvaplan-Niva and guests will have supervised access to the labs where they can learn from, and participate with, experts doing cutting edge research.
Through exclusive partnerships with the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), guests will be treated to talks from expert researchers and educators. Additionally, guests can assist in fieldwork such as helping to identify migratory patterns, as well as get expert tips from a professional photographer on capturing scenic landscapes.
Viking Debuts Two New Expedition Ships
The ships also boast an enclosed, in-ship marina named The Hangar that allows for the ultimate comfort when embarking and disembarking on excursion craft.
In addition, the cruise line offers many complimentary experiences and expedition equipment includes a fleet of military pro zodiacs designed for professional use and two six-guest submarines with revolving seats.
When guests are not busy exploring, they can luxuriate in first class comforts inside their staterooms. All staterooms have a Nordic Balcony, a sunroom that converts into an al fresco viewing platform, king-size beds, and spacious glass-enclosed showers.
When it comes to dining, the choices are delicious and many. Guests can enjoy Scandinavian-inspired fare at Mamsen’s, fine dining at The Restaurant, casual fare at World Café, and of course 24-hour room service is always complimentary.
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