Viking Back For Third Antarctic Season, Brand New 87-Day Expedition from the Arctic for 2025
Viking is ready to celebrate the spectacular start of its third expedition season in Antarctica. Viking’s identical sister ships, Octantis® and Viking Polaris® are now in the region where they will spend the Austral summer in Antarctica, then return to North America’s Great Lakes region for sailings in spring, summer and early fall.
Viking Back For Third Antarctic Season
Demand for Vikings Antarctica voyages has never been higher and the line has announced that the 2025-2026 season is currently open for booking. This includes a new 87-day expedition, From the Arctic to Antarctica. This grand maritime cruise departs from Nuuk, Greenland in September 2025 to Ushuaia, Argentina.
Guests onboard this epic journey will witness the pristine beauty and historic waterways of the Canadian High Arctic before venturing down the east coasts of North and South America where the ships will call on ports in the Caribbean, Peru, and explore the Chilean glaciers before continuing on to Antarctica.
Exciting New 87 Day Expedition
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman of Viking and he said of his company’s latest development “As we welcome guests back for a third season in Antarctica, we are pleased to introduce even more opportunities for the curious traveler to experience this phenomenal region in Viking comfort.”
“By creating expeditions for The Thinking Person, our guests are able to explore some of the most pristine destinations on Earth in the most responsible way possible, while also participating in meaningful scientific discoveries. On my own trip to Antarctica, I witnessed firsthand the incredible scenery and wildlife this fascinating continent has to offer. In my view, everyone should experience Antarctica at least once in their life.”
Hagen recently sat down with award-winning British photographer Alastair Miller for an exclusive 30-minute interview about his journey to the “White Continent” on board the Viking Polaris. They also discuss the intriguing story about how Hagen’s lifelong passion for travel and interest in far-flung destinations began during his childhood, when he sent a letter to Ushuaia from his home in Norway.
Vikings Longitudinal World Cruises
Viking’s expedition ships arrival to Antarctica also marks the completion of two inaugural Longitudinal World Cruises. The first is the 71-day Longitudinal World Cruise II, from Duluth to Ushuaia. The second is the 70-day Longitudinal World Cruise III, from Milwaukee to Ushuaia.
Both of these highly-rated Grand Journeys offer guests a variety of travel highlights in a single itinerary, departing from the heart of North America, to engineering wonders such as the Welland and Panama Canals, before venturing to the Chilean fjords and finally, Antarctica.
After Viking’s third season in the Great Lakes, the Viking Polaris will sail the Longitudinal World Cruise IV from Milwaukee to Ushuaia in October 2024, and the Viking Octantis will embark on another sailing of the Longitudinal World Cruise II.
Viking Expedition Team & Scientific Partners
Viking’s exclusive partnerships with the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as other esteemed scientific organizations, match leading researchers and educators with each expedition.
In early 2023, the Viking Expedition Team published the company’s first scientific paper, following observations of the rarely encountered scyphozoan Stygiomedusa gigantea, commonly known as the giant phantom jellyfish.
The encounters took place during submersible dives in the coastal waters of the Antarctic Peninsula in early 2022. Authored by two of Viking’s Chief Scientists, the paper was published in Polar Research, the scientific journal of the Norwegian Polar Institute.
Viking Expedition Ships
The Polar Class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris each host 378 guests in 189 staterooms. The vessels are expedition-built meaning they are specially designed for safety and comfort in remote destinations. Highlights include:
The Aula: A stunning panoramic auditorium, it is used for lectures, daily briefings, documentaries and films. It has a 4k laser-projected screen that retracts to expose floor-to-ceiling windows and 270° views.
Finse Terrace: An outdoor lounge area just above sea level with recessed seating, that allows guests the comfort al fresco seating amid dramatic scenery.
The Hangar: A state-of-the-art, industry-first in-ship marina providing ease of embarkation and disembarkation of Special Operations Boats and other equipment while sheltered from the elements.
The Bow: An important forward-viewing platform. And in the case of inclement weather, The Shelter is a comfortable, partially enclosed space for guests to take a break to recharge with a hot drink before going back out into the elements.
The Science Lab: Developed in partnership with the University of Cambridge and Akvaplan-Niva, The Science Lab, at 380 sq. ft., is designed to support a broad range of research activities. Guests have supervised access to The Science Lab to learn from and participate with scientists in undertaking meaningful research.
Dining Choices include The Restaurant’s regional cuisine, the casual World Café’s open kitchen, bakery, grill and premium seafood and sushi choices, Mamsen’s, Scandinavian-inspired fare, and Manfredi’s Italian cuisine.
Viking’s World-Class Amenities
Viking ships offer The Nordic Spa with an indoor heated pool set against expansive windows and a wood-sided hot tub that is open to the outside.
Additionally, Expedition Ship Suites are similar to those on Viking’s fleet of ocean ships, with wood detailing and amenities including extra storage and seating, an extended shower and double sinks, welcome champagne, and a fully-stocked mini-bar.
Viking is Environmentally Considerate
Finally, Viking’s expedition ships are leading the way in terms of responsible travel. Their ships exceed the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirements by nearly 38%. In addition, the ship’s engines have heat recovery systems and Azipod® Electric Propulsion. The Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris have received one of the industry’s first SILENT-E notations—the highest-level certification for quiet ship propulsion, minimizing underwater noise pollution.
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