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Crew interactions are further showcased at The Science Lab and Expedition Central for those looking for a deep dive, but hands-on workshops in the former are no longer offered. All excursions are included on Viking expedition trips — landings, Zodiac rides, kayaking, Special Operations Boat trips (a sort of high-speed, high-capacity jet ski that lets guests traverse more area in a short period of time) and, yes, even submarine rides. However, they are all first-come, first-served, and spots on the sub can be difficult to snag. I was already familiar with Viking’s expedition vessels, having sailed earlier on Viking Octantis in the Caribbean, but my time on sister-ship Polaris in Antarctica was an even greater showing of the line’s excellence in adventure cruising. There's no way around it; the downside to a larger ship is that you will generally do fewer landings than you will on a ship with fewer passengers.
Viking Expedition Ships
Journey across the Pacific Ocean, dubbed Mar Pacífico by explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Sail the crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea, a paradise of emerald islands. Dividing the “Old World” from the “New World,” sail the second-largest of the Earth’s oceans. Stroll St. Lawrence Market and admire the eclectic art scene, or kayak Lake Ontario. Admire majestic views of the Saguenay Fjord and keep watch for migratory and resident whales. Discover Havre-Saint-Pierre’s unique “monoliths” and admire views of the Mingan Archipelago.
Adventure for everyone
Both ships completed their inaugural Longitudinal World Cruises, during which they sailed from North America to the Panama Canal, the Chilean Fjords, and ultimately south across the Drake Passage. When we first spied Antarctica after a calm Drake Passage, mimosas and pastries were served in the Explorers Lounge. A deckside BBQ with steaks, lobster tails, shrimp and sea bass took place on our sunny day below the Antarctic Circle -- the first time Viking Polaris had traveled that far south. On an expedition cruise, the onboard team of naturalists, scientists and lecturers can make or break your trip.
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Posted: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Cruise
All cruises are accompanied by the Viking Expedition Team, in collaboration with institutions like the Scott Polar Research Institute and The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which brings onboard leading researchers and educators. The ship is also big enough to have multiple restaurants, a large state-of-the-art theater, a full thermal spa, a science lab and a Hangar to accommodate all of its expedition "toys" (more on that later). All are rendered in Viking's signature upscale Scandinavian design, with the clever addition of exploration-themed artwork and photographs. Outside my drop-down panoramic window -- what Viking Expeditions describes as a Nordic balcony -- black-and-white petrels nosedive into the surprisingly calm gray waters, while snow falls. Ask your Viking Expert for more information.Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.
For their part, guests don't need to navigate gangways or crowd a floating marina when they're ready for their playtime. The Hangar has multiple waiting areas — a main space for the Zodiac queue with bench seating, a gear-up zone for kayakers and a seating area (with snacks and hot beverages) for guests going on a kayak or submersible ride. For dinner, I could also make reservations at The Restaurant for a big-ship-style three-course meal with waiter service. For a date night or a group celebration, or just Thursday, Manfredi's wowed with its housemade pasta and Italian specialties. Shackleton could have survived for days on a plate of the restaurant's droolworthy gorgonzola gnocchi.
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Or, perhaps I just wanted to be lazy and spend more time in the Nordic Spa's gorgeous pool or reading a breezy novel, curled up on a sofa in The Living Room. For its not quite 400 guests, the ship has four restaurants, plus room service. For example, each morning, I'd make my way upstairs to the World Cafe buffet for breakfast, where I'd debate whether I should pillage the fruit and yogurt bar or ask one of the chefs for a made-to-order omelet. Even the inviting Nordic Spa thermal suite is free to use, and was the perfect interlude between chilly outings. Its toasty indoor thalassotherapy-style pool is lined with panoramic windows, and its badestamp (a traditional Norwegian outdoor hot tub) also offers stunning views. An additional three pools at the Aquavit Terrace are set at various temperatures for all preferences.
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"Pass me more chocolate from the magic drawer," I said to Emily one afternoon after we'd shrugged out of our multiple thermal layers and collapsed on our beds in our fleece pullovers and leggings. She handed over a small bar of Norwegian milk chocolate, as well as a bottle of soda water from our minifridge, which our room stewards topped up every day to keep us in a never-ending supply of treats. Viking Polaris is not a big ship but it has so much to offer, with choices at every turn. My travel companion, Emily, is not a fan of extreme temperatures, so she chose to float in the spa's heated pool, complete with bubbles at one end. She also had a jaw-dropping view from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows lining one edge of the pool. Still, I couldn't resist continuing my "Where's Whale-do?" games from inside the ship's gorgeous (and complimentary) Nordic spa.
Antarctica Cruises
Every time we got a drink in the Explorers' Lounge, Emily and I would find ourselves in conversation with whoever was seated next to us. The folks we shared a submersible ride with or the folks who always worked out in the fitness center at the same time as me would greet us when we met in the buffet or in line at The Hangar. The biggest social event on a Viking Polaris Antarctica cruise is not necessarily the first glimpse of the continent's towering icebergs and snow-covered mountains. On the second outing, my group paddled all the way around a small island in Mikkelsen Harbor, where we admired a seal preening on the rocks and penguins soaring in and out of the waves (a swimming style called porpoising). Being part of a small group on the water amid the dramatic backdrop of Antarctica's mountains and never-ending sky was a quiet thrill — but no less incredible.
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I don't think I've chatted as much with my room stewards on other ships as I did with Rico and Joko, who were always in our hallway and would come out of whichever room they were cleaning to greet us and ask us how our day was. Their partners include the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the University of Western Australia and the University of Cambridge's Scott Polar Research Institute. All week, our shipmates asked the expedition team, "When will you launch the weather balloon?" When the auspicious date was finally announced, we all set our phone alarms so as not to miss the big morning event. On one SOB ride, the driver gunned the engine to careen around floating ice on our way back to the ship.
This translates to unique opportunities to learn more from the specialists on board through their lectures and scientific work. My two friends, Ingrid and Irene, take several major trips yearly and treasure wonderful memories of their time exploring Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. After they returned from their Viking Antarctica expedition cruises, I had to know more, so I debriefed them on their adventures. I thank Ingrid and Irene for their insights about their experiences and suggestions for future travelers aboard a Viking expedition ship bound for Antarctica. Looking to explore Antarctica in the comfort of a floating, amenity-filled hotel?
If so, one of Viking’s Antarctica-bound cruises should be on your travel wish list. Two good friends, both world travelers and frequent cruisers, recently returned from Viking cruises to Antarctica. This article explores what a Viking cruise to Antarctica is like – the ship and excursions – plus tips to get the most out of the experience. Also, rules for cruise ship visits to the Antarctic peninsula state that only 100 passengers (plus expedition staff members) can be ashore at any given landing at a time, and ships carrying more than 200 passengers can only land at specific locations.
It was also a bonus that massive but graceful humpback whales frequently flanked the ship, and we saw a wide variety of exotic sea birds. The expedition vessels, which both have space for some 378 guests, have been specifically designed for expedition cruising, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the beauty of Antarctica in relative luxury. It is already the third season of cruising in the white continent for Viking Octantis, and the second for Viking Polaris. So far this cruise, the topics have been more focused on relatable topics, like Maps of Antarctica; Penguins, Whales and Mammals, as opposed to 5 Kinds of Krill. While you don't have meals with the expedition staff like you do on some smaller, more rugged expedition ships, the team is available at the Bow and the Explorers Lounge, as well as an area called Expedition Central and The Studio. A list of birds and wildlife seen on the trip is regularly updated; avid birders meet daily.
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