Viking has taken delivery of its second purpose-built expedition ship, the Viking Polaris. The delivery ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Vard shipyard in Søviknes, Norway, where Viking’s first expedition ship, the Viking Octantis, was delivered in December 2021.
The ship set sail toward Amsterdam, where it will be named on September 30 by its godmother, Ann Bancroft, a polar explorer. Currently sailing in the Great Lakes, the Viking Octantis will also be named on September 30 by its ceremonial godmother Liv Arnesen, the Norwegian explorer, lecturer, author and educator.
From Amsterdam, the Viking Polaris will make its way to South America, and both ships will spend the austral summer in Antarctica, before traveling north to the Great Lakes for a series of voyages during spring and summer.
The new Polar-Class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris host 378 guests in 189 staterooms. The vessels are purpose-built for expeditions, with more indoor and outdoor viewing areas to ensure guests are as close as possible to the scenery. Highlights include:
- The Aula, a panoramic auditorium inspired by the University of Oslo’s ceremonial hall, and the former venue for the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. It has a 4K laser-projected screen that retracts to expose floor-to-ceiling windows and 270-degree views
- Finse Terrace, an outdoor lounge area just above sea level, named after the Finse Plateau in Norway
- The Hangar, an in-ship marina providing ease of embarkation and disembarkation of equipment
- The Bow, a forward-viewing platform
- The Science Lab, developed in partnership with the University of Cambridge and Akvaplan-Niva. The 380-square-foot space is designed to support research activities. Guests can learn and participate in research with scientists
- Expedition Central, the hub for the expedition team to consult with guests on their expedition activities and share knowledge about the destinations
- The Restaurant, which serves regional cuisine and always-available classics; the casual World Café, which has an open kitchen, bakery, grill and premium seafood and sushi choices, as well as a wide range of international flavors; Mamsen’s, named for the Hagen family matriarch, serving Scandinavian-inspired fare; and Manfredi’s, offering Italian cuisine.
- The Nordic Spa, complete with an indoor heated pool set against windows and a badestamp (wood-sided hot tub) that is open to the outside
- Explorers’ Lounge, a space for guests to enjoy the scenery, share discoveries with fellow travelers or to enjoy a drink.
- The Living Room on both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris is located to maximize views of the surroundings through floor-to-ceiling windows and a library
- Nordic Balcony, a sunroom that converts into an al-fresco viewing platform with an observation shelf at elbow level to stabilize binoculars or a camera
The Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris are also recipients of the SILENT-E notations—a certification for quiet ship propulsion and minimizing underwater noise pollution.
Related Articles
Regent Celebrates Keel Laying for Seven Seas Grandeur
Viking Celebrates Start Of Inaugural Season In Great Lakes
Scenic's Second Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse II, Floats Out
Silversea Offers Antarctica Cruises With Departures From Chile