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The Viking Fleet
Two identical expedition ships built for the polar regions, with an enclosed marina for boarding the Zodiacs, a working science laboratory and a Nordic Balcony in every stateroom.
About the Ships
Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris were the first ships Viking designed for expedition cruising, and both arrived in 2022. Octantis is named after the constellation that contains the south celestial pole, and Polaris after the North Star. Inside and out they are virtually identical, so whichever ship sails your date you get the same staterooms, restaurants and expedition equipment.
At 665 feet long they are bigger than most expedition ships, but they carry only 378 guests. That gives more space per person than many smaller vessels and, together with fin stabilisers and a U-tank system that reduces rolling by nearly half when the ship is stationary, a noticeably steadier ride. Crucially for Antarctica, they stay under the 500 guest limit set by IAATO, so everyone on board can land ashore.
Both ships are built to Polar Class 6, which allows them to sail through first year sea ice in summer, and both have forward looking sonar to help the bridge pick a safe course through uncharted waters.
On Board
An enclosed marina at the waterline, where you board Zodiacs, kayaks and the two Special Operations Boats on a sheltered slipway inside the ship. It is also home to the two six seat submarines, named after famous Beatles.
High at the front of the ship, with floor to ceiling windows, a bar and Mamsen’s, serving Norwegian snacks and waffles. It is the place to be when the ship sails into a new bay.
The Restaurant serves regional and Scandinavian dishes, Manfredi’s brings Italian cooking, and the World Café has a buffet, sushi and a grill. The Aquavit Terrace offers al fresco dining when the weather allows. None of them cost extra.
The Aula is a panoramic auditorium with 270° views for lectures. The Science Lab has wet and dry labs where guests join the onboard scientists, and the ship even launches weather balloons for the US National Weather Service.
The Nordic Spa follows Scandinavian bathing traditions, with a sauna and an outdoor badestamp hot tub, and The Pools offer three heated pools under a retractable glass dome. Access is included in every fare.
Where You Sleep
All 189 staterooms face outwards and have a Nordic Balcony, king size bed (or twins), heated bathroom floor, glass enclosed shower, heated drying cupboard for your expedition clothing and a pair of binoculars to use during the voyage.
| Category | Description | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic Balcony | The standard stateroom, with the Nordic Balcony window at the ship’s edge | 215 sq ft |
| Deluxe Nordic Balcony | The same layout as the Nordic Balcony, in a preferred location | 215 sq ft |
| Nordic Penthouse | A larger stateroom with the Nordic Balcony | 269 sq ft |
| Nordic Junior Suite | More space, extra storage and a larger bathroom | 322 sq ft |
| Explorer Suite | Two rooms, a private veranda as well as the Nordic Balcony, and access to the Explorer Suites garden | 548 sq ft |
| Owner’s Suite | One per ship, with a private garden, dining room and library | Over 1,200 sq ft |
Stateroom sizes from Viking. The Owner’s Suite and Explorer Suites sell out early, so please ask us about availability.
Ship Facts
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Entered service | Viking Octantis January 2022, Viking Polaris August 2022 |
| Guests | 378 |
| Crew | 256 |
| Staterooms | 189, all with a Nordic Balcony |
| Length | 665 ft (203 m) |
| Beam | 77 ft (23.5 m) |
| Ice class | Polar Class 6 |
| Stabilisers | Fin stabilisers and a U-tank stabiliser |
| Expedition craft | Zodiacs, kayaks, two Special Operations Boats and two submarines |
| Restaurants | The Restaurant, Manfredi’s, World Café, Aquavit Terrace, Mamsen’s |
| Antarctica voyages | Antarctic Explorer, Into the Antarctic Circle, Antarctica & South Georgia |