Viking Octantis will embark on its inaugural voyage to Antarctica and Great Lakes of North America, in January 2022. Credit: Viking Cruises.
The new Polar Class 6 Viking Octantis will host 378 guests. Image courtesy of Viking Cruises.
The expedition ship will include a fleet of two-seater Arctic-tested kayaks and two 12-seater convertible RIBs. Credit: Viking Cruises.
The ship will be delivered by Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard. Credit: Viking Cruises.

Viking Octantis is the first expedition cruise ship to be introduced by Viking Cruises under its Viking Expeditions brand.

The Polar Class 6 ship is being built by Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Romania. It will embark on its maiden voyage in January 2022.

The new expedition vessel will sail on voyages to Antarctica and the Great Lakes of North America. It will navigate remote Polar Regions and the St Lawrence River. The ship is designed to have a minimal environmental impact, as well as meet biosecurity standards and stringent emission norms.

Viking Octantis design and features

Viking Octantis will measure 665ft long and 77ft wide, built for expeditions. It will accommodate 378 guests in 189 staterooms. The expedition ship will be built with modern Scandinavian design.

The straight bows, long hulls and state-of-the-art fin stabilisers will enable the ship to efficiently sail over the ice waves. The straight bow will reduce fuel consumption while the onboard dynamic positioning system will enable the ship to hover over the seabed without anchoring.

The ice-strengthened Polar Class 6 hull will ensure a safe voyage and U-tank stabilisers will decrease rolling by up to 50% when the ship is stationary.  The hangar or the in-ship marina on the ship will enable the launch of small excursion craft through the multiple shell doors of the ship. The hangar will offer an 85ft slipway that allows the guests to embark on rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) from a flat, stable surface inside the ship.

The on-board laboratory occupies an area of 430ft² on a glass-enclosed mezzanine floor above the hangar. It will enable guests to engage with scientists conducting primary research.

Viking Octantis staterooms

The ship will offer six stateroom categories, namely Nordic Balcony, Deluxe Nordic Balcony, Nordic Penthouse, Nordic Junior Suite, Explorer Suite and Owner’s Suite. The staterooms will offer a floor space ranging between 222ft² and 1,223ft². Each room will be equipped with a unique floor-to-ceiling drying closet.

Nordic Junior Suites and Explorer Suites are designed with abundant wood detailing. The rooms will offer amenities such as an expanded bathroom with extended shower and double sinks, additional seating and storage, and a minibar.

Explores Suites will include two separate rooms, a full outdoor veranda and a Nordic Balcony. The Owner’s Suite will occupy an area of 1,223ft² and feature two separate rooms, a private garden with a traditional Norwegian badestamp, which is a wood-sided hot tub.

Entertainment venues on Viking Octantis

The ship will feature The Aula, an auditorium for lectures, films and presentations. The auditorium can be converted to offer a panoramic al fresco view and 270° views from the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The library on the ship will include a collection of books curated by London bookseller Heywood Hill. The cruise ship will feature Aquavit Terrace and Pools that feature a retractable dome and three different temperature pools, including an indoor-outdoor swim-through pool.

The Nordic Spa and Fitness centre will feature a sauna, Snow Grotto and chaise lounges, along with a hydrotherapy pool and badestamp. The Explorer’s Lounge at the bow section will be designed for the visitors to view the scenery through double-height windows.

Itineraries of Viking Octantis expedition ship

The inaugural voyages of Viking Expedition include Antarctic Explorer, Antarctic and South America Discovery, Arctic Adventure, From the Arctic to the Antarctic, Undiscovered Great Lakes, Great Lakes Explorer, Niagara and The Great Lakes and Canadian Discovery.

The 13-day Antarctic Explorer inaugural voyage will be from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. The ship will sail to the heart of the Antarctic Peninsula, allowing the guests to explore penguins, seals, whales and other wildlife.

The Antarctic & South America Discovery will be a 19-day voyage from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro.