Images Courtesy of Viking Cruises
Debuting in January 2022, the brand new Viking Octantis will discover Antarctica and the Nice Lakes, as Viking introduced it has taken supply of Viking Octantis®, the corporate’s first of two new purpose-built expedition ships. The supply ceremony happened on a current December morning, 2021, at Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway.
Viking Octantis will host 378 company and units sail instantly towards South America, to welcome company in January 2022 for Viking’s first voyages to Antarctica.
Viking Octantis will likely be formally named in April 2022 in New York Metropolis by her ceremonial godmother, Liv Arnesen, famed explorer and educator. The ship then makes her solution to the Nice Lakes, for a collection of voyages throughout spring and summer time. A second, an identical sister ship, Viking Polaris®, joins the fleet in August 2022 for journeys to the Arctic and Antarctica.
RIB Boat Viking,, Exploring Antarctica
Viking’s new expedition ships have been designed by Richard Riviere, Founding Principal of internationally acclaimed inside design agency Rottet Studio of Los Angeles, who additionally designed Viking’s award-winning Longships and ocean ships. SMC Design of London contributed with their experience within the maritime sector. Collectively the 2 corporations have been lately awarded “Design Studio Workforce of the 12 months” within the 2021 Cruise Ship Inside Awards for his or her work on Viking’s expedition ships. The brand new Polar Class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris host 378 company in 189 staterooms.
The brand new ships characteristic the corporate’s signature Scandinavian design, with public areas which are favorites on Viking’s ocean ships, in addition to new areas created particularly for expeditions. Highlights embody:
•The Hangar: An business first, The Hangar is an enclosed, in-ship marina that brings consolation to expedition voyages with an revolutionary new solution to embark and disembark tour craft. The Hangar’s most revolutionary characteristic is an 85 ft. slipway that enables company to embark and disembark tour craft from a flat, secure floor contained in the ship, shielded from wind and waves.
•The Science Lab: Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are the primary expedition ships with substantial onboard laboratories. Developed in partnership with the College of Cambridge and Akvaplan-Niva, The Science Lab, at 380 sq. ft., is designed to help a broad vary of analysis actions and is supplied with moist and dry laboratory services, a pattern processing space, fume cabinet, freezer and funky storage, complete microscope optics and in depth bench area for analysis-specific devices. Company have supervised entry to The Science Lab, which is situated in a glass-enclosed mezzanine above The Hangar, to be taught from and take part with scientists endeavor major analysis, an expertise distinctive to Viking.
Antarctic Rib and Zodiac Boats exploring away from Viking Shipe
•Expedition Gear: Viking will supply quite a lot of methods for company to expertise their vacation spot, in keeping with their pursuits and exercise degree, at no additional cost. With a strong program of complimentary experiences, expedition gear out there for company on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris features a fleet of army professional zodiacs designed for skilled use; a fleet of two-seater Arctic-tested kayaks; and two 12-seater convertible Particular Operations Boats. Every ship additionally options two six-guest submarines with revolving seats and 270-degree spherical home windows for an incomparable undersea expertise. Every part company want will likely be supplied: a Viking Expedition Equipment comprises objects like boots, binoculars and waterproof pants—and all company will obtain complimentary use of Viking Tour Gear, which incorporates specialty objects like trekking poles, snowshoes and skis.
•The Aula & Finse Terrace: The world’s most superior venue for studying at sea, The Aula, is a panoramic auditorium on the stern of the ship. Impressed by the College of Oslo’s famed ceremonial corridor the place the Nobel Peace Prize was traditionally awarded, The Aula is a venue for lectures and leisure, with floor-to-ceiling home windows and 270-degree views. Adjoining to The Aula is the Finse Terrace, an out of doors lounge space simply above sea degree with recessed couches and warming lava rock “firepits” – excellent for panoramic views of the environment.
•Nordic Balcony: A primary for polar expedition vessels, all staterooms onboard Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris characteristic a Nordic Balcony, a sunroom that converts into an alfresco viewing platform. The Nordic Balcony’s floor-to-ceiling, distortion-free glass lets company take the views in whereas preserving the weather out. Each stateroom can also be outfitted with a singular floor-to-ceiling drying closet that circulates heat air to dry and retailer clothes and expedition gear.
•The Nordic Spa & Health Middle: In line with Viking’s Nordic heritage, The Nordic Spa on board is designed with the holistic wellness philosophy of Scandinavia in thoughts – with a thermal suite that encompasses a Sauna, Snow Grotto and chaise lounges, in addition to a heat hydrotherapy pool and a conventional Norwegian badestamp (wood-sided sizzling tub), surrounded by floor-to-ceiling home windows. A state-of-the-art Health Middle additionally gives the most recent gear and exercise gear.
•Explorers’ Lounge: Much like Viking’s ocean ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris have a two-deck Explorers’ Lounge on the bow of the ship to soak up the gorgeous surroundings via double-height home windows.
Viking Expedition Vessel
•Enrichment On Board and On Shore: Viking has created the world’s main enrichment surroundings in an expedition setting. Unique partnerships with the Scott Polar Analysis Institute at Cambridge College, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—in addition to different prestigious scientific establishments—will match main researchers and educators with every expedition.
•Thirty-six specialists will accompany every journey as a part of the Viking Expedition Workforce, together with an Expedition Chief and help employees, photographer, discipline analysis scientists, common naturalists, mountain guides, kayak guides, submarine pilots and specialists (ornithology, geology, increased predator biology and historical past). Onboard, company will take pleasure in every day briefings and world-class lectures about their vacation spot – and interact with working scientists from famend educational establishments in The Science Lab or take part immediately in citizen science applications. On shore, company can help in fieldwork or work together via experiential actions throughout landings – comparable to monitoring birds to assist determine migratory patterns; accompanying scientists to gather samples; or taking their cameras ashore alongside an expert photographer to find out how greatest to seize scenic landscapes.
•Environmentally Thoughtful: Viking’s expedition ships have set a brand new normal for accountable journey with an energy-efficient design that exceeds the Power Effectivity Design Index* (EEDI) necessities by almost 36%—greater than another expedition ship. Along with an built-in bow, engines with warmth restoration programs and Azipod® Electrical Propulsion, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris have acquired one of many business’s first SILENT-E notations—the highest-level certification for quiet ship propulsion, minimizing underwater noise air pollution.
Lastly, Viking’s Well being & Security Program is necessary. Viking is the primary and solely cruise line with full-scale PCR laboratories put in onboard its ocean and expedition ships. Using the PCR laboratories onboard Viking ocean and expedition ships—and a robust community of devoted shoreside labs for Viking river ships in Europe—all company and crew obtain frequent fast and simple non-invasive saliva PCR assessments. The straightforward entry to sturdy PCR testing additionally simplifies company’ journey expertise with a remaining COVID-19 take a look at taken onboard that satisfies the requirement for pre-flight testing earlier than arrival into the U.S.
“As we speak is a proud day for the whole Viking household as we welcome our first expedition ship to the fleet and usher in a brand new period of exploration.” mentioned Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “We at the moment are perfecting expedition voyages and providing curious vacationers the chance to go to the world’s most pristine locations in probably the most accountable approach attainable.”
https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions
