Table Of Content
Sail the icy waters of the Drake Passage, keeping watch for seabirds, whales and icebergs. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. The minimalist Scandinavian interiors of the Viking Polaris appealed to those who want R&R, and the food and beverage program appealed to foodies.
VIKING RETURNS TO ANTARCTICA FOR THIRD SEASON - PR Newswire
VIKING RETURNS TO ANTARCTICA FOR THIRD SEASON.
Posted: Tue, 28 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Northstar Travel Group
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. 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.
ONBOARD GRATUITIES INCLUDED
Admire Nuuk’s rugged beauty and the icy wilderness of the Canadian High Arctic. Pass through the scenic Canadian Maritimes, sail along the famed St. Lawrence Seaway and visit historic cities along the East Coast. Navigate the striking Chilean Fjords, before exploring the icy realm of Antarctica. The company’s u-tank stabilizers are built to significantly decrease rolling when the ship is stationary, but weather conditions can be unpredictable, and it's not as if you can pop into a local CVS on the continent. Most passengers could be found with patches, ginger chews, or over-the-counter (and prescription) remedies.
Viking Marks Third Expedition Season in Antarctica - Cruise Industry News
Viking Marks Third Expedition Season in Antarctica.
Posted: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Viking Expeditions
If you want to keep in shape during your voyage, there's a gym that looks upon the sea. Those who love more relaxing activities will find a whole range available, from educational seminars to wine tastings to movie nights. Viking has kicked off its Antarctic cruise season with the arrival of Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis to the Antarctic Peninsula.
This 87-Day Arctic to Antarctica Luxury Cruise Stops in 12 Countries Along the Way
The 378-passenger expedition-style cruise ship — from every "Downton Abbey"-loving baby boomer's favorite ocean/river/expedition cruise line Viking — is like the Goldilocks of the South Pole. It's not so big that it can't let guests disembark onto Antarctica's snow-covered shores, nor is it so small that it can't offer creature comforts like spacious cabins, multiple dining venues and that expansive spa. While excursions offered on the Octantis will vary by destination, the ship’s hangar full of toys gives passengers a glimpse of what to expect wherever they sail with the ship. It currently houses 16 kayaks, 17 zodiacs, two special operations boats, and two yellow submarines (named John and Paul, as if there were any other option; the Polaris will have George and Ringo). In my experience, traditional landings and Zodiac cruises are still exciting enough for a full Antarctic adventure. I never once grew tired of seeing penguins in the wild, chock full of playful personality.
My Trip
Take a virtual tour of the ship to see what awaits you if you book this trip. Viking’s From the Arctic to Antarctica cruise is a 87-day journey that includes stops in 12 countries across three continents. Wildlife abounds in this part of the world, and lucky passengers, armed with patience and binoculars, will be rewarded with the sights of polar bears, bowhead whales, beluga whales, and a large variety of birds among other fascinating creatures.
I didn't see the giant phantom jellyfish spotted earlier in the cruise — and about which Viking's expedition team published a paper in the scientific journal "Polar Research" — but I enjoyed the novel approach to sightseeing in Antarctica ... I was frustrated because I'd gone to hear a talk by one of the expedition crew members and missed an orca whale sighting. The few times I stopped by The Hide during the day, I would collapse into an oversized chair, put my feet up below the slanted windows and immediately start to doze off, lulled by the rocking of the ship. In the evenings, we'd grab a double shot of Baileys at the speak-easy-style bar (all the booze, minimal mixers) and listen to the expedition crew members tell tales of their adventurous exploits, like a bedtime story for grown-ups. I, on the other hand, had come to the spa not for whales, but to try the Nordic bathing ritual of alternating between heated rooms like the sauna or steam room and cooling experiences like a cold water bucket dump and a snow room. It wasn't so different from the rest of my day, moving from the comfort of my cozy cabin to the extreme outdoors of the Antarctic Peninsula and now to this steamy spa.
Viking Polaris Has its Water Toys, Including a Special Operations Boat
I'm on a Viking Expeditions Cruise in Antartica, onboard Viking Polaris, the newest expedition ship from Viking and a sister to Viking Octantis; both ships debuted in 2022. Advance bookings (number of days before the ship’s departure) for the spa, alternate restaurants, and excursions are dependent on the stateroom category you book. Outside, the ship has plenty of lounging space, with comfortable seating and firepits, on the deck and the Shelter (a covered outdoor space with seating). Witness stunning vistas, unique wildlife and diverse cultures as you journey on a memorable voyage from the Earth’s far north to the extreme south.
We sailed on the Viking Polaris, taking guests to the Arctic, where we trekked through the powdery white snow to encounter seals, birds, and whales. Guests gain firsthand experience with onboard scientists, touring the lab facilities, participating in experiments, and exploring the cavernous hangar storing the zodiac boats, Special Op Boats, and the cool submarines. It all starts with The Hangar, which is part water-level boat storage, part comfortable passenger loading zone.
The ship brings expedition vessels for you to use designed for exploring the icy waters around Antarctica. 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. The result is that Viking Polaris does not have full access to all the landing sites on the peninsula and also that guests have limited time ashore to make sure everyone on board can rotate through, 100 people at a time. The spa is modeled on what you find on their ocean ships, and there's simply nothing else like it on other expedition ships.
Excursions include scenic outings to view wildlife and scenery; trips to Antarctica, where guests explore the area; submarine trips down to the ocean’s depths; and kayaking. The Viking polar expedition ship’s staterooms all feature Nordic balconies with unique floor-to-ceiling windows. You can open the top of the window to take in the sights and smells of the outside from the comfort of your room. The Explorer Suite and the Owner’s Suite on the expedition ships also have private outdoor spaces. In addition to being comfortable passenger cruise ships, Octantis and Polaris are research vessels.
Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. This includes an extraordinary 87-day Longitudinal World Cruise expedition departing in September 2025 titled ‘From the Arctic to Antarctica.’ The cruise starts from Nuuk, Greenland, high above the Arctic Circle. Guests will sail thousands of miles south to Ushuaia, Argentina, commonly known as the last city in the world and just short of the Antarctic Circle. 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. Even the inviting Nordic Spa thermal suite is free to use, and was the perfect interlude between chilly outings.
No comments:
Post a Comment