At a celebratory brand launch in Los Angeles CA on January 15, Viking Cruises announced details of its new venture - Viking Expeditions. The company revealed that its new expedition ships - Viking Polaris and Viking Octanis, will be inaugurated in 2022.
Viking Expeditions are scheduled to begin sailing in January 2022 with the first vessel, Viking Octanis, embarking on Antarctica and North America’s Great Lakes voyages. Viking Polaris will debut in August 2022, sailing to the Arctic and Antarctica.
Renowned educators and adventurers Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen were announced as godmothers to Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis, respectively.
To develop the new expedition cruises, Viking has partnered with some of the most prestigious scientific institutions in the world. The University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute is the lead partner.
As part of the endowment, the Institute’s scientists will undertake fieldwork aboard Viking's expedition ships and join cruises to share expertise with passengers.
Viking Cruises also partnered with the globally recognized bird research facility The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.