Viking Polaris
Viking Polaris: New expedition ship explores the arctic
Snapshot
Viking Polaris debuted in August 2022 with sailings from Norway to the Arctic. Polaris is the second expedition cruise ship introduced by Viking Cruises under its new Viking Expeditions brand, following Viking Octantis.
Some of the most popular amenities of Viking's ocean ships carry over to Viking Polaris, including the forward-facing Explorers’ Lounge, the Aquavit Bar, the inviting Living Room theme throughout ship's lobby and interior atrium, the library and (our favorite) the Nordic Spa with a Thermal Suite, sauna, Snow Grotto, chaise lounges, hydrotherapy pool and fitness center.
Like its ocean-going forebears, Polaris has a modern Scandinavian design with light woods, tasteful furnishings and cheery, open public spaces. Also like the other Viking ocean ships, passengers must be age 18 or older.
Where Viking Polaris sails
Viking Polaris explores Antarctica, the Patagonia fjords, South America, Atlantic Canada and the Great Lakes. Polaris is designed to have a minimal environmental impact and to meet biosecurity standards and stringent emission norms.
Features of the ‘ice-class’ ship
Viking Polaris sports a Polar Class 6 hull to ensure a safe voyage through polar regions and U-tank stabilizers that decrease rolling by up to 50% when the ship encouters icy waves. Its straight bows and long hulls will reduce fuel consumption while the dynamic positioning system on board will enable the ship to hover over the seabed without anchoring.
One innovative feature that debuted on sister ship Viking Octantis is the Hangar, an industry-first enclosed marina that enables the launch of small excursion craft through the ship's multiple shell doors. Its 85-foot slipway lets guests embark expedition boats from a flat, stable surface inside the ship, shielded from wind and waves.
Expeditions
Inclusions in the base fare
Fares on Octantis follow the Viking tradition of including the following in the base fare:
- shore excursions — including rides in one of the ship's six-person submarines
- beer and wine at lunch and dinner
- Wi-Fi
- self-service laundry
- 24-hour room service
Some Viking Expeditions guests will also receive charter flights for hard-to-reach places included in the fare.
Dining
Dining venues on Viking Octantis include:
- The Restaurant, offering regional cuisine specialties and classic dishes with a rotating menu. All dishes feature locally sourced ingredients.
- The World Cafe, a market-style buffet restaurant with an open kitchen offering international food choices, bakery, grill stations and seafood bar with premium sushi
- Manfredi's Italian Restaurant with upscale Italian cuisine
- Mamsen's Restaurant, a great breakfast choice offering a mix of pastries and homey Scandinavian dishes
- Room service that's complimentary and available 24 hours
Cocktails, beer and wine are available at The Bar, the Explorers’ Lounge and the Aquavit Terrace. Optional drink packages are available or included with specific room packages.
Staterooms
The ship offers six stateroom categories: Nordic Balcony, Deluxe Nordic Balcony, Nordic Penthouse, Nordic Junior Suite, Explorer Suite and Owner’s Suite. All 189 cabins aboard Viking Polaris offer ocean views and what Viking terms a “Nordic balcony,” similar in some ways to a French balcony. It's a large window that can partially drop down and turn part of the room into an open-air space with the push of a button. Nordic Balcony and Deluxe Nordic Balcony cabins have a comfortable 222 square feet of living space and make up the majority of the staterooms on the ship. Other cabins range from 269 to 1,223 square feet.
Rooms come with a king-size bed and a bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower, heated bathroom floors and anti-fog mirrors. There will also be a floor-to-ceiling "drying closet" where circulating warm air dries clothes and expedition gear.
Interested in a cruise on this ship?
For pricing, itinerary information and to reserve your spot on Viking Polaris, contact a Cruiseable travel consultant by email or call 1-877-322-3773.
Top highlights on this ship
