VIKING Cruises last night unveiled the details of its new Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis expedition ships (CW breaking news), with a host of innovations including an elevated “marina” inside the ships to make it easy for guests to board Zodiacs. Octantis will be the first to launch, in Jan...
VIKING Cruises last night unveiled the details of its new Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis expedition ships (CW breaking news), with a host of innovations including an elevated “marina” inside the ships to make it easy for guests to board Zodiacs.
Octantis will be the first to launch, in Jan 2022, operating an already sold-out season to Antarctica as well as voyages to North America’s Great Lakes.
The ships will carry just under 400 passengers, and offer a host of features familiar to Viking’s ocean cruise customers including multiple restaurants, an extensive on-board spa and a host of public areas including lounges, lecture areas and a laboratory.
“The Hangar” is described as an industry first, facilitating the launch of small excursion craft through the bow after allowing guests to board on a flat, stable surface inside the ship.
The Polar Class 6 vessels are “optimally sized and built for expeditions”, according to Viking Chairman, Torstein Hagen, who said they were small enough to navigate remote polar regions as well as Canada’s St Lawrence River, but large enough to provide superior handling and stability in the roughest of seas.
So-called “U-tank stabilisers” – the first to be deployed in passenger vessels – can reduce rolling by up to 50% when the ships are not moving.
All cabins feature a so-called “Nordic Balcony” in the form of a panoramic window which can be lowered to form an al fresco viewing platform.
A full portfolio of renderings can be viewed at facebook.com/cruiseweekly, with bookings now open for Australia and NZ passengers – see the cover page.
