Special operations boats provide Viking guests with access to remote destinations.
December 05, 2023
If you’re yearning for deeper vacations that take you beyond the crowds and into the secret nooks and crannies of Earth’s natural and cultural treasures, then an expedition-style cruise might be exactly your speed. Intimate yet luxurious, a Viking Expedition voyage will take you to the poles of the Earth and into the heart of some of the most extraordinary places in between.
Here are 5 reasons to take a Viking Expedition voyage for your next vacation.
Viking Expedition ships are specially equipped for exploration.
The centuries-old Norwegian tradition of exploration infuses Viking Expedition voyages with a core value of discovery. If you share in the thrill of traveling to new lands and beautiful sites, you’re in for an incredible journey.
The 2 Viking Expedition ships, Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis, are crafted to give passengers a profound familiarity with the destinations they visit. You can explore bucket-list destinations like the Arctic, the Antarctic, and Greenland, as well as closer-to-home ports in Canada and the Great Lakes, on smaller vessels that can navigate remote areas.
Spend your days kayaking hidden inlets in Nova Scotia on Viking Expedition’s Canada & the Atlantic Coastline voyage. On the same itinerary, you’ll also visit the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor and learn about America’s colonial past in Norfolk, Virginia. Each day you’ll return to the ship’s restful environs, where all-inclusive, chef-prepared meals await you.
Guests can enjoy stunning views from Nordic Balcony staterooms.
Viking’s thoughtfully designed public spaces and staterooms showcase your surroundings and emphasize comfort to ensure your trip is memorable. Viking’s Nordic Balcony staterooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows that can be lowered partway to create an indoor-outdoor viewing experience. Staterooms also have a drying closet for wet garments, bathrooms with ample shower space, and heated floors.
Guests can board specialty watercraft to explore remote locations.
Ever had the opportunity to wait at an unofficial penguin crossing, watching a chinstrap penguin bellyflop down a hill? Or felt the singular awe of a humpback whale breaching the surface just feet from your kayak? The wildlife encounters on a Viking Expedition voyage are simply unparalleled.
They’re effortless, too, because smaller sightseeing vessels launch from The Hangar, an on-ship marina that allows passengers to zip away quickly and easily for shore excursions.
Viking Expedition ships are equipped with a variety of watercraft designed for intimate encounters with natural environments. Board a Zodiac MilPro to land on Antarctica and observe penguins in their natural habitat. Or spot sea life and shipwrecks at the bottom of the Great Lakes in one of Viking’s submarines designed to provide uninterrupted underwater views.
Whichever exhilarating excursion you choose, you’ll be outfitted in adventure-ready gear provided by Viking.
Catch an up-close view of wildlife such as gentoo penguins during onshore excursions.
Expedition voyages give you that quintessential firsthand experience. Choose from a variety of options suited to your activity level and interest. For example, you might spend a day hiking on an ice field, breathing in fresh, chilled air, or kayaking past glaciers on a Chilean fjord.
In the Arctic, learn more about the Inuit culture and traditions while visiting towns. Or try the local cuisine, such as a Greenlandic stew called suaasat. More than a passing glimpse on a tour bus, these excursions leave lasting impressions for years to come.
Research and interact with field experts in the onboard Science Lab.
Viking Expedition guests tend to be people who never stop learning, and the cruise line’s staff of scientists will help you more deeply understand and appreciate each destination. You’ll learn from the best of the best—experts in fields such as biology, botany, geology, glaciology, oceanography, and ornithology.
These scholars enrich your journey, whether on shore as they point out wildlife or in a lecture on board in the Aula—a one-of-a-kind venue for learning at sea. Impressive technologies include a 4k laser-projector panoramic screen that retracts to reveal a 270-degree view through floor-to-ceiling windows. The Aula and the adjacent Finse Terrace create a stunning indoor-outdoor immersive learning space.
Guests can enjoy beautiful ocean scenery from the Finse Terrace.
You can also contribute to research through Citizen Science programs, a variety of data-gathering opportunities for everyday travelers to help further scientific knowledge. You might document unique patterns on whale tails to track their migration or photograph cloud cover to help scientists answer climate questions. The collecting and analysis continue in The Science Lab—an onboard research facility where passengers are encouraged to interact with scientists.
The Explorers' Lounge provides guests with an inviting space to relax and gather.
Traveling with Viking Expeditions is so different from other cruise vacations. You’ll be with a small group of like-minded, curious passengers who want to learn, explore, and savor life—all on an adults-only voyage with an all-inclusive price that covers meals, beer and wine with meals, excursions, and Wi-Fi access. There’s no dress code and no assigned seating, so you can comfortably dine at your leisure.
Throughout your voyage, you’ll get to know your fellow passengers when relaxing in comfortable common areas over a drink or a game, dining together, or exploring in small excursion groups. Such friendships tend to last far longer than your trip. Who knows? You just might find yourself making plans for the next epic adventure together.
Receive up to $400 shipboard credit per stateroom
AAA members receive exclusive savings on Viking Expedition voyages.
