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They’re also excellent swimmers and can reach speeds of up to 22 miles per hour along with being able to dive down to 650 feet to catch their meals. They look like mini dolphins when they are skimming the surface, hopping up and down into the water. The most adorable thing was observing when they arrive to shore - they take a dive into the water and then launch into the air, landing on to their feet like superheroes. You'll have free time to explore Ushuaia after boarding the beautiful ship. Don't worry if you want more time in this town – at the end of the cruise, Viking grants you a half-day in Ushuaia to sightsee.
Azamara Pursuit: the South Africa Intensive Voyage
Sail the icy waters of the Drake Passage, keeping watch for seabirds, whales and icebergs. To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. 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. Viking publishes a dress code that suggests casual clothes during the day. Since there are no formal nights aboard Viking ships, guests are encouraged to dress in “elegant casual” attire in the evenings. Bear in mind that casual dress is always appropriate in the World Café.
Viking's Arctic to Antarctica Cruise Is an 87-Day Epic Sailing - Matador Network
Viking's Arctic to Antarctica Cruise Is an 87-Day Epic Sailing.
Posted: Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Post: Buenos Aires
The Aquavit Terrace was one of my favorite places to chill as it had lots of natural light streaming in from the glass ceiling and walls. I loved that the pool water would be gently sloshing from the ship’s movement, adding to the ambiance of the room. This legendary speakeasy is the perfect place to hang out, especially during the Drake Crossing since the front location of the Hideout lends to super dramatic water sloshing on the windows. Otherwise, since you’re diving into super deep water, there isn’t much to see while you head towards the bottom. Once it starts descending, keep an eye out for all the red and yellow colors fading away as you go deeper.
Viking Polaris has Fewer Landings, But You Aren't As Rushed
The Expedition Ship Suites, namely the 30 sqm Nordic Junior Suite and the 54 sqm Explorer Suite on the Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, are similar to the other suites in the Viking fleet. The Living Room on the Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris is the ideal lounge to admire the view, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. Here, you will also find the library, which, like on all Viking ships, is curated by the acclaimed Heywood Hill bookstore in London and the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge. Highlights of these two ships include The Aula, a splendid panoramic auditorium inspired by the famous ceremonial hall at the University of Oslo, formerly the venue for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Used for lectures, daily briefings, documentaries, and films, this spectacular venue features a retractable 4K laser-projected screen that unveils floor-to-ceiling windows and 270° views.
Uncover a world of wonder as you admire striking Antarctica and participate in valuable scientific studies. Enjoy the exclusive use of your ship’s expedition equipment and experience up-close wildlife encounters. Discover the secrets of Central America’s ancient cultures, immerse yourself in the Yucatán Peninsula’s natural beauty and explore Chile and its majestic fjords. The Viking Polaris voyage departing on February 15, 2025 is 42 days and does not call in Castro, Chile. Just last week I sat in a Norwegian hot tub known as a badestamp, the steam rising to meet the crisp air of Antarctica that flushed my cheeks. As our ship sailed at a leisurely pace past brilliant blue icebergs, I kept an eye out for the occasional crabeater seal—usually perched on ice floes, they’d lazily lift their heads to glance over at us.
Viking Antarctic Expedition Cruise Excursions
And Nordic balconies, found only on its expedition ships, encompass more climate-controlled space inside while still opening to the outside by mechanically lowering a window to expose a veranda railing. All of these activities were included in the trip cost, which isn’t always the case on other ships where special experiences like submarine rides can run about $500 a pop. Viking is known for always including one excursion per destination; in Antarctica, landings are guaranteed once per day.
Viking is bringing people to Antarctica with a minimum of stress -- and I see that as appealing to a wide swath of travelers. I've been stunned with how good the onboard Wi-Fi is, even as our ship has gone south of the Antarctic Circle. I've been able to FaceTime with family every day, upload photos on social media, communicate with workmates on Slack and email, do Peloton workouts and even join in an essential doctor appointment. Unpredictability is the hallmark on expedition cruising, particularly in Antarctica where "pancake ice" can start forming before your eyes on a snowy day. The expedition staff sets this expectation off the bat; safety has to be the primary driver in this part of the world.
Special Operations Boat
Viking cruise will take you from the Arctic to Antarctica in 87 days - Newsday
Viking cruise will take you from the Arctic to Antarctica in 87 days.
Posted: Fri, 26 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
As such, scientists and researchers are cruising along with the passengers. This translates to unique opportunities to learn more from the specialists on board through their lectures and scientific work. Viking has a long history of providing excellent guest experiences, excursion choices, and highly-rated service, food, and amenities on their river and ocean voyages. Even the inviting Nordic Spa thermal suite is free to use, and was the perfect interlude between chilly outings.
Sunscreen, hand cream, and chapstick are some amenities in the stateroom. Onboard entertainment includes vocalists and instrumentalists who play in the afternoons and evenings in the Explorer Lounge. On some evenings, guest researchers or lecturers share their experiences – or stories – with guests in The Hide, a space near the ship’s aft that features cozy seating and a bar. Inside, each ship has a fitness center; a hair salon; an extensive spa with a steam room, a snow grotto, a sauna; and several pools. In addition, there are various common spaces, including a well-curated library, the Living Room, the Hide, and the Explorers’ Lounge. Learn about the exciting adventures of Antarctic explorers, including Sir Ernest Shackleton.
GENERAL RESTRICTIONSCruise fares listed are cruise only in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Full brochure fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all stateroom categories and may not have been in effect during the last 90 days. Air promotion applies to roundtrip flights only from select Viking Cruises U.S. gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes and air fuel surcharges. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately. All transfers must be in conjunction with a Viking-purchased cruise, cruisetour, land extension or extra hotel nights.
More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Still, our six days squarely in Antarctica were marvelous, and our 269-square-foot Nordic Penthouse served as a perfect home base back onboard. Viking’s usual Scandinavian style and comforts, especially ample bathrooms and oversize showers, carry over from the line’s larger ocean ships.
With more internal and external observation areas than other expedition ships, guests are as close as possible to Earth’s most magnificent landscapes. The spa is modeled on what you find on their ocean ships, and there's simply nothing else like it on other expedition ships. There's a full therapy pool and all the stages of what Viking describes as a Nordic bathing ritual -- sauna, steam room, cold bucket and snow grotto.
They’ve placed telescopes at various areas so you can try to spot wildlife. The main common area of the ship, full of couches, chairs, books, and electronic tabletop games - this was the place to be if you just wanted to hang out, read a book, or just gaze out into the open ocean. Like most Viking ships, there was an enormous selection of interesting books to pick from.
Crew interactions are further showcased at The Science Lab and Expedition Central for those looking for a deep dive, but hands-on workshops in the former are no longer offered. 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.
You can take a self-guided tour of the specially-curated pieces aboard using the Viking Voyager app (available onboard). Our SOB trip brought us within 20 meters of humpback whales, so close that we could hear them as they dove. The SOB itself is a game changer, and Viking is the only cruise line that has boats like this. It's easier to get in and out of the SOB than a Zodiac, so people with mobility issues can enjoy a close-to-the-water experience. It's another way that the line is opening up expedition cruising to more people. In addition to being comfortable passenger cruise ships, Octantis and Polaris are research vessels.
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