Viking continues to mark new milestones for its expedition voyages, as the new purpose-built Viking Octantis kicks off its inaugural season in the Great Lakes. Designed specifically to reach the Great Lakes region, Viking Octantis recently completed a roundtrip through the Welland Canal – a key section of the St. Lawrence Seaway connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie – making it the largest passenger vessel ever to transit the canal.

Viking has marked the launch of its highly-anticipated expeditions as the new purpose-built Viking Octantis started its first Antarctic season last month.

Viking’s newest ocean ship – the 930-guest Viking Neptune – was floated out from the Ancona shipyard of Fincantieri last week. It was the first time the vessel had touched water.

Viking has unveiled new expedition sailings for the summer 2023 season aboard Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, including a new two-week itinerary in the United States’ Great Lakes.

Viking has rolled out a new trade incentive to promote its current expedition offer, with savings of up to $8,000 per couple, including flights.

Viking has released three newly created back-to-back Expedition combination cruises following a surge in Viking guests combining and booking these cruises on their own.

Viking Cruises is launching a series of trade training emails for agents to learn more about Viking Expeditions.

Viking will hold a series of dedicated travel-agent-only Information Sessions showcasing the brand new Viking Expeditions product, designed to provide travel partners with the information and tools they need to sell voyages to the ends of the earth when Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris launch in 2022.

Viking has confirmed a launch date of January 2022 for the first ship of its new expedition division, with voyages planned for Antarctica and North America’s Great Lakes. Viking Octantis will embark on explorations in the US states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada, ahead of the second ship, Viking Polaris, which will offer voyages to Antarctica and the Arctic from August 2022.