Viking Octantis Ship Review
Viking Octantis is the first of Viking Cruises’ Viking Expedition vessels. The ship is designed specifically for expedition cruising, built at an ideal size for safety and comfort, and to support sailing in destinations like Antarctica, the Arctic, and North America’s Great Lakes. Viking Octantis debuted in 2022, and its sister ship, Viking Polaris, launched in 2023. Viking Octantis is named for the pole star of the Southern Hemisphere, while Viking Polaris for the pole star of the Northern Hemisphere. Both vessels offer more indoor and outdoor viewing areas than other expedition vessels on the market, bringing guests closer to the spectacular scenery and the world beyond.
As an expedition vessel, Viking Octantis offers a luxurious environment from which to sail the world’s most remote locales and combines many unique ways to see and learn about the environment. The ship has onboard zodiacs, special operations boats, and even submarines that guests can use for excursions to take them closer to the scenery and wildlife right outside the ship.
Additionally, Viking has created the world’s leading scientific enrichment environment in an expedition setting with Viking Octantis’ onboard research lab. The cruise line partners with prestigious scientific institutions, including researchers and educators, on each expedition sailing. Thirty-six experts accompany each journey as part of the Viking Expedition Team, where they guide excursions and host seminars for guests about their area of expertise as a part of Viking’s onboard enrichment program.
Viking Octantis has spent its first two years alternating between Antarctica voyages from November through February and heading northward from South America up through the Panama Canal to North America to sail Great Lakes itineraries in Canada and the United States from June through September.
I just returned from a week-long voyage on Viking Octantis and looked inside to see what makes this vessel so incredibly unique. As the first expedition ship I sailed on, I was very impressed with its overall design and how it easily blended relaxation and adventure into its onboard elements. Equally impressive is the educational opportunities to learn from the expedition and scientific staff. Honestly, I’ve never heard the word “ornithology” mentioned so much in one week.
Ship Details:
Viking Octantis can accommodate up to 378 total guests with 260 crew members. The ship always feels open, and there is a crew member nearby to assist with whatever a guest requests. Here are some fast facts about Viking Octantis:
- Launched 2022
- 189 staterooms in total
- Length: 665 Feet / Beam: 77 Feet
- Viking’s expedition ships have set a new standard for responsible travel. Their energy-efficient design exceeds the Energy Efficiency Design Index requirements by nearly 38%.
- The ship features an integrated bow that creates a longer waterline for the vessels, engines with heat recovery systems, and an Azipod Electric Propulsion system.
Ship Design
The first thing I noted when I stepped onboard Viking Octantis was how elegant and inviting the ship felt. It features Viking’s signature Scandinavian design elements, a nod to the company’s history, and comfort and well-thought-out usage in mind. Inviting neutral tones, accented by many pops of blue, adds to this comfort with surrounding ocean views.
Viking Octantis was designed with an Antarctic expedition in mind, and much of the decor, books, and the ship’s extensive art collection reflect this. Around the ship, you will find photos of famous explorers, penguins, icebergs, whales, and maps.
One of my favorite pieces was a ginormous glass sculpture in The Shelter (a lounge area at the bow) that resembled a piece of ice.
Each floor containing the ship's public spaces was designed with a purpose, keeping guest needs and usage in mind. The vessel has seven decks, plus the lower A deck containing The Hangar.
The upper decks (5-7) contain most public outdoor spaces, the ship’s largest dining area, multiple lounges, indoor/outdoor pools, The Library, and dozens of comfortable seating areas.
Author Note - You can’t go far without finding a comfortable couch or lounger on this ship! There are big leather couches for socializing, loungers hidden in secret nooks, and even an area of sofas with reading lights designed for guests to relax with a favorite book or magazine.
Decks 3 and 4 primarily host passenger staterooms and the Explorer’s Lounge and The Nordic Shop, which sells Viking Apparel and other fun Norwegian-designed clothing and gifts.
Deck 2 is home to The Nordic Spa, The Aula (the ship’s main theatre area), and Expedition Central. Deck 1 contains the ship’s specialty restaurants (The Restaurant and Manfriedi’s) and a ‘hidden’ lounge area at the bow. You will also find the entrance to The Hangar and The Science Lab on this deck.
The ship is smaller, and you will have no trouble navigating it after the first day. The public spaces are grouped according to how passengers will use them, so it’s easy to figure out. Viking has done a great job of separating the public socializing spaces, from the lounging spaces to the expedition areas. The overall design and layout are very well thought out regarding how guests will use them at different times of the day.
Expedition, enrichment, and learning are the hallmarks of the ship's design features. For example, the hallway leading to the Nordic Spa and The Aula features digital screens that regularly rotate with information and photos of the wildlife of the cruising region. Photos of bears, otters, wolves, and birds rotated periodically on the screens during my journey.
Elevators are found at the forward of the ship, with three cars operating. They are fast and efficient, even at high-traffic times during port days.
Staterooms
Viking Octantis offers a total of 189 staterooms. Cabin options range from 215 sq ft Nordic Balcony staterooms up to the 1,238 sq ft Owners Suite. There are no interior guest cabins on this ship, and all rooms have at least one sizeable floor-to-ceiling window.
We stayed in a Deluxe Nordic Balcony stateroom that comfortably accommodated two for a weeklong voyage. Except for the top-tier Explorer Suite, most cabins on Viking Octantis do not offer personal balconies but rather have a Nordic Balcony. Viking describes a Nordic Balcony as a “floor-to-ceiling distortion-free glass at your ship’s edge, for optimal cozy viewing.” A touch of a button will lower the top of the panoramic glass for immediate fresh air and al fresco dining. Similar to the Infinite Verandas that several mainstream/premium lines are offering, the room is extended but you still have the opportunity to get to the ‘outside’ from your private area. For the milder weather conditions of the Great Lakes cruise, I surprisingly did not miss having a balcony and enjoyed the extra space in the cabin to spread out.
The stateroom offers a queen-sized bed (which can be converted into two twins), with nightstands on each side. The nightstands offered a lay-flat charging for iPhones, a feature I’ve yet to see on other ships. To separate the bedroom from the ‘outside’ area was a bookshelf complete with expedition novels, a Nespresso Machine (pods refilled daily along with chocolates and nuts by your stateroom attendant), a mini-bar, and other great storage spaces. There was a small couch, a coffee table situated by the window, and a desk area.
Viking provides two pairs of binoculars for guest usage in your stateroom, around the ship, or even while in port. They are easy to use and very functional. This offering is very handy for guests on Antarctic or longer sailings, as you do not need to bring a pair with you in your luggage. We used these for birdwatching and checking out the lighthouses that dot the Great Lakes.
Stateroom decor is relaxing beige and neutral tones with blue accents, similar to the design in the public spaces. Fun touches around the stateroom included a lighted vanity storage on the desk, and a separate drying closet that is perfect for storing bulky boots and warming wet clothes after a long day of exploring. While this wasn’t needed on our sailing (we used it as an extra closet), however I could see how it would be of great benefit on an expedition voyage in cold weather.
There is tons of closet space and cabinets to hide your personal belongings out of site. Note - the closet cabinets have a very strong latch (needed when the ship is crossing rough seas like the Drake Passage) so be mindful of your fingers when opening.
The bathroom was a pretty standard size, complete with plenty of areas. Each side of the sink had its own set of drawers and cabinets for guests to store toiletries. I noted that the lighting in the bathroom was great for a ship and not too overwhelming, perfect for getting ready.
Dining
Most dining on Viking Octantis takes place in the World Cafe, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Food is served buffet style, however waiters will attend to your table for beverages and to see if you need anything.
The food options are plentiful. Breakfast includes cereals, yogurts, pastries, eggs, bacon, and other hot dishes. Lunch offers hot dishes, as well as sandwiches and salads. During dinner service, enjoy sushi and a raw bar, nightly specials, or made-to-order dishes at The Grill.
The front of the World Cafe entrance is a carb-lover’s dream, with an endless supply of freshly made bread, sweet treats, and a cookie bar. The World Cafe area also has multiple stations where guests can self-serve water, juice, and coffee concoctions at the press of a button (all included).
There are two specialty restaurants onboard: The Restaurant and Manfredi’s. Reservations are required to dine at both of these locales, but there is no extra cost for guests to eat there. In between the two eateries is a private dining area that can be specially booked for group dinners.
The Restaurant serves a traditional three-course menu with daily specials reflecting the local cuisine. Part of the menu never changes, with steaks and seafood as entree options. The other half of the menu rotates with nightly specials, some dishes featuring regional fare.
Manfredi’s serves a three-course Italian menu complete with pasta, steaks, tiramisu, and a starter of fresh parmesan cheese. The menu here does not change, but there are tons of options to choose from if you dine here multiple times.
Mamsen’s is a dining area found on many Viking ships that serves Nordic delicacies for breakfast and lunch. All guests can enjoy room service 24 hours a day, at no extra charge.
I dined at all venues on the ship during my sailing. I was never bored by the options and the food quality was very good at all venues. Some stand-out dishes I tried onboard were the ‘Banana Dome’, a half banana-chocolate filled dessert served one night at The Restaurant, the on-demand surf-and-turf lobster and steak combo available nightly at The Grill, and a Caprese Salad of fresh mozzarella and pesto sauce served at Manfredi’s.
Onboard Activities
This ship's public spaces and activities are designed for relaxing, enrichment, and enjoying scenic cruising. If you are looking to socialize with your fellow travelers, you will find several bars to grab a cocktail after a long day of exploring, like the Aquavit Terrace, The Library Bar, or the Explorer’s Lounge. You can also play digital tabletop games like checkers or backgammon in The Living Room, or try solving the number of jigsaw puzzles the Viking crew place on tables around the ship.
Those wanting to take a dip in the water can check out The Pools, located just off the Aquavit Terrace. This space has an indoor pool area with a retractable roof that is a great place to read and relax. This pool is connected (via a retractable door) to an outdoor pool area. You can alternate between three levels of pool temperatures - tepidarium (moderate), caldarium (hot), and frigidarium (hot).
The Nordic Spa is another onboard highlight of Viking Octantis. This area features a full-service spa/salon menu and a therapy relaxation room. This relaxation area is open to all guests (even if not using a service), at no extra charge from 8 AM - 8 PM. It features a whirlpool with floor-to-ceiling windows, heated therapy chairs, experience showers, wet and dry saunas, and the Badenstam.
The Badenstamp is a unique outdoor heated but covered hot tub where you can soak and watch the views around you. I enjoyed the Badenstamp as we sailed into Milwaukee, which was very lovely, however I can only imagine how spectacular it would be to use it while seeing the icebergs and expansive views off in the distance during an Antarctica cruise.
Enrichment and educational activities dominate the daily agenda of Viking Octantis voyages. My sailing featured many discussions on ornithology (the study of birds) as bird migration was occurring in the Great Lakes. Other talks included discussions about wildlife, topics on how the Great Lakes were formed, the history of the region, conversations on famous expeditions, stargazing, and much more. Many activities centered around learning about cruise destinations, with an emphasis on science and exploration. There were a handful of daily events for social gatherings like trivia competitions or concerts.
Note - There is a lot to do on Viking Octantis, but it is designed for guests interested in enriching activities, who want to learn and are looking to relax. If you are looking for Broadway-style shows, a casino, and big pool parties, this may not be the ship for you. However, as a first-time cruiser with Viking, I was very surprised about how little of the big on-ship features I missed on this sailing.
Service
The service on Viking Octantis can be summed up in one word - Wow. The staff-to-guest ratio allows for very attentive service, with a crew member never far away to attend to anything that you may need. Our cabin stewards were wonderful and very attentive to our needs (and an endless supply of clean towels). The staff in all eateries was exceptional, and our embarkation/disembarkation process was a breeze. We never had anything but an A+ experience when it came to service on this ship.
The Great Lakes itinerary requires some shuttle transport from the port to city centers and other attractions. While extra travel on a bus is never desired, I give Viking high marks for the very efficient system they had created to have regular shuttles and easy-to-find drop-off points manned with Viking crew. This process could have been much more difficult, but Viking made it painless and easy.
The Hangar, Science Lab & Expedition Central
As an expedition ship, Viking Octantis features several watercraft that can be deployed so guests can experience the sailing area up close. The ship includes a fleet of zodiacs, special operations boats, and even two yellow submarines. To house these nautical toys, Viking built The Hangar. This state-of-the-art in-ship marina offers guests easy access for embarkation and disembarkation of Special Operations Boats and other equipment. The area is sheltered from the elements and is a very unique selling point for Viking as an expedition operator. While my voyage had no expedition days (weather unfortunately canceled scheduled zodiac and special op boat rides), I toured the facility and was impressed by the equipment and the measures Viking takes to ensure passenger safety.
Viking Octantis’ onboard Science Lab is a 380-square-foot facility designed to support the studies being conducted by visiting researchers from partner institutions. This area is open to all guests during guided visits.
The visiting scientists make up Viking Octantis’ 36-person expedition team who lead guests through scientific research, guide shore excursions, deliver lectures, and answer questions at Expedition Central. Here, the experts can share knowledge about the destinations on a one-on-one basis. The area features 3D-printed maps, digital screens, a state-of-the-art spatial data visualization chart table, and a collection of specially crafted felt-made birds that represent species in the regions where Viking Octantis sails.
The Hangar, Science Lab, and Expedition Central make for a very unique and engaging opportunity for guests to truly understand the sites that they are visiting. You are not only seeing new things, but you are learning about them from top experts around the world. This is what I think makes Viking Expeditions stand out from its competitors, especially when it comes to cruising in the Great Lakes.
Read Related: Phytoplankton Genetically Sequenced at Sea for First Time on Viking Expedition Ship
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a luxury expedition voyage in Antarctica or the Great Lakes that is not only on a fantastic ship but one that focuses on enrichment, Viking Octantis should be at the top of your list. This ship is comfortable and upholds Viking’s high design standards with an efficiently run onboard program. Overall, my voyage on Viking Octantis exceeded all expectations, leaving me with great memories and a greater appreciation for expedition cruising.
Whether sailing through the icy waters of Antarctica or exploring the majestic landscapes of the Great Lakes, Viking Octantis offers a genuinely unparalleled adventure for the traveler looking to learn and explore.
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