{{Short description|Cruise vessel of Viking Ocean Cruises}} {{Infobox ship | display_title = ital |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = Octantisship.jpg | image_caption = Viking Octantis anchored off of St. Kitts }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | laid_down = | fate = | identification = | out_of_service = | in_service = 2022-present | maiden_voyage = January 2022 | acquired = | christened = September 30, 2022 | completed = December 2021 | sponsor = Liv Arnesen (godmother) | launched = May 2022 | way_number = | country = Norway | yard_number = | original_cost = | builder = Vard (Fincantieri) | ordered = April 2018 | route = Various | registry = Bergen, {{flag|Norway|civil}} | operator = Viking Cruises | owner = Torstein Hagen | flag = {{shipboxflag|Norway|civil}} | notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | deck_clearance = | crew = | capacity = 378 passengers | speed = {{convert|18|kn}} | propulsion = ABB Azipod 2 x {{cvt|5500|kW}} | power = MAN engines 4 x {{cvt|4800|kW}} | ice_class = Polar Class 6 | ramps = | decks = | header_caption = | depth = | draught = {{cvt|6|m|ftin}} | height = | beam = {{cvt|23.5|m|ftin}} | length = {{cvt|205|m|ftin}} | displacement = | tonnage = {{GT|30150}} | type = Expedition ship | notes = }} }} '''''Viking Octantis''''' is a Polar Class 6 purpose-built expedition ship completed in December 2021 for Viking Expeditions Cruises, a subdivision of Viking Cruises. The ship has a capacity of 378 passengers with 189 staterooms.<ref name=":0">{{Cite press release |title=Viking Takes Delivery Of First Expedition Ship |date=22 December 2021 |url=https://www.vikingcruises.com/press/press-releases/2021-12-22-viking-takes-delivery-of-first-expedition-ship.html |access-date=2022-04-19 |publisher=Viking Cruises |archive-date=2022-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707022701/https://www.vikingcruises.com/press/press-releases/2021-12-22-viking-takes-delivery-of-first-expedition-ship.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Named after the Sigma Octantis, the south star, the ship's primary routes include Antarctica and the Great Lakes where the ship carries out scientific research during its cruises. The ship was joined by an identical sister ship ''Viking Polaris'' in fall of 2022.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Viking Celebrates 25th Anniversary in Amsterdam |publisher=Viking Cruises |url=https://www.vikingcruises.com/press/press-releases/2022-09-30-viking-celebrates-25th-anniversary-in-amsterdam.html |access-date=2022-11-25 |date=30 September 2022 |archive-date=2022-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125025730/https://www.vikingcruises.com/press/press-releases/2022-09-30-viking-celebrates-25th-anniversary-in-amsterdam.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Design and construction == A letter of intent was signed for two new expedition vessels for Viking Cruises in April 2018. The ship was designed by SMC Design of London and the interiors by Richard Riviere of the interior design firm Rottet Studio of Los Angeles.<ref name=":0" /> The ship dimensions were specifically designed to fit through the Welland Canal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Viking Cruise Ships Will Run on Hydrogen, Hold More Passengers |url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/6901/ |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=www.cruisecritic.com |archive-date=2022-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419105504/https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/6901/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The ship has a straight bow, designed to reduce fuel consumption and improve stability. The ice-strengthened Polar Class 6 hull was built to ensure a safe voyage and state of the art U-tank stabilisers are intended to decrease rolling by up to 50% when the ship is stationary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Viking Octantis Expedition Ship |url=https://www.ship-technology.com/projects/viking-octantis-expedition-ship/ |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=Ship Technology |archive-date=2022-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420003319/https://www.ship-technology.com/projects/viking-octantis-expedition-ship/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The ''Viking Octantis'' was primarily constructed at the Fincantieri Vard Tulcea shipyard in Romania,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fincantieri {{!}} Viking Octantis |url=https://www.fincantieri.com/en/products-and-services/cruise-ships/viking-octantis/ |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=www.fincantieri.com |archive-date=2022-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202132508/https://www.fincantieri.com/en/products-and-services/cruise-ships/viking-octantis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> when it was towed to the Vard Søviknes shipyard in Søvik, Norway for interior outfitting and completion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Viking Octantis delivered |url=https://www.vard.com/articles/viking-octantis-delivered |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=VARD |archive-date=2022-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701045552/https://www.vard.com/articles/viking-octantis-delivered |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Design features === * "The Hangar": an aft ship bay that holds all the expedition equipment, including a fleet of zodiacs, kayaks, two high speed special operation boats with a {{convert|85|ft|adj=on|order=flip}} custom stern slipway, side bay doors with a gantry crane, and two Cruise Sub 7-300 yellow submarines named "John" and "George".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Viking Submersible Order |url=https://www.uboatworx.com/news/viking-submersible-order |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=U-Boat Worx |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701085148/https://www.uboatworx.com/news/viking-submersible-order |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-11 |title=Onboard Obsession: Exploring the Great Lakes by Submarine |url=https://www.cntraveler.com/story/onboard-obsession-viking-cruises-great-lakes-expedition |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Condé Nast Traveler |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125023810/https://www.cntraveler.com/story/onboard-obsession-viking-cruises-great-lakes-expedition |url-status=live }}</ref> * "The Aula": an aft two deck high transformative auditorium space with glass windows on three sides, for educational presentations and lectures. It is inspired by the University of Oslo's ceremonial hall, the former venue for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, with replica drop murals. * "The Laboratory": Lab space in coordination with NOAA - Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, [https://www.niva.no/en Norwegian Institute of Water Research(NIVA)], [https://polarcollective.org Polar Citizen Science Collective], Norwegian Polar Institute''',''' University of Cambridge, IUCN, [https://oceanites.org Oceanites]''',''' and the Scott Polar Research Institute.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=C. I. N. |date=2022-04-15 |title=Viking Builds on Existing Partnership with The University of Cambridge |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27240-viking-builds-on-existing-partnership-with-the-university-of-cambridge.html |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com |archive-date=2022-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415112726/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27240-viking-builds-on-existing-partnership-with-the-university-of-cambridge.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Viking Turns Cruise Voyages Into Science Expeditions {{!}} LATF USA |url=http://latfusa.com/article/2022/4/viking-turns-cruise-voyages-into-science/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=latfusa.com |archive-date=2022-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528235142/https://www.latfusa.com/article/2022/4/viking-turns-cruise-voyages-into-science |url-status=live }}</ref> The ''Viking Octantis'' is also partnered with the National Weather Service, and is the first civilian ship sanctioned to be a launch site for weather balloons. thumb|The Hangar for expedition equipment
== History == The ''Viking Octantis'' is Viking Cruises' first expedition ship; they took delivery of the ship on December 22, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Viking Octantis embarks on maiden voyage towards South America |url=https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/viking-octantis-embarks-on-maiden-voyage-towards-south-america-1 |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=CruiseandFerry.net |language=en-GB |archive-date=2022-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523233229/https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/viking-octantis-embarks-on-maiden-voyage-towards-south-america-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> The ship's maiden season was in Antarctica with the first passenger voyage in January 2022. Explorer Liv Arnesen was named the ships's godmother. After the Antarctic season the ship sailed north via the Caribbean Sea to New York City,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Irene S. |title=New Viking Octantis Carves Unique Niche In Expedition Cruising |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/irenelevine/2022/04/21/new-viking-octantis-carves-unique-niche-in-expedition-cruising/ |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=Forbes |archive-date=2022-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429020148/https://www.forbes.com/sites/irenelevine/2022/04/21/new-viking-octantis-carves-unique-niche-in-expedition-cruising/ |url-status=live }}</ref> where it was originally intended have the ship's official naming ceremony, but was postponed due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The next Viking ocean ships will have hydrogen power |url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Viking-ocean-ships-will-have-hydrogen-power |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.travelweekly.com |archive-date=2022-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129023942/https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Viking-ocean-ships-will-have-hydrogen-power |url-status=live }}</ref> The ship departed New York City to begin her maiden Great Lakes season, sailing out of such ports as Toronto, Thunder Bay, and Milwaukee. The ''Viking Octantis'' was also the first cruise ship to return to Atlantic Canadian ports in over two years since restrictions were put in place, with her first port of call in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-21 |title=First Cruise Ship to Visit Atlantic Canada in Two Years Set to Arrive |url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27293-first-cruise-ship-to-visit-atlantic-canada-in-two-years-set-to-arrive.html |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com |archive-date=2022-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421130117/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27293-first-cruise-ship-to-visit-atlantic-canada-in-two-years-set-to-arrive.html |url-status=live }}</ref> thumb|Viking Octantis is docked in Port Colborne on May 4, 2025 The ship was finally named on September 30, 2022, in Toronto, Canada, in a special virtual remote dual christening with her sister ship, ''Viking Polaris'' docked in Amsterdam. Liv Arnesen blessed the ship from the bow of the ''Viking Polaris'' in Amsterdam, while a crew member in Toronto released the bottle of champagne on the bow.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Viking christens Viking Octantis, Polaris |work=Cruise Critic |url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/7117/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |archive-date=2022-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125025724/https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/7117/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
As of 2025, the ''Viking Octantis'' currently sails in the Arctic and Great Lakes in the northern hemisphere summer months before returning to Antarctic summer cruise season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-21 |title=For the fourth year, Viking Octantis' arrival opens Milwaukee's cruise ship season |url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/cruise-season-opens |access-date= |website=OnMilwaukee}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfWK99pTW-Q ''Viking Octantis'' Naming Ceremony] * [https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/ships/viking-octantis.html Viking Octantis]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Viking Octantis}} Category:Ships built by Fincantieri Category:Cruise ships of Norway Category:2021 ships