Viking’s second expedition ship, Viking Polaris, has touched water for the first time.
Scheduled to debut in summer 2022, Viking Polaris will spend its maiden season sailing voyages to the Arctic and Antarctica.
The ship has now been moved to an outfitting dock for further construction. After final outfitting, it will be delivered at Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway.
Its sister ship Viking Octantis was floated out last December and is set launch in early 2022 for journeys to Antarctica and North America’s Great Lakes.
The line’s chairman Torstein Hagen said: “We are now one step closer to our launch of ‘the thinking person’s expedition,’ with new voyages that will allow our guests to explore the ends of the world and closer to home, in comfort.
“We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with Fincantieri, who has helped us build the world’s most beautiful ocean ships and are now helping us perfect expedition cruising. We look forward to welcoming guests on board Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis next year.”
Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris – designed by the same team responsible for the line’s ocean ships – will both host 378 guests.
Public areas will include the Hangar – labelled “an industry first” – an enclosed, in-ship marina for the launch of small excursion craft through the ships’ multiple shell doors.
The Laboratory, meanwhile, will support a range of research activities, equipped with wet and dry laboratory facilities, a sample processing area, fume cupboard, freezer and cool storage, comprehensive microscope optics and extensive bench space for analysis-specific instruments.
Speaking to Cruise Trade News upon the launch of the expedition arm of the brand, Viking UK MD Wendy Atkin-Smith said: “Our guests are curious explorers. They want to continue travelling with Viking to familiar and iconic destinations, but they also want to travel further.
“We believe there is a gap in the market for expedition ships that harness all of the latest technology and cutting-edge design, but which are also extremely comfortable.”