Viking ventures to Antarctica for third expedition, announces 87-day itinerary

Viking is celebrating the start of its third expedition season in Antarctica, as Viking Octantis and her identical sister ship Viking Polaris arrived again in the region.

Both ships will spend the Austral summer in Antarctica before returning to North America’s Great Lakes for voyages throughout the spring, summer and early fall.

To meet demand for Antarctica voyages, Viking has also announced that the 2025-2026 season is now open for booking, including a new 87-day expedition From the Arctic to Antarctica, sailing from Nuuk, Greenland, to Ushuaia, Argentina. Departing in September 2025, this journey will allow guests to explore the Canadian High Arctic before travelling down the east coast of North and South America, calling on ports in the Caribbean, Peru, and exploring the Chilean glaciers before continuing to Antarctica.

Viking Octantis with zodiacs, kayaks and Special Ops fleet in Antarctica (Viking)

“As we welcome guests back for a third season in Antarctica, we are pleased to introduce even more opportunities for the curious traveller to experience this phenomenal region in Viking comfort,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking.

“By creating expeditions for The Thinking Person, our guests are able to explore some of the most pristine destinations on Earth in the most responsible way possible while also participating in meaningful scientific discoveries. On my own trip to Antarctica, I witnessed firsthand the incredible scenery and wildlife this fascinating continent has to offer. In my view, everyone should experience Antarctica at least once in their life.”

The arrival of Viking’s expedition ships in Antarctica also marks the completion of two inaugural Longitudinal World Cruises—the 71-day ‘Longitudinal World Cruise II’, from Duluth to Ushuaia, and the 70-day ‘Longitudinal World Cruise III’, from Milwaukee to Ushuaia. These highly-rated Grand Journeys offer guests a variety of travel milestones in a single itinerary, sailing from the heart of North America through the engineering wonders like the Welland and Panama Canals, into the Chilean fjords and finally Antarctica.

Following Viking’s upcoming third season in the Great Lakes, Viking Polaris will sail the ‘Longitudinal World Cruise IV’ from Milwaukee to Ushuaia in October 2024 and the Viking Octantis will embark on another sailing of the ‘Longitudinal World Cruise II’.

(Featured Image: Viking Octantis in Antarctica – Viking)