Viking Octantis has kicked off its inaugural season. It recently completed a roundtrip through the Welland Canal – a key section of the St. Lawrence Seaway connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.
Designed specifically to reach the Great Lakes region, the Viking Octantis is the largest passenger vessel ever to transit the canal.
The ship will remain in the Great Lakes until early October 2022, sailing a variety of itineraries between Toronto and Duluth.
A second expedition vessel, the Viking Polaris®, will debut later this year and will join the Viking Octantis in the Great Lakes for the 2023 season.
“Our expedition ships were designed with the Great Lakes in mind. This region has been historically underserved by cruise lines, and we are delighted by the warm and enthusiastic reception we have received from the local communities,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking.
“With our first season now underway, we are pleased with the strong demand among our guests and look forward to introducing even more curious travellers to these fantastic destinations in 2023.”
Viking’s arrival to the Great Lakes brings the newest and most modern vessels ever to explore this region of North America, said the cruise line in a statement.
It marks a significant commitment to local tourism and economic development for the states of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio (beginning in 2023) and the Canadian province of Ontario.
To help develop the scientific enrichment program for its Great Lakes voyages, Viking has partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL).
During Viking’s inaugural 2022 season, the company is operating four new itineraries in the Great Lakes. Highlights include:
Undiscovered Great Lakes (8 days; Thunder Bay to Milwaukee), Great Lakes Explorer (8 days; Milwaukee to Thunder Bay), Niagara & The Great Lakes (8 days; Toronto to Milwaukee), Canadian Discovery (13 days; New York to Toronto).
In 2023, Viking will add a new, 15-day voyage, the Great Lakes Collection (15 days; Toronto to Duluth).
For more information, visit viking.com.
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