viking cruise ship polaris

• Expeditions
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Viking Polaris

First, we invented modern river cruising. Then, we redefined ocean cruising. Now, experience all the comfort and elegance of our award-winning fleet with an expedition ship built specifically to explore the world’s most remote destinations and allow you to immerse yourself in these regions.

• Only 378 guests
• Length: 665 feet
• Beam: 77 feet
• Class: Polar Class 6
• Year built: 2022

Interactive Deck Plan

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Viking Expedition Ship 360° Tour

Discover our innovative, purpose-built expedition ships designed to explore the world’s most remote destinations in comfort and immerse you in these majestic, untamed regions.

Stateroom Features

Our purpose-built ships offer a wide variety of staterooms for your selection. From Nordic Balcony staterooms to the abundance of extra perks and amenities in our spacious Explorer Suites, there is no finer way to travel. And whichever stateroom you choose, you will find it beautifully designed in the understated elegance for which Viking is known.

Owner’s Suite (OS)

• Stateroom size: 1,238 sq ft (includes private lounge area)
• Panoramic ocean-view, multi-room suite with private Nordic Balcony
• Separate bedroom suite
• Spacious, well-appointed living room
• Separate dining area that seats 6
• Private library, wine & music collections curated by Chairman Torstein Hagen
• 722 sq ft private garden lounge area with badenstamp
• Boardroom that seats 12 for meetings & catered dinner parties, with oceangoing vapor light fireplace
• Pantry for room service & hosted events
• Priority Embarkation
• 11 AM priority stateroom access
• Expedition activity reservations 67 days prior to departure
• 4 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 100 days prior to departure
• First priority spa treatment bookings 100 days prior to departure
• King-size Viking Explorer Bed with luxury linens & pillows
• Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
• 55" OLED flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more
• Two additional 42" flat-screen interactive LCD TVs with intuitive remote & complimentary Movies on Demand in suite
• 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
• Large master bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer, plus guest bathroom
• Premium Freyja® toiletries
• Plush robes & slippers
• Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
• Security safe
• Individual climate control
• Purified water refilled daily
• Welcome bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne
• Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & premium snacks (replenished once daily)
• Traditional Norwegian Marius-weave blanket
• Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections
• Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
• 24-hour room service, including service from any restaurant during open hours
• Daily personalized tea or pre-dinner cocktail & canapés on request
• Dinner & guided tour with ship officers (subject to availability)
• Complimentary laundry, pressing & shoe shine services
• Silver Spirits beverage package included
• Floor-to-ceiling drying closet
• Spacious walk-in closet with wooden hangers & drawers
• Under-bed suitcase storage space
• Keepsake Viking expedition jacket (on polar itineraries)
• All Viking excursion gear needed for any relevant excursions

Explorer Suite (ES)

• Stateroom size: 548 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• Ocean-view two-room suite, 80% larger than junior suites, with private Nordic Balcony and private veranda
• Well-appointed living area & dining area that seats 4
• Additional storage and seating features
• Private access to Explorer Suites Garden
• 11 AM Embarkation
• 3 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 90 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 90 days prior to departure
• King-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
• Additional 42" flat-screen interactive LCD TVs in living area
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, bathtub, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• Welcome bottle of champagne
• Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)
• Spacious drawers & closet with wooden hangers
• View the Explorer Suite (ES) in our 360° Tour

Nordic Junior Suite (NS)

• Stateroom size: 322 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• Ocean-view stateroom with private Nordic Balcony: floor-to-ceiling distortion-free glass at your ship’s edge, for optimal cozy viewing. Or lower the top panoramic glass for a sheltered, al fresco lookout. Plus, additional storage and seating features.
• Wheelchair Accessible (#4024, #4025)
• Expedition activity reservations 57 days prior to departure
• 3 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 80 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 80 days prior to departure
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• 24-hour room service
• View the Nordic Junior Suite (NS) in our 360° Tour

Nordic Penthouse (NP)

• Stateroom size: 269 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• Ocean-view stateroom with private Nordic Balcony: floor-to-ceiling distortion-free glass at your ship’s edge, for optimal cozy viewing. Or lower the top panoramic glass for a sheltered, al fresco lookout.
• 1 PM stateroom access
• 2 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 70 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 70 days prior to departure
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• Complimentary pressing & shoe shine services

Deluxe Nordic Balcony (DN)

• Stateroom size: 215 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• 2 PM stateroom access
• Expedition activity reservations 47 days prior to departure
• 1 priority reservation at each alternative restaurant 60 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 60 days prior to departure
• Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)

Nordic Balcony (N)

• 3 PM stateroom access
• Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks

Itineraries This Ship Sails

Antarctic Explorer

• PRICE & BUILD

NEW! From the Arctic to Antarctica

Great Lakes Collection

Niagara & the Great Lakes

Undiscovered Great Lakes

Great Lakes Explorer

NEW! Great Lakes Treasures

NEW! Niagara & Great Lakes Treasures

NEW! Into the Northwest Passage

NEW! Canada & Greenland Explorer

NEW! Canada & the Northwest Passage

Canadian Discovery

NEW! Canada & East Coast Explorer

NEW! Antarctic Explorer & the Americas

NEW! The Americas & Antarctic Explorer

Panama & Scenic South America

NEW! Panama Canal & the Americas

NEW! Chilean Fjords & Scenic Shores

NEW! Argentina & the Chilean Fjords

NEW! Longitudinal World Cruise IV

NEW! Longitudinal World Cruise VII

Ship Highlights

Our new expedition ships feature innovative, light-filled spaces where comfort meets discovery. With more indoor and outdoor viewing areas than other expedition vessels, guests are as close as possible to the most magnificent scenery on earth.

Ship Videos

Our Expedition Vessels

To explore the world’s most remote regions, we have introduced two specifically built, cutting-edge expedition class small ships: Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris .

Expeditions Ship Design

To optimize guest safety and comfort, Chairman Torstein Hagen called upon the expertise and collaboration of Viking teams, including maritime architects, interior designers, and nautical and technical staff. After the traditional steel cutting, the ceremonial keel laying ushered in the next milestone of the ship construction process.

The Aula & Finse Terrace

The world’s most advanced venue for learning at sea, The Aula is a stunning panoramic auditorium. Inspired by the University of Oslo’s famed ceremonial hall where the Nobel Peace Prize was historically awarded, The Aula will offer a dynamic venue for lectures and entertainment, with floor-to-ceiling windows and 270-degree views. Adjacent to The Aula through sliding glass walls is the Finse Terrace, an outdoor lounge area with comfortable couches and warming lava rock “firepits”—perfect for panoramic views of the surroundings. Together the two spaces can be combined to create an unmatched indoor-outdoor al fresco experience for guests to be immersed in nature.

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Viking Polaris

Viking polaris cruises view all choose from 165 holidays cruising on board the viking polaris.

18 Days Fort Lauderdale to Santiago

Operator: Viking

15 Days Nuuk to Toronto

42 Days Buenos Aires to Fort Lauderdale

13 Days Buenos Aires to Buenos Aires

Life on Board Viking Polaris What can you expect when cruising on board Viking Polaris

Launched in 2022, the Viking Polaris is Vikings' newest expedition ship, part of a fleet of award winning, state of the art ships built for exploration in sensitive environments. Read more

Viking are destination experts. With no casinos or children on board, you can be assured that the focus is firmly on enrichment and education. Read more

After a day of exploration or just to enhance the relaxation of a day at sea, the on-board Spa will leave you feeling recharged and revitalized. Read more

Viking offer six on board dining options. Beer, wine and soft drinks are available with lunch and dinner at no additional charge of fee. Read more

Viking proudly includes all that you need and nothing you do not. A variety of features and services are standard inclusions on your cruise. Read more

Viking include one complimentary shore excursion in every port of call. Enjoy included experiences around the world. Read more

Deck Plans Ship Profile (No Cabins) Deck 1 (No Cabins) Deck 2 Deck 3 Deck 4 Deck 5 (No Cabins) Deck 6

Cabins Nordic Balcony Deluxe Nordic Balcony Nordic Penthouse Nordic Junior Suite Explorer Suite Owners Suite All Types Balcony Suite

Nordic Balcony

Size including Nordic Balcony: 222 sq ft. 3 PM stateroom access. Floor-to-ceiling drying closet. Expedition activity reservations: 60 days prior to departure. Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks. In-suite binoculars & Marius-weave blanket.

Deluxe Nordic Balcony

Size including Nordic Balcony: 222 sq ft. 2 PM stateroom access. Floor-to-ceiling drying closet. Priority expedition activity reservations: 67 days prior to departure. One guaranteed priority reservation at The Restaurant or Manfredi’s: 60 days prior to departure. Priority booking of spa treatments: 60 days prior to departure. Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks, replenished once daily. In-suite binoculars, coffee & Marius-weave blanket.

Nordic Penthouse

Size including Nordic Balcony: 269 sq ft. 1 PM stateroom access. Floor-to-ceiling drying closet. Priority expedition activity reservations: 77 days prior to departure. Two guaranteed priority reservations at The Restaurant or Manfredi’s: 70 days prior to departure. Priority booking of spa treatments: 70 days prior to departure. Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks, replenished once daily. In-suite binoculars, coffee & Marius-weave blanket. Pressing & shoe shine services. Bottle of champagne.

Nordic Junior Suite

Size including Nordic Balcony: 322 sq ft. 11 AM stateroom access. Floor-to-ceiling drying closet. Priority expedition activity reservations: 87 days prior to departure. Three guaranteed priority reservations at The Restaurant or Manfredi’s: 80 days prior to departure. Priority booking of spa treatments: 80 days prior to departure. Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks, replenished once daily. In-suite binoculars, coffee & Marius-weave blanket. Laundry, dry cleaning, pressing & shoe shine services. Bottle of champagne.

Explorer Suite

Size including Nordic Balcony & private veranda: 580 sq. ft. 11 AM stateroom access. Floor-to-ceiling drying closet. Priority expedition activity reservations: 97 days prior to departure. Three guaranteed priority reservations at The Restaurant or Manfredi’s: 90 days prior to departure. Priority booking of spa treatments: 90 days prior to departure. Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks, replenished once daily. In-suite binoculars, coffee & Marius-weave blanket. Laundry, dry cleaning, pressing & shoe shine services. Complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package & bottle of champagne. Exclusive access to shared explorer Suite private garden lounge area.

Owners Suite

Largest suite on board: 1,223 sq. ft. with a 792 sq. ft. private garden lounge area with badestamp. All amenities of the Explorer Suite, plus: Priority stateroom access. Floor-to-ceiling drying closet. Four guaranteed priority reservations at The Restaurant or Manfredi’s: 100 days prior to departure. First priority expedition activity reservations: 107 days prior to departure. First priority booking of spa treatments: 100 days prior to departure. Dinner & guided tour with ship officers (subject to availability). Large master bathroom, plus one guest bathroom. Separate dining area/board room that seats six guests. Private library, wine & music collections curated by Chairman Torstein Hagen.

Viking Polaris Cruise Schedule All 165 cruise sailings by departure date on board Viking Polaris

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I found Goldilocks in Antarctica with this big little ship that’s just right

Editor's Note

Sweating it out in the dry heat of my cruise ship's Scandinavian-style sauna, I happily watched multiple groups of whales play hide-and-seek among the icebergs of Meusnier Point, Antarctica.

I'd already spent plenty of time whale watching in more typical polar fashion: shivering on Viking Polaris' bow with my bundled-up, binoculared shipmates and zipping about in rigid inflatable Zodiac boats in our matching bright red waterproof jackets.

Still, I couldn't resist continuing my "Where's Whale-do?" games from inside the ship's gorgeous (and complimentary) Nordic spa.

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My travel companion, Emily, is not a fan of extreme temperatures, so she chose to float in the spa's heated pool, complete with bubbles at one end. She also had a jaw-dropping view from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows lining one edge of the pool.

I, on the other hand, had come to the spa not for whales, but to try the Nordic bathing ritual of alternating between heated rooms like the sauna or steam room and cooling experiences like a cold water bucket dump and a snow room. It wasn't so different from the rest of my day, moving from the comfort of my cozy cabin to the extreme outdoors of the Antarctic Peninsula and now to this steamy spa.

My favorite therapies were the sauna and the badestamp (a hot tub with an open window for simultaneous hot and cold sensations). I liked them as much for their physical benefits as for their picture windows showcasing the icy scene outside.

Perhaps the experience should have been jarring — dripping sweat in a swimsuit while gazing at one of the harshest climates on the planet — but cozy comfort in the midst of a rugged adventure is the calling card of Viking Polaris.

The 378-passenger expedition-style cruise ship — from every "Downton Abbey"-loving baby boomer's favorite ocean/river/expedition cruise line Viking — is like the Goldilocks of the South Pole. It's not so big that it can't let guests disembark onto Antarctica's snow-covered shores, nor is it so small that it can't offer creature comforts like spacious cabins, multiple dining venues and that expansive spa.

Its interior spaces are well designed, friendly and inviting, while its rugged exterior and ice-strengthened hull enable it to cruise the icy seas at the ends of the earth.

In essence, it's "just right."

Inviting spaces

On an Antarctica cruise, you spend a perhaps surprising amount of time on your cruise ship. It takes nearly two days each way to wend your way through the Beagle Channel and sail through the rocking and rolling Drake Passage between Ushuaia, Argentina, and the Antarctic peninsula with no stops. Once alongside the White Continent, the captain prefers to sail the ship during daylight hours, so mornings are often spent making your way to the landing site and waiting for the expedition crew to set up.

You need a vessel you enjoy spending time on. Viking Polaris is that ship.

The ship has three main lounge areas — the midship The Living Room; the forward-facing, two-deck Explorers' Lounge; and the low-level, speak-easy-style The Hide — and all are designed to feel like inviting hangouts in your stylish home.

In The Living Room, friends of ours would often hang out in "business class" — oversized leather chairs with footstools — scrolling through photos while sipping a glass of Champagne or an Irish coffee from the nearby bar. A dedicated group would gather on the couches and easy chairs for daily trivia at noon; other passengers saved their competitive spirit for mahjong and Scrabble at the game tables by the windowed exterior walls.

It was easy to strike up conversations with other guests in the Explorers' Lounge, even when we were all facing forward along the curved windows to take in the view. Fani at the bar would bring us nearly any drink we could dream up — a lemon drop or ironically tropical mai tai for me, a Pimm's Cup for Emily — and always stopped to chat.

The few times I stopped by The Hide during the day, I would collapse into an oversized chair, put my feet up below the slanted windows and immediately start to doze off, lulled by the rocking of the ship. In the evenings, we'd grab a double shot of Baileys at the speak-easy-style bar (all the booze, minimal mixers) and listen to the expedition crew members tell tales of their adventurous exploits, like a bedtime story for grown-ups.

Related: Best Antarctica cruise ships

Big-ship choices

"We're always so busy," I complained to Emily around the halfway mark of our two-week trip. "There's too much to do on this ship!"

I was frustrated because I'd gone to hear a talk by one of the expedition crew members and missed an orca whale sighting. I was constantly torn between attending all the events in the Viking Daily newsletter I'd starred, spending time outside with my binoculars hoping for serendipitous animal sightings, or participating in multiple off-ship activities (landings, Zodiac cruises, kayak tours).

It was a good problem to have.

Viking Polaris is not a big ship but it has so much to offer, with choices at every turn.

For its not quite 400 guests, the ship has four restaurants, plus room service. For example, each morning, I'd make my way upstairs to the World Cafe buffet for breakfast, where I'd debate whether I should pillage the fruit and yogurt bar or ask one of the chefs for a made-to-order omelet.

If I wanted a cheat day, I could turn right instead of left and duck into Mamsen's, where a Scandinavian-style waffle topped with chocolate sauce or Norwegian brown cheese was always an alluring option. Or, on a truly lazy morning, I could order a full hot breakfast to my room, no extra charge.

For dinner, I could also make reservations at The Restaurant for a big-ship-style three-course meal with waiter service. For a date night or a group celebration, or just Thursday, Manfredi's wowed with its housemade pasta and Italian specialties. Shackleton could have survived for days on a plate of the restaurant's droolworthy gorgonzola gnocchi.

I had even more choices of how to spend my time on board. I could attend a workshop in Expedition Central about knot tying or identifying bird feathers, pop into The Aula (the ship's auditorium inspired by the Great Hall in Oslo where the Nobel Prizes used to be presented) for a documentary screening or a presentation on whale sex or Neanderthal DNA, or join a gin tasting or mate workshop.

I wanted to do it all — but I also wanted to linger on the aft Finse Terrace with its sunken fire pit seating and gaze out to sea, or walk laps along the outer promenade in the hopes of spotting whales or seabirds. Or, perhaps I just wanted to be lazy and spend more time in the Nordic Spa's gorgeous pool or reading a breezy novel, curled up on a sofa in The Living Room.

Related: Antarctica reading list: These 8 books are must-reads before a trip to the White Continent

Cozy cabins, built for expeditions

"Pass me more chocolate from the magic drawer," I said to Emily one afternoon after we'd shrugged out of our multiple thermal layers and collapsed on our beds in our fleece pullovers and leggings. She handed over a small bar of Norwegian milk chocolate, as well as a bottle of soda water from our minifridge, which our room stewards topped up every day to keep us in a never-ending supply of treats.

I used to think of expedition ship cabins as bare-bones affairs, with fixed twin beds, tiny bathrooms with the shower practically on top of the toilet and no design aesthetic whatsoever. On older ships, that portrait might be accurate, but on Viking Polaris, my room was cleverly designed and full of creature comforts.

Every room on the ship is classified as a balcony cabin or suite, but a true balcony is useless in Antarctica, where you're not going to sit and watch the waves at frigid temperatures for long. Instead, the outer wall of my room was made from two panes of glass. At the touch of a button, I could roll down the top pane like a car window, allowing some fresh air in and enabling me to take photos without glass in the way.

It was a perfect compromise between an exterior veranda and a picture window that does not open. Plus, the huge window filled my cabin with light (blackout shades can also be deployed with a button for light sleepers).

I loved the L-shaped leather seating nook by the window, where I could curl up with a book or a room service meal. (The fried chicken on the in-cabin dining menu is divine!) I used the desk to charge my laptop, but a handy hidden drawer beneath the desktop is the perfect spot to hide your jewelry, should you use the mirror for dolling up for dinner.

On the far side of the cozy beds (twins that can be pushed together into a queen), extra space is devoted to getting dressed because it's a tad more complicated on an expedition cruise. An L-shaped wardrobe has plenty of hanging space and drawers for all the hats, gloves, warm jackets and base layers I brought to handle the polar chill, not to mention the pharmacy of seasickness medication and remedies Emily and I brought to survive the Drake Passage. The extra floor space is needed for pulling on boots and wiggling into life jackets.

Related: Antarctica gear guide: What you need to pack for a trip to the White Continent

But the real genius of this dressing area is the heated drying closet found in every cabin. It's got a rack with hangers for your waterproof jacket and pants and hooks for your life jackets and ship-provided boots. We used it not only for our expedition gear, but to hang up laundry we didn't want to subject to the ship's dryers.

Also heated: the bathroom floors. They felt amazing on my cold bare feet in the mornings but also helped us dry gloves and swimsuits when the drying closet was overfull.

No tiny nautical "heads" for Viking! In addition to the heated floor, my cabin's spacious bathroom had a large shower with a long shelf for toiletries, his and hers drawers, shelving and a selection of complimentary bath products, including sunscreen, hand lotion and separate body lotion and lip balm with SPF protection. In short, everything I needed to combat the harsh sun and dry air of Antarctica.

Accessible adventures

The ease and comfort of Viking Polaris' onboard persona also extend to its offshore adventures. You might have to endure some wind and rain and freezing temperatures, but Viking is going to do everything possible to make sure its guests are able to access all Antarctica has to offer.

It all starts with The Hangar, which is part water-level boat storage, part comfortable passenger loading zone. The expedition crew members can launch 16 Zodiacs, two special operations boats (affectionately called SOBs), two yellow submersibles named George and Ringo with their patrol boat, and eight double kayaks (plus two single guide kayaks) in under an hour, partly because they don't have to lower boats from the top deck of the ship, as is the case with many expedition vessels.

For their part, guests don't need to navigate gangways or crowd a floating marina when they're ready for their playtime. The Hangar has multiple waiting areas — a main space for the Zodiac queue with bench seating, a gear-up zone for kayakers and a seating area (with snacks and hot beverages) for guests going on a kayak or submersible ride.

These are all separate from the boarding zone, where groups are invited to go only when they're about to board their ride. And it's all accessible from the ship's main elevators.

The first time I arrived at The Hangar, it was crowded with people clomping around in the ship-loaned heavy boots and bulky outer layers. But Polaris' expert crew kept everything orderly and moving. They even helped me put on my Zodiac life jacket, which I swear to you is not as simple as putting on a backpack, and directed me to the correct waiting area.

The crew also demonstrated how to stomp through a boot-washing machine (imagine a car wash, with soap and spinning bristles, for your shoes), the latest in biosafety technology, before escorting me to a Zodiac. Here, two crew members helped me into the boat like I was royalty alighting from my carriage — one handing me down from the ship into the waiting grasp of another crew member standing in the Zodiac.

Once in the Zodiac, we'd race to shore for a landing, cruise the sea looking for whales or transfer into kayaks (my favorite) for a quiet paddle. The transfer from the Zodiac to the kayak and back again is not exactly a graceful endeavor, but anyone who wants to paddle must prove their agility in an on-ship trial before being allowed to take their skills to the water.

It's worth it, and easier than it looks. On my first kayak outing in Damoy Point, I watched our first penguins of the trip cavorting on the rocky shores and occasionally diving smoothly into the sea. We did more floating than paddling, but I still enjoyed playing penguin paparazzi from the sea.

On the second outing, my group paddled all the way around a small island in Mikkelsen Harbor, where we admired a seal preening on the rocks and penguins soaring in and out of the waves (a swimming style called porpoising). Being part of a small group on the water amid the dramatic backdrop of Antarctica's mountains and never-ending sky was a quiet thrill — but no less incredible.

Related: I just went kayaking in Antarctica — and it was the most calm I've felt all year

If you're willing to pay several hundred dollars, you can also book an adventure in one of the ship's two six-seater submersibles. Always up for an adventure, I fought my fear of being completely surrounded by water as the driver took us 425 feet below the water's surface to gaze upon exotic starfish and coral. I didn't see the giant phantom jellyfish spotted earlier in the cruise — and about which Viking's expedition team published a paper in the scientific journal "Polar Research" — but I enjoyed the novel approach to sightseeing in Antarctica ... after I stopped hyperventilating, that is.

Viking is also unique in that its ship carries two special operations boats. These speed boats were designed with accessibility in mind — they can be boarded more easily than Zodiacs and have comfortable, individual bucket seats with armrests and hand grips.

I'm sure the intention is to take guests, especially folks not up for daily Zodiac rides, on scenic cruises to follow whale families and iceberg views. But sometimes the drivers get a little naughty.

On one SOB ride, the driver gunned the engine to careen around floating ice on our way back to the ship. Emily and I shrieked and squealed with laughter as water sprayed our faces and drenched our waterproof outerwear as if we were in some sort of water park attraction. As we disembarked, the other passengers thanked us for taking the two seats in the back — the ones most likely to get drenched.

Education as entertainment

The biggest social event on a Viking Polaris Antarctica cruise is not necessarily the first glimpse of the continent's towering icebergs and snow-covered mountains. It's the weather balloon launch.

All week, our shipmates asked the expedition team, "When will you launch the weather balloon?" When the auspicious date was finally announced, we all set our phone alarms so as not to miss the big morning event.

On the day, I climbed up to Deck 7 (usually off-limits to guests) to find not only a crowd of passengers, but the dining team handing out cups of coffee spiked with Amarula liqueur.

The atmosphere was festive as Meghan, the chief scientist, explained how weather balloons worked, and we all excitedly counted down to the release as if it were New Year's Eve. Afterward, the nerdiest of us crowded around a projection screen in Expedition Central to watch as the balloon's recording device reported back on air temperature, pressure and humidity at different elevations.

Viking Polaris has no activities team, as its officers are quick to tell you, because Antarctica provides the entertainment. But aboard the ship, education takes center stage in most of the activities.

The ship's 22-person-strong expedition team is made up of mountain and kayak guides, but also naturalists, biologists and other experts. They lead the daily briefings with information about landings and itinerary changes, but they also host presentations on topics ranging from penguins and sea birds to glaciers and global warming, often with some cheeky humor and cartoons thrown in to keep topics from getting too dry.

And while every expedition ship in Antarctica sets sail with an expedition team, only Viking employs a full-time crew of scientists who record actual data on board and send it off to the line's research partners to analyze.

A chief scientist and two assistants live aboard the ship and collect water samples to study microplastics and phytoplankton, take video of sea life for polar species studies and send up weather balloons to contribute data to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Their partners include the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the University of Western Australia and the University of Cambridge's Scott Polar Research Institute.

The ship's working lab is off-limits to passengers except for a few times during a cruise when they're welcomed in to look at microplastic samples or phytoplankton under microscopes. These events were always well attended, so much so that sometimes it was hard to get a good view of the scientists.

Some of us might have been a tad disappointed that guests couldn't participate in most of the real data collection on board. The consolation is knowing that your vacation dollars are doing more than putting money in the pockets of travel company owners — they're funding actual scientific research, as well.

Adventure for everyone

Halfway through our cruise, after yet another day spent riding in Zodiacs and grinning like dorks at the adorable antics of gentoo penguins, Emily decided to video chat with her parents in Australia. (Let that sink in for a moment — video chatting from Antarctica to Australia on a cruise ship.)

"I'm so jealous of your adventure," her mom said on the call. "I'm too old to do that now."

My friend — and Viking and its entire expedition department — begged to differ.

I don't know who Emily's parents thought were cruising with us aboard our ship, but it was certainly not overrun with sporty tech bros or outdoors enthusiasts accustomed to roughing it in the wilderness.

Instead, our shipmates on this no-kids-allowed ship were mainly retired couples with the occasional family group of older parents with adult (30-plus) children looking to visit a bucket list destination in safety and comfort.

Essentially, our ship was filled with people just like Emily's parents: well-traveled, active folks who are curious about the world and want to experience it all. But now, instead of settling for the old, renovated Russian ice-breakers or bare-bones expedition vessels that used to be the only options for exploring remote destinations, they can choose a more comfortable option. Our shipmates preferred Viking's thoughtfully designed and spacious accommodations, choice of elevated dining options and inviting onboard spaces over the experience found on many other, especially older, expedition ships.

The younger travelers on the ship appreciated the spacious gym, opportunities to kayak and late-night bars with a welcoming vibe. Older guests appreciated the opportunities for waiter-served, sit-down meals; the way the ship and crew made getting on and off the ship for landing opportunities easier; and the flexible nature of the daily schedule. (You could race from event to event or enjoy a leisurely afternoon reading in The Living Room.)

When we finally had a landing on the Antarctica peninsula proper, the expedition leader announced that his team would do everything they could to make sure every passenger had the chance to at least set foot on land, even if they weren't up for a walk through the snow.

The only folks Viking Polaris can't accommodate are extra-adventurous travelers who are looking for multiple landings a day, polar plunges, the option to camp out on the peninsula or more active hikes, kayaks or snowshoe adventures.

Also, rules for cruise ship visits to the Antarctic peninsula state that only 100 passengers (plus expedition staff members) can be ashore at any given landing at a time, and ships carrying more than 200 passengers can only land at specific locations. The result is that Viking Polaris does not have full access to all the landing sites on the peninsula and also that guests have limited time ashore to make sure everyone on board can rotate through, 100 people at a time.

Friendly atmosphere

At the World Cafe, our waitress Celeste approached our table with a sly smile and presented Emily with a dish of coconut gelato she hadn't ordered.

Emily had asked the previous day if any coconut gelato was available, and Celeste had gone down into the galley and fetched her some, even though it wasn't on the day's ice cream rotation. Emily had been so happy about the treat that Celeste took it upon herself to repeat the experience the following day.

Celeste was not the only crew member to go above and beyond to make our stay on Viking Polaris memorable. I don't think I've chatted as much with my room stewards on other ships as I did with Rico and Joko, who were always in our hallway and would come out of whichever room they were cleaning to greet us and ask us how our day was.

Grace at Manfredi's moved mountains (or maybe just tables) to accommodate our requests for group dinners, and Santosh at the World Cafe made us vegetarian chickpea curry on request and fetched me chile oil from below decks to spice up my eggs at breakfast. The expedition team members were always happy to take our photos, point out whales or chat with us out on deck.

The friendly ethos of the crew quickly spread to the guests — or maybe Viking passengers self-select for congeniality. Every time we got a drink in the Explorers' Lounge, Emily and I would find ourselves in conversation with whoever was seated next to us. The folks we shared a submersible ride with or the folks who always worked out in the fitness center at the same time as me would greet us when we met in the buffet or in line at The Hangar.

(The only exception to this rule was in the ship's self-serve launderettes. Like the wilds of Antarctica, those were a penguin-eats-penguin, survival-of-the-fittest, lawless outland — and you'd better watch your back ... and your wet clothing.)

I admit I was nervous about spending 11 nights on a cruise ship in the middle of nowhere, but by the time we disembarked in Ushuaia, I found I was a bit teary about leaving. The ship had quickly become my home, and the crew and my shipmates my family, and I knew I would miss them all.

I didn't have the luxury of trying multiple ships sailing expeditions to Antarctica, but it didn't matter. The first one was a hit, and my shipmates and I discovered that for a comfortable adventure to the ends of the earth, Viking Polaris was "just right."

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Review of Viking Polaris: Luxurious Expedition Ship Offers Best of Both Worlds

A peregrine falcon swoops in and lands on the railing of the Viking Polaris. Dolphins cavort in the ship’s wake. Those sightings will be listed on a large wildlife board organized by Dr. Tim Gerber to be shared when we gather for daily reports.

A few decks down in the Hangar, two yellow six-passenger submarines named George and Ringo are ready for passenger expeditions. Two military-grade Special Operation Boats (SOBs) also wait in the Hangar for excursions and exploration.

Two yellow submarines onboard named George and Ringo

An on-board science lab provides a wide range of research activities for passengers. Each lovely stateroom has two pairs of powerful Meopta Optika MeoPro 8X42 binoculars and a large drying closet to air out wet expedition gear.

What kind of cruise ship is this?

Actually, the Viking Polaris is an expedition ship. It focuses on enrichment, learning and experiential activities.

But it is unlike any image of what an expedition ship might look like. Launched in September 2022, the Viking Polaris is an incredibly luxurious ship with gourmet restaurants and elegant Scandinavian designed staterooms as well as terrific expedition opportunities.

Dr. Tim Gerber displays the wildlife sighting list created by passengers.

A favorite Viking tagline, “Exploring the world in comfort,” certainly fits the Viking Polaris as well as fulfilling one of Viking’s registered trademarks, “The Thinking Person’s Cruise.”

Boarding Viking Polaris: Rating 10/10

My brother Joe joined me on the 16-day Canada & Atlantic Coastline cruise aboard the Viking Polaris from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale. Joe lives in Colorado. I lived in Indiana. So we met up at the Charlotte airport to fly into Canada together.

Viking definitely knows how to make boarding a ship as easy as possible. Joe and I had done the important paperwork before boarding – including using the Arrive CAN declaration confirmation – to breeze through the Toronto airport.

Waiting on the arrival side of the airport were several Viking greeters wearing red Viking jackets. On our jackets, Joe and I wore red Viking stickers that had been mailed to us. Suddenly, we were seeing other passengers with those stickers and carrying luggage with Viking tags.

Our tour organizers easily recognized Viking passengers and led us to a waiting motorcoach. A short drive took us to the ship dock where we were welcomed aboard Viking Polaris with a glass of champagne and a much-appreciated lunch in the World Café.

Viking Polaris Ship: Rating 10/10

As the seasons change, so do the stars visible in the sky. But from the northern hemisphere, one star is constant – the North Star or Polaris, positioned almost exactly above the North Pole.

An appropriate name for the Viking Polaris. As styles and ship designs may change, Viking ships always remain beautiful and passenger friendly. The Viking Polaris is definitely a star among cruise ships.

With a maximum of 378 guests in 189 staterooms, the Viking Polaris feels like a floating luxury boutique hotel with its lovely light-filled Nordic design. On our cruise, there were 310 passengers and 258 crew members. Most passengers were age 60 and up with the majority from America and Canada, plus others from New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

The ship is filled with spacious public areas as well as quiet places to sit and read, enjoy a cocktail or watch the ocean flow.  Bordered by floor-to-ceiling windows, The Living Room offers a variety of seating arrangements and features its own bar along with a stunning water vapor fireplace.

The Living Room

The fireplaces are in public spaces around the ship. I don’t know how a water vapor fireplace works but it certainly looks realistic and seems to be the most popular places to sit wherever they are around the ship.

A corner of The Living Room has a well-stocked Library . However, books are located in many places around the ship including staterooms. Never have to look far to find an interesting book to read.

The double-decker Explorer’s Lounge at the front of the ship offers panoramic views and bars. Situated at the aft of Deck 1, the Finse Terrace features lava rock fire pits and recessed heated seating.

The Bow at the fore of Deck 3 is the place to be when the ship goes through locks and canals such as the St. Lawrence Seaway Locks on the second day of our cruise.

Expedition Central on Deck 2 is a fascinating spot where we looked through microscopes to see microorganisms and could stop by during open hours to ask the Expedition Team about wildlife, geology, biology and other expedition questions.

Expedition Team member Loreen Niewerhuis explains a piece of technology.

The spectacular Aula is a state-of-the-art panoramic auditorium inspired by the University of Oslo’s grand ceremonial hall. With its 270 degree views and huge retractable 4K laser-projected screen, the Aula is the main gathering place for daily briefings, lectures, documentary screenings and musical performances.

The Nordic Spa is a real beauty and available without additional charge. A heated indoor pool with large windows to watch views floating by outside, wood-sided hot tub, sauna, cold-water dunking bucket, steam room and that amazing snow grotto are passenger favorites. A gym has separate sections for cardio, yoga, Pilates and weights.

The Hide on Deck 1 was difficult to find but one of my favorites. I visited it every day once I figured out the labyrinth of stairs between decks and only once was someone else in the appropriately named hideaway. I’d sit in one of the comfy chairs in front of the slanted wall of windows which makes it seem as though we are skimming over the ocean as the ship cruises.

The Hide also has books and memorabilia from American explorer Ann Bancroft. Godmother of Polaris, Bancroft made history when she became the first woman to reach both the North and South Poles.

My Stateroom: Rating 10/10

Opening the door to my stateroom for the first time is always exciting. As with all Viking ships, there are no inside staterooms on the Polaris. In a first for polar expedition ships, a Nordic Balcony replaces the regular balcony used by many cruise ships.

A nifty contraption, the Nordic Balcony lowers the large upper distortion-free window on the glass wall with the press of a button seeming to turn my whole stateroom into a balcony. Another button lowers a light blocking curtain for privacy. An L-shaped sofa and coffee table are a good place to see and enjoy the outdoor sights.

My stateroom with its Nordic Balcony

An interactive 55-inch flat screen TV, hair dryer, ceiling-to-floor drying cabinet for storing life jackets and drying wet expedition gear, high-end bedding, Norwegian Marius-weave blankets,  bedside tables, plenty of drawers and storage space plus a neat cosmetics organizer in the desk. Just lift the top of the desk to see a large mirror and a bunch of little storage compartments for cosmetics.

Two large closets hold slippers, robes and a safe. A bookcase next to the bed features several books and those great binoculars plus a coffee maker. Underneath the bookcase is a small fridge with a mini-bar

Each evening we receive a Viking Daily newsletter chock full of important info. The newsletter also is available in a digital format on the Viking Polaris app in my cellphone as well as on the stateroom TV. Nice way to save paper.

My stateroom seating area

The bathroom is a treat with a generously sized shower, great water pressure, plenty of hot water, Freyja toiletries, anti-fog mirror and a wonderful heated floor.

Mamsen’s Restaurant (10/10)

Mamsen was what Torstein Hagen called his hard-working mother, Ragnhild Hagen. Her kitchen was a family safe harbor in any storm.

Now Mamsen’s on the Viking Polaris is a loving tribute to the family matriarch serving food that Viking founder Torstein Hagen enjoyed as a child. It’s a good spot to enjoy a light breakfast or Nordic lunch buffet or afternoon snack.

Mamsen’s waffles

As with all Viking Polaris restaurants, there is no extra cost to dine at Mamsen’s. The breakfast buffet features breads, cheeses, herring, oatmeal, sweet rolls, cinnamon rolls and those delightful freshly made waffles with fruit and syrup. Lunch has sandwiches and soup with some cakes.

The dishware in Mamsen’s is the same design as the set Torstein Hagen remembered from his childhood. Coincidentally, the pattern was called “Tor Viking” – maybe a foreshadowing of what was to come.

One of the photographs in Mamsen’s shows the woman herself on skis, pulling her granddaughter Karine in a traditional pulk or sleigh.

Mamsen pulling a sleigh with her granddaughter Karine

“In the winter, when the sun hardly rose, she made hearty soups and stews from scratch,” Karine once wrote. “In the summer, when the sun hardly set, we ate lighter fare of cured meats and fish and open-faced sandwiches which we call smorbrod.”

The grownup daughter of Torstein Hagen, Karine Hagen is now senior vice president of Viking Cruises.

Manfredi’s Restaurant (10/10)

In the often-cutthroat world of business, I heard the nicest thing on my Viking Polaris cruise.

The popular Manfredi’s Italian restaurant on the Viking Polaris was named for Silversea’s chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio.

In return, d’Ovidio named a special spot on Silversea’s cruise ship after Viking Cruise chairman Torstein Hagen. At the very top of the Silversea’s ship, it’s called Tor’s Observation Library.

How about that for two competitors who can still be friends while aiming for excellence in the growing cruise world.

Although Manfredi’s is one of Viking Polaris’ specialty restaurants, there is no charge to dine there but reservations are required. One of the nice things about Viking Polaris is that reservations can be made on my cellphone app and stateroom TV as well as by calling the reservation desk.

Unlike the Scandinavian-themed décor on the rest of the ship, Manfredi’s definitely has an Italian vibe. Dark woods, framed photos of Italy’s famous movie stars, black-and-white floor, black tabletops, cushy leather chairs.

Wine, beer and soft drinks are complimentary at lunch and dinner. Since he had served us before in the World Café, server Jerome knew our names, which drinks we preferred and that we liked a table by the window.

Manfredi’s Restaurant

Printed in Italian and English, the menu features a wide range of starters, salads, soups, pasta, risotto, sides and meats like pesce spade (marinated and grilled swordfish) and bistecca fiorentina (thick cut ribeye steak coated in garlic oil and rubbed with porcini mushroom powder, kosher salt, brown sugar and red chili flakes).

For dessert, I had baba al rum, fragile e sorbetto di lampone e limone. It’s like a sponge cake soaked in rum atop a bed of fresh strawberries with whipped cream and strawberry sorbet. Awesome.

The Restaurant (10/10)

Yep, that’s its name. No charge to dine in The Restaurant but reservations are required for the classic dining experience. The menu reflects both regional specialties and continental classics.

Décor is light and airy with white tablecloth covered tables. The menu has two sides – daily specials and always available classics such as tiger prawns, beer-marinated chicken, New York strip steak, poached Norwegian salmon, cheese and jam, gelato and sorbet.

Daily menu featured seared tuna, caprese salad, poached Arctic char, Beef Wellington, quinoa and bean chili, pistachio crème brulee and blotkake – Norwegian cream cake with strawberry jam and sugared whipped cream.

World Café (10/10)

Jumbo shrimp. King crab legs. Broiled lobster tail. Sushi. Premium steaks. The World Café is the ship’s buffet but it is certainly not like other cruise buffets. Menu items are terrific and neatly displayed.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served here. A gelato station offers delicious ice cream. The staff will make rolled ice cream sundaes. Featuring a wide array of global dishes, the World Café offers top-notch cuisine and an ever-present Executive Chef Satheesh Devan.

Chef prepares lobster rolls for lunch.

Chef would greet passengers, keep an eye on food presentations and watch for a passenger who had great difficulty walking and talking. When Chef saw the man enter the World Café, he would help him to a seat and fill a plate to bring to him. Just a thoughtful touch above and beyond Chef’s duties. But it seemed as though all staff went above and beyond to make our cruise so memorable.

Paps Explorers’ Lounge (10/10)

In another nod to family history, Paps Explorers’ Lounge bar is named for Torstein Hagen’s father. From his family’s little red house in Nittedal, Norway, Paps became a CPA by correspondence course. Every day, he bicycled from his home to the historic Rotnes Bruk estate where he applied his accounting skills.

Paps was well loved for his winning sense of humor, his unwavering work ethic, his taste for licorice, the pencil always kept handy behind his ear and his love of family.

Paps was so popular that during one election year, he got his name on the ballot for both parties. In 1945, Crown Prince Olav of Norway decorated him for his resistance during World War II.

Paps remained a man of and for the people with such large attendance that there was standing-room-only at the church for his memorial service.

Paps’ favorite brandy special is served in the bar at the lounge for $5. The drink calls for one third brandy from Norway’s Vinmonopol (the state-owned company with sole rights to sell beverages containing more than 4.75 percent alcohol), two-thirds hot water and one packet of brown sugar.

A photo of Paps along with his brandy special 

Every evening, Joe and I liked to conclude our adventurous day by sitting by the fireplace at Paps, listening to musical duo Zee and Dee and savoring a drink while the Viking Polaris cruised through the night.

  Shore Excursions (9/10)

Viking Cruises is expert on shore excursions. Our cruise itinerary had a terrific choice of shore excursions, some free and some requiring a fee. Plus we had those wonderful days at sea.

Umbrella Alley in old Quebec city

Tue – Embark in Toronto

Wed –  Scenic sailing, St. Lawrence Seaway Locks

Thu – Trois-Rivieres in Quebec, Canada

Fri – Quebec City

Sat – Scenic sailing St. Lawrence River

Sun – Cap-aux-Meules in Quebec

Mon – Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia

Tue – Lunenburg in Nova Scotia

Wed – Sail the Atlantic Ocean

Thu – New York City

Fri – Sail the Atlantic Ocean

Sat – Norfolk, Virginia

Sun – Sail the Atlantic Ocean

Mon – Charleston, South Carolina

Tue – Sail the Atlantic Ocean

Wed – Disembark in Ft. Lauderdale

An SOB heads out for an excursion.

Although we had terrific shore excursions each time Viking Polaris docked, my most memorable was the complimentary 911 Museum in New York City. As dawn broke, our ship cruised past the Statue of Liberty, a most impressive sight that always gives me shivers of gratitude that I’m an American.

Statue of Liberty by dawn’s early light

Dawn breaks as we cruise into New York City 

Boarding a motor coach at 7 a.m., we took a driving tour around New York City before arriving at the 911 Memorial in Lower Manhattan. Nearly 3,000 people died in the al-Qaeda attack on Sept. 11, 2001. Many more have died since then from toxic exposure.

The al-Qaeda terrorists knew they couldn’t destroy the United States militarily so they decided to destroy America’s symbols instead, our museum guide said. The 19 terrorists hijacked four planes.

The al-Qaeda set their sights on the 110-story Twin Towers as centerpieces of the World Trade Center symbolized America’s economic power and prosperity.

A white rose signifies the birthday for a man killed in 911.

As headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon was a symbol of American military power. The Capitol building that it is thought Flight 93 was to destroy symbolized the center of American legislative government.

At 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. At 9:03 a.m., the second hit the South Tower. At 9:36 a.m., the third plane hit the Pentagon. At 10:03 a.m., the fourth plane crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Investigators said that plane was headed to the White House or the US Capitol when passengers rushed to overcome hijackers.

Instead of rebuilding the Twin Towers and creating a new World Trade Center, the site became a memorial. The 9/11 Memorial opened Sept. 11, 2011, the 10 th anniversary of the attacks. The names of those killed are etched in bronze around the edges of the pools. Sad to see the white roses placed near the names of those whose birthday was on the day we visited.

The Memorial Plaza surrounds two enormous reflecting pools where the towers used to stand. The pools feature 30-foot waterfalls, the largest man-made waterfalls in North America. The water cascades into reflecting pools, finally disappearing into the center voids.

On May 21, 2014, the 9/11 Memorial Museum opened. The main exhibition space is located seven stories below the 9/11 Memorial at the bedrock foundations of the World Trade Center. Inside the museum are artifacts from the attacks including personal stories from survivors, first responders, area residents and eyewitnesses.

Each person who died on Sept. 11 had a story to tell, a life to live and people who loved them. The fire helmet of Fire Dept. 3 Captain Patrick Brown honors his sacrifice. He died in the 911 attack but his body wasn’t recovered until nearly three months later. He was 48 years old.

Although the memorial and the museum were packed with visitors, both places were eerily quiet. In fact, our guide Darrell reprimanded a couple of young girls who were laughing and taking smiling selfies by leaning against the engraved names of those who died. Respect should be shown at the memorials, he noted.

The 911 Memorial

Disembarkation (10/10)

Disembarking from Viking Polaris was as easy as embarking. Only, Joe and I didn’t want to leave. Viking Polaris and its crew has a way of making people feel so welcomed that it is difficult to pack up and walk off. In fact, quite a few passengers said they had already booked their next Viking cruise. I can certainly understand that.

  Final Thoughts About Viking Polaris Cruise

– Free WiFi

– Complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner.

– Complimentary cocktails and champagne for sailaway party and other special events

– No charge for any restaurants

– Business center stocked with computers for guest use

– Complimentary 24-hour room service

– No photographers and photo sales

– No umbrella drinks

– No casino

– No smoking in interior spaces

– No art auctions

– No children under 18

– No inside staterooms

– No fee to use Nordic Spa

– No fee to use self-service laundry

– Free laundry detergent

– No waterslides or on-ship rides

– No big musical stage productions

– Nordic Shop offers only basic toiletries, few snacks and some Viking sweaters, jackets, hats.

– No jewelry shops or tables set up in the concourse

– No bottles of liquor or cartons of cigarettes in Nordic Shop

– No hard sells for merchandise in the Nordic Spa.

– Free bottles of purified water in staterooms

– Yes, those are birds singing in the ship’s public restrooms. (Actually, recordings of bird songs)

-Many metal surfaces such as door handles and hallway railings were covered in leather for a more comforting touch.

– 16-member expedition team of scientists, biologists, geologists, botanists, ornithologists

– $499 for one-hour on 6-seater submarine dive. (Because of weather, no sub dives on our cruise)

 – No charge for expedition tours on Special Operations Boats (SOBs)or use of kayaks or zodiacs.

-Smooth sailing with the latest stabilization technology

Photos by Jackie Sheckler Finch

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1 thought on “Review of Viking Polaris: Luxurious Expedition Ship Offers Best of Both Worlds”

The Viking Polaris Cruise was truly a most memorable trip. Grateful that I got to experience it with my sister. Highly recommend this to anyone who loves exploring, learning and seeing such beautiful views. Truly a lifetime experience.

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Viking Polaris cabins and suites

Viking polaris staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

Viking Polaris cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Viking Expeditions (Viking Cruises) en-suite amenities and services.

The Viking Polaris cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

Owners Suite

Owner's Suite is the ship's largest stateroom and the only one with a private, step-out balcony, in addition to the French Balcony (retractable, down-sliding window). Complimentary services and amenities include master bathroom (bathtub, double-sink vanity, glass-enclosed shower, anti-fog mirror, hairdryer), guest bathroom, dining room (6-seat table), media library, premium wine collection, floor-ceiling drying closet, walk-in closet (with drawers and wooden hangers), once-daily replenished mini-bar (alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, bottled water, snacks), binoculars (in-cabin use only), Viking Expeditions jacket (keepsake/available on polar cruises only), Marius-pattern wool blankets, room service (laundry, dry cleaning, pressing, shoeshine, 24-hour food delivery/from any restaurant during open hours), Welcome Aboard (bottle of champagne). Bonus perks include complimentary Viking Silver Spirits drink package, Welcome bottle of champagne (Veuve Clicquot), priority cabin access, dinner with the Captain (and his officers), guided ship tour.

The Owner Suite has 3x smart TVs (1x 55-inch plus 2x 42-inch), a coffee machine (with premium brand coffees and teas), a dedicated cabin steward. Purified water is refilled daily and twice-daily is provided housekeeping.

Owner Suite's terrace is private and designed as an outdoor lounge (Owner Suite Garden). This large (73 m2 sized) balcony features teak flooring, premium wooden garden furniture (low tables, sofa, padded chairs and sun loungers), mini-bar, live plants, 4-seat dining table, Jacuzzi (whirlpool hot tub).

Explorer Suite

Layout (floor plan).

Explorer Suites are French Balcony staterooms with a retractable glass (down-sliding / opening) window. Complimentary services and amenities include dining area (4-seat table), bathroom (bathtub, double-sink vanity, glass-enclosed shower, anti-fog mirror, hairdryer), floor-ceiling drying closet, once-daily replenished mini-bar (alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, bottled water, snacks), binoculars (in-cabin use only), Viking Expeditions jacket (keepsake/available on polar cruises only), Marius-pattern wool blankets, room service (laundry, dry cleaning, pressing, shoeshine), Welcome Aboard (bottle of champagne). Cabin access is at 11 AM.

Bonus perks include complimentary Viking Silver Spirits drink package and exclusive terrace access to a shared balcony (outdoor Explorer Suite Garden lounge).

Each Explorer Suite has 2x smart TVs (1x 55-inch plus 1x 42-inch), a coffee machine (with premium brand coffees and teas), a dedicated cabin steward. Purified water is refilled daily and twice-daily is provided housekeeping.

Nordic Junior Suite

Nordic Junior Suites are French Balcony staterooms with a retractable glass (down-sliding / opening) window. Complimentary services and amenities include floor-ceiling drying closet, once-daily replenished mini-bar (alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, bottled water, snacks), binoculars (in-cabin use only), Viking Expeditions jacket (keepsake/available on polar cruises only), Marius-pattern wool blankets, room service (laundry, dry cleaning, pressing, shoeshine), Welcome Aboard (bottle of champagne). Cabin access is at 11 AM.

Each Nordic Junior Suite has 1x smart TV (55-inch), a coffee machine (with premium brand coffees and teas), a dedicated cabin steward. Purified water is refilled daily and twice-daily is provided housekeeping.

Wheelchair-accessible cabins are rooms 4024 and 4025.

Nordic Penthouse Suite

Nordic Penthouse Suites are French Balcony staterooms with a retractable glass (down-sliding / opening) window. Complimentary services and amenities include floor-ceiling drying closet, once-daily replenished mini-bar (alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, bottled water, snacks), binoculars (in-cabin use only), Viking Expeditions jacket (keepsake/available on polar cruises only), Marius-pattern wool blankets, room service (pressing, shoeshine), Welcome Aboard (bottle of champagne). Cabin access is at 1 PM.

Each Nordic Penthouse Suite has 1x smart TV (55-inch), a coffee machine (with premium brand coffees and teas), a dedicated cabin steward. Purified water is refilled daily and twice-daily is provided housekeeping.

Nordic Balcony Cabin

Nordic Balcony are French Balcony staterooms with a retractable glass (down-sliding / opening) window. Complimentary services and amenities include floor-ceiling drying closet, once-daily replenished mini-bar (alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, bottled water, snacks), binoculars (in-cabin use only), Viking Expeditions jacket (keepsake/available on polar cruises only), Marius-pattern wool blankets, room service (laundry, dry cleaning, pressing, shoeshine).

Cabin access is at 3 PM (Nordic Balcony) and 2 PM (Deluxe Nordic Balcony).

Each Nordic Penthouse Suite has 1x smart TV (55-inch), a coffee machine (with premium brand coffees and teas), a dedicated steward (24-hour room service). Purified water is refilled daily and twice-daily is provided housekeeping.

Viking Polaris cabins review

Most Viking Polaris staterooms (184 out of 189 total) are with French balconies - excluding only Deck 6's Suites (OS-Owner, ES-Explorer). Cabin sizes vary between 21 m2 (Nordic Balcony / French Balcony) and 114 m2 (Owner Suite with 73-m2 Terrace Garden). Explorer Suites are with a shared balcony (Terrace Garden Lounge).

Viking Expeditions Viking Polaris staterooms offer the following complimentary amenities and services:

• King-size bed ("Viking Explorer", deluxe mattresses and linens, Cashmere blankets), optional twin beds configuration, bedside reading lamps (wall-mounted), Viking Expeditions jacket (keepsake/available on polar cruises only), Marius-pattern wool blankets
• En-suite bathroom (with heated floor and heated mirror/anti-fog), glass door shower, hairdryer, premium bath products and toiletries (by Freyja), deluxe bathrobes, slippers, towel warmers, plenty of storage space.
• Seating area with sofa, low table, vanity desk with chair, wardrobe, full-length mirror with mini lights (doubles as night light with bedside on/off button), floor-ceiling drying closet
• Satellite phone (direct-dial), 55-inch smart HDTV (3D, Infotainment system / Internet access, room service ordering, movies-on-demand, live webcams views, Viking Expeditions ship channel for news, schedules, itinerary and destination information, enrichment lectures, port talks), binoculars (in-cabin use only), electronic safe box (in the closet), individual climate control, 220V / 110V power outlets (European and US standard plugs), Coffee machine, mini-bar (bottled water, soft drinks, snacks).

Also free are provided purified water (refilled daily) and housekeeping (twice-daily).

The cabin's keycard must be inserted into a slot (by the entry door) to power the room's electrical outlets and lights.

All cabin categories receive complimentary movies-on-demand and 24-hour room service. Suite categories receive free laundry, dry cleaning, pressing, shoeshine, Welcome Champagne bottle. Cabin access times differ by category - priority (Owner Suite), at 11 AM (Explorer and Nordic Junior), at 1 PM (Nordic Penthouse), at 2 PM (Deluxe Nordic Balcony) and at 3 PM (Nordic Balcony).

Priority dining room reservations (in brackets- days prior to departure): Owners Suite (100), Explorer Suite (90), Nordic Junior Suite (80), Nordic Penthouse (70), Deluxe Nordic Balcony (60), Nordic Balcony (none). All Viking Expeditions customers enjoy priority reservations for shore excursions and water activities (in brackets- days prior to departure) - Owners Suite (107), Explorer Suite (97), Nordic Junior Suite (87), Nordic Penthouse (70), Deluxe Nordic and Nordic Balcony (60).

Nordic Balcony and Deluxe Nordic Balcony cabins are with lounge area (2 armchairs, coffee table, angle sofa). Penthouse and Junior suites are also with French Balcony (window) but larger-sized, more storage space (extra drawers), larger bathroom, upgraded services, guaranteed dinner reservations (at specialty restaurants), complimentary laundry, dry-cleaning, pressing, shoeshine.

The ship has only one Owner's Suite (category OS) - its largest accommodation (with 114 m2 indoor space plus 73 m2 terrace) and the only cabin with step-out private balcony. Owner Suite has living room (couch, coffee table, chairs, wet bar), separate dining area (6-seat table), walk-in closet, powder room (guest bathroom), separate bedroom (king bed, walk-in closet), master bathroom (double-sink vanity, power-shower), oceanview sauna room, large veranda (padded wooden loungers and chairs, 4-seat dining table, mini-bar, live plants, Jacuzzi / whirlpool hot tub). Owner Suite perks include custom-stocked minibar (alcoholic beverages), premium wine selection, media library, earliest check-in, guaranteed dinner and spa reservations, complimentary laundry, dry-cleaning, pressing, shoeshine.

Viking Expeditions cruise deals are all-inclusive, meaning they offer as complimentary (included in the fares):

• 1 complimentary excursion in each of the ports of call along the itinerary route
• complimentary drinks, including alcohol (beers and house wines at lunch and dinner). The selection of wines includes red and white, and occasionally rose,
• free Wi-Fi (shipwide coverage), free Internet (unlimited access)
• free of charge specialty restaurant dining (excepting only the lowest category Balcony cabins).
• Tipping/gratuities (recommended daily gratuity USD 14 pp) is automatically added to the passengers' onboard accounts. Adjustments can be made at the Reception Desk (Lobby area). Alcoholic drink purchases levy a 15% gratuity (automatic).
• All beverages served at the onboard lounges and bars cost extra. Prices are around $6 (cocktail), $4 (beer), $5-6 (wine by the glass). Viking Cruises "Silver Spirits" drink package costs $420 per cabin (for two passengers) and offers unlimited cocktails ($9 limit), beers and premium wines (by the glass), plus one bottle of sparkling wine, specialty coffees, unlimited soda (soft drinks).

The complimentary 24-hour Room Service menu includes pasta (3 sauces are offered - bolognese, pesto, Pomodoro), grilled salmon, cured Norwegian salmon (gravlax/gravadlax), grilled chicken, burgers (including veggie), chef salad, cheese plates. Breakfast options include hot/cold sandwiches, French toast, pancakes, oatmeal, eggs, fresh fruits.

Viking Polaris cabin and suite plans are property of Viking Expeditions (Viking Cruises) . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

Viking Polaris Decks and Cabins

• Click here for ALL
• Nordic Balcony
• Deluxe Nordic Balcony
• Nordic Penthouse
• Nordic Junior Suite
• Explorer Suite
• Owners Suite
• Ship info and tracking
• Cabins Check

Built in 2022, the Viking Polaris cruise ship weighs 30K tons and has 187 staterooms for up to 374 passengers served by 260 crew . There are 6 passenger decks, 4 with cabins. You can expect a space ratio of 81 gross tons per passenger on this ship. On this page are the current deck plans for Viking Polaris showing deck plan layouts, public venues and all the types of cabins including pictures and videos.

Viking Polaris

LIVE SHIP TRACKING

STATEROOM CABINS COMPLETE LIST BELOW

OWNERS SUITE

Floor Diagram Owners Suite

Sleeps up to: 2 1 Cabins Cabin: 431 sqft (41 m 2 ) Balcony: 792 sqft (74 m 2 )

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More Info [+/-]

Deck locations, stateroom cabin features, stateroom cabin perks, explorer suite.

Floor Diagram Explorer Suite

Sleeps up to: 2 4 Cabins Cabin: 580 sqft (55 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Important Size Information

Nordic junior suite.

Floor Diagram Nordic Junior Suite

Sleeps up to: 2 26 Cabins Cabin: 322 sqft (30 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

 Accessible Info [+/-]

Nordic penthouse.

Floor Diagram Nordic Penthouse

Sleeps up to: 2 20 Cabins Cabin: 269 sqft (25 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

DELUXE NORDIC BALCONY

Floor Diagram Nordic Deluxe Balcony

Sleeps up to: 2 98 Cabins Cabin: 222 sqft (21 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

NORDIC BALCONY

Floor Diagram Nordic Balcony

Sleeps up to: 2 38 Cabins Cabin: 222 sqft (21 m 2 ) * Size may vary, see details below.

Viking Polaris Deck Page Menu

Click deck pictures to go to individual cruise deck plan pages where you can see all the public areas, venues and stateroom cabins categories for each deck.

Viking Polaris Quick Stats

Big picture viking polaris decks.

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Viking Polaris Links

• PDF of all the decks
• PDF (choose your own decks)
• Viking Polaris DECK DRAG
• Viking Polaris Cabin Check

CRUISEDECKPLANS.COM Use the input buttons above to go to the main page for a Cruise Ship or Cruise Line.

The 3 types of Viking cruise ships, explained

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

Viking is unusual among major cruise lines in that it operates both ocean ships and river ships. Despite this, it has one of the easiest-to-understand fleets.

The vast majority of Viking’s river ships — at last count, there were 80 — feature the same design. If you’ve seen one of them, you’ve seen them all.

Ditto for the line’s ocean ships. Nine of Viking’s 11 ocean ships are nearly identical. The two exceptions are the recently unveiled Viking ocean vessels specifically designed for expedition cruising — a type of cruising that involves traveling to remote, hard-to-reach places on hardy vessels that carry their own landing craft.

For more cruise guides, tips and news, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

As a result, the bulk of Viking’s vessels falls into one of just three groups; all the ships in each group sport nearly identical designs.

An introduction to Viking cruise ships

Viking has expanded enormously in recent years with the addition of dozens of new river and ocean ships.

Founded in 1997 with four river vessels, the company operated just 29 ships as recently as 2012. Now, there are more than 90 ships in its fleet.

The vast majority of these ships are river ships — the company’s sole focus for its first 18 years in business. The company dominates the market for river cruises aimed at North Americans, accounting for about 50% of all such trips.

Starting in 2015, Viking began rolling out ocean cruise ships, too.

In early 2023, as noted above, Viking had 80 river ships in its fleet — almost all of which have the same basic design. The exceptions are a few vessels that Viking operates on rivers in Egypt and Asia (more on these ships below). The line also recently began offering cruises on the Mississippi River and its tributaries using a new type of vessel.

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking ships and itineraries

Viking’s ocean ships fall into two distinct groups: a series of 930-passenger traditional ocean ships that began debuting in 2015, and a series of 378-passenger expedition ships that began debuting in 2022.

Unlike most cruise lines, Viking doesn’t use the term “classes” to define different sets of ships in its fleet. Instead, it refers to its series of traditional ocean ships as the “Viking ocean ships” and its series of expedition ships as the “Viking expedition ships.” We’ve followed the same breakdown of the line’s ocean and river fleet below.

Viking ocean ships

Ships: Viking Saturn (2023), Viking Neptune (2022), Viking Mars (2022), Viking Venus (2021), Viking Jupiter (2019), Viking Orion (2018), Zhao Shang Yi Dun (2017), Viking Sky (2017), Viking Sea (2016) and Viking Star (2015).

Size: 47,800 tons.

For years, Viking only operated river ships, and some cruisers still think of the brand primarily as a river cruise company. However, since 2015, Viking has been rapidly rolling out a series of upscale ocean vessels; these new additions are increasingly dominating the world of higher-end ocean cruising.

As of June 2023, Viking has nine ships sailing the world’s oceans, each with a capacity for 930 passengers. That gives Viking 8,370 berths in the upscale ocean cruise market — more than competitors Oceania Cruises and Azamara combined.

The series is far from finished. Six more of the vessels are on order from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for delivery between 2024 and 2028, and the company also has options with Fincantieri for four more of the ships to debut in 2029 and 2030. Assuming they are all built, Viking’s ocean division will soon be bigger than Oceania, Azamara, Seabourn and Silversea Cruises  combined.

The first thing to know about the ships in this series is that they all are pretty much identical. When sailing on any one of them, you will be hard-pressed to tell what is different.

They’re also quite upscale. While Viking doesn’t market itself as a luxury line, some still consider it so. The vessels are full of luxury touches, from sumptuous bedding in cabins to heated floors in cabin bathrooms.

Related: The complete guide to Viking cabins and suites

Each of the ships in this series has a stylish, Scandinavian-influenced design that is a Viking trademark, and the cabins are large by cruise ship standards. Even the smallest cabins on each of the vessels have 270 square feet of space — a generous amount. Many cabins are significantly bigger than that, with 14 two-room suites on each of the vessels ranging in size from 757 to 1,448 square feet. Many of these bigger suites offer sweeping views from wrap-around private balconies.

Each of the ships’ interior spaces is built around an elegant, three-deck-high atrium filled with comfortable seating areas that have a living room-like feel. Each also has a bar and guest relations desk. At the top of the ships, you’ll find two-deck-high, glass-walled lounges that offer stunning views over the bow. Other interior spaces include a fitness center and a stylish spa with a thermal suite area that is open to all passengers at no extra charge (something that is not common on cruise vessels).

Multiple restaurants on board each of the vessels include Italian eatery Manfredi’s (named after former Silversea owner Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, a friend of Viking founder Torstein Hagen) and The Chef’s Table. The latter features rotating themed menus.

The centerpiece of the top deck of each of the ships is the main pool area, which features a glass magrodome that can close during inclement weather. The main pool area on each of the ships sits next to a lovely, glass-topped lounge with comfortable seating called the Wintergarden, which is home to afternoon tea. A den of serenity, it’s one of our favorite places on these vessels.

A secondary pool area with an infinity pool is at the back of each of the ships.

While all of the ships in this series are essentially identical, you will find small differences on a few of them. Most notably, two of the vessels in the series — Viking Orion and Viking Jupiter — have a small planetarium built into the top level of the two-level lounge at their fronts (known as the Explorers’ Lounge). Some of the later ships in the series have slightly larger fitness centers and slightly smaller hair salons.

Note that in addition to the nine Viking ocean ships officially in the Viking fleet, a 10th ship from the same series, Zhao Shang Yi Dun, caters exclusively to the China market as part of a joint venture between Viking and a Chinese company. When it debuted in 2017, the ship originally catered to the North American market and was called Viking Sun.

Viking river ships

Ships: Viking Fjorgyn (2022), Viking Kari (2022), Viking Radgrid (2022), Viking Skaga (2022) and more than 60 other Longships built since 2012, as well as additional river vessels.

Size: 4,000 to 5,000 tons.

River ships originally put Viking on the map, and they’re still at the core of the brand.

As noted above, the line has 80 river ships in its fleet. The vast majority of them have the same basic design and are known as Longships — a reference to the historic vessels used by Vikings in the Middle Ages.

Unveiled in 2012 and designed specifically to fit into the locks used across many of Europe’s rivers, the Longships broke new ground in river ship design in multiple ways.

For starters, they have a configuration that includes some of the largest suites ever for river ships in Europe. They also have a significant number of cabins with balconies — which is made possible by an innovative cabin area layout that offsets main corridors. (In other words, the corridors don’t run down the middle of the ship, creating a wider side with space for balconies and a narrower side with cabins turned sideways to also create room for verandas.)

Related: The ultimate guide to Viking’s cruise loyalty program

Other innovations include a squared-off bow that allows for eight more cabins than similarly sized ships operated by competitors. Also, quieter engines allow for more cabins at the rear. An enormous amount of groundbreaking engineering went into redesigning the bow areas of the ships, in particular, to enable extra cabins while still leaving room for needed machinery.

As a result of such innovations, the Viking Longships can carry more passengers than similarly sized ships operated by competitors. This has allowed Viking to offer lower prices than other river cruise lines and still bring in a similar amount of revenue per ship — a fact that has contributed greatly to the company’s rapid growth.

Like many river ships, each of the Viking Longships has one main restaurant where most passengers eat their meals as well as one main interior lounge with a bar. There’s also a secondary, casual dining area at the front of each vessel with indoor and outdoor seating. (The outdoor portion, called the Aquavit Terrace, also serves as a forward-facing outdoor lounge during off hours.) Unlike many river ships, the vessels have no spas or fitness centers.

As is typical for river ships, the top of every Viking Longship is covered with an expansive lounge area. There’s also a walking track and an herb garden — the latter used by the kitchen staff to grow herbs used during the preparation of onboard meals.

Most Viking Longships are 443 feet long — the perfect length to fit into the locks on many of Europe’s rivers. Viking also built slightly smaller versions of the Longships, measuring 361 feet or 410 feet in length, specifically to sail on rivers where lock sizes or other navigational factors require smaller vessels. The 410-foot-long versions of the vessels, for instance, were specifically built to sail into the heart of Paris on the Seine River.

Related: Fast-growing Viking unveils four new ships for the Seine

While the Longships come in several different lengths, they are essentially identical in their offerings and decor. The only notable difference is that the smaller versions of the ships have fewer cabins and thus hold fewer people. The 443-foot-long versions of the ship are designed for 190 passengers, for example, whereas the 410-foot-long versions of the vessels hold 168 passengers (since they have 11 fewer cabins).

While most Viking river ships are Longships, there are a few exceptions in the Viking river fleet. Viking operates several smaller, purpose-built vessels on the Nile River in Egypt. It also has several older river vessels that predate the Longships and traditionally have operated on rivers in Russia and Ukraine. (For now, river cruise itineraries in both countries are on hold due to the war in Ukraine.)

Viking also recently began sailings on the Mississippi River with a new ship specifically designed for the river and its tributaries.

As of May 2023, Viking had another 14 river ships either under construction or on order via provisional contracts.

Related: First look at Viking’s stylish new Nile River ship

Viking expedition ships

Ships: Viking Polaris (2022) and Viking Octantis (2022).

Size: 30,150 tons.

Designed to hold just 378 passengers, the Viking expedition ships are specifically designed to take travelers to the most off-the-beaten-path parts of the world, including Antarctica and the Arctic.

As of now, Viking operates just two ships in the series, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, both of which debuted in 2022 . No more are currently on order.

As is typical for expedition ships, these are tough vessels with reinforced bows that let them bump through ice in polar regions; the ships also have extra tanks for fuel and food.

Each of these vessels has its own landing craft on board to bring people ashore in remote locations, as well as kayaks and even submarines for exploring. (The latter is the hot new thing for expedition ships — upscale cruise brands Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Seabourn have been adding submarines to expedition ships , too.)

Like other expedition ships, both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are designed to operate with a large and seasoned “expedition team” that includes biologists, botanists, geologists, glaciologists and ornithologists who lecture regularly.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Viking ship

Each of the vessels has several new and unusual features, too. Most notable is The Hangar: an enclosed marina that allows passengers to transfer to a 12-seat excursion craft while still in the protected interior of the ship. It’s a first for an expedition cruise ship.

In another first for a polar expedition cruise vessel, every cabin has floor-to-ceiling glass walls that slide partially open from the top to create a balcony-like feel.

Both Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are designed to be upscale. Like all Viking’s vessels, they boast elegant Scandinavian designs. The restaurants on both vessels include a version of Viking’s signature Italian spot, Manfredi’s and the Scandinavian-inspired Mamsen’s outlet.

Another feature of both ships that will be familiar to regular Viking customers is a top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers’ Lounge offering stunning views of passing scenery.

In case you’re curious, Viking Octantis is named after Sigma Octantis, the current “south star” that hovers over the South Pole (also known as Polaris Australis). Polaris is named after the current “north star” that hovers over the North Pole. The names are a nod to the polar regions where these expedition ships will likely spend much of their time.

Bottom line

Viking operates more cruise vessels than any other major cruise company catering to North Americans. This is in part because it’s involved in both the ocean cruise and river cruise businesses. Despite its large size, its fleet of vessels is relatively easy to understand. The vast majority of both its ocean ships and river ships are almost identical in their designs.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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SPONSORED:  With states reopening, enjoying a meal from a restaurant no longer just means curbside pickup.

And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free. 

These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures

Viking Polaris

First, we invented modern river cruising. Then, we redefined ocean cruising. Now, experience all the comfort and elegance of our award-winning fleet with an expedition ship built specifically to explore the world’s most remote destinations and allow you to immerse yourself in these regions.

• Only 378 guests
• Length: 665 feet
• Beam: 77 feet
• Class: Polar Class 6
• Year built: 2022

Interactive Deck Plan

Hover and click on the deck plan to explore the ship. 0), attr: { 'href': pdfurl }" class="ignore" target="_blank">see a pdf version of the deck plan..

Viking Expedition Ship 360° Tour

Discover our innovative, purpose-built expedition ships designed to explore the world’s most remote destinations in comfort and immerse you in these majestic, untamed regions.

Stateroom Features

Our purpose-built ships offer a wide variety of staterooms for your selection. From Nordic Balcony staterooms to the abundance of extra perks and amenities in our spacious Explorer Suites, there is no finer way to travel. And whichever stateroom you choose, you will find it beautifully designed in the understated elegance for which Viking is known.

Owner’s Suite (OS)

• Stateroom size: 1,238 sq ft (includes private lounge area)
• Panoramic ocean-view, multi-room suite with private Nordic Balcony
• Separate bedroom suite
• Spacious, well-appointed living room
• Separate dining area that seats 6
• Private library, wine & music collections curated by Chairman Torstein Hagen
• 722 sq ft private garden lounge area with badenstamp
• Boardroom that seats 12 for meetings & catered dinner parties, with oceangoing vapor light fireplace
• Pantry for room service & hosted events
• Priority Embarkation
• 11 AM priority stateroom access
• Expedition activity reservations 67 days prior to departure
• 4 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 100 days prior to departure
• First priority spa treatment bookings 100 days prior to departure
• King-size Viking Explorer Bed with luxury linens & pillows
• Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
• 55" OLED flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more
• Two additional 42" flat-screen interactive LCD TVs with intuitive remote & complimentary Movies on Demand in suite
• 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
• Large master bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer, plus guest bathroom
• Premium Freyja® toiletries
• Plush robes & slippers
• Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
• Security safe
• Individual climate control
• Purified water refilled daily
• Welcome bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne
• Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & premium snacks (replenished once daily)
• Traditional Norwegian Marius-weave blanket
• Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections
• Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
• 24-hour room service, including service from any restaurant during open hours
• Daily personalized tea or pre-dinner cocktail & canapés on request
• Dinner & guided tour with ship officers (subject to availability)
• Complimentary laundry, pressing & shoe shine services
• Silver Spirits beverage package included
• Floor-to-ceiling drying closet
• Spacious walk-in closet with wooden hangers & drawers
• Under-bed suitcase storage space
• Keepsake Viking expedition jacket (on polar itineraries)
• All Viking excursion gear needed for any relevant excursions

Explorer Suite (ES)

• Stateroom size: 548 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• Ocean-view two-room suite, 80% larger than junior suites, with private Nordic Balcony and private veranda
• Well-appointed living area & dining area that seats 4
• Additional storage and seating features
• Private access to Explorer Suites Garden
• 11 AM Embarkation
• 3 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 90 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 90 days prior to departure
• King-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
• Additional 42" flat-screen interactive LCD TVs in living area
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, bathtub, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• Welcome bottle of champagne
• Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)
• Spacious drawers & closet with wooden hangers
• View the Explorer Suite (ES) in our 360° Tour

Nordic Junior Suite (NS)

• Stateroom size: 322 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• Ocean-view stateroom with private Nordic Balcony: floor-to-ceiling distortion-free glass at your ship’s edge, for optimal cozy viewing. Or lower the top panoramic glass for a sheltered, al fresco lookout. Plus, additional storage and seating features.
• Wheelchair Accessible (#4024, #4025)
• Expedition activity reservations 57 days prior to departure
• 3 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 80 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 80 days prior to departure
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• 24-hour room service
• View the Nordic Junior Suite (NS) in our 360° Tour

Nordic Penthouse (NP)

• Stateroom size: 269 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• Ocean-view stateroom with private Nordic Balcony: floor-to-ceiling distortion-free glass at your ship’s edge, for optimal cozy viewing. Or lower the top panoramic glass for a sheltered, al fresco lookout.
• 1 PM stateroom access
• 2 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 70 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 70 days prior to departure
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• Complimentary pressing & shoe shine services

Deluxe Nordic Balcony (DN)

• Stateroom size: 215 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• 2 PM stateroom access
• Expedition activity reservations 47 days prior to departure
• 1 priority reservation at each alternative restaurant 60 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 60 days prior to departure
• Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)

Nordic Balcony (N)

• 3 PM stateroom access
• Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks

Itineraries This Ship Sails

Antarctic Explorer

• PRICE & BUILD

NEW! From the Arctic to Antarctica

Great Lakes Collection

Niagara & the Great Lakes

Undiscovered Great Lakes

Great Lakes Explorer

NEW! Great Lakes Treasures

NEW! Niagara & Great Lakes Treasures

NEW! Into the Northwest Passage

NEW! Canada & Greenland Explorer

NEW! Canada & the Northwest Passage

Canadian Discovery

NEW! Canada & East Coast Explorer

NEW! Antarctic Explorer & the Americas

NEW! The Americas & Antarctic Explorer

Panama & Scenic South America

NEW! Panama Canal & the Americas

NEW! Chilean Fjords & Scenic Shores

NEW! Argentina & the Chilean Fjords

NEW! Longitudinal World Cruise IV

NEW! Longitudinal World Cruise VII

Ship Highlights

Our new expedition ships feature innovative, light-filled spaces where comfort meets discovery. With more indoor and outdoor viewing areas than other expedition vessels, guests are as close as possible to the most magnificent scenery on earth.

Ship Videos

Our Expedition Vessels

To explore the world’s most remote regions, we have introduced two specifically built, cutting-edge expedition class small ships: Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris .

Expeditions Ship Design

To optimize guest safety and comfort, Chairman Torstein Hagen called upon the expertise and collaboration of Viking teams, including maritime architects, interior designers, and nautical and technical staff. After the traditional steel cutting, the ceremonial keel laying ushered in the next milestone of the ship construction process.

The Aula & Finse Terrace

The world’s most advanced venue for learning at sea, The Aula is a stunning panoramic auditorium. Inspired by the University of Oslo’s famed ceremonial hall where the Nobel Peace Prize was historically awarded, The Aula will offer a dynamic venue for lectures and entertainment, with floor-to-ceiling windows and 270-degree views. Adjacent to The Aula through sliding glass walls is the Finse Terrace, an outdoor lounge area with comfortable couches and warming lava rock “firepits”—perfect for panoramic views of the surroundings. Together the two spaces can be combined to create an unmatched indoor-outdoor al fresco experience for guests to be immersed in nature.

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Viking River Cruises

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Viking Expeditions

• Great Lakes
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April 2025 Cruises to Canada & New England

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7 Night Niagara & The Great Lakes Details

12 night canadian discovery details.

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14 Night Canada & East Coast Explorer Details

Related cruises.

May 2024 Cruises to Canada & New England

June 2024 Cruises to Canada & New England

July 2024 Cruises to Canada & New England

August 2024 Cruises to Canada & New England

September 2024 Cruises to Canada & New England

October 2024 Cruises to Canada & New England

March 2025 Cruises to Canada & New England

April 2025 Cruises to Canada & New England

May 2025 Cruises to Canada & New England

June 2025 Cruises to Canada & New England

July 2025 Cruises to Canada & New England

August 2025 Cruises to Canada & New England

September 2025 Cruises to Canada & New England

October 2025 Cruises to Canada & New England

November 2025 Cruises to Canada & New England

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• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures
• Special Offers

Viking Polaris

First, we invented modern river cruising. Then, we redefined ocean cruising. Now, experience all the comfort and elegance of our award-winning fleet with an expedition ship built specifically to explore the world’s most remote destinations and allow you to immerse yourself in these regions.

• Only 378 guests
• Length: 665 feet
• Beam: 77 feet
• Class: Polar Class 6
• Year built: 2022

Interactive Deck Plan

Hover and click on the deck plan to explore the ship. 0), attr: { 'href': pdfurl }" class="ignore" target="_blank">see a pdf version of the deck plan..

Viking Expedition Ship 360° Tour

Discover our innovative, purpose-built expedition ships designed to explore the world’s most remote destinations in comfort and immerse you in these majestic, untamed regions.

Stateroom Features

Our purpose-built ships offer a wide variety of staterooms for your selection. From Nordic Balcony staterooms to the abundance of extra perks and amenities in our spacious Explorer Suites, there is no finer way to travel. And whichever stateroom you choose, you will find it beautifully designed in the understated elegance for which Viking is known.

Owner’s Suite (OS)

• Stateroom size: 1,238 sq ft (includes private lounge area)
• Panoramic ocean-view, multi-room suite with private Nordic Balcony
• Separate bedroom suite
• Spacious, well-appointed living room
• Separate dining area that seats 6
• Private library, wine & music collections curated by Chairman Torstein Hagen
• 722 sq ft private garden lounge area with badenstamp
• Boardroom that seats 12 for meetings & catered dinner parties, with oceangoing vapor light fireplace
• Pantry for room service & hosted events
• Priority Embarkation
• 11 AM priority stateroom access
• Expedition activity reservations 67 days prior to departure
• 4 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 100 days prior to departure
• First priority spa treatment bookings 100 days prior to departure
• King-size Viking Explorer Bed with luxury linens & pillows
• Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)
• 55" OLED flat-screen TV featuring MSNBC, FOX News, National Geographic and more
• Two additional 42" flat-screen interactive LCD TVs with intuitive remote & complimentary Movies on Demand in suite
• 110/220 volt outlets & USB ports
• Large master bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer, plus guest bathroom
• Premium Freyja® toiletries
• Plush robes & slippers
• Direct-dial satellite phone & cell service
• Security safe
• Individual climate control
• Purified water refilled daily
• Welcome bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne
• Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & premium snacks (replenished once daily)
• Traditional Norwegian Marius-weave blanket
• Personal coffee machine with premium coffee & tea selections
• Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
• 24-hour room service, including service from any restaurant during open hours
• Daily personalized tea or pre-dinner cocktail & canapés on request
• Dinner & guided tour with ship officers (subject to availability)
• Complimentary laundry, pressing & shoe shine services
• Silver Spirits beverage package included
• Floor-to-ceiling drying closet
• Spacious walk-in closet with wooden hangers & drawers
• Under-bed suitcase storage space
• Keepsake Viking expedition jacket (on polar itineraries)
• All Viking excursion gear needed for any relevant excursions

Explorer Suite (ES)

• Stateroom size: 548 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• Ocean-view two-room suite, 80% larger than junior suites, with private Nordic Balcony and private veranda
• Well-appointed living area & dining area that seats 4
• Additional storage and seating features
• Private access to Explorer Suites Garden
• 11 AM Embarkation
• 3 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 90 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 90 days prior to departure
• King-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
• Additional 42" flat-screen interactive LCD TVs in living area
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, bathtub, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• Welcome bottle of champagne
• Mini-bar with alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)
• Spacious drawers & closet with wooden hangers
• View the Explorer Suite (ES) in our 360° Tour

Nordic Junior Suite (NS)

• Stateroom size: 322 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• Ocean-view stateroom with private Nordic Balcony: floor-to-ceiling distortion-free glass at your ship’s edge, for optimal cozy viewing. Or lower the top panoramic glass for a sheltered, al fresco lookout. Plus, additional storage and seating features.
• Wheelchair Accessible (#4024, #4025)
• Expedition activity reservations 57 days prior to departure
• 3 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 80 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 80 days prior to departure
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, double-sink vanity, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• 24-hour room service
• View the Nordic Junior Suite (NS) in our 360° Tour

Nordic Penthouse (NP)

• Stateroom size: 269 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• Ocean-view stateroom with private Nordic Balcony: floor-to-ceiling distortion-free glass at your ship’s edge, for optimal cozy viewing. Or lower the top panoramic glass for a sheltered, al fresco lookout.
• 1 PM stateroom access
• 2 priority reservations at each alternative restaurant 70 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 70 days prior to departure
• Large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
• Complimentary pressing & shoe shine services

Deluxe Nordic Balcony (DN)

• Stateroom size: 215 sq ft (includes Nordic balcony)
• 2 PM stateroom access
• Expedition activity reservations 47 days prior to departure
• 1 priority reservation at each alternative restaurant 60 days prior to departure
• Priority spa treatment bookings 60 days prior to departure
• Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks (replenished once daily)

Nordic Balcony (N)

• 3 PM stateroom access
• Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks

Ship Highlights

Our new expedition ships feature innovative, light-filled spaces where comfort meets discovery. With more indoor and outdoor viewing areas than other expedition vessels, guests are as close as possible to the most magnificent scenery on earth.

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