Viking’s third expedition season in Antarctica began with the arrival of the Viking Octantis and her identical sister ship, the Viking Polaris. Both ships will spend the Austral summer in Antarctica before returning to North America’s Great Lakes for spring, summer, and early autumn cruises.

To meet the high demand for Antarctica voyages, Viking has also announced that the 2025-2026 season is now open for booking, featuring a new 87-day expedition from the Arctic to Antarctica, sailing from Nuuk, Greenland, to Ushuaia, Argentina.

This epic journey, which will depart in September 2025, will allow guests to explore the natural beauty and historic waterways of the Canadian High Arctic before travelling down the east coast of North and South America, calling on ports in the Caribbean, Peru, and exploring the Chilean glaciers before continuing to Antarctica.

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

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

Hagen recently spoke with award-winning British photographer Alastair Miller on his journey to the “White Continent” aboard the Viking Polaris. They also discuss the intriguing story of how Hagen’s lifelong passion for travel and interest in far-flung destinations began during his childhood when he sent a letter to Ushuaia from his home in Norway. The full 30-minute interview can be seen on the Viking website.

The arrival of Viking’s expedition ships in Antarctica also marks the completion of two inaugural Longitudinal World Cruises—the 71-day Longitudinal World Cruise II from Duluth to Ushuaia and the 70-day Longitudinal World Cruise III from Milwaukee to Ushuaia.

These highly rated Grand Journeys offer guests a variety of travel milestones in a single itinerary, sailing from the heart of North America through engineering wonders like the Welland and Panama Canals into Chilean fjords and eventually Antarctica.

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