Viking is marking the start of its second season in the Great Lakes with twice the capacity, as the new Viking Polaris arrived in Toronto for its first port of call in the region. The Viking Polaris joins identical sister ship, the Viking Octantis, which began sailing in the Great Lakes for the 2022 season and returned to the region in APR 2023.
The two 378-guest expedition vessels will remain in the Great Lakes through SEP 2023, sailing all five lakes and a variety of itineraries that operate between Toronto and Duluth.
“We are proud to welcome both of our expedition ships to the Great Lakes,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “After our first full season of Great Lakes voyages in 2022, we are grateful for the warm welcome we received from each destination and look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to the region this season and in the years to come.”
Beginning this season, Viking will also call on the new port of Cleveland, Ohio, during the new 15-day itinerary, Great Lakes Collection.
To further develop the scientific enrichment program for its Great Lakes voyages, Viking has partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), which conducts research on the environments and ecosystems of the Great Lakes and coastal regions to provide information for resource use and management decisions that are designed to lead to safe and sustainable ecosystems, ecosystem services, and human communities. According to Viking, its expedition ships have also been designated official NOAA / U.S. National Weather Service weather balloon stations, from which regular launches are undertaken.
2023—2024 Great Lakes Itineraries:
During Viking’s second season, the company is operating six key itineraries in the Great Lakes, including two new voyages. Highlights include:
- NEW Great Lakes Collection (15 days; between Toronto and Duluth) – This expedition takes guests to waterways of all five of the majestic Great Lakes. Visitors can experience urban centers and admire the power of thundering Niagara Falls, as well as explore the granite islands and inlets of Georgian Bay and traverse the Soo Locks. Guests can also study the aquatic ecosystems of the lakes and venture into the dense boreal forests that line the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.
- NEW Canada & the Atlantic Coastline (16 days; between Toronto and Ft. Lauderdale) – Visitors will sail along the legendary St. Lawrence Seaway and the Atlantic coast of the U.S. on a voyage that combines scenic landscapes and cities. Led by a team of experts, visitors can explore the wilderness near Trois-Rivières, Louisbourg and Lunenburg by land and water.
- Undiscovered Great Lakes (8 days; Thunder Bay to Milwaukee) – Passengers will cross the width of Lake Superior between Duluth and the Soo Locks, exploring the Apostle Islands and Keweenaw Peninsula along the way. Visitors can hike along clifftop trails for views of the lake, gain insight into the unique features and ecosystems of islands, and admire Kakabeka Falls, the “Niagara of the North.” Visitors can discover sea caves by kayak and stroll the car-free streets of Mackinac Island.
- Great Lakes Explorer (8 days; Milwaukee to Thunder Bay) – Visitors can discover the granite islands that comprise Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve while hiking and kayaking through its landscape and admiring vistas. They can then experience Victorian charm on Mackinac Island and venture into the boreal forests of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park on Lake Superior’s northern shore. Guests can explore coastal wetlands with birdlife, comb beaches and get acquainted with the cultures of the northern Great Lakes.
- Niagara & The Great Lakes (8 days; between Toronto and Milwaukee) – From urban skylines to uninhabited islands, visitors can discover North America’s wilderness alongside cultural attractions while cruising the waterways of the Great Lakes. Guests can immerse themselves in the lakes’ shipping history, experience Niagara Falls and keep watch for scores of migratory birds at Point Pelee. Led by a team of experts, visitors can explore bays and woodlands to uncover ecosystems and hidden treasures.
- Canadian Discovery (13 days; between New York and Toronto) – Guests can discover this region’s colonial past amid natural settings. Visitors can admire the beauty of the coast of the Canadian Maritimes, cruise along the St. Lawrence River and marvel at the cliffs and wildlife of the Saguenay River Valley. Shore excursions in each port allow passengers to enjoy all this region has to offer.
Viking is also sailing grand voyages between the Great Lakes and “the end of the world,” including the Viking Longitudinal World Cruise I, which will complete its inaugural 65-day journey from Antarctica to Milwaukee on 05MAY 2023.
In SEP 2023, the Viking Polaris will embark on the Longitudinal World Cruise II from Duluth to Ushuaia and the Viking Octantis will also begin its journey from Milwaukee to Ushuaia on the Longitudinal World Cruise III – offering guests several travel milestones in a single journey from the heart of North America through engineering icons like the Welland and Panama Canals, into the Chilean fjords and finally to Antarctica.
Following Viking’s upcoming third season in the Great Lakes, the Viking Polaris will also sail the Longitudinal World Cruise IV from Milwaukee to Ushuaia in OCT 2024.
For more information on Viking, visit its website.
