Viking is celebrating the start of its third expedition season in Antarctica. The company’s two expedition ships, the Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, will spend the Austral summer in Antarctica before returning to North America’s Great Lakes for voyages throughout the spring, summer, and early autumn.

To meet strong demand for Antarctica voyages, Viking has also announced that the 2025-2026 season is now open for booking, including a new 87-day expedition, From the Arctic to Antarctica. The arrival of Viking’s expedition ships in Antarctica also marks the completion of two inaugural Longitudinal World Cruises. These highly-rated Grand Journeys offer guests a variety of travel milestones in a single itinerary, sailing from the heart of North America through the engineering wonders like the Welland and Panama Canals, into the Chilean fjords, and finally Antarctica. Viking has created the world’s leading scientific enrichment environment in an expedition setting with the help of prestigious academic institutions.

Exclusive partnerships with the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as other esteemed scientific organizations, match leading researchers and educators with each expedition.

The Polar Class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris host 378 guests in 189 staterooms. The vessels are built specifically for expeditions, at an ideal size for safety and comfort in remote destinations. With more indoor and outdoor viewing areas than other expedition vessels, guests are as close as possible to the most magnificent scenery on earth.