Viking

Pole-to-Pole Cruises: Arctic-to-Antarctic Itineraries Are the Latest Expedition Trend | Condé Nast Traveler

"A cozy, elegant 378-passenger expedition ship with the Scandinavian design Viking devotees admire, Viking Octantis sails the 81-day Arctic to Antarctic Explorer departing September 9, 2027, visiting 10 countries, with thoughtful touches like a library curated by an esteemed London bookshop and Cambridge University and dining highlights Mamsen’s (Norwegian homestyle) and Manfredi’s Italian restaurant. A prized functional perk is the in-ship marina that launches special operation boats on a stable, weather-shielded slipway. Entry Nordic Balcony staterooms measure 215 square feet with king beds, large bathrooms with heated floors and an anti-fog mirror, and drying closets, while the 1,238-square-foot Owner’s Suite adds a boardroom, pantry, large private garden lounge, and private library with wine and music collections curated by Chairman Torstein Hagen. The route begins in Nuuk, Greenland, traverses the Canadian High Arctic and Great Lakes, takes in fall foliage in Halifax, Quebec City, and Toronto, cruises the St. Lawrence River and New York, then heads to the Bahamas and Jamaica and through the Panama Canal before sailing south to Santiago, along Chilean fjords and glaciers, and on to Antarctica, concluding in Ushuaia, Argentina. Amenities include business class airfare, transfers, $4,000 per couple in shipboard credit, an included excursion in each port, complimentary Zodiac, special operation boats and kayaks, a keepsake expedition jacket, complimentary visa service, and a beverage package; a matching itinerary runs September 15 to December 4, 2028 (2027 from $72,995; 2028 from $74,995)." - Janice Wald Henderson