Viking

This Luxe Expedition Ship Sails Surprisingly Close to Home — Here's Why I Loved My Recent Trip

"A purpose-built expedition cruise ship that sails both the Great Lakes and remote destinations like Antarctica, combining comfortable, Viking-style amenities with a strong science and sustainability focus. The vessel was designed narrow enough to pass through tight waterways and uses features such as dynamic positioning and dimmable lights to reduce environmental impact. Onboard life blends pampering with hands-on exploration: a 4,000-volume library (including travel titles), an Explorers’ Lounge where the head of science engages guests, a spa offering Nordic bathing and body scrubs with steam-room-to-snow-grotto routines, and casual dining options such as lobster tails and sushi at the ship’s cafés. The itinerary emphasizes active learning — examples include watching a radiosonde-toting weather balloon launch and viewing real-time meteorological data, joining experts for birding and insect identification, taking submarine dives to observe lake-bed ecology, and launching small boats to investigate submerged historical sites." - Jennifer Billock