Viking Octantis

Regular cabins on Viking Octantis (called “Nordic Balcony” or “Deluxe Nordic Balcony”) are identical, at 215 square feet. The so-called balcony is actually a window that can be fully lowered to give you access to the outside; the space that is taken up by a couple of armchairs and small table on a Viking Ocean Cruises ship is turned into a cozy sitting area. It’s an excellent solution for sailing in areas that are typically too cold to sit comfortably on a real balcony. All staterooms have large 55-inch TV (with complimentary on-demand movies and satellite channels), king bed (convertible to two twins), complimentary minibar (with soft drinks, water, and snacks), coffee maker, both US and European charging plugs and USB ports on each side of the bed, a bathroom (only a big shower, with a heated floor, hair dryer, and Freyja toiletries), large closet, drying closet for expedition gear, and binoculars. The only meaningful difference between regular and “deluxe” staterooms is priority advance booking privileges for expedition activities, specialty dining, and spa treatments; the minibar is also refilled daily. Regardless of your cabin category, your cabin will be stocked for polar expeditions with required gear, including a red Viking parka (which you keep) and other specialty excursion gear you need.

Penthouses (269 square feet) are larger and offer more priority booking opportunities, as well as free pressing, shoe shine, a bottle of Champagne, and alcohol in the minibar. They also get a second closet. Junior Suites (still larger at 322 square feet) get more priority booking opportunities, double sinks in the bathroom, and free laundry and dry cleaning. Explorer Suites (548 square feet) are larger still and have real balconies, a dining table, a complimentary Silver Spirts package, and access to the Explorer Suites Garden. The Owner’s Suite (1,238 square feet) is the largest accommodation on board, with an expansive outdoor deck with its own hot tub. But regardless of your accommodations category, all staterooms accommodate only two people.

All Viking Octantis staterooms are built with older travelers in mind, so all thresholds are low, but if you require a zero-entry shower and room for a wheelchair, there are two fully accessible junior suites. Most areas of the ship are accessible by elevator (other than the Hangar), and even the special operations boats board from a platform within the ship, making them ideal for those with limited range of motion.

There are no extra charges for food on Viking Ocean Cruises ships. Every item on every single restaurant menu is included — a hallmark of the line. And the quality is generally high without all the fanciness you’ll find on a full-on luxury ship that serves caviar and foie gras with every meal. Viking Octantis has four restaurants: The Restaurant (the ship’s primary restaurant, with a wide-ranging menu that’s often geared toward regional specialties as well as an never-changing menu of classics that are available on every single Viking Ocean or River ship); Manfredi’s (an Italian restaurant that features both pastas and steaks); the World Café (much more than a typical buffet, with individual cooking stations, and on Octantis a separate sushi bar, cold seafood bar, and grill for individually prepared steaks and lobster at night); and Mamsen’s (named after the chairman’s mother, it serves her favorite Norwegian specialties, including pea soup, open-face sandwiches, and waffles). A bakery and coffee bar in the World Café are open 24 hours a day, and you can also get round-the-clock room service in your cabin.

Although you can purchase a “Silver Spirits” alcoholic drinks plan, wine and beer are included with meals, though other drinks cost extra (charges are reasonable by cruise-ship standards, so you do need to be a relatively heavy drinker—or strongly prefer premium alcohol and wine—to really benefit from the beverage plan). The largest bars are in the Explorers’ Lounge, the Living Room, and the Aquavit Terrace, but see if you can find The Hide, the “hidden” bar and lounge on a lower deck in the bow at sea level that turns into a speakeasy at night. There’s also a small bar outside The Restaurant, which is open in the evening.

One very important thing to remember about Viking Octantis is that it is not a typical cruise ship. Having been designed specifically for exploration and discovery, there is little traditional “entertainment” save for a piano player and singing duo performing before or after dinner. But the array of lectures and briefings in the spectacular Aula theater near the back of the ship is outstanding. The scientific aspect of the cruises is taken very seriously; partners include the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, and NOAA. There are activities galore for those who want to explore on shore, where you’ll be taken by either Zodiac or one of the two special operations boats (which are easier to board than Zodiacs since they can be boarded and launched from a platform within the ship’s hangar). There are also two six-person submarines. Movies are shown on a big screen in the Aula theater, and big-screen TVs can be found in the Living Room.

There’s a small but full-service spa and salon, and a workout room sufficient for the number of passengers on board (it is well-used). Yoga and Pilates classes are included, but you must pay extra for personal training and spa treatments. As on all the Viking Ocean Cruises ships, the thermal pool, sauna, and snow grotto are all complementary, if on a slightly smaller scale, and they do not carry an extra charge.