By
Alex Smith |
Viking's Viking Octantis has begun sailing on its inaugural season in the Great Lakes of North America.
The ship has completed a roundtrip sailing through the Welland Canal, a section of the St. Lawrence Seaway connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, making it the largest passenger vessel to transit the canal. It will remain in the Great Lakes until early October 2022, sailing itineraries between Toronto, Canada, and Duluth, USA.
“Our expedition ships were designed with the Great Lakes in mind,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking. “This region has been historically underserved by cruise lines, and we are delighted by the warm and enthusiastic reception we have received from the local communities. With our first season now underway, we are pleased with the strong demand among our guests and look forward to introducing even more curious travellers to these fantastic destinations in 2023.”
During Viking’s inaugural season, the cruise line is operating four new itineraries in the Great Lakes. The ‘Undiscovered Great Lakes’ itinerary will cross Lake Superior over 8 days, while the ‘Great Lakes Explore’ voyage will explore the islands that comprise the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve and Lake Superior’s northern shore. The ‘Niagara & The Great Lakes’ itinerary will sail for 8-days from Toronto and Milwaukee, USA, while the 13-day ‘Canadian Discovery’ voyage from New York, USA, to Toronto will follow the coast of the Canadian Maritimes and cruise along the St. Lawrence River.
In 2023, Viking will add a new 15-day itinerary, the ‘Great Lakes Collection’, which will sail through all five of the Great Lakes and visit Niagara Falls, Georgian Bay, and the Soo Locks, along with the forests that line the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.
A second expedition vessel, Viking Polaris, will debut later this year and will join Viking Octantis in the Great Lakes for the 2023 season.