Viking Polaris has joined Viking Octantis to debut in Toronto for the start of the cruise line’s second Great Lakes season.
With the debut of Viking Polaris, Viking has doubled its capacity in the region. The two ships will sail all five Great Lakes through September including itineraries between Toronto and Duluth.
“We are proud to welcome both of our expedition ships to the Great Lakes. With historic canals that are engineering marvels, cities with thriving arts and culture and unmatched wilderness, this is a phenomenal region of North America that may be familiar to many—but few have had the opportunity to explore,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “After our first full season of Great Lakes voyages in 2022, we are grateful for the warm welcome we received from each destination and look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to the region this season and in the years to come.”
Viking’s expedition ships have been designed to sail the Great Lakes and bring with them a commitment to local tourism and economic development for the states of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Canadian province of Ontario. The cruise line is also calling on the new Port of Cleveland in Ohio as part of a new 15-day Great Lake Collection itinerary.
Viking has also partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) to further develop its scientific enrichment programming on its Great Lakes voyages. The organization also conducts research on the ecosystems of the Great Lakes and coastal regions in order to provide information that guides the cruise line’s management decisions.
There are six key itineraries being sailed during Viking’s second season in the Great Lakes:
- New for this season is the 15-day Great Lakes Collection which sails between Toronto and Duluth for a unique expedition across all five Great Lakes.
- Also new for the season is the 16-day Canada & Atlantic Coastline voyage along the St. Lawrence Seaway and the United States Atlantic coastline.
- The 8-day Undiscovered Great Lakes sailing from Thunder Bay to Milwaukee will cover Lake Superior between Duluth and the Soo Locks.
- The Great Lakes Explorer is an 8-day sailing from Milwaukee to Thunder Bay that allows guests to discover the maze of granite islands that comprise Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve.
- Guests can experience Niagara Falls and the Great Lakes on an 8-day cruise by the same name between Toronto and Milwaukee.
- The 13-day Canadian Discovery cruise between New York and Toronto allows explorers to discover the remote wilds of eastern Canada, to cruise along the St. Lawrence River, and to experience all the Saguenay River Valley has to offer.
An expedition onboard one of these Polar Class ships is sure to be memorable as guests are as “close as possible to the most magnificent scenery on earth