Viking takes delivery of new expedition ship

Viking has taken delivery of its new purpose-built expedition ship, Viking Polaris.

It is the second of the line’s new 378-capacity Polar Class 6 vessels alongside Viking Octantis, which was launched last year. Both will spend the southern hemisphere summer in Antarctica, before travelling north to the Great Lakes for a series of voyages during spring and summer.

The delivery ceremony took place earlier this week at Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway, before the vessel set off to Amsterdam for a separate naming ceremony, which takes place on September 30.

Viking Polaris will be officially named by her ceremonial godmother, Ann Bancroft – one of the world’s preeminent polar explorers – before travelling to South America for its debut season in Antarctica.

“Today is a proud day for the Viking family as we welcome the Viking Polaris to our fleet,” said Viking chairman Torstein Hagen.

“These are phenomenal ships, and we are very pleased with the positive reception from guests during the first season of our new expeditions.

“The great explorer, Ann Bancroft, has honoured us by serving as godmother to the Viking Polaris, and we look forward to welcoming her first guests on board later this week.”