Guides
Viking Octantis and Polaris: Expedition Ship Guide
Written by PerkJolt's AI desk from official sources; we may earn a commission from links; it never changes what we recommend.
At a glance
- Ships: Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, sisters, 378 guests each, 256 crew, Polar Class 6, built 2022 (checked Oct 14, 2026).
- Size: 665 ft long, 77 ft wide (checked Oct 14, 2026).
- Antarctic Explorer: 13 days, Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, listed on Viking's Antarctica page (checked Oct 14, 2026).
- Homeport for Antarctica: Ushuaia, Argentina, with Buenos Aires as the gateway city.
- Cabins: Six stateroom categories as Viking describes them, from the 215 sq ft Nordic Balcony to the 1,960 sq ft Owner's Suite (checked Oct 14, 2026).
- Biggest mistake: Booking a tight flight home. Weather can shift the schedule of an Antarctic sailing, so leave slack.
Who this is for
This is for travelers who want a small, calm ship with a science-and-learning focus and who are happy to give up casino-and-waterslide energy. Viking describes The Aula as "the world's most advanced venue for learning at sea," and the ship carries a science lab and an expedition center (checked Oct 14, 2026). It is a poor fit if you want big-ship nightlife, a kids' club, or a low price. Whether the ships are adults-only (18+) is not confirmed on https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/ships/viking-octantis.html as of 2026-10-14 — check there before you book, especially if you plan to bring a teen.
The ship, route and line in brief
Octantis and Polaris are purpose-built expedition ships for Viking's Antarctica, Arctic and Great Lakes programs. Viking's Antarctica page lists the Antarctic Explorer as a 13-day Buenos Aires to Ushuaia itinerary (checked Oct 14, 2026). The Drake Passage is not mentioned on that page, but any Peninsula crossing involves it, so plan for open-ocean motion. Venues named on Viking's pages include The Aula, Finse Terrace, Explorers Lounge, a library, a science lab and a Nordic Spa with a hydrotherapy pool.
Three free (or included) things
- Watching from Finse Terrace. An outdoor lounge next to The Aula, shown with firepits on Viking's pages. Photo subject: Antarctic Peninsula icebergs at dawn.
- The Aula's talks. Viking positions learning at sea as the point of the ship; seats are not a separate purchase to our reading, but confirm on your booking. Photo subject: Lemaire Channel.
- A complimentary shore excursion in each port of call. Viking's Antarctica page states this (checked Oct 14, 2026). Photo subject: Ushuaia waterfront and the Beagle Channel.
Optional extras (a submarine dive and Zodiac landings are listed there as optional excursions) are not free.
What to expect, honestly
The good. Only 378 guests means a ship that feels more like a large lodge than a resort. Viking names a library, a living room and a clear-roof terrace alongside the Aula and Explorers Lounge, so there are many places to sit quietly and watch the water. The Nordic Spa has a hydrotherapy pool, and treatments can be booked ahead.
The less good. Antarctica is a cold, weather-driven trip. Landings depend on conditions and on the rules of IAATO, the industry body that sets visitor guidelines; Viking's schedule is always "when conditions allow." The Drake Passage can be rough, and there is no way to make it not be. Expedition cruising is also expensive compared with mainstream cruising, and flights, tips, drinks beyond what is included, and optional excursions can add meaningfully to the cost. Pre- and post-cruise extensions are sold separately.
The rhythm. Days are organized around the outdoors rather than the buffet. You will spend a lot of time layering up, boarding small boats, and then warming up with a talk in the Aula. If that sounds like a good day, the ship was built for you.
Photo subjects for the free things
Finse Terrace and the Antarctic Peninsula at dawn; the Lemaire Channel; the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia harbor. Every image on perkjolt.com is AI-generated from named places, so none shows real passengers.
Booking basics in a paragraph
Viking's expeditions page shows deposit and final-payment dates that vary by sailing year, with promotions that change month to month, including a small-deposit offer for U.S. residents running through October 31, 2026 (checked Oct 14, 2026). Offers are time-limited and may be withdrawn, so treat any headline discount as a snapshot. Ask your Viking advisor or the phone line on that page what your exact deposit and final-payment dates are for the specific sailing, and write them down the day you book. For the Antarctic Explorer, the cruise-only fare does not automatically include flights; some departures include or discount airfare, and that is a place where your points can matter. Check the Antarctica page above for the departure you want and compare it with an award search before you decide.
How to pay with points, in 5 lines
- Cruise fares are generally cash; points do the heavy lifting on flights.
- Search Buenos Aires (EZE) awards via Aeroplan (Amex, Capital One, Bilt all 1:1), United (Chase, Bilt 1:1), Flying Blue (1:1 from Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi and Bilt) or Delta (Amex 1:1), per our chart checked 2026-10-08.
- Avianca LifeMiles is reachable from Amex, Capital One and Citi at 1:1, per our chart checked 2026-10-08.
- Book flights to arrive at least a day before the charter flight to Ushuaia.
- Some cards offer cruise credits; check your card's terms rather than relying on a number here.
Bring patience for a trip where the schedule belongs to the weather and the ship's expedition team. That is part of what you are paying for, and it is why a flexible approach beats an hour-by-hour plan.
Where to confirm
- Ship pages: https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/ships/viking-octantis.html and https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/ships/viking-polaris.html
- Antarctica itineraries: https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/cruise-destinations/antarctica/index.html
- Argentina: travel.state.gov lists Level 1, "Exercise normal precautions," issued July 10, 2026 (checked Oct 14, 2026).
- Antarctic visitor guidelines: https://iaato.org/visiting-antarctica/
- Deck plans: Viking's ship pages; not confirmed here as of 2026-10-14.
Upgrade to the full guide for cabin logic, the day-by-day, the cost sheet and printable pages.
This is the free lite guide. The full day-by-day guide, with maps, photo stops, rain plans and the points playbook, is part of PerkJolt All-Access.
Good to know before you go
Facts in this guide were checked on 2026-10-14. Confirm fares, fees, package prices, gratuity rates, itineraries and port calls on the official page or in your booking / the line's app before you sail.