Québec City's alluring setting atop Cape Diamond (Cap Diamant) evokes a past of high adventure, military history, and exploration. This French-speaking capital city is the only walled city north of Mexico. Visitors come for the delicious and inventive cuisine, the remarkable historical continuity, and to share in the seasonal exuberance of the largest Francophone population outside France.The historic heart of this community is the Old City (Vieux-Québec), comprising the part of Upper Town (Haute-Ville) surrounded by walls and Lower Town (Basse-Ville), which spreads out at the base of the hill from Place Royale. Many sets of staircases and the popular funicular link the top of the hill with the bottom. Cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and elaborate cathedrals here are charming in all seasons. The Old City earned recognition as an official UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, thanks largely to city planners who managed to update and preserve the 400-year-old buildings and attractions without destroying what made them worth preserving. The most familiar icon of the city, Fairmont Château Frontenac, is set on the highest point in Upper Town, where it holds court over the entire city.Sitting proudly above the confluence of the St. Lawrence and St. Charles rivers, the city's famous military fortification, La Citadelle, built in the early 19th century, remains the largest of its kind in North America. In summer, visitors should try to catch the Changing of the Guard, held every morning at 10 am; you can get much closer to the guards here than at Buckingham Palace in London.Enchanting as it is, the Old City is just a small part of the true Québec City experience. Think outside the walls and explore St-Roch, a downtown hot spot, which has artsy galleries, foodie haunts, and a bustling square. Cruise the Grande-Allée and avenue Cartier to find a livelier part of town dotted with nightclubs and fun eateries. Or while away the hours in St-Jean-Baptiste, a neighborhood with trendy shops and hipster hangouts.
Just after visiting Saguenay, the wonderful Saguenay River pours into the massive St. Lawrence River. Before then, however, it slices through one of the world's most southerly fjords and dense forests of towering pine trees. The nature watching here is nothing short of sublime, with outdoor spots like the Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay offering panoramic vistas and sandy river-beaches. Island-sized blue whales cruise through the waters of the mighty rivers, and flick gallons of water into the air effortlessly with a single swish of their colossal tails. With hiking, kayaking and cycling opportunities inviting you to explore the spectacular scenery - you'll find endless ways to fall in love with this majestic outdoor escape. In fall, gorgeous colours ripple through the foliage, and in doing so, they provide one of nature's greatest performances.
Viewing the workings of this major Canadian port from a waterfront boardwalk, no one would guess this was once a quiet fishing village. The place boomed after World War II, when large companies decided Sept-Îles would make a good base for expanding northern Québec’s iron-mining industry. But all of the massive infrastructure can’t trump Mother Nature. Beautiful beaches line the coast, and the islands of an archipelago park sit just offshore. Campers and bird-watchers flock here, in part to spot the colorful beaks of the puffins.
Designated as the Island capital in 1765, Charlottetown is both PEI’s oldest and largest urban center. However, since the whole "metropolitan" area only has a population of about 65,000, a pleasing small-town atmosphere remains. The city is a winner appearance-wise as well. Peppered with gingerbread-clad homes, converted warehouses, striking churches, and monumental government buildings, Charlottetown’s core seems relatively unchanged from its 19th-century heyday when it hosted the conference that led to the formation of Canada. The city is understandably proud of its role as the "Birthplace of Confederation" and, in summer, downtown streets are dotted with people dressed as personages from the past who’ll regale you with tales about the Confederation debate.
Designated as the Island capital in 1765, Charlottetown is both PEI’s oldest and largest urban center. However, since the whole "metropolitan" area only has a population of about 65,000, a pleasing small-town atmosphere remains. The city is a winner appearance-wise as well. Peppered with gingerbread-clad homes, converted warehouses, striking churches, and monumental government buildings, Charlottetown’s core seems relatively unchanged from its 19th-century heyday when it hosted the conference that led to the formation of Canada. The city is understandably proud of its role as the "Birthplace of Confederation" and, in summer, downtown streets are dotted with people dressed as personages from the past who’ll regale you with tales about the Confederation debate.
Surrounded by natural treasures and glorious seascapes, Halifax is an attractive and vibrant hub with noteworthy historic and modern architecture, great dining and shopping, and a lively nightlife and festival scene. The old city manages to feel both hip and historic. Previous generations had the foresight to preserve the cultural and architectural integrity of the city, yet students from five local universities keep it lively and current. It's a perfect starting point to any tour of the Atlantic provinces, but even if you don't venture beyond its boundaries, you will get a real taste of the region.It was Halifax’s natural harbor—the second largest in the world after Sydney, Australia’s—that first drew the British here in 1749, and today most major sites are conveniently located either along it or on the Citadel-crowned hill overlooking it. That’s good news for visitors because this city actually covers quite a bit of ground.Since amalgamating with Dartmouth (directly across the harbor) and several suburbs in 1996, Halifax has been absorbed into the Halifax Regional Municipality, and the HRM, as it is known, has around 415,000 residents. That may not sound like a lot by U.S. standards, but it makes Nova Scotia’s capital the most significant Canadian urban center east of Montréal.There's easy access to the water, and despite being the focal point of a busy commercial port, Halifax Harbour doubles as a playground, with one of the world's longest downtown boardwalks. It's a place where container ships, commuter ferries, cruise ships, and tour boats compete for space, and where workaday tugs and fishing vessels tie up beside glitzy yachts. Like Halifax as a whole, the harbor represents a blend of the traditional and the contemporary.
Surrounded by natural treasures and glorious seascapes, Halifax is an attractive and vibrant hub with noteworthy historic and modern architecture, great dining and shopping, and a lively nightlife and festival scene. The old city manages to feel both hip and historic. Previous generations had the foresight to preserve the cultural and architectural integrity of the city, yet students from five local universities keep it lively and current. It's a perfect starting point to any tour of the Atlantic provinces, but even if you don't venture beyond its boundaries, you will get a real taste of the region.It was Halifax’s natural harbor—the second largest in the world after Sydney, Australia’s—that first drew the British here in 1749, and today most major sites are conveniently located either along it or on the Citadel-crowned hill overlooking it. That’s good news for visitors because this city actually covers quite a bit of ground.Since amalgamating with Dartmouth (directly across the harbor) and several suburbs in 1996, Halifax has been absorbed into the Halifax Regional Municipality, and the HRM, as it is known, has around 415,000 residents. That may not sound like a lot by U.S. standards, but it makes Nova Scotia’s capital the most significant Canadian urban center east of Montréal.There's easy access to the water, and despite being the focal point of a busy commercial port, Halifax Harbour doubles as a playground, with one of the world's longest downtown boardwalks. It's a place where container ships, commuter ferries, cruise ships, and tour boats compete for space, and where workaday tugs and fishing vessels tie up beside glitzy yachts. Like Halifax as a whole, the harbor represents a blend of the traditional and the contemporary.
From Wall Street's skyscrapers to the neon of Times Square to Central Park's leafy paths, New York City pulses with an irrepressible energy. History meets hipness in this global center of entertainment, fashion, media, and finance. World-class museums like MoMA and unforgettable icons like the Statue of Liberty beckon, but discovering the subtler strains of New York's vast ambition is equally rewarding: ethnic enclaves and shops, historic streets of dignified brownstones, and trendy bars and eateries all add to the urban buzz.
First, we invented modern river cruising. Then, we redefined ocean cruising. Now, experience all the comfort and elegance of our award-winning fleet with an expedition ship built specifically to explore the world's most remote destinations and allow you to immerse yourself in these regions.
Choose from six dining options, all at no additional charge.
Innovative, light-filled spaces where comfort meets discovery.
All guests must be 18 years old on or before the day they are scheduled to embark on their cruise; we do not maintain facilities or services on board for younger individuals.
Our expedition ships offer free Wi-Fi. You may use your personal device or one of the ship’s computers. Our connection relies on a VSAT satellite terminal—the best possible solution for ocean cruising. Due to the nature of data bandwidth and latency, as well as potential interruptions in satellite signals based on terrain and weather, you may experience slower online connections than you are accustomed to at home. Please note that satellite signal interruptions are more common at the higher latitudes of the polar regions. In order to ensure fair usage for all, we reserve the right to limit heavy-bandwidth applications, downloads or software upgrades so that all our guests have access to Wi-Fi. We suggest that guests limit large uploads/downloads and live streaming. Please download your content prior to your cruise, as bandwidth will affect your service and cannot be guaranteed. We will be happy to help you with your device settings when you are on board. We hope you will understand that we will do our very best to provide you with an enjoyable online experience. Please remember that you will likely be able to access standard Wi-Fi and data roaming services on shore in most of the towns and cities you visit.
On board our Viking expedition ships, each stateroom is equipped with a mini-bar. Depending on your stateroom category, your mini-bar may be replenished daily with drinks and snacks. Purified water is provided in all staterooms and refilled daily. A full listing of amenities by stateroom category can be found on each ship page.
All stateroom bathrooms are equipped with premium bath toiletries. A hair dryer is also provided, and irons are available in the complimentary self-service launderettes. Depending on your stateroom category, laundry, pressing and dry cleaning services may be complimentary. If your stateroom category does not include these services, they may be purchased for a modest fee.
Viking vessels are generally nonsmoking. In order to accommodate guests who choose to smoke, there is a designated outdoor smoking area. All other areas of the ship, including your stateroom and veranda, are designated nonsmoking areas. Smoking restrictions also apply to e-cigarettes.
For Antarctic expeditions, smoking is not allowed on shore in Svalbard and Antarctica.
Viking welcomes disabled guests; however, guests must realize there are inherent risks associated with traveling on board ships that are unique to cruise travel. For people who are ill, or have a mental or physical disability or impairment, the risks can be more significant. Guests must be able to independently move around the ship in case of an emergency or rough seas, deal with the lack of immediate access to medical services in certain parts of the world, and acknowledge that access to some areas of the ship and ports of call may be limited or impossible. Shore excursions may require the ability to traverse cobblestones or go up and down stairs. We reserve the right to determine whether a guest is fit to travel and to deny boarding in the event that a guest represents a risk to themselves or to the safety and well-being of those on board the ship.
When you make your reservation, please advise us of any disability that will require special attention while sailing on a Viking cruise and provide a completed Fit to Travel Form along with a physician’s letter. Should you have any medical, physical or other special needs, check the fleet information on our website to gain an understanding of the layout of any particular ship and contact a Viking Expert at 1-855-884-5464 (1-855-8-VIKING) directly with additional questions and to obtain a copy of our policy statement.
In most cases, we can. Every meal has vegetarian options and our chefs will make reasonable efforts to accommodate special requests. Guests requiring special meals (low salt, diabetic, gluten-free or low cholesterol) should alert us 90 days prior to departure over the phone at 1-855-884-5464 (1-855-8-VIKING) or online on the Dietary Restrictions page in your My Viking Journey account. Guests should also inform the Maître d’ when on board.
While we take steps to minimize the risk of cross contamination, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free kitchen.
Wheelchair accommodations & elevators
Guests who have a disability, physical or otherwise, must travel with an able-bodied companion who can assist them as the staff is not permitted to lift guests or push wheelchairs. Guests need to provide their own wheelchairs, except in an emergency. Wheelchairs must not exceed 22" in width. For details regarding bringing a wheelchair on board, guests must complete the Accessibility Form and return to Viking no later than 30 days prior to departure. Motorized scooters are not typically suitable for international cruises and cannot be accommodated. While our ocean vessels have elevators, there may still be thresholds that could make movement difficult.Contact a Viking Expert at 1-855-884-5464 (1-855-8-VIKING) directly with additional questions and to obtain a copy of our Accessibility Form and policy statement.
You will have the use of a complimentary washer and dryer during your time on board. Irons and ironing boards are additionally available free of charge.
We have a physician on board all expedition ships. The doctor is available at any time in case of emergency.
During the day, dress is casual—slacks or jeans and comfortable shoes/boots that are appropriate for excursions/landing or enjoying the ship. Swimsuits, brief shorts, cover-ups and exercise attire should be reserved for the Fitness Center and pool areas. There are no “formal nights” in the evening; evening dress is “elegant casual” for all dining venues, performances and special events. On these occasions, required attire for ladies includes a dress, skirt or slacks with a sweater or blouse; for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt. A tie and jacket are optional; jeans are not permitted. The evening dress excludes the World Café, where the dress remains casual, including jeans and boots, after 6:00 PM.
The Great Lakes
We ensure we follow the best travel practices and support scientific research to help preserve the wildlife and landscapes of this vast freshwater ecosystem. We support efforts to preserve, promote, and protect the regions and communities we visit, from the United States' National Parks to the Canadian First Nations Peoples with whom we interact.
The Arctic & Antarctic
We work closely with leading organizations to ensure we employ best travel practices, promote awareness, support scientific research and protect the fragile ecosystems and environments in which we travel. Our partnerships with the University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute, and The Cornell Lab of Ornithology help further scientific research in these remote areas. We are members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO).
Sweeping views are yours from your outside retreat. The staterooms and suites on Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are the most spacious and elegant of any expedition ship afloat, offering you an unparalleled level of comfort as you experience the world’s most remote locations.
Warm, Dry & Expedition Ready
Every stateroom and suite includes a floor-to-ceiling drying closet that circulates warm air to dry and store all your Viking Expedition Kit, from your keepsake Viking Expedition Jacket and waterproof pants and boots, and Viking Excursion Gear, so suiting up is always pleasant and you will always be ready for the next discovery.
Viking Suites
Nordic Junior Suites include our Nordic Balcony and more storage and seating than our Nordic Balcony staterooms, plus an expanded bathroom with extended shower and double sinks. Explorer Suites are 80% larger than junior suites, with two separate rooms, a Nordic Balcony and private veranda, spacious bathroom and private access to our Explorer Suites Garden. All suites include welcome champagne, a fully stocked mini-bar, complimentary laundry, priority restaurant reservations and all the amenities of our regular Nordic Balcony staterooms.
Nordic Balcony Staterooms
Our Nordic Balcony is the optimal wildlife observatory at sea. Floor-to-ceiling, distortion-free glass at the very edge of your ship lets you take in the views while keeping the elements out. Should you wish to feel even closer to nature, the top of your panoramic glass lowers to transform your stateroom into a sheltered al fresco lookout, with an observation shelf at elbow level to stabilize binocular viewing or photography. Each stateroom features our king-size Viking Explorer Bed with luxury linens, our floor-to-ceiling drying closet for your Viking Expedition Kit, and elegant bathroom with a spacious shower, heated floor and premium amenities.
Size including Nordic Balcony & private veranda: 580 sq. ft.
Size including Nordic Balcony: 322 sq ft
Size including Nordic Balcony: 269 sq ft
Size including Nordic Balcony: 222 sq ft