20 Oct 2020
London, 19 October 2020: Viking, the award-winning river and ocean cruise line, recently announced the expansion of its destination-focused travel experiences with the launch of new expedition voyages to the Arctic as well as Antarctica and the Great Lakes. Viking will be launching two new expedition ships in 2022 - the Polar Class 6 Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris - which will accommodate 378 guests.
Viking has recently been showcasing the Arctic on its new digital platform, Viking.TV, with several episodes dedicated to the fascinating destination including a livestream hosted by Professor Julian Dowdeswell of the Scott Polar Research Institute, an interview with polar explorers and Viking godmothers Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft and conversations with wildlife cameraman Amos Nachoum, who has swum with polar bears, and photographer Camille Seaman who has documented the changing landscapes of the polar regions for the past decade.
The British Museum, one of Viking's cultural partners, is also shining a spotlight on the northernmost part of Earth with the upcoming opening of the much-anticipated Citi exhibition Arctic: culture and climate. Set to run from 22 October 2020 to 21 February 2021, it will be the first major exhibition of the Arctic and its Indigenous Peoples covering the whole circumpolar region. Developed in collaboration with Arctic communities, the British Museum's new exhibition will celebrate the diversity of cultures and ingenuity of communities who reside there. Highlights of the new collection include an ancient mammoth ivory sculpture, a modern refitted snow mobile, an 8-piece Igloolik winter costume made of caribou (wild reindeer) fur and an Inughuit (Greenlandic) sled made from narwhal, caribou bone and pieces of driftwood. The curator, Amber Lincoln, will be appearing on Viking.TV on Monday 2 November when viewers can enjoy a talk about the exhibition.
Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director of Viking Cruises UK, said: 'As part of our commitment to providing culturally enriching experiences and connecting people all around the world, we are very proud to support our friends at the British Museum. We are looking forward to the opening of the Citi exhibition Arctic: culture and climate, especially as it is the first major exhibition about the region in the UK. From 2022, our expedition itineraries will take curious travellers to the most remote regions on Earth, including the Arctic, to explore and engage with the nature, culture, science and history of each destination. We still have to wait another year until the launch so in the meantime, this exhibition will give us all a taste of this fascinating part of the world.'
Viking is a member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) which is dedicated to managing responsible, environmentally friendly and safe tourism in the Arctic and strives to set the highest possible operating standards. Compliant with all guidelines and regulatory requirements from AECO and the Governor of Svalbard as well as IAATO and the Antarctic Treaty System, Viking's expedition ships minimise environmental impact and meet the most stringent emissions and biosecurity standards. Additionally, Viking's Polar Class 6 vessels' long slender hulls and straight bows reduce fuel consumption, and a dynamic positioning system enables the ship to hover over the seabed without anchoring, allowing access to pristine environments without damage.
Leading Viking's expedition programme are Head of Science and Sustainability, Dr Damon Stanwell-Smith, a marine biologist with 27 years' experience, and Jorn Henriksen, Director of Expedition Operations, who grew up and lived in Arctic Norway for over 45 years, and who has worked in expedition management for 25 years. Damon and Jorn recently hosted a series called 'Expedition Wednesdays' on Viking.TV featuring interviews with inspiring guests and offering their expert insight into the polar regions. Guests have included Viking Expedition Operations Manager and expert kayaker, Aaron Lawton, who has led more than 150 expedition trips to the Arctic and Antarctica regions, Thor Heyerdal Jnr, the son of one of history's most famous explorers, Thor Heyerdal and renowned author Benedicte Ingstad, whose parents Helge and Anne Stine Ingstad famously excavated L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland.
Viking's expedition itineraries on its new purpose-built expedition ships, Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis, include:
Sailing from Tromso, on Viking's 13 day Arctic Adventure itinerary guests will travel to the ''Top of the World'' and discover Norway's Svalbard archipelago, one of the most remote regions on earth, offering a nearly untouched wilderness with native and migratory animals that are uniquely adapted to life in the extreme cold. Highlights include visiting Bjørnøya, “Bear Island,” Svalbard's most remote and southerly island, where over a million seabirds gather to breed annually; exploring Svalbard's towering glaciers and majestic fjords from a versatile RIB, the perfect vessel from which to spot whales and to encounter icebergs up close; and sailing to the southernmost extent of the Polar Cap, where guests can expect to see polar bears, who spend much of their time on remote ice floes hunting seals. This region is also home to white beluga whales and the rarely seen narwhals. Prices start from £10,795 per person.
Traverse the globe from the far north to the extreme south on Viking's From the Arctic to Antarctica cruise. This 44-day ultimate journey starts in Norway's northernmost town, Tromso. Guests will sail past rugged peaks and quaint fishing villages to Scotland's Shetland Islands and Ireland's shores. After crossing the equator, the ship visits Rio de Janeiro, blessed with a stunning setting so unique that UNESCO gave it World Heritage Site status, and Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, before arriving at the “Last Continent”, Antarctica, where guests will be amazed by untouched nature and wildlife few will ever see. Prices start from £27,995 per person.
For guests hoping to travel before 2022, bookings are now open for Viking's In Search of the Northern Lights itinerary from Bergen to London including ports of call north of the Arctic Circle including Bodo, Tromso, Alta and Narvik in March 2021.
For those looking for a different type of adventure, Viking is currently recruiting for expedition specialists, including kayak guides, polar historians and penguin biologists.
To make a booking or for more information about Viking call 020 8780 6516 or go to www.vikingcruises.co.uk. For more information about the Citi exhibition Arctic: culture and climate visit https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/arctic-culture-and-climate
ENDS
Media contacts:
Viking UK Press Office: ukpressoffice@vikingcruises.com
Bryony Gammon: bryony.gammon@vikingcruises.com
Carmen Walker: carmen.walker@vikingcruises.com
Telephone: +44 208 780 7945
British Museum: communications@britishmuseum.org
About Viking
Viking offers culturally enriching, destination-focused river and ocean cruises for travellers curious about the world, its rich culture and varied history.
Viking takes its guests on curated, elegant voyages to some of the most iconic rivers in Europe, Africa and the Far East, allowing a unique window on inspiring destinations and rewarding experiences. Viking revolutionised river cruising with the introduction of its state of the art Viking Longships which, since their introduction in 2012, now make up 80 percent of its river fleet.
Viking is quickly expanding its fleet and portfolio of river cruise itineraries to meet demand, and launched seven new river vessels in 2019, including six Viking Longships and an additional ship specifically designed for Portugal's Douro River. In 2020 Viking is launching seven new river ships including Viking Osiris on the Nile, two new Longships for the Rhine, Main and Danube and four new ships designed for the Seine.
In 2015 Viking debuted its maiden season of ocean cruising and in February 2019 Viking took delivery of its sixth ocean ship, Viking Jupiter, making it the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Viking Venus is launching in early 2021. The sophisticated state-of-the-art Viking ocean ships can accommodate 930 guests on itineraries all across the world.
Viking recently announced it will expand its destination-focused travel experiences with the launch of new expedition voyages. Viking Expeditions will begin sailing in January 2022 with its first vessel, Viking Octantis, embarking on voyages to Antarctica and North America's Great Lakes. A second expedition vessel, Viking Polaris, will debut in August 2022, sailing to Antarctica and the Arctic. Viking has also just announced that its custom-built vessel, Viking Mississippi, will debut in August 2022 and will sail voyages on the Lower and Upper Mississippi, between New Orleans and St. Paul.
Join Viking online at:
https://www.facebook.com/VikingCruisesUK/
https://twitter.com/VikingCruises
