Viking Cruises

W e're sitting in the comfort of the Explorer's Lounge aboard Viking's new Viking Octantis in the Canadian twilight while the ship is docked at under Bay, Ontario. A seemingly never-ending parade of slowly moving car headlights is in the distance - it's the first visit by Octantis to this key Lake Superior port, and clearly all of the locals want to get an eyeful of the ship - the largest ever cruise vessel to visit the region. And no wonder, because it's a pretty special sight. Octantis is the brainchild of Viking's Chairman, Torstein Hagen, and the fulfilment of his vision is truly something to behold. Created with all of the welcoming Scandinavian style of Viking's ocean and river vessels, this ship adds a new dimension for its lucky 378 passengers, with a full array of expedition options complementing the company's traditional destination-rich cruise experiences. ere is just so much to enjoy about the Viking expedition cruise offering. An absolute highlight for me (and a number of other fortunate cruisers) was an opportunity to experience one of Octantis' on-board submarines. Whimsically, the submarines are yellow in colour, and they are actually named after the Beatles: "John" and "Paul" aboard Octantis, while "George" and "Ringo" will feature on sister ship Viking Polaris when she launches in the coming months. Guests are ferried to and from the subs aboard one of the ship's 16-strong complement of Zodiacs before clambering onto the undersea vessels' launch platform and then down a ladder and into a seat in the futuristic bubble-shaped observation areas. e submarine pilot, who is also an officer on the Octantis bridge, took "Paul" down to about 115 metres below the surface, and although there wasn't much to see down there the experience was unforgettable. Others on board were able to explore some of the Great Lakes scenery aboard the ship's complement of kayaks, or take a hike through some of the spectacular terrain. But there was also plenty on offer for those who weren't quite as adventurous or able-bodied, such as a high-speed ride aboard the two Special Operations Boats which live in the belly of the ship, in a special area called e Hangar. Guests climb into these high-tech watercraft while they sit on an internal ramp, high and dry and out of the wind and weather. A huge hatch at the rear of Octantis opens and they slide out into the water to explore the surroundings, driven by crew who clearly relish the opportunity to get the wind in their hair. e Great Lakes - comprising Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario - straddle the Canada- United States border and Left to right: Overlook Lake, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada; traditional home in the Victorian style architecure on Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA viking.com 85

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