Reviewed by and sailed to: Malcolm Leyland –  Antarctica – Ushuaia return

Date: 16 January 2026

Cruise line and ship: Viking Cruises – Viking Octantis – Small-sized expedition ship

Size: 30,150 tonnage. 665 feet long

Passenger capacity: Approximately 378 guests

Year built: 2022 for 230 million Euros

Currency onboard: US dollars

Where the ship cruises: USA Great Lakes, Arctic and Antarctica

Introduction & First Impressions

There are cruise ships… and then there are expedition ships. Viking Octantis firmly sits in the second category. Purpose-built, intelligently designed, and clearly engineered for places most ships simply can’t go.

Stepping onboard for my Antarctica voyage, the immediate feeling wasn’t flashy or over-the-top luxury. Instead, it was calm confidence. Scandinavian design, clean lines, natural tones, and panoramic glass everywhere you look.

It feels modern, capable and quietly sophisticated, exactly what you want when heading into one of the most remote regions on Earth. With just under 400 guests, the atmosphere is intimate and focused. This isn’t a party ship. It’s a ship full of curious, like-minded travellers who are here for the destination. And Antarctica absolutely delivered.

Cabins & Accommodation

I stayed in a Nordic Balcony stateroom, and it’s genuinely one of the smartest cabin designs at sea. Instead of a traditional step-out balcony, the floor-to-ceiling window lowers electronically, turning your entire cabin into an open-air viewing platform. In Antarctica, that matters. I often found myself staring out the window with binoculars or a camera in hand observing the wildlife.

Being able to sit inside in warmth, then drop the window slightly, or all the way, to feel the polar air while glaciers drift past is something special. The room itself is spacious, beautifully appointed and very practical, heated bathroom floors, quality bedding, excellent storage and thoughtful lighting.

I absolutely loved the drying cabinet for heating my polar outer gear and boots for the next adventure. The in-room coffee machine was also a lovely addition, although room service was quick to realise I loved a morning coffee and had it delivered routinely. After long days in Zodiacs and on landings, it felt like a calm, comfortable retreat.

Dining & Cuisine

Dining onboard Viking Octantis is refined but relaxed. There’s no forced formality just very good food done well. No strict dress code is enforced outside, no jeans in the specialty dining rooms.

I found myself often on World Cafe Deck 5, an open-kitchen casual dining area open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have live cooking stations as well as a sushi and seafood bar. Manfredi’s (included) provides a more intimate Italian option and is absolutely worth booking, while the World Café is ideal for casual breakfasts and lunches.

The Restaurant was the main dining room, offering rotating menus daily. Reservations aren’t required, but are recommended. Another hidden gem is Mamsens, a Scandinavian deli near the Explorers lounge that offers traditional Norwegian waffles, open-faced sandwiches, and more.

Viking also held a beautiful outdoor barbecue on the outside deck that was a favourite amongst all onboard. After coming back from Antarctica landings cold, windblown and exhilarated there’s something deeply satisfying about sitting down to a perfectly cooked meal and a good glass of wine.

Finally, the Viking Octantis offers 24 hour room service included in the fare as well as beer and wine with lunch and dinner. It feels civilised, even in the wildest place on Earth.

Public Spaces & Onboard Atmosphere

One of the standout design features for me was the amount of glass. Observation areas wrap around the ship, meaning wildlife spotting can happen anywhere, anytime. Even when eating. I had an amazing moment enjoying dinner and a pod of whales began breaching right outside the window!

Octantis had plenty of nooks to slip away to read a book or just enjoy the view sailing by. The Hide on Deck 1, was a beautiful speakeasy-style bar hidden right at the front of Deck 1. The room had windows that angled out, giving you a unique view of the outside world. Everything onboard the Viking Octantis looked and felt familiar if you have travelled with Viking on an Ocean or River cruise.

The Aula lecture theatre, a multi-level space at the stern, becomes the intellectual heart of the ship. Daily briefings, wildlife talks, geology sessions and photography lectures genuinely enrich the experience. You’re not just seeing Antarctica; you’re understanding it. 

The Expedition team was always on hand to answer questions after the lectures and was a truly inspiring and passionate group.

And then there’s The Hangar – a fully enclosed area inside the ship where Zodiacs and Special Operations Boats are launched. No standing out in freezing wind waiting to board. You gear up indoors, walk straight onto the boats, and head off. It’s seamless and incredibly well thought out.

The Antarctica Experience

This is where Viking Octantis separates itself from many expedition ships.

Zodiac Landings & Cruises

Zodiacs are the backbone of Antarctic exploration, and we used them daily. Cruising through fields of sculpted ice, approaching penguin colonies, watching seals sprawled across ice, this is Antarctica at eye level.

Because of the ship’s size and efficiency, operations run smoothly. Groups rotate well, and you never feel rushed. Some days were landings, others scenic cruises, depending on weather and ice conditions and flexibility is everything in Antarctica.

The captain was always a step ahead with the weather and our itinerary changed 3 times onboard, however, we never missed an experience. Being just metres from a glacier face in a Zodiac, hearing it crack and calve – that’s something you don’t forget.

Special Operations Boats (SOBs)

The Special Operations Boats are a real game-changer. Larger and more powerful than Zodiacs, they allow for faster travel and incredibly stable cruising. They’re ideal for photographers and wildlife tracking. We covered more ground, manoeuvred easily among icebergs, and had spectacular whale encounters from these boats.

They feel adventurous, but safe and solid. These boats were also able to reach great distances, with many times leaving the Octantis to disappear on the horizon while we explored a new bay. It’s one of those features that genuinely elevates the expedition experience.

The Submarine

Yes! A submarine and a yellow one at that! Viking Octantis carries a six-guest submersible, and descending below the surface in Antarctica is surreal. The silence, the filtered light, the alien-like formations beneath the ice — it’s a perspective very few travellers ever experience.

It’s weather-dependent and capacity is limited, so not everyone may get the opportunity. But if you do, it adds an entirely different dimension to the voyage. Antarctica isn’t just dramatic above water, there’s a hidden world below. I felt very lucky to have experienced this opportunity and would highly recommend it.

Expedition Team & Service

The expedition team is exceptional. Scientists, naturalists, marine biologists and polar experts, and importantly, they’re engaging. Briefings are clear. Safety is taken seriously. But there’s also warmth and enthusiasm. You can feel they genuinely love what they do.

The science team even has their own lab onboard and conducts research. If you register your interest, you can even take part in these special science zodiac sailings and the team will take you out to conduct research that they later take back to the lab. On our trip, we collected a specific type of seaweed from the bottom of the Antarctic sea. We used all sorts of equipment to check depth, collect samples and take photos. Viking funds these research teams to join them on each voyage and their work is used around the world in the scientific world.

Viking also communicates with Happy Whale to track whale colonies and sends up weather balloons (which they make a rather fun event out of), among many other activities. You will often find many of their expedition team at Expedition Central onboard and they are more than happy to sit back and discuss with you. Viking also allows the expedition team to dine with guests, giving you time to relax, share a meal and find out even more about Antarctica.

Hotel staff onboard are polished but understated. Service feels effortless rather than theatrical. It suits the expedition style perfectly.

Wellness & Relaxation

After a day in sub-zero conditions, the Nordic Spa feels almost indulgent. The heated pool, sauna and relaxation areas overlooking Antarctica create a surreal contrast, steaming warmth inside, icebergs drifting past outside.

The Viking Octantis also features a unique Nordic-inspired spa. This hot tub experience is positioned next to a large, permanently half-open window that allows guests to immerse themselves in hot water, while experiencing the fresh, cold air and snow in polar regions. It truly was an amazing experience. There’s also a fitness centre, but honestly, the real workout is climbing in and out of Zodiacs.

Who Is This Ship For?

Viking Octantis is for travellers who prioritise destination over nightlife. There are no casinos, no big production shows, no loud pool decks. No KIDS! Instead, you get:

• Genuine expedition capability
• Small guest numbers
• Advanced exploration tools
• Comfortable but understated luxury
• An intelligent onboard atmosphere

It’s ideal for curious travellers who want both comfort and credibility in remote regions.

Final Verdict

Antarctica is the star, but the ship absolutely matters.

Viking Octantis enhances the experience rather than distracting from it. The Zodiacs bring you close. The Special Operations Boats expand your reach. The submarine reveals what lies beneath. And the ship itself provides a warm, intelligent and beautifully designed sanctuary in between. This isn’t just a cruise. It’s an expedition done properly, with style, substance and serious capability.

For Antarctica, Viking Octantis feels purpose-built in every possible way. While it may be bigger than some ships in the region, it certainly does not feel like you are missing out in any way.