Viking Octantis

Viking

Ship Reviews

Overall Rating

Based on 12 reviews

Submit your review Cruise reviews reflect the opinions of travel editors and cruisers/ readers and may not represent those of our company.

Great Lakes

July

Pros: we have sailed with Viking numerous times. This was by far the best..The staff was super. Food delicious and lectures very interesting. Off shore outings were great

Cons: none

Recommended: Yes

If you're an outdoors type, this is your cruise. Boats, hikes, visits to villages, informative briefings, etc.

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A+ onboard ship, C on pre & post itinerary details

March

Pros: Viking provides excellence in service, staff, food, beverage, staterooms, bathrooms, and general areas. Viking builds beautiful ships that are well-engineered (no squeaks or leaks). Octantis, with boosted stabilizers, handled the seas around Cape Horn easily. Pro: Iguazu Falls pre-cruise excursion was the highlight of our trip.

Cons: Viking communication regarding pre and post cruise flight/excursions options was imprecise and late. V Agents could not tell us our charter flight information to Iguazu until we arrived in Buenas Aires. We packed to limited baggage restrictions, then found out we could leave bags at the hotel in Buenas Aires. Also, Viking did not provide a post-cruise option for one-day tours in Santiago (disembarkation) until we were onboard the ship. We had already booked an independent Viator tour which was non-cancellable at that point.

Recommended: Yes

We still love the Viking business model for elegant adult cruising. Our itinerary was mostly relaxing fjords of breathtaking beauty. Weather is a huge factor in that part of the world so we had many gray days. Viking made the best of them with plenty of zodiac, kayak, SOB and submarine options with daily science-related lectures on board. Staterooms also offered plenty of movie and entertainment and there were spa options, gym, and table games to pass the time for the long gray sea days. Expedition ships don't provide live theater or a Chef's Table restaurant. The MC did perform some singing, Trivia, and dancing nights. Viking Guest Services (who deserve medals for what they put up with from finicky guests) always tried to accommodate unplanned meals at The Restaurant and Manfredi's.

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Antarctica Jan 2024

January

Pros: wonderful ship, crew, expedition team

Cons: Long flights to get there

Recommended: Yes

Far exceeded expectations

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Great experience with a few kinks

August

Pros: Staff was great, food was good, ship was not crowded, kayaking, ford rouge factory, bbq on shore w Native dancers

Cons: Some tours were not great. Glass bottom boat tour rushed and underwhelming, submarine interesting but nothing to see except rocks and Zebra Mussels

Recommended: Yes

Overall, learned a lot about Great Lakes. Suggest not to take SOB in rainy weather. Not fun. Wish we had seen more wildlife. Very impressed crew learned our names.

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Mostly All Excellent

July

Pros: Amazing Food, Amazing Staff, Ship Amenities (Cabins/Group Rooms), SOV's

Cons: DNB Closets

Recommended: Yes

DNB closets were awkward. "Finger Pull" doors required two hands-- couldn't get ready in the same area at the same time. I also missed the "Chef's Table" option for dining.

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A cruise on the Western Great Lakes

June

Pros: Fantastic ship complete with scientists aboard collecting data from the water and from the lake water.

Cons: The experience was over all too soon.

Recommended: Yes

The highlight of the trip was riding in the submarine down some 200 feet. To look at a wall of rock many thousands of years old. Crew, staff, presenters and guides were all super friendly and helpful as well as knowledgeable. Food was excellent in all the dining venues. The ride on one of the Special Ops boats was impressive with stopping on a dime and spinning in a tight circle before accelerating away like a flash.

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Great, but...

June

Pros: The ship is wonderful. The room and food staff are great. Both 5*

Cons: The Thunder Bay to Milwaukee ports are a big disappointment.

Recommended: No

Would have loved to take this ship on an Alaska cruise. The western great lakes have an abundance of wildlife, but not where we went. Kayak and Zodiak enthusiasts might like the pristine waters if they are not bothered by wind and 42-degree water. One bad experience was that we had a confirmed submarine dive excursion (subject to weather). The day we scheduled we were told that we would be going and that maybe tomorrow. The next day we did not get notice that we wouldn't until it was too late to do anything else.

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Viking Octantis  |  Cruises

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