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2022 Viking Octantis Exploration ship - First sailing to Antarctica - Ship Tour and Review
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- Опубліковано 12 сер 2024
- In this video you will see the new Viking Octantis ship that made its first sailing to Antarctica with paying passengers after all of its sea trials. I will take you on an entire tour of this beautiful vessel which was truly amazing. The crew could not have been any better. I will also show you our landings on shore. It was the trip of a lifetime.
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Primary camera is a Nikon Z50 4K
Waterproof camera is a GoPro Hero 8 HD
I just like this new ship with all kinds of good and easy equipments to use!
Yes, the ship is so amazing and so modern ....you will be spoiled!
This has always been on my husband's bucket list. We just booked the Octantis for Jan 2023 and are so excited. This video answers some questions and gives a wonderful overview of the ship. Thank you for doing this video.
Glad you enjoyed it and glad it was helpful. It was our bucket list also and we really enjoyed the trip so much. If you have a chance to spend a couple extra days in Ushuaia it is a wonderful place to visit also before you leave. Thanks for the comment!
I’m so excited for you
Thank you, Pat. I have already learned a lot just from this first video!
I am glad it helped. I always try to find videos of places/cruises we are going to before we leave as they are really helpful. Thanks for watching!
Great video - it looks excellent and the ship looks as impressive as was promised by Viking. Looking forward to the next one!
It was state of the art ship in every aspect. To many things to mention in one video. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the great video! I just booked yesterday for Antarctica in late January 2023. Your video answered some of my questions. Thank you! I can’t wait. Happy travels!
It will be the trip of a lifetime believe me. You will love the ship for sure. I assume you are flying into Buenos Aires first and you might want to go a few days early as there is a lot to see and great food! They normally put you up at the Hilton and it is a great location (I did a video of it on my channel) and you will love it.
Thank you so much Pat for your video. I will going next year on this amazing ship. Just can’t wait. Keep up the good work.
Sue from Australia 🙋♀️👍
thanks...you will have a great time on this ship. It is so amazing.
OMG!! Beautiful ship. Great job, Viking 👍🏼
They sure know what they are doing.
Thanks, Pat.... I discovered you today 1 June 2023.... I love the pace of the video; just enough depth and variety of information.
Thanks so much and I appreciate that. Currently on another Viking cruise in Norway and more videos coming!
Just finished our cruise on Octantis. Great weather throughout, including both transits of Drake. We had a bonus visit to the Whalers Bay on Deception Island.
The staff, from the Captain down is amazing. It is a great ship and once in a lifetime experience!
Totally agree about a once in a life time experience. I agree that the crew was soooo great. Cannot wait for our next Viking Cruise. Glad you had a great time like us!
We were with you on this voyage! How wonderful to see your wonderful recap of our trip. Loved this very much. Thank you!! (And you handled the submarine bit very nicely.)
It was an amazing trip and went by so fast. We leave on another Viking Cruise (ocean) next week and am looking forward to that one also. I am sure you guys had a great time also and thanks for watching!!!
You lucky bastard. That looks like an amazing trip
It was the trip of a lifetime and now we can say we have been on all 7 continents! Thanks for watching.
Thank you so much! It looks like a fabulous experience!
As I keep saying, the trip of a lifetime. Simply amazing. Thanks for watching!
Pat, thanks for the great video. My mom and I booked Egypt based on your video. Antarctica will be our next trip!
Egypt was at the top of our favorite list and this one beat it for adventure. You will love it.
thanks for sharing!! i work for viking and this makes me feel right at home!!
Awesome and thanks so much for watching. Glad you enjoyed!!
We just returned from our Viking Polaris trip to Antarctica. If you are able to afford it, GO! Its an experience like no other. And the penguins were just adorable. Wish I could pack one home. Perfect trip from beginning to end. I can’t speak highly enough about the ship and the experience. Whales, penguins, birds. Oh my!!!!
So exciting … can’t wait!
Fantastic video, Pat. We sail on December 6 on Polaris. Thanks for the preview.
Woooow!!!Heaven on Earth I'd say🙀🙀
That pretty much describes how it was. Amazing ship, amazing service and an amazing time. Thanks for watching!
I enjoyed the video very much. Very informative. Thanks.
Thanks for watching and commenting....appreciate that.
Great video, looks like an amazing ship to sail on. Thanks for sharing your trip!
We were so blown away by the ship it is hard to describe. You get the feeling you are on a private yacht.....just beautiful with the best service and food. Once in a lifetime experience. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing. Looks amazing. My wife and I plan to go in the next few years.
Make sure you book way in advance as it sells out very quickly with the limited open window for sailing. As I have told others, it is the trip of a lifetime. Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing your fabulous video! We are scheduled to be on the Polaris in November - seeing this video has just increased my excitement level ten fold!!!
I can only imagine....I know how excited we were and had no idea what to expect. It was great.
@@patsadventures6381 Great to hear!! Sharing your experience certainly has given me a better idea about what to expect and how to plan
Really great video, thankful for all your great info - we just booked today for the Jan 30, 2024 sailing, woo hoo!
Wow....I am surprised it was not sold out by now. We have friends that are on the Octantis right this minute and they are having a blast. I am really enjoying their photo updates. You will have a wonderful time and it is a once in a lifetime trip! Enjoy and thanks for watching!
So glad you liked it. It was an amazing trip! I just got off the Viking Star a couple hours ago after 14 days. I do love Viking! Thanks for watching.
Pat - My fiancee and I are new fans of yours. We hope one day to be able to take lovely Viking cruises (sooner rather than later, even though we are in our late 20's). They seem like the best balance of relaxation and enrichment. I wish you the best and want to thank you wholeheartedly for sharing your experiences on these ships. We will be watching your adventures from now on and hope you continue to enjoy your Viking journeys!
Thanks so much for the fine complement. In two weeks we are doing a Princess Caribbean cruise for 14 days and our next Viking sailing will be from Montreal down to Ft. Lauderdale for a couple of weeks. We really enjoy both Princess and Viking - with Viking being a little more high end. Take care!
Thanks for the tour of the ship. We’ll be doing the Great Lakes on the ship in September 2022.
Thanks for watching. This ship is like being on a private yacht....you will love it!! Hopefully the subs are all fixed and in good working order. I was so hoping to have video of that...oh well.
Thanks for sharing Pat, nice video
Glad you liked it. It was one of the most amazing trips we have been on and first class all the way. Thanks for watching!!
Great adventure! Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it, it was a wonderful time for us and we will never forget. Appreciate the comment!
Fantastic video, Jay! I am planning my trip for 2024.
Fantastic and glad you liked it. We just book another cruise on the Octantis for next year to the Arctic Circle. You will love the ship.
Awesome review!! One for my bucket list!
Thanks for watching....yes, a great time.
Just confirmed our trip on Octantis today for November! Thanks for the effort with this review and tour. Super helpful and inspiring for the upcoming trip.
It will be the trip of a lifetime. If you like hiking, go down to Ushuaia and do some hiking in the National Forest. Buenos Aires is also wonderful. This time we went down there a few days early on our own and saw the sights again. Enjoy!
ua-cam.com/video/nCMnwkZ99KI/v-deo.html
@@patsadventures6381 Thanks much. We're looking at booking travel right now and I was definitely considering coming in early and experiencing the area. Thanks again. Great work on your content man. Well paced, great footage, editing on point.. all good. Super helpful and entertaining as well.
how was you trip ?
@@user-sg9lc8vh9e Hey, thanks for asking. Honestly, it was both the best and worst trip I've ever taken. The part where we were in Antarctica and playing with penguins and whales was amazing. The part where we went through Drake Passage during a hurricane and someone died on the Polaris when a wave crashed through their cabin and crushed/drowned them was less amazing. The experience was pretty traumatic and my wife literally has ptsd from it. Travel to and from Antarctica was nightmarish as well despite several upgrades and good status on the airline... just a hard trip. But, the Antarctica part was legit incredible.
This is making me very excited to go next January!
You will not be disappointed. It is a trip of a lifetime.
We were on the crew with you, great video!! Saves me from making my own!!
You guys all did a great job....could not say enough good! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for commenting.
Just returned from our Viking tour of Antarctica. I can’t say enough great things about this trip. From the accommodations, the food, the onshore excursions and the education, it exceeded all my expectations. Its worth the cost and you’ll never forget the experience.
I have to agree with you 100% as that is a trip we will never forget either. Hopefully you got to go in the subs for the underwater experience. Great staff on that ship also!!
@@patsadventures6381 yes, we were able to have a ride in the sub. It was awesome. I have nothing but positive raves for the Polaris, its staff and the food was over the top. The penguins were such a delight. We saw humpback whales as well.
That is a trip I would love!!
It is the trip of a lifetime. I never imagined that I would be there and that dream came true! Thanks for watching.
great vlog simple and informative
I appreciate that. I do my best to get right to the point! It was a great ship to be on.
Excellent!!
Thanks and glad you enjoyed it.
👋👋👋 Just stopping by and showing some support 👍 Full watch for you friend...see you soon! 👋 Ashley, Nate and Blake from The Adventure Encounters
Pretty Awesome makes me want to go on one !
A trip of a lifetime I must admit. Thanks for watching!
I am really going to book an Antarctica expedition after watching your video I might book with Viking the other cruise line I was looking at was Ponant Cruise. Antarctica has been a dream of mine and I am about to accomplish it. Thank you for sharing your adventure.
I am not familiar with that other cruise line. We believe that Viking is an amazing top of the line company and this video shows how nice the ship is. Good luck with your trip and thanks for watching!
I just returned from Antarctica a month ago from an Atlas cruise on the World Navigator. I haven't checked your price yet, but ours was $24,000, and your ship and cabin was so much better. We only had one place to eat, the Main Dining Room. There was a sort of a snack bar, like Starbucks, but that was it. Antarctica was great, but we expect an excellent cruise experience for that kind of money. You made a good choice.
We had done a lot of research and learned that many of the ships down there are just not very good. Our friend has recently gone on a National Geographic ship paying top dollar and the room was terrible she said. We had heard about the Octantis being built and decided to wait and go on it, as our other Viking Ocean cruises have been fantastic! It was sure the right move waiting. Having three restaurants to chose from is great. Thanks for watching!
Great video. well presented.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching and commenting!
Amazing! I hope Viking gave you some great discounts because you just sold me on this trip :)
I with I got some kickbacks but that does not happen! ha ha We did a lot of research for this trip and going with Viking was a no brainer....it was the trip of a lifetime I have to say. We are booked on the Octantis next year for the Artic Expedition!! Thanks for watching.
We went with another company in February. They did a great job, but Viking is always above and beyond. I would have gone with Viking but since it was their first year, I chickened out. My only complaint with our ship was the food, but Viking has always been on target when it comes to meals. Your video makes me want to plan a return...great sights and a great ship are always worth the price. Great job!!
In my opinion the food was off the chart great. I ate so much lobster and crab, I still cannot stand to look at it. The design of this ship is so amazing from the cabin to the hangar....just great! You could not help but love it. Thanks for watching.
Hubby and I just returned from our Antarctic Viking cruise. It was over the top. The submarine was an incredible experience. The food was amazing. So many types of food for everyone including sushi. I gained 5 pounds. The onshore excursions were awesome and easy to book. I booked a massage but with so many activities on shore, I never found the time to go. Nothing better than walking among the penguins, watching whales and enjoying the magnificent icebergs. The educational part of the trip was perfect. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. The cost is high but worth every dollar. If I went again I’d book several days in Buenos Aires. Its a beautiful modern city. They were having a roller blade marathon when we were there. I watched it from our hotel window.
Great commentary
Thanks so much and thanks for watching.....!
Hi Pat, awesome video. The Hangar is impressive. Can you tell a bit more about your experience with the SOB and the slipway system to leave and come back to the cruise ship?
Getting in and out of the SOB was super easy. You just walk up the stairs to the ramp, step inside the boat and sit down...could not be any easier. It is smooth ride when the boat goes down the ramp into the water. You see quite a bit when on the water as long as the weather is good. One time we had a storm with high winds coming and had to cut it short. No effort at all enjoying it. Much easier than the Zodiacs ! Thanks for watching.
This ship lands in Charlottetown PEI Canada in about an hour today. The first ship to visit port in two years five months and 19 days. I’m excited.
Thank God things have opened back up and hopefully they stay open. Thanks for watching and hope you enjoyed it.
Hi Pat, excellent video combining lots of informative ship details with great shots of the scenery/wildlife etc. One question I do have, is to ask if you are disappointed that the Viking cruise did not visit South Georgia? I believe that Viking is not going to include South Georgia in its itineraries (at least for the next couple of years.) What was the age demographic? Thanks for taking the time to do this! Jan
No, I was not disappointed as we saw so much and stopped at the South Shetland Island which was nice. That is where the very final video shot of the two big guys fighting was taken. The majority of people on the ship were between 50 to 70 with exceptions on both ends. Most people in good shape but a few that were having a very difficult time as getting in and out of boats on rocking water is not easy. Some people never got off the boat at all. The experience was putting feet on the ground and seeing the animals up close and personal. Thanks for watching!
Great video and narration. Thank you for posting. The only disappointment I have with this beautiful ship is that the buffet is self-serve.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Self serve but if you request steak or scampi or other specialties they bring it to your table. Just returned from a Viking cruise and no masks and yes self serve buffet and felt very comfortable. The REstaurant is full service and very diverse menu with phenomenal service.
Thank you for sharing your experience; indeed, the ship is truly beautiful! When we planned our Antarctica trip, these new Viking Expedition ships had not yet set sail. To ensure a smooth voyage devoid of uncertainties, we opted to embark on the hybrid powered MS Fridtjof Nansen by Hurtigruten-a vessel of equal elegance. We've encapsulated the scenery and expedition activities in a video now featured on our channel.
We just booked it again to go up to the Arctic Circle next year....it is an amazing ship and thanks for watching! I will check out your channel and that video!!
We are going on the Viking Polaris Dec 5th sailing. We are super excited. You have answered many questions but one I didn’t see asked is about bags. Did you bring a dry bag for your camera gear and other things? I also I was thinking of getting a sling bag to take on zodiac for mics things. What are your recommendations.? I read some where it was recommended to bring a bag to carry around the ship for your Ipad, glasses and misc things. I thought a sling bag would work for this purpose too. Also did you use ski goggles? What type of shoes did you wear on the deck outside? Did many people have hats with ear flaps and visors? Thanks for the wonderful video.
Regarding a dry bag, yes, it is a must in my opinion especially on the Zodiac. The rain can come and go and you want your camera and other things protected. A sling bag over the should is even better especially when getting in and out of the Zodiac. I see no need for a bag to carry around your stuff while on the ship - if you need something you can be at your cabin in minutes. YES on ski goggles and we used them all the time. The deck outside is fine, even when wet. The wife wore warm boots and I wore water proof short boots that look like regular shoes. Regarding hats with ear flaps and visors - YES. Even with my wool knit cap I wore a hat over that on occasions. You need to keep your ears warm. Hope that helps and thanks for watching.
Hi Pat. Thanks for posting such a thurough account of your excellent adventure! My wife and I look forward to our first Viking cruise in April (Ancient Mediterranean Treasures). We will probably book a Viking Antarctic tour for 2023 while we are on the Mediterranean cruise. During your cruise, did you find anyone complaining about difficulties/disappointments reserving space on any of the shore landings or other outdoor activities? Thanks. I look forward to watching more of your videos.
We are hooked on Viking and loved our first cruise on them up the Amazon for 22-days. I did not want to get off the ship! We had no issues with respect to the landings and I did not hear of anyone else having problems. On a few occasions, we had time slots around 11:00 am and went down an hour early to see if we could get on, and there was no one waiting so we jumped on the boat and went over early. The only issue we had one time was getting on the Special Operations boat but that was fixed. Keep in mind, this was the first sailing with paying passengers so I expected many problems and that did not happen. However, some people will complain about anything! ha ha. Thanks for watching!
We just returned from our Viking Antarctic trip. We had no problems booking the submarine or the special operations boat. We were able to do everything the ship offered. It definitely is a life changing trip. And we experienced the Drake Lake both ways and not the Drake Shake. The penguins were adorable and the icebergs were just a beautiful blue color.
Thanks for the great presentation. We are booked for December and looking forward to it. Couple of questions, how cold was it, do they provide the pants and binoculars? 👍👍
The temps were in the mid 30's during the day. However, with my long johns on, t-shirt, wool shirt, and the two jackets, we were just fine. Yes, they provided the pants. The binoculars were in the room waiting for us! You will have an amazing time, trust me! Thanks for watching.
Did I just see a bottle of whine aaawwww I wanna come wow. When will I ever be at sea, in a ship ghosh that's a dream for me lol
Yes, they had a bottle of wine in all cabins which was quite nice!
Kudos to you and the informative video you shared, Pat, thank you! My husband and I will be on the Octantis this December and you answered a number of questions I had for this 'once in a lifetime" adventure! Hope the sub will be in working condition and the iceberg will not hamper the special operations boat. BTW, I was informed by Viking there's a visit to a British Post Office where you can mail postcards home, is this true? Best!
It is true about the Penguin Post Office. They gave us a card with stamp and we fill out our post card and it was mailed. We got it back about 45 days later in Arizona. The subs are working now from what I am told and have read people are enjoying them. I am glad the video helped and glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!!
We didn’t have a stop at the penguin post office. I wasn’t aware of it so I didn’t feel like I missed anything. The sub was an over the top experience.
Like from India🇮🇳🇮🇳
Thanks so much and I appreciate the comment! Will be going to India on one of our future trips next year! Hopefully things open up and no masks! Take care.
We had weekly visits by the Octantis just off our back yard near Point Pelee National Park on Lake Erie this summer. Though I knew it was designed for Antarctic cruising, I had no idea it was such a sophisticated ship. I wonder if they left much of their high-tech exploration gear in Ushuaia for the next cruise season.
From what I was told, everything stays on the ship. They use all the boats in the lakes along with the two subs. It is an amazing ship and way exceeded my expectations. Thanks for watching!
Pat, thanks for all the great information. What time did you get back to Buenos Aires? I'm trying to figure out what time I should schedule return trip home.
We arrived back in Buenos Aires around 5:00 pm on Aerolineas Argentinas. There was a earlier flight, but it was sold out so we had to take the later flight. For a little more book the Premium Economy which allowed us four bags and first class seats in the front. Make sure you are flying back into Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Ezeiza (EZE - the International Airport) and not into Jorge Newbery Airport, known as Aeroparque (AEP), which is 20 miles away and a hour drive in traffic. Most all the International flights back to the states leave around 10:00 PM - at least ours did.
thank you, Pat! We are booked for the Octanis cruise leaving Ushuaia on the 26th and this gave us a great idea of what to expect. So happy to see how nice the cafe' was. How many passengers were on board?
Our sailing had 260 on it and I was told the next one had 292. People got scared with the Covid thing and canceled....their loss. It was wonderful.
@@patsadventures6381 We were 2 who got canceled because my husband's pre-cruise PCR test was positive--I was negative, but didn't want to take the trip without Bob, since this was his 75th birthday present! So, Viking kindly allowed us to rebook for 26 February cruise. (BTW, he never had a symptom, and continued his 3 hour heavy exercise program at home until CDC guidelines--and a negative test--allowed him to return to his "home away from home", the Ochsner Health Gym!) Hoping our 2nd try works out! Maybe some of those others who canceled were "in our boat" and tested positive. Looking forward to more of your videos!
Great video! We will be going on the Octantis in April from NY to Toronto. This was great to get a view of the ship and to get your opinion. Could you make more reservations on board for The Restaurant and Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant? I could only book 2 nights for each in our category. Also, was that the Nordic Penthouse you were in? and Could you get the excursions you wanted? Thank you for your review!
When on board, we made reservations to Manfredi's and the Restaurant via our television and had no problem. We normally ate around 7:30. I noticed the earlier ones seemed to book up fast. We went to the excursion desk and were able to book more excursions in person. Sorry, I forgot the name of the suite we were in.....
Correction, yes, it was the Nordic Penthouse.
Good video. In the future you should put a microphone on Ramona so we can hear her. Other than that, it was very informative.
Good idea!
Thanks Pat great review. Answered a lot of ou questions. We are booked Dec 2022. The ship did not appear to feel crowded. How was the crossing.
There were only 260 on our sailing (people canceled because of Covid, a couple tested positive and were removed, etc.) so it was not crowded. Even when full I don't think it feel crowded. Our crossing going over was pretty rough, but nothing the ship could not handle. At one point we had 25 to 30' swells. We don't get sea sick so not an issue for us, but it was for others including the crew. On the crossing back, the captain changed course to keep away from a storm and it was not too bad. I have been following other people recently on the ship, and some have had smooth water. When we cruised around the horn a couple years ago (the last sailing before the Pandemic) we had water like glass. You just never know!! Thanks for watching.
An excellent balanced presentation. Good photography. What was your cabin grade? It looked bigger than the basic cabin.
We were in the Nordic Penthouse which was very nice. It is a step up from the Nordic Balcony. Glad you liked the video....it was a wonderful time on that ship.
We were in the regular stateroom which was ample for hubby and I. The bathroom with shower is big. There is a drying closet for the outdoor gear. Plenty of closet & drawer space for clothing. Plus a desk/chair/sofa. Huge window to the outdoors. It was just perfect. No complaints at all.
Absolutely spectacular! 💖😲
Thanks so much for sharing. 💕
I can't imagine havimg penguins just waddle by. 😲
What were the temps like? 🥶
Did you get to go in the submarine?
-Troy & Aimee
The penguins are so funny. They will walk up to you, look up trying to figure out what you are, and then walk away. Everyday had a high of 34 or 35 degrees but you are dressed so well, it is no problem. When hiking up the mountain I was sweating. Subs had a technical problem (never found out what) and they were not going to take them out until they were positive it was fixed. That was fine by me, but a lot of people disappointed. I figured since it was the first real sailing, there would be issues.
We’re going next Jan. - can’t wait! I was initially told they do a polar plunge, but have read they didn’t. The Snow Grotto isn’t a fair substitute. Did they allow a dip in the water?
Nope, no dip in the water however, keep in mind this was the first cruise with lots of bugs to work out. Also, no camping overnight on shore which some people wanted to do. Still, a great time in my book!! Thanks for watching.
We just returned. There was no polar plunge. I wasn’t disappointed however. I had no intention of doing that. Most of the people on the ship were over 50. Also no overnight camping. I don’t think anyone wanted to do that. The cabins were awesome with a huge window to the outside. The food was incredible with so many options to choose at any time. Plus many places to hide away from people. It was an intimate experience and also educational with lots of seating in the Aula for lectures and films. It was perfect for hubby and I.
As cruisers, this is definitely one my husband and I would do. If not TMI, could you please list the clothing you packed for this cruise? Was there something you wish you had packed? Things you wish you had not packed?
We did a lot of research and had everything we needed. We had ski goggles, mittens and gloves to go over the mittens, good wool socks, winter hats that pulled down around your head, long underwear, pants that were lined with a wool type material inside, sunglasses (a must sometimes)
What I forgot was to take our own hiking poles. They had them on shore, but my own would have made it easier getting out of the Zodiac in the rocky water. Hope that helps!
Awesome job on this video!! My wife and I will be on this cruise in December. I grew up on Canada, so I am used to colder weather, my wife is not. We live in the Hollywood Hills, so it's always nice weather. Temperatures there should be in the 25F to 32F range. The outer red jacket they supply, but do they supply the blue jacket lots of people were wearing? Do they supply gloves and hats? Are the boots lined for the cold?
Murray - They supplied the red jacket which is a Helly Hansen (quite expensive) and they supplied the black jacket (not blue) for use. We were able to take the red jacket home. Gloves were not supplied. The boots were supplied and they were super warm but no lined. You want to wear wool socks and you will be fine. No hats supplied but the red jacket has a hood on it. Know the Hollywood Hills well and worked in Hollywood for many years! Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@patsadventures6381 Thank you for this information! I want to be prepared in advance with the correct gear that they do not supply. :)
We just returned from this cruise. We were able to keep the red HH jacket as well as the blue puffer jacket we wore underneath it. Hubby and I were never cold. We brought our own long underwear and gloves/liners and beanie hat. This was such an amazing cruise and now to find another trip for next year. Hard to top this one.
Great Video. Can you tell me which specific itinerary you sailed? Thanks in advance.
Met in Buenos Aires, then they flew us down on a charter to Ushuaia, boarded the ship and sailed to Antarctica and back to Ushuaia.
What time of year was your trip? We are booked in Octantis end of January into early February 2023 and can’t wait!
We sailed on January 24 - February 4th. Believe me you will love it. We went down early to Buenos Aires (we did our own air) as we have been there before and there is lots to do. Thanks for watching and hopefully it was helpful.
@@patsadventures6381 yes Pat very helpful including info on temps and what the jackets provided consist of
Great video! We are leaving in September for our first cruise with Viking to the Mediterranean odyssey trip. I’m concerned about booking our excursions ahead of time? We were wondering about booking private excursions? How do you pay?
If you are referring to booking Non-Viking excursions, you can normally book them online and pay in advance or when you get off the ship, there are people in the port you can book them with. I have found that Viking has some pretty good excursions that you can pay for.
Hi...loved the video. My husband and I are going in January 2023. Viking gives the jacket and "insulator" and I was wondering what material the insulator is. Is it fleece and will it take the place of the midlayer that's worn under the base layer? Also, did you receive any notifications from Viking as to giving them the sizes for the boots, jackets, and gear? We've only received the medical forms that need to be filled out 45 days prior to embarkation. Another question...was there a weight limit on luggage? I see that the flight to Ushuaia, they apparently weight the bags so I was wondering what the limit might be. Any help would be appreciated. Your video was wonderful and gave a great preview of what we will look forward to seeing. I'm a little worried about the Drake Passage as I am prone to seasickness, so I was happy that you said the stabilizers are great. Whew. (I will have the patch on though.)
The insulator is a light down jacket and works very well. I wore long johns, a wool long sleeve shirt, the down jacket and then the waterproof jacket (top of the line) that they provided. It was only in the low 30's so it was not a problems at all. With respect to asking our sizes, I recall it was about a month prior. No big deal anyway, because some of the stuff did not fit my wife and we went up and traded to everything that fit...very smooth.
There was no weight limit on luggage except for the normal 50lbs per bag. We flew from Buenos Aires on a 737 - big plane. The stabilizers were fantastic for some of the swells we were hitting. Funny, I was reading all the people for months after were having smooth sailing...just my luck. The ship handles very well and you will be amazed!!
@@patsadventures6381 Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Love your travel videos and so glad I found them while searching for info on the Octantis. Have a great evening.
Hi again...was wondering what hotel you stayed in in Buenos Aires?
Thanks for your prior answers. Another question is about the temperature on the ship. When I inquired with Viking and they said the temperatures is between 73-75. For me that means shirt sleeve shirts. What was your experience with the temperature and clothes that people wore in side?
Interesting question. Personally I though it bordered on chilly but my wife thought it was perfect. I found myself wearing a sweater in the evenings. I did not hear anyone else complain about it and and I seem to get cold easily. People going outside and back had doors being opened alot, so that had something to do with it. Hope that helps!
@@patsadventures6381 Thanks, so does that mean most people wore long sleeve shirts and had a sweater or fleece as layering if cold?
Hi Pat
Thank you so much for this video. I am a travel agent who has booked a client on the Polaris this November. Your video covers so many of her questions however there are a few more and wondering if you would not mind answering them.
1 Was their a social get together at hotel in Buenos Aires the first night
2.do you need waterproof shoes to wear on deck
3. Can you wear expedition boots on ship
4. Can you recommend a packing list besides the expedition list
5. Can the liner of jacket be unzipped to wear on ship
6. Do you advise waterproof pants while on ships deck
Again, thanks for your video.
Barb Weissenberger
1. There was no planned social get together at the hotel when we went, however, in the lobby lounge area is where everyone ended up and prior to flying down. I have a video of the hotel on my channel which lets you know what it looks like if your interested. ua-cam.com/video/_m_GPwYvW1g/v-deo.html 2. No, the deck is dry in good weather. 3. We made up our own list and I cannot recall what the packing list said. Really, really good warm weather gloves are a must. Layers of warm clothing to go under your jackets. Warm shoes like Uggs for walking outside on the deck. Wool socks are important. Sweaters while inside the ship in the evening as it got chilly. 5. They give you a down lightweight jacket which is separate from the heavy jacket, that is your liner. That is perfect for on the ship. 6 . They give you waterproof pants which you can wear on the ship and you turn them in at the end along with your rubber boots. Hope that helps !! If you have any more, just ask. An amazing experience.
Pat one last question regarding clothing - how cold was Buenos Aires and Ushuaia in January? Did you bring along a light winter coat to wear before getting to the boat and getting your shell and black puffy insulation jacket? Thanks again.
Keep in mind, in Buenos Aires it is the middle of summer in January. I wore a tee shirt when out walking and a short sleeve shirt when going out for dinner - it was warm. Ushuaia is a different story. Each time I have been there in January and it is always very cool to cold. I took a down jacket and wore a flannel when walking around town or boarding the ship. The jacket does not take up space and is light. The weather can really vary in Ushuaia.
I forgot to add, you will most likely be staying at the Hilton Hotel in Buenos Aires. I have stayed there a couple times and it is wonderful. Take a quick look at this video and you can see the hotel and how I am dressed. ua-cam.com/video/_m_GPwYvW1g/v-deo.html Another tip for restaurants. If you walk out the front door and turn left, walk down the sidewalk and cross over the river, to your left are some great restaurants right on the river. If you cross the street, there is a restaurant called Cabaña Las Lilas. We ate there and it is one of the best steakhouses I have been too. The Rib Eye was so large I could not finish it. It is also right on the river. Ask the Concierge about it.
@@patsadventures6381 thanks for all the advice!
Looking at the Antarctic Explorer itinerary on the same ship. For all of the days you were actually in Antarctica proper, how many days did you land on shore (as in get off a boat and walk)?
Every day we got off the boat and walked on shore. Although they give you a time limit on shore, that was not enforced at all....we did some great hikes in the snow. You can be as busy as you want or be like some people who just stayed on the boat (which I did not understand). Hope that helps!
Great video Pat. Just one question about the land excursions, did everyone get chance to go or you have to take turns? If take turns, minimum how many times each passenger could go? Thanks. Eagleridge
Everyone got to go. We would be given times for the Zodiac and the Special Operation boats, so typically we would go out twice in a day. I noticed that there were a number of people that never went on the Zodiac due to age and mobility issues. After a few days, we would be ready to go early and would go down to the launch area and there would be no one waiting to go on the Zodiac so we would jump on early and have more time on shore. You can really get a workout climbing the mountains in the snow....so much fun. If you are going, you might want to take your own hiking poles...very handy!
Fantastic. Thank you Pat, very helpful input. Before found your video, I even called Viking a few times and couldn’t get the answer I wanted. So I guess the day before you would get a sign up sheet then they arranged your turn accordingly. Still one thing is not clear to me is that about 260 people on your boat, so that means the zodiac has worked nonstop all day long?
@@patsadventures6381 That sounds like you don’t have to go and come back on the same Zodiac. It seems like you need to do an early zodiac trip if you want to fit in the special operations boat too. According to the schedule it looks like there is nothing scheduled in the afternoon except the submarine which we are really hoping to get to do. Are these things correct?
How do guests book the submarine excursion and operations boat excursion? Thanks
The subs were not working but we went to the excursion desk and booked there. You can also book them through your television in your cabin.
I suppose this tour was during the summer, I'm curious, did you have 24 hour sun while you were there?
We went in January which was summer down there.....and yes, it was light all the time which really throws you off when you forget how late it is. I was just up in Norway a few months ago and it was almost the same thing.....it got somewhat dark for about 3 hours. Thanks for watching!
Hi Pat - leaving in 2 weeks! Sorry one more question - do the Viking provided 2-in-1 jackets have a detachable insulation layer? i.e. can you wear them separately?
When we sailed, they provided us with a black lightweight down jacket for the first layer and the second jacket is the Helly Hanson waterproof jacket which is amazing. I don't see any reason they would have changed but you never know.
@@patsadventures6381 Thanks Pat. I have seen some videos where the down jacket is black or blue. Going to try to just pack fleece and a light rain jacket (for Ushuaia) and not bother with my other down jacket since it seems the Viking one can be work separately. Very excited and thanks again for your videos.
Hey Pat, how did this ship handle the Drake's Passage?
We had a very rough passage both going and coming back with huge swells, but the ship handled great - we cut right through the waves.
Are the excursions included or extra. I know Viking always has a mix of included and added cost excursions, but since there is really nowhere else to go- cities, shopping, etc… I’m wondering how it works for this one.
All excursions on this trip are included - the sub rides, landings, special operation boats....no extra charges at all. You are right, no cities or shopping! Thanks for watching.
Did Viking provide walking sticks on your adventure?
Yes they did....they had them waiting for us when we got out of the small boats. Believe me, it is best to have them with all the ice. A wonderful trip and thanks for watching.
We are going this November - can you tell us which zodiac landing excursions had the penguins? We love penguins! :)
Henry....all of our zodiac landings had penguins...they were everywhere. They are pretty funny and totally could care less if you are there. We love them too. You will have a great time and thanks for watching.
From the low price of 17,000au per person for a 13 night cruise quite pricey but I guess that’s expected for what it is.
Antarctica cruises are by far the most expensive so you will find some high prices for sure. For us, it is a once in a lifetime adventure. You can find cheaper ones on the former Russian ice breakers but they do not get very good reviews either. Anyway, thanks for watching!
We are not doing any extended time in Argentina, unfortunately. Do you think we need to get cash from a local ATM for either Buenos Aires or Ushuaia or are credit cards pretty much good for everything? Going this Friday😊
There really will be no reason to get the local currency as there will be no place to spend it. If you are heading down to Ushuaia directly, Viking will take you from the airport directly to the ship; at least that is what they did with us. If you do have time to walk around Ushuaia, it is a pretty town and it is only a couple of walking minutes from the ship. When we were there on a different trip, we had no problem spending US dollars and they also took our credit card. However, remember the exchange rate won't be great. We always take a lot of small bills as we like to do extra tipping on the ship and they really appreciate that. Hope it helps?
@@patsadventures6381 excellent advice again Pat. Good reminder also on the small bills in USD for the staff. Can’t wait for our trip Friday! Your advice is always greatly appreciated on all your travels!
Were the included in the proce of the tour? I'm planning on going in January 2024.
Not sure what you are asking, but everything was included in the price - all shore excursion were included. It was an outstanding trip and you will love it.
@Pat's Adventures sorry, the skiing goggles, were those included in the cost of the trip?
😮
Thanks for watching!
My wife and I are going on this cruise, on this ship, at the end of December. Can you give some advice on what clothing to bring? I see that Viking provides a parka, snow pants and boots. Should we just bring a sweatshirt or light jacket, and long pants, otherwise? Or will there be colder times when the parka is inappropriate or not yet available? I assume we should also leave room in our luggage to take the Viking clothes home with us?
We did a lot of research and had everything we needed. Here is what I would recommend that you bring and what they give you.
Viking gives you a great parka and a down underliner jacket that you will keep after the cruise (Awesome Jacket I will say!!) The ski pants and boots they keep.
Items we took: We had ski goggles, mittens and good ski gloves to go over the mittens, good wool socks, winter hats that pulled down around your head over your ears, we had "gators" that covered our necks and you could pull up over your face, long underwear, pants that were lined with a wool type material inside, sunglasses (a must sometimes). To go over the long underwear I had long sleeve wool Pendletons and layered over that with the jackets. What I forgot was to take our own hiking poles. They had them on shore, but my own would have made it easier getting out of the Zodiac in the rocky water.
We took smart casual clothes for dinner but nothing over the top. A light sweater is nice and Uggs to wear in the ship. In Buenos Aires remember it is going to be summer and it is very warm there. During the day walking around I wore tee shirts and short sleeve shirts for dinner. I took my own light down jacket for arrival in Ushuaia (raining and cold) and on the plane.
I had a waterproof GoPro and a Nikon camera. Take a dry bag for your camera equipment.
Hope that helps and let me know if you have more questions! Pat
@@patsadventures6381 Thanks for your detailed response! Really looking forward to the trip, as long as we don't encounter any "rogue waves" 😯
Explore lounge wow
Yes, that is a great place to sit and watch the ocean. Thanks for watching!
@@patsadventures6381 yeah, you are having lots of fun and I'm starting to get jealous now😬😅
I noticed from your video that a lot of passengers were senior people ?
Yep...most are older and this is probably due to the cost of the cruise. However, we did have quite a few younger ones on our cruise and they had a blast.
How many are you in the ship?
It holds 300 passengers but we only had 260 on our cruise....
@@patsadventures6381 260 those are many people
How much did the whole trip cost?
It really depends on the type of room that you get, but I can say, it is a very expensive once in a lifetime trip. Thanks for watching!
My parents were big fans of Viking. My mother passed away recently. She was excited to leave us a big credit on Viking as part of her wishes before her passing. Excited to relive her passion for travel and cruising with Viking, we spend months dreaming and planning around several itineraries and settled on the Antarctica trip. We later find out that Viking will not honor the transfer or refund the cash that she paid because she accepted a 25% voucher for a trip that Viking had canceled previously because of COVID. Rather than receive a refund, she was excited to look forward to more travels in the future and wait to book a future trip, but too late due to ailing health. After months of having their reservation specialists look into this, and because of the fine print in the acceptance of this voucher, they cannot honor a transfer to another name under any circumstance. This was a shocking blow to our family and not indicative of the experience she has had in the past. A week before her passing, and I don't remember the context of the conversation, but I overheard her say several times, "you don't worry at all, Viking will take good care of you!" We've spend no less than days on the phone over months with a very disappointing outcome.
Wow, that is so sad and just does not make any sense to me. They normally are so great and what a shame. I would still try going up the management chain, post this on Twitter and on their Facebook page to maybe get some attention. Good luck and so sorry for your loss.
Yo. My mom was in the hospital recently. Room 4019. Right now, my girl is in the hospital. Same room. And now, I'm watching this, and he's in stateroom 4019. Wtf?
My experience with Room 4019 was better I guess....! Hope your girl is doing okay and thanks for watching!
Would you think a couple of 30 somethings would be in the minority on Viking in relation to demographic or do you think it wouldn’t matter?
You would be the minority, but it does not matter. People on this cruise probably have an average age of 60 but, the type of people going on this type of cruise are very active and fun. I am 67 and still think I am in my 30's, but sometimes my body says different. I did not see anyone who was not having a great time and yes, there were people in their 30's and 40's. Thanks for watching!!
too expensive for most folks......
Yes, it does cost a lot and I would never have been able to do it in our younger years. Once in a lifetime experience I must say. Thanks for watching!
Im happy to see you Happy Sir,,Trully its beyond imagenation mostly people on earth can put their steps in antartica ive cross that continent few years a go and stiil in my mind hopefully one day ill be there and land on frozen continent....but now my opinion its abit diffrent i hope in the future that antartica
Only be visit by what i called natural biologist and enviromentalist for the mankind... not for goverment or people like in jurrasic movie you know sir just for profit only.....have you been in alaska sir look whats happen now the bear in alaska and marine live its damaging by peopples like my self who unfortunatly working as crew ship at that time....so i contributing climate changing on earth to sir now my pay back time.... i dont know in the future sir if mandkind continue to exploitation natural land may be those pinguin in antartica spesialy king pinguin become mythycal animal sir like unicorn or tyrex and so many so you are so lucky sir hopefully you had a time in the future to see orang utan and bekantan in borneo before all wiped out by palm tree plantation and coal mine sir....if there is my optniont and a word offended you sir or wrong plese forgive me and i wish you the best to your family and your country sir...amin
Imeant mostly people on earth can not come to antartica and artic.
We are scheduled to go. NOT CHEEP
No, not cheap at all....Antarctica is one of the most expensive destinations if my memory serves me correctly. But it is a once in a lifetime experience! Enjoy and thanks for watching.