Wilmington Magazine Jan-Feb 2023

(clockwise from top left) Octantis performance stage; Underwater
sub; Kayaking Copper Harbor; Parry Sound lighthouse.
a science lab so advanced that the ship is considered a research
vessel. Passengers are encouraged to tour the lab and, when
possible, participate in research programs. Data gathered will
contribute to research in partnership with institutions like the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Scott
Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University and Cornell
University’s Ornithology Lab. A key attribute of the venture is
the continuous, simultaneous collection of these Great Lakes vital
signs along the repetitive ship routes, which allows scientists to
monitor changes on scales of season, years, and even decades.
Just beyond the science lab is another Viking first: a massive
hangar where guests can hop aboard a wide variety of exploratory
vessels that include kayaks, rigid inflatable Zodiacs and special
op boats designed for the Norwegian Navy that zoom across
the lake’s surface at thrilling speeds. There are also two bright
yellow submarines – they’re named John and Paul – that allow
for climate-controlled exploration far below the surface of the lake.
The spacious landing on the second level has been transformed
into a mini natural history museum where I discovered everything
from a varied collection of maps of the region to a remarkably
lifelike collection regional birds – Bald eagles, herons, warblers –
constructed from felt.
The ship is also strikingly beautiful. Art, much of it devoted
to exploration, (particularly Norwegian journeys, since Viking’s
owner is Norwegian) fills every nook and cranny. It’s wildly
varied, ranging from ancient tools to dramatic photographs of
some of the sled dogs that allowed early Norwegians to explore
the Polar ice cap. Exploration in one form or another also binds
the 4,000 volumes that comprise the ship’s library, which took
two years to curate.
Cabins are spacious, soothing and come with little extras like
heated bathroom floors, binoculars and a desk with a lighted
cubby that kept my makeup corralled and out of sight. Even if
you choose not to partake of a massage or facial, there are plenty
of opportunities for free pampering at the spa, particularly the
indoor-outdoor hot tub that looks out over the water. Octantis
94 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com