Wilmington Magazine Jan-Feb 2023

Suite living area
on Octantis.
FOREST PHOTO KATIE MCELVEEN
also has a full fitness center, something not always available on
smaller ships.
Dining on Octantis resembles a treasure hunt: most of the ship’s
top deck is devoted to the World Café, which stretches nearly
from bow to stern and is filled with food stations ranging from
a grill that serves beef dry-aged in house to a sushi bar and a
bread area that turns out fresh loaves, pizzas and focaccia. Once
you’ve loaded your plate and found a seat – most look out over the
water – waiters deliver cocktails, wine and other beverages. Two
sit-down restaurants offer dining in a more intimate setting; all
are included in the fare.
Surrounded by Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois, the Great Lakes are far more interesting than they
might seem. Lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan were likely formed by
a series of giant ice sheets that gouged the landscape; the presence
of basalt leads researchers to believe that volcanos had a role in
creating Superior and Ontario. For visitors, all that pushing and
melting of rock means that the landscape is filled with gigantic
natural potholes, arches, sea caves, sea stacks and other dramatic
geological features. The region is so remote that sightings of bear,
wolves and moose are common.
Viking makes it easy to take it all in. Sporty types can hike
deep into thick forests that often end abruptly at the edge of
tall sandstone cliffs that look out over water you’d swear was an
ocean; amblers can walk the wide, even trails that loop through
local parks.
The kayaks, zodiacs, submarines and special op boats were loads
of fun, too. Regardless of how I explored, I was taken by knowledge
of the expedition team, who, day after day, impressed me with
their knowledge of everything from how fresh the moose tracks
were that we passed (very!) to how the black and white striped
rocks were formed. They did double duty, too, leading not only
explorations but the onboard discussion programs as well.
Best of all, I finished every day physically tired, intellectually
sated and ready to settle into my seat at the bar to listen to live
music and share stories of the day with my fellow passengers. W
January /February 2023 | 95