What it’s like sailing an expedition ship on the Great Lakes - Viking Octantis Ship Review

The largest passenger ship to ever dock in Toronto is Viking Octantis - an expedition ship from Viking Cruises. I sailed from Milwaukee to Thunder Bay on this INCREDIBLE ship. Come with me and experience exactly what I did over this 7 day summer sailing.
Is it expedition or luxury? It’s the first time a ship like this has even been built; featuring a full-fledged Science Team and a Chief Scientist.
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www.travelwithkabir.ca
Equipment:
iPhone 13 Pro Max
AT2020 Microphone
Share MV88 Microphone
DJI Mini, DJI Mini 3 Pro

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

🚢 Book your Viking Great Lakes adventure here [expedia.com/affiliates/travelwithkabir/cruise] 🌊 - it supports the channel at no extra cost to you! 🌟

[@RuneRdsetMotorsport]

Great video. Our company, Vard in Norway, proudly made this ship for Viking. Thank you for sharing some beautiful views from the lakes and the Octantis.

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

You built a STUNNING ship. Innovative, robust and beautiful! It was my pleasure to capture it! Hopefully more voyages to come soon!

[@l.thegirl2581]

Make more!😉 The upgraded cabins go fast! Hard to get the booking... What a beautiful ship. You can be proud

[@rikaveronika8218]

@@l.thegirl2581 rcm c. .. @@

[@user-ek8rh3nj3z]

viking won't allow families with children. would never sail with viking. viking is anti family.

[@DreDesignsGLMP]

I am a Photographer and Videographer of the Great Lakes ships with a rather large following on Facebook... After seeing your video, it is now a bucket list item to do a trip on Octantis or Polaris.. I've had the pleasure of Photographing and doing video of Octantis this past shipping season and I'm looking forward to having both ships here in Sault Ste Marie where I live... I will forego any other type of trip for years to come to be able to afford doing something like this lol... It looks like a once in a lifetime experience... I have done a week aboard an actually Great Lakes Freighter which was incredible... Doing this would be a whole other type of experience... Thank you for an interesting and informative tour of this stunning vessel

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

You’re so welcome! I hope you get aboard soon and get some good pictures 😃

[@StarlyMusic]

Sadly it goes for 14k per person. I grew up on Lake Superior and really wanted to take my fam on this but, that's just insane for 2k per day.

[@kewljewl3006]

We have seen the Octantis entering and exiting the Duluth harbor and wondered about it. This video provides a great overview, far better than what I learned from the website. Thanks! Now to figure out financing an expedition.

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Hope that you get to hop aboard. She's magnificent.

[@Anolaana]

Wow, there's so much cool science kit aboard this ship! I never knew Viking managed to capture so much research data for the public too.

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

It's incredible eh?

[@Travelpast50]

Your video really captures the essence of the expedition ship in the Great Lakes.

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thank you so much! 😃

[@frankstanton7444]

Great

[@bellavita3097]

What a great cruise I would never have known and I live here in Michigan I’ve never been on a cruise but definitely this is the way to go less people the great Lakes just incredible.

[@flyshacker]

This video is amazing! NEVER saw a cruise video anything like this! And the video quality is so HI REZ! Stunning visual clarity!! I really want to take a cruise with a submarine! Wow!

[@michaelbrooks1868]

This was a great introduction to Vikings Expedition Ship Octantis. We are big Viking fans! We were scheduled to go to the Arctic on Polaris this August, but the outfitting of the ship is delayed. Instead we are going on the exact same trip you just highlighted. Looks like the weather was great! Can’t wait! Thanks for your detailed posting!

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thank you 😃. It truly was magnificent - apparently there are minimal changes to Polaris, so the expertise should be nearly identical. Have an incredible time!!

[@HildrunUta]

We are planning on going on the Polaris (identical to Octantis) May 2024 8 days from Toronto to Milwaukee. Your video was so beautifully and sensitively done to give us a sampling of being on the ship and doing that cruise. Thank you Kabir.

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@Paolo-sw8ys]

That was a very well done video! And to answer your question whether "I would travel the Great Lakes"? Answer before watching the video was yes! Answer after watching the video... YES!!!... Between the sights, ports of call, and that beautiful ship I doubt there are many wouldn't love that cruise!

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thanks Paolo! Hope to see you sailing the Great Lakes sometime soon!

[@barbniv1]

ThankYou for sharing your trip. My husband and I are going on that cruise in August and on the same ship. I am so excited.

[@mgoncalves5596]

I'm 38 years old but I love travelling with Viking. No trashy or rowdy people around. The food and service are top notch. And most of the port of calls are very unique!!

[@deborahwade9896]

Truly awesome video. Beautifully filmed and narrated. Thanks so much. Loved it.

[@l.thegirl2581]

I am so getting on that boat....I will happily pass on the casino ships lol.

[@furuba28]

Thanks so much for sharing your trip and making this beautiful video! We are in love with this cruise option! ❤

[@sivayamsiva9343]

Really great, wonderful cruise ship experience and useful comments congratulations 🙏

[@owlbuquerqueturkey]

My dream cruise is Viking's Duluth to Antarctica cruise. I've always wanted to cruise on the great lakes. My dad had the opportunity to ride on a Danish cargo ship from Duluth to Montreal when he was a kid, and I've always been envious.

[@l.thegirl2581]

On my dad's senior high school trip back in the 50s they cruised the lakes, I think on an old WW2 era vessel that has long since been decommissioned. You used to be able to cruise the Lakes. I'm so glad this is coming back to the Lakes; Huron, Superior, northern Lake Michigan-- these are special places.

[@halpen]

This looks amazing!

[@vivian198]

Amazing adventure. Thanks for sharing!

[@aaronmartin7451]

Very well made video. Thanks!

[@ericduffield524]

EXCELLENT review and video! I'm interested in this cruise, and am just now researching it. Sounds wonderful. You did a Very Good job 👏

[@mea3665]

Doing this same trip next summer, so excited.

[@andrewscrutton]

great video, well put together. i hope they pay attention to the things travelers missed because of briefing schedules.

[@Ravensonng]

Wonderful video. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@curious-traveler7730]

Came over from Emma. Great live stream between the two of you. Happy to watch as we were scheduled on this exact ship in Great Lakes, but Covid 😷. Can’t wait to reschedule!!! Thanks for the details.

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

You’re welcome! Thanks for coming over :) Please let me know how it goes!

[@paulwinge4173]

Excellent video. We are booked on the Octantis in October as it transitions from the US to the Caribbean. I'm even more excited after seeing and hearing about your experiences. Thanks!

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Glad to hear it! A voyage like that on this ship would be great too, it’s so versatile. Also, the form factor of the ship gives it a great feel

[@Jfk3434]

Thank you. I enjoy seeing the freighters videos going through canal point in Duluth and a video of Octantis there too

[@fulv_uk]

Thank you for this video. Incredibly well done

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thank YOU for watching!

[@suezobel5133]

Great video-thanks so much!

[@theshadowboxer]

Definitely would love to see the room video! Thanks for this great content!

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

It's coming :)

[@Jude74]

OMg. I didn’t hear about this until your video and I’ve been actively looking for something like this!!! Awesome!!!

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thank you so much 😃

[@lj9524]

Well done video! Thank you!👏👏👏

[@emoloy3288]

Excellent video Kabir, I'm dying to go on a Viking Great Lakes cruise!

[@jeffross5424]

booked on the polaris great lakes for 2 weeks next june...video gave me an info of what to expect and heads up on what to take when in ports

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thanks so much! Enjoy it!

[@bellavita3097]

I love this and welcome to beautiful Mackinac Island MI!

[@FMAStudent]

Thanks for sharing this remarkable content. I never would have dreamed this was available in the GL region.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing.

[@debellatios]

Fantastic video! Really hope to do this Great Lakes expedition as well as the Antarctic one!

[@margaretthompson6391]

Kabir you have a lovely narration voice. Professional dare I say it. First time viewer. Considering subscribing. Best of luck wit,h your channel.

[@barbarashirland9078]

Once out of Lake Erie, home! Great videos! Thank you!

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thank you!

[@ChasingChey]

Kabir!! Love the video, you did such a great job :) I'll be on the Octantis in March... loved seeing it from your point of view! Hope you're doing well!

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

You too Chey!! That’s amazing, please tell me how it goes 😃

[@XmalD73]

Wonderful and informative video, thank you! We’re traveling from Toronto to Milwaukee on Octantis this year. I was very saddened that there will be no submarine expeditions, we were informed by email. Not 100% sure why, especially since you have them on your cruise. We are going to maximize every day and explore every inch of the ship. Very excited!

[@TerryOnDemand]

Ive lived by the great lakes all my life. I had no idea we had cruise options. Wow. (Ive always cruised out of florida).

[@lauralynnmonroe]

Very well done video, thank you

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thanks for watching!

[@tmoore4075]

Oooo the fudge. So good.

[@lesliemorgan3091]

Kabir took one for the team in that snow shower! Go Kabir! That was awesome.

[@renniey]

Look forward to more of your weather on "TWN":)

[@teaeff8898]

Very cool! Always wanted to know what it was like on the ship. I didn’t realize they had all that variety of off-ship excursions (eg. submarine!) /scientific work. I assumed that was for the arctic trip and it wasn’t that involved on the Great Lakes cruises. Very informative!

[@ianwilde5379]

Great show!

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thanks Ian!

[@connorkilgour3374]

Great video. I'll likely not be able to afford to travel on her so this is nice. just a side note but in Thunder Bay, direction in front of where the Octantis docks there's a museumship, CCGS Alexander Henry.

[@RastkoRoza]

Subscribed! Thanks for the video

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thanks for watching!

[@RastkoRoza]

@@TravelWithKabirCD no problem, cant wait for the room tour 😁

[@exploringwitheric]

Wow excellent video

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thanks Eric!

[@terryboyer1342]

Just finished watching a vid on the Viking Octantis sailing from Milwaukee, Frasier Bay, the Soo then Silver Islet and Thunder Bay when your vid popped up.. They showed some footage on Frasier and Silver Islet but not much on Thunder Bay. Pretty neat ship. Not your average cruise boat.

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Not average at all. It's nice to see innovation in the industry.

[@Accu53Mation]

Outstanding video! We're wanting to get away for a week of peace from the children. We're looking at a eight day cruise. Big boats have too many people. This is perfect.

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Thanks! It’s sure to impress, enjoy it 😃

[@badguy5554]

I think the Great Lakes offer scenes and venues that can compete with any in the world. My ONLY problem: The prices for these trips are about 3 to 4 times that of Caribbean or Alaska cruises.

[@l.thegirl2581]

I'm not a cruiser type but I saw this and I started looking around at cruise prices. You're right, but from what I can tell, all of the smaller boats are more expensive. It seems like Viking really does a great job at curating enriching trips. The equipment looks top notch. Another vlogger said that there are always glitches with new routes so I expect sailing gets smoother with each trip. Really cool opportunity

[@zzzland1]

Excellent video and presentation. Anything you did not like about this experience?

[@JillClardy]

Terrific review of this impressive ship; we'll be on her in June/July 2023 for the tour of all 5 Great Lakes ! Did you need to bring waterproof pants for the Zodiac tours?

[@RastkoRoza]

Take me onboard!!! 😂😂

[@LiljaMBehr]

I would love to sail on this ship!

[@nancyrisch5374]

I enjoyed your video. I am from Wisconsin and am doing some research on the Viking Expedition cruises to see if I’d like to give it a try. Your camera work is great, but it would be nice to have more than a quick glance at some of the ships features. Now I’m going to give you a little advice. You seem to be new to the vlog party, I noticed you don’t have many views or subscribers. I’m sure that will change because you’re good looking, have an engaging style, and a good delivery of the information. I like to cruise, but haven’t been in a couple of years because of you know what, but I like to check out cruise vlogs. I have one vlogger who I have followed for years because he started out as a young, friendly, informative guy just wanting to take the viewer along on his travels. But in the past few years, he seems to have been taken over by the “subscribe, subscribe, subscribe”, “ring the bell”, “thumbs up”, “go to Amazon and buy the bookI wrote”, “check out this merch I’m promoting”, and the 30 seconds yapping about some product sponsor before I can watch the video. I”ve decided to put that vlogger, and others who follow the same play book, behind and look for vloggers like you who are sharing your travels and not spoiling your followers enjoyment with all that other crap. Keep up the great job!

[@texasboy5117]

There are a number of very good videos on KZbin which spend a lot of time with details of the cabins and ship. The ship looks outstanding! A lot like a small version of the Viking ships we have been on.

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Really appreciate this comment. Thank you!

[@EmmaCruises]

My goodness I miss the heated Viking bathrooms! Not been on Octantis myself, but hopefully one day! 💕

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

If you get the chance go for it! It’s the coolest little ship with big time adventure 😃💪🏽🚢

[@user-tb1cu5bi8m]

You’re video was very helpful . I’m scheduled on this cruise in May. While in port, could you tender into each location? Were you docked at ports? What was your dining preference? I under that you have to make reservations daily for dining rooms. Was that difficult? Anything’s else you could share would be helpful. Thanks, Judy

[@DualsportDisport]

Excellent production.

[@joe97nsx]

Mackinac island was the filming location of Somewhere in time, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. A great movie.

[@kevinduveneck1504]

I would like to take a trip on the Great Lakes but on one of the thousand foot ore carriers. I bet the meal portions would be a whole lot bigger than I saw on this cruise ship.

[@mreppen1]

Wow, and I’m Canadian from Toronto.

[@markditecco8682]

Just last night this ship past a quarter mile away from my house. i live right by lock 3 of the Welland canal

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Lucky! You'd have gotten some amazing views!

[@_S.H_]

A 45-days sailing from Ushuaia to Toronto would be on my bucket list, if not for the expensive fare price of $26,000 USD

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Oof that is PRICEY!

[@tony8074]

She look like a ship, not an apartment building on a hull. I love the modernist interior on board these ships.

[@mwolfgr01]

This would have been amazing to have been on. I sadly could probably never afford this. 😭

[@wayneyd2]

The Acrylic Bubble do not flex. They are shatterproof and could with stand great pressure.

[@KSguitarmusic]

So is the special operations boat more of a speed thrill as opposed to relaxed sightseeing? Sort of looks that way.

[@debsaya9028]

How do we get tickets. Do you have one that starts in west mich and ends in west mich around the mitten

[@dsmith6601]

The submarine excursion has really taken on mew concerns this year

[@timfronimos459]

The locks are at Sault Sainte Marie, not Sioux.

[@arl4945]

They seem disorganized! The rest looks great :)

[@emeraldkimble7602]

Parry sound home of former great hockey player Bobby orr

[@erbewayne6868]

Watched her pass under the Blue water bridge this summer. Beautiful ship. Haven't seen a cruise ship since the North American or South American many years ago.

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Nor have I, let alone one of this caliber. She's an ocean-bound vessel which is rare for us.

[@ionuttudor9559]

Do you know where it was made?

[@jerryteel5866]

Nice-looking ship. But we prefer a real outdoor balcony off the stateroom, and a pool you can actually swim in. Seems that this vessel is better designed for Antarctica than the Great Lakes.

[@blauer2551]

The problem I’ve heard is the price of these cruises. I assume small subs aren’t the best selling point for cruising considering the latest tragedy.

[@nickentros]

Really cool concept but seems annoying how many briefings you have to do, I wonder if there would be a way that they could let you do these briefings prior to embarkation

[@KTHKUHNKK]

What are the dangers of an airplane getting tangled up in the wire from the weather balloon ?

[@firewallfox7844]

I'll be on this ship August 13. You mentioned there is one free excursion per day. I am currently signed up for 2 free excursions per day as I see that you were. Did you have to pay extra for the second "free" excursion??

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Interesting question. All of the expedition-based excursions are included, which includes the zodiac’s rides on the SOB and the submarine - they don’t count as “excursions”. In terms of port excursions, those are separate, and Viking includes one per port 😃

[@lynnes8241]

Um....'Polar regions'? Am I missing something because I'm not seeing any 'Polar regions' on this itinerary

[@Wkmor]

That’s Kill ARE ny.

[@user-st1uy5wz2t]

that looks amazing - i want to go on that

[@markjanssens5484]

Do any of the restaurants on the ship serve real food like steak, chops, burgers, and pizza?

[@lyndasteele7020]

Of Course! Been on 7 Viking cruises

[@annmcclure8378]

Not exactly my cup of tea. I would hate having to attend briefing after briefing, and miss some of the memorable moments. Looks like a great cruise, though!

[@marfadog2945]

At 14:45 , I don't want to eat that. What the hell is that?? You eat it first!

[@terryboyer1342]

So what did they discover about micro plastics in the Great Lakes?

[@TravelWithKabirCD]

Well, at this point there are microplastics, it's the first time these experiments have been done. Where it will go - I am guessing they will continue to analyze how/where is worst affected and report that information to the Canadian/US authorities. In terms of cleanup, I'm not sure how/what will happen. However, it's a good first step of many.

[@TheJttv]

Great video, great ship but the "science" feels quite greenwashy by the cruise line

[@ccubedmedia5925]

Theres more cars on Mackinac island than they let on. 🤫

[@LoganHunter82]

"The Aula"... In finnish, that means "Lobby" Would I ever cruise The Great Lakes? Yes. If I had the money, I would do that

[@BeechSportBill]

Pricing is MASSIVE…

[@superhussein]

is there a happy ending included in the massage?

[@phife1878]

Sounds like a terrible "cruise". So many rules and briefings and tests!

[@brandoncooper1962]

Children allowed?

[@lonistewart3405]

I hope they changed the name Special Operations. Too close to Russia's term for their war against Ukraine. 😢