Viking Expeditions Shore Excursions

[recentretiree2017]

Since Antarctic regulations only allow ships to have 100 persons at a time on shore, how does Viking handle getting 340 passengers plus support staff on shore each day?

[CDNPolar]

57 minutes ago, recentretiree2017 said:

Since Antarctic regulations only allow ships to have 100 persons at a time on shore, how does Viking handle getting 340 passengers plus support staff on shore each day?

 

Yes, only 100 on shore at a time, and this is a very strict rule that they have to follow.

 

This is a very well orchestrated program of zodiac boats shuttling people back and forth in windows of time.  This is the same for every cruise line.

 

We did not sail Viking to Antarctica, but for our shore activities on the line we sailed you were advised that when your group was called to the staging area, that you needed to be there ON TIME.  

 

We were also given very STRONG advisories that once on shore we had XX minutes and we had to return to the landing spot to return to the ship.

 

Trust that they know how to do this and they do this well.

 

It can however be frustrating waiting or only having so many activities to be able to do any given day, but it is all dependent on the resources the ship has (number of zodiac boats, number of kayaks, etc.).

[Frenchberet]

We sailed to Antarctica on Viking Octantis February 2023.  There were numerous activities offered off the ship - sub, kayaking, special ops boats, and RIBs.  We signed up for the activities we wanted and received a daily schedule.  The schedule was very well organized and we never felt rushed or bored just hanging around.  On landing days there were multiple trips via RIB to and from the ship.  We were able to do everything we wanted to do.  It was a wonderful trip on a beautiful expedition ship, and we highly recommend it.