A friend and I recently disembarked from a 7-day Great Lakes Expedition Cruise on the Viking Octantis. The ship was amazing, the food was terrific, the crew was exceptional, and the excursions were fun. Did it ruin cruising for me? Maybe.
Viking is marketed as the “thinking man’s” cruise. The marketing features smiling people enjoying wine while taking in the view, reading in a well-lit chair on deck, or relaxing in a cabin. Do these things happen? Yes, you see it throughout the ship. You see people walking the decks for exercise, enjoying meals in the restaurants, engaging in tabletop games and puzzles, attending lectures, and listening to the musicians onboard. It isn’t your typical cruise ship – no shows, no slides, and no loud announcements throughout the day. It’s civilized and quiet, with some luxury to it. The cruise is all about the science and wildlife of the area, be it the Great Lakes or Antarctica. Each evening, a daily briefing was held in the Aula, the auditorium, which explained the upcoming excursions, ports, and provided information about the Great Lakes ecosystem and history.
Embarkation and the Cabin
We left rainy Milwaukee on Tuesday afternoon and had our first lunch in the World Café, where we would have many of our meals that week. We enjoyed a light meal and soon were exploring Cabin 3015, our home for the week. It was well located on the starboard side near the bow. The Nordic balcony is simply a large picture-style window, the top half of which could be lowered to let in some fresh air. There was a seating area and vanity, a Nespresso machine, and a fully stocked small fridge. There were binoculars for spotting wildlife and boats.
We opted for the twin bed configuration. There were large wardrobes with robes and slippers provided, as well as a drying closet. This is not intended for completely drying clothes, but rather for hanging up outdoor clothing supplied by the ship to dry. It also held our life jackets for excursions.
The bathroom area was a generous space with a large shower. You can see the cabin tour here. In the afternoon, we, along with most of the other passengers, took a ship tour to familiarize ourselves with the ship’s offerings. That evening, we dined on our first surf and turf dinner. It was one of many.
The Itinerary
We would visit several places on the cruise, Mackinaw Island, Georgian Bay, Killarney, Silver Islet, and Thunder Bay. Well, we did, most of that… The weather would be a minor obstacle in the first few days. But Viking knows how to pivot, and they did it in a seat-of-the-pants manner, which shows just how well they can take care of their guests.
Mackinac Island
Tuesday evening, we left Milwaukee bound for Mackinac Island in Michigan. We arrived near the island late Wednesday morning after passing beneath the Mackinac bridge and took the first tender ashore. We purchased tickets ahead of time to explore the Grand Hotel for $12.00 each and decided to skip the included excursions. The island is not large, and by early afternoon on this June day, it was crowded. We walked to the hotel, enjoying the horse-drawn carriages and bicycles as they passed. It was the perfect day, with blue skies and pleasant temperatures. The walk to the hotel was beautiful and not steep, tho it does sit on a hillside.
It is an iconic site, featuring yellow awnings and a long, sitting porch. The hotel, which opened in 1887, has been featured in numerous movies. Somewhere in Time, released in 1980, is the most notable film that is set in the Grand.
We roamed around the hotel, dodging guests and visitors, and visited the Cupola bar for the best view of Lake Huron. Then sat on the porch to soak in some of the history and listen to the clip-clop of the passing carriages. See the video here.
It was back down the hill in search of some Mackinac fudge. We stopped at Ryba’s Fudge Shop, where we watched as they poured out the hot fudge to cool and cut. Here is how they cool the fudge. The turtle confections were delicious. Due to the crowds, we tendered back to the ship for lunch and spent the afternoon on board.
We dined in The Restaurant, one of the specialty restaurants, that evening. We opted for scallops, lobster, and bread pudding for dessert. It was a lovely meal, but better ones were to come.
Tobermory
We awoke to rainy skies on Thursday, and some of the excursions were cancelled. As the expedition crew pivoted and decided on new locations, the captain charted a new course north and gave the passengers a talk about the ship. We learned to tie knots, toasted our 3rd Viking cruise, planned a 4th, and enjoyed a day on board. That evening, the Octantis passed through the Sault St. Marie locks, and all the passengers took to the decks of the ship to watch at 11 pm. I’m sure that passage wasn’t simple to reschedule, as that transit was planned for two days later.
Friday
It was tour day on board, as we had no excursions planned. In the morning, we toured the hangar deck, where we were able to get up close to ‘the toys’. We saw the kayaks, zodiacs, special operations boats, and the two submarines up close. A significant amount of money is invested in the toys that live in the hull of that ship. We were able to board several of them, but the submarine was a bit out of reach. Here is a bit of the Hanger tour.
In the afternoon, a bridge tour and afternoon excursions were offered as the weather began to clear, as we navigated toward Canada. An afternoon swim in the thermal spa’s hydrotherapy pool was enjoyable. We tried out the warming couches and the experience shower. There are three more pools on the aft of the ship, an indoor and small outdoor infinity pool, and a cold and hot plunge pool. We didn’t make it there.
Saturday
A beautiful day dawned, and the toys hit the water. We did two excursions, a special ops boat and one on a Zodiac. The fog came and went, but I think all the passengers enjoyed the day on the water.
Sunday
It was a picture-perfect day. The toys were deployed, including the sub. My goal was to get some photos of it as it was recovered at the end of the day. I had to be patient, but it paid off. It was a sight to see the pilot of the sub using a small joystick to guide it. See the sub recovery video here. It was Cindy’s first time kayaking, and she loved it. I did the galley tour with the chef, and we enjoyed the chocolate bar at lunchtime.
In the Aula, the main theater, the farewell toast was given by the crew, even though we had two more days onboard. That evening, the fog rolled in and out again. We dined with two members of the expedition team, Joel and Babs, in the World Café. That was an enjoyable dinner. We learned about their backgrounds, education, and what had brought them to be on an expedition cruise. I suggest that if offered, you should take this opportunity; it’s a great way to learn about the behind-the-scenes of the ship.
Silver Islet
Monday was my birthday, so room service and a massage were on the menu. In the afternoon, we tendered to Silver Islet after Cindy did a zodiac tour of the underwater silver mine. It was a beautiful day to stroll through the small tourist area and savor some sweet treats at the General Store. That evening, it was a birthday dinner at Manfred’s, the Italian specialty restaurant, as we sailed into Thunder Bay, Canada. I contacted an old friend who lives in Thunder Bay, and she came down to the dock so we could catch up after fifteen years. Time does fly!
Thunder Bay
Our bags packed, the buses arrived to take us to the small Thunder Bay airport. Viking was kind enough to provide us with gift cards to purchase food before the flight. Thunder Bay airport is tiny, but we managed to find some provisions. We boarded our charter flight to Toronto, which was pleasant, and were provided with additional snack bags. Viking makes sure that you have plenty to eat while traveling.
Toronto is a huge international airport. We claimed our bags, checked in for our American Airlines flight, and went through customs. So far, so good. Then the delays began for everyone. There was weather on the East Coast that was causing problems. When our American flight was continuously delayed, I called Viking Air and spoke with Jeffery, who was able to get us rebooked on Delta, if we could get our bags off the American flight. We finally found a kind AA agent who helped us do just that. The Delta flight was a bit delayed, which gave them time to locate the bags and make the switch. We arrived home at midnight, tired and happy to be back. To quote Jimmy Buffett, “It was a lovely cruise.”
Pro Tips: Communication is Key
Viking has several built-in fixes on their website and 800 #, don’t hesitate to use them if you’re having travel issues.
Having done two European river cruises and now an expedition cruise, I have a few tips to provide. 1) If you book your flights with Viking Air, if you’re not happy with your routing, talk to them; it may be an easy fix. 2) If you are in a bind during your airport travels, call Viking Air; that’s why they are there, to help you to reroute. 3) If you have a problem with your cabin, tell your steward, they will do they’re best to make it right for you. 4) Always have your booking # available; it makes it easier for them to find you, especially when you’re tired and need help. 5) Don’t overpack on the expedition cruise; they have laundrettes that are free to passengers, including detergent, so it’s easy to reduce what you need to bring.
Final Thoughts
Has the Viking expedition ruined me for cruising? Probably. I was so impressed with the ship. It cost $255 million to construct. It is comfortable, quiet, and is as smooth as silk. You barely feel the ship moving. The service and crew are top shelf. The cabins are well arranged. The excursions are fun, and several are included with your fare. The WIFI is good and also included. I opt for the drinks package, but the drink costs are not outrageous if you don’t.
Could they do some things better, yes. I found the pillows uncomfortable, and there didn’t seem to be a good alternative from my steward. The food overall was good, although we had several outstanding dishes, including the short ribs, lobster, spinach side dish, gelato, and risotto at Manfred’s. The amount of food they prepare each day for 350+ passengers is astounding. My favorite drink onboard, the White Lady, is made with Highclere Gin. Delicious!
Overall, I am a fan of Viking; they deliver what they promise. Expensive, yes, but when you add up the excursions and inclusions on other lines, it’s probably not that much more than other cruises. Another selling point for me is that there is no one under 18 years old on the ship. It is usually an older crowd, many of whom are well-traveled, and mainly with Viking.
Going Back
I’ve booked two more cruises with Viking: an Expedition to Antarctica in ’26 and a River Cruise in Portugal in ’27. I’m planning to dive in one of the submarines in Antarctica. Want to see some videos from the cruise? Head over to my RRJ page on YouTube.
Enjoy the Journey!
