Viking has officially taken delivery of Viking Octantis, the line’s first of two purpose-built expedition ships.

The ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway.

The 378-guest Viking Octantis will now set sail toward South America to welcome guests in January 2022 for its first voyages to Antarctica.

It will be officially named in April 2022 in New York City by its godmother, Liv Arnesen, an explorer and educator.

Following that, it will travel to the Great Lakes for a series of voyages during spring and summer.

A second, identical sister ship, Viking Polaris, will join the fleet in August 2022, for cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica.

Both ships will feature the Hangar – labelled “an industry first” – an enclosed, in-ship marina for the launch of small excursion craft through the ships’ multiple shell doors.

Guests will also have access to The Science Lab, to learn from and participate with scientists undertaking primary research.

Viking chairman Torstein Hagen said: “Today is a proud day for the entire Viking family as we welcome our first expedition ship to the fleet and usher in a new era of exploration.

“Our guests have asked us to build on our award-winning river and ocean voyages to take them further, and that is just what we have done.

“Leveraging our long history of destination-focused travel, enrichment and innovative ship design, we are now perfecting expedition voyages and offering curious travellers the opportunity to visit some of the world’s most pristine destinations in the most responsible way possible.

“With the arrival of Viking Octantis, Viking is now exploring all seven continents, and we look forward to welcoming her first guests on board in the coming weeks.”

In October 2021, the line revealed it will welcome a new ocean ship to the fleet in early 2023.

The 930-guest Viking Saturn will spend its maiden season sailing three new itineraries in Scandinavian and Nordic countries.