A new ship will take passengers and researchers on cruises across Lake Superior in 2022.

Viking Cruises announced late Wednesday evening that the Viking Octantis, which is currently under construction, will offer 14 cruises on Lake Superior in 2022.  Half of the cruises will make stops in Duluth.

The "Undiscovered Great Lakes" tour, starting at $6,695 per person, is scheduled to sail seven times in 2022.  It will visit Duluth and the Apostle Islands before heading east to Houghton, the Soo Locks, and Mackinac Island.

Meanwhile, the "Great Lakes Explorer" tour, starting at $6,495 per person, will go from Milwaukee to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay before heading through the Soo Locks and across Lake Superior directly to Thunder Bay.

The Octantis will also offer two other Great Lakes cruises that won't reach Lake Superior.

The ship will split its time between the Great Lakes and Antarctica, offering cruises in the polar region when it isn't in the Great Lakes.  Viking says the Octantis was designed to be small enough to navigate the St. Lawrence River and polar regions but large enough to offer stability in rough waters.

A sister ship, the Viking Polaris, will also launch in 2022 to cruise the polar regions.  The company says explorers Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft will be honored as "ceremonial godmothers" of the ships.

Each ship will also be a working research vessel with an onboard team of scientists. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will travel on Great Lakes expeditions to research changes in weather, climate, and ecosystems.

Guests will have supervised access to their laboratory, and scientists may offer lectures about the Great Lakes environment.

To read the original article and see related reporting, follow this link to the WDIO-TV website.  https://www.wdio.com/news/viking-cruises-octantis-lake-superior-duluth-summertime-vacation/5609236/?...