[2] A letter of intent was signed for two new expedition vessels for Viking Cruises in April 2018.

[3] The ship has a straight bow, designed to reduce fuel consumption and improve stability.

The ice-strengthened Polar Class 6 hull was built to ensure a safe voyage and state of the art U-tank stabilisers are intended to decrease rolling by up to 50% when the ship is stationary.

After the Antarctic season the ship sailed north via the Caribbean Sea to New York City,[12] where it was originally intended have the ship's official naming ceremony, but was postponed due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

[13] The ship departed New York City to begin her maiden Great Lakes season, sailing out of such ports as Toronto, Thunder Bay, and Milwaukee.