The Viking Octantis Visits Alpena for Second Time
On Wednesday, the Viking Octantis could once again be seen floating off the bay in Alpena. Passengers had the chance to view the scenery and sharing their experience on the modern vessel.
Bright orange passenger ships called tenders transported passengers to and from the cruise ship. The passengers also had the chance to learn about the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. “Learning about different places that we were not aware of, Peele Island was one ,and here in Alpena. I was not really aware of this side of Michigan and this town,” said Bob Wilson, a passenger.
Crew members place a strong focus on enhancing and enriching passengers knowledge on the marine sanctuary. “We’ve got a big massive science collaboration that’s onboard with NOAA, and things like that where we actually have real life data sent to NOAA and they stream it all over the world,” said Sandy Cadwallader, general naturalist. “So a lot of it science, but a lot of it is about the nature of the floor and the fauna of the Great Lakes to.”
The modern vessel holds up to 378 guests, with 18 cruise itineraries, ready to explore the world. “It’s been wonderful. It’s great to see all the people coming off the boat and talking to them from different parts of the country, and share a little bit about our town,” said Casey Stutzman, officer with Alpena Police Department.
The Viking Octantis anchored at many destinations, including Antarctica, but it’s the first time it’s traveling on the Great Lakes.
