2025 cruise season kicks off in Halifax with arrival of Viking Polaris

The 2025 cruise season in Halifax officially started with the arrival of the Viking Polaris.

The 2025 Halifax cruise season – which is said to be the longest one to date – officially kicked off Friday with the arrival of the Viking Polaris.

The luxury expedition ship is the first of 188 calls the Nova Scotia capital is expected to see this year, according to a news release from the Port of Halifax. The cruise season will run from April 4 to Nov. 19.

According to the Viking Cruises website, the Viking Polaris was designed to explore remote destinations. It can hold 378 guests and 256 crew members. It was built in 2022.

Viking Polaris The Viking Polaris kicked off the 2025 cruise ship season in Halifax on April 4. (Source: Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic)

The 2025 season is set to welcome roughly 328,000 guests. Last year Halifax saw more than 350,000 cruise ship passengers.

Viking Polaris The Viking Polaris arrived in Halifax on April 4, 2025. (Source: Port of Halifax)

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