Editor's Pick: Beneath the Ice - A Luxury Expedition for the Deep Explorer
- Jacqueline May
- Oct 10, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
A Journey Few Ever Take
Diving into the frigid clear Antarctic waters aboard Viking Octantis’s bright yellow submarine was a powerful experience. When the hatch sealed, and daylight slowly narrowed into a soft halo above, removing most color from our vision, we knew we were headed into a silent untouched world.
For growth-minded women, these are not just any travel experiences. They are markers. They are moments that remind you just how far your own ambition can take you, both literally and figuratively.
A Rare Luxury Below the Surface
This isn’t your typical excursion. It's relatively brief, and simple. Can be done anywhere in the world, but this is ANTARCTICA after-all, and only a select few passengers are chosen each sailing to board the submersible, designed to reach depths of up to 300 feet.
Back to the submarine - There are no crowds, no lights (except for those turned on to scan the ocean floor), and no noise. Just six seats, a pilot, and the slow glide into an alien landscape.
As we descended, the world outside shifted. Pale light gave way to a darkness so pure it felt like it hummed. And then, drifting like a dementor straight from Azkaban (yes, it's a Harry Potter reference, and no I'm not ashamed), it appeared — a phantom ghost jellyfish, its long, ribbon-like arms trailing behind like smoke underwater.
Rarely seen by humans, (there have been only around 110 or so sightings in the world so far), this ethereal creature felt like a quiet nod from the universe, as if saying: you were meant to witness this.
At that moment I wasn’t just observing nature, I was standing at the edge of something few have ever seen. Quite possibly, no human had ever been at that exact spot beneath the ice before. And that was surreal. And my ambition brought me here to this very moment.
The Price of Access
Cruise Cost: Starting at $13,000 per person for Antarctic voyages
Submarine Dive Add-On: $499 per person
Duration: ~30 minutes
Access: By onboard lottery due to limited capacity
So, compared to private polar submersible experiences that can run into the thousands, Viking’s submarine program is a unique blend of accessibility and exclusivity. They offer a true luxury experience that still feels intimate at a reasonable price point.
Why It Resonates with Ambitious Women
Luxury is no longer just about rooms draped in velvet or Michelin-star tables (don't get me wrong we love those too and they are not going anywhere). But, it’s also about access to the extraordinary. For ambitious women, these experiences reflect more than leisure. They represent:
Perspective: Seeing a world few will ever witness.
Power: Owning your space. Being in environments traditionally reserved for the very few.
Presence: Standing (or diving) in places untouched by mass tourism.
In that submersible, watching the ghostly jellyfish drift in the dark, I felt something rare: not just wonder, but ownership of my own path.
How to Make It Happen
Reserve Early: Antarctic sailings sell out months in advance.
Register Quickly: Sub dives are selected by lottery on Day 1 of the voyage.
Dress Smart: Layer up, secure your camera, and lean into the unknown.
The Atelier Perspective
Viking Expeditions has elevated experiential travel into something scientific and artful. Every detail, from the sub’s engineering to the knowledgeable crew, reflects a kind of elegance that aligns with women who build, create, and lead. This dive isn’t just another travel story.
It's a statement. It says you belong not only in boardrooms or penthouses but also in places where no one else may have ever gone.
Comments