SH Vega

With its expansive panoramic sea views, friendly, welcoming atmosphere, and comfy, luxurious seating, the Observation Lounge is a great place to relax. Enjoy a quiet moment, read a good book, or sit back and savor your favorite tipple as you get to know your fellow guests.

Take time to relax in one our spacious viewing areas and enjoy our wide selection of rich reference and other reading materials in the stylish library.

Take a pew in the forward-facing Swan’s Nest observation platform for extraordinary 180-degree views.

The Reception can be found on Deck 4.

Capturing the right images of your voyage has never been more important. And on an expedition cruise to exceptional destinations there’s a lot you can do to enhance your pictures. Whether you're shooting on your phone, or a camera, our experts on-board will offer tips on downloading and upskilling as well as editing to ensure you capture the best memories possible.

But we’ve taken it one step further. Our state-of-the-art photography lab is dedicated to ensuring guests capture every moment from their once-in-a-lifetime trip. This is a fun place to come and learn, ask questions and swap tips with fellow passengers. Private tuition available on request.

The Boutique can be found on Deck 7.

The Bridge can be found on Deck 8.

Our heated infinity pool was designed for you to unwind after a busy day, and truly immerse yourself in your inspiring surroundings.

Head to Deck 8 for the best views in the world. After a work out in our gym, relax in our panoramic sauna and take in the stunning scenery.

Choose from one of the many beauty and wellness treatments at our Balinese spa, including hot stone and bamboo massages, and pampering body care. Our sauna is the perfect place for meditative moments after your onshore activities or to finish a well-deserved pampering session.

Our state-of-the-art gym has everything you’ll need for an invigorating workout, from cardio machines to stretch bands and free weights. There are also instructor-led classes available, along with personal trainers, offering everything from resistance training and Pilates, to yoga and meditation.

Choose from one of the many beauty and wellness treatments.

Wherever you sail with us, there will be daily expeditions that will bring you closer to the remote places you’re visiting, including Zodiac excursions, kayaking trips, trekking, and in the polar regions – and only for the brave! – there’s the Polar Plunge!

Love landscapes? Gain a deeper understanding of how your surroundings were formed from the knowledgable geologists you meet on board – and change the way you see the world forever.

GEOLOGISTS

Love landscapes? Gain a deeper understanding of how your surroundings were formed from the knowledgable geologists you meet on board – and change the way you see the world forever.

ORNITHOLOGISTS

Will you spot a snow petrel, puffin, or rockhopper penguin when you travel with us? Learn about the incredible birds you encounter from our onboard ornithologists!

ACTIVITY LEADERS

From kayaking excursions and Zodiac expeditions, to hiking trips and private tours, you can rely on our experienced activity leaders to guide you on your adventures.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Our photography experts are always happy to help you with your camera work. Chat to them and learn how you can best capture movement and light in the far-flung places you visit.

NATURALISTS

Our expert naturalists are the next best thing to traveling with Charles Darwin. Chat with them to get a new understanding of organisms, habitats and the natural world.

MARINE BIOLOGISTS

Catch up with our onboard marine biologists for absorbing stories about the whales, dolphins and other marine species you encounter on your Swan Hellenic voyage!

HISTORIANS

Our historians bring the past to life for you with incredible stories and unmatched knowledge of the places you visit with them.

EXPEDITION LEADERS

The experts in charge of your excursions make sure you're in the right place at the right time to experience amazing wildlife and stunning landscapes on your travels.

BOTANISTS

Identifying plant life is easy with our onboard botanists! Get insights into ecosystems and climate whether you’re at sea or on land.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS

Consult our archaeology experts to discover what lies beneath your feet, and uncover the lost cities and ancient civilizations that shaped history.

Our guest lecturers have a wealth of specialist knowledge, which helps you fully embrace the amazing destinations you travel to with Swan Hellenic. Each lecture offers interesting insights into the destinations you’re visiting – think history, culture, flora, wildlife – and this really helps you get the most from your time with us. Plus, briefings before each disembarkation, and recaps afterwards, enhance our lectures and talks, encouraging everyone to share their experiences in a fun, friendly atmosphere.

Our ships are wheelchair accessible, with some operational requirements and prior notice requirements. Guests who use wheelchairs must bring their own, as we have only a small number of wheelchairs stored onboard for emergencies. To ensure ease of movement on the ship, wheelchairs and mobility aids must be no wider than 65cm. All mobility or medical equipment brought on board must be capable of being carried safely and must be declared before sailing. To ensure that all guests can safely evacuate during an emergency, guests requiring a wheelchair can only be accommodated in our ADA-accessible cabins.

We offer an Oceanview stateroom on Vega and an Oceanview and a Balcony stateroom on Diana. These staterooms are specifically designed to be completely ADA compliant and have a fully operable wheelchair-access wet unit.

Our ships have two lifts, serving every passenger deck apart from the Stargazing top deck, which is, therefore, more difficult to access, as are the Aft Marina and Swan’s Nest forward observation platform. Also, we don’t have special equipment to access the swimming pool, jacuzzi, or sauna. Otherwise, the ship is entirely at your disposal.

Many of the expeditions ashore in remote places are by Zodiac. Boarding these boats and returning aboard can present challenges for wheelchair users, as can navigating uneven terrain. These challenges are by no means always insurmountable, though, and our highly experienced crew is trained to provide reliable advice and assistance. They will make every effort to ensure wheelchair-using guests enjoy a memorable experience at each destination. Our general guidance, however, is to recommend wheelchair users travel with a companion for their ease and enjoyment.

If you prefer to remain aboard, our panoramic interiors and ample open decks ensure an immersive, intimate experience of your inspiring surroundings.

Our expedition cruises are mainly concerned with what happens outside the ship, so dress codes are very relaxed, and there are no formalities at mealtimes.

At breakfast and lunch, you’ll wear the clothes you'll be wearing outside (minus the outer gear). Once you’ve changed out of your expedition gear in the evening, you’ll probably want to put on something casual and comfortable. It’s always worth having an extra layer if you want to rush out on deck if something interesting has been spotted.

During the day around the ship, you’ll want casual trousers, jeans or smart sportswear, long-sleeve tops, thin jumpers, and a body warmer and/or other layers. It will be warm and comfortable inside.

Evening is casual, too – perhaps pack a couple of casual shirts and skirts/dresses. Keep footwear to a minimum. On board, a pair of lightweight trainers or similar (useful when trying on gear for size) will suffice, while slippers can be worn in your cabin. You will be provided with Swan Hellenic Expeditions parkas and rubber muck boots for shore excursions in Antarctica and the High Arctic.

On board

The on-board currency is the USD. Onboard spending will be added to your final bill. It is worth taking a debit/credit card in case of any problems paying your bill. Remember to tell your bank before traveling to avoid having your card refused.

Antarctica

There is no official currency as Antarctica does not belong to one country. It is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) signed by various nations. The Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands are British Overseas Territories and, as such, use GBP.

Arctic

Destinations on our Arctic cruises include Norway, Greenland (Denmark), Canada, and Alaska. Check your itinerary for which destinations are covered. In most cases, you will only need currency at the beginning and end of your journey, as well as souvenirs, as most other expenses will be covered on your voyage.

Most dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, and diabetic, will be catered for, as well as gluten-free options. Please make explicit any special requests when booking as we cannot guarantee options will be available once the cruise departs.

Our ships are equipped with the latest, cutting-edge satellite internet technology. Our secure and robust Wi-Fi is available complimentary for the convenience of all guests for messaging and visiting selected news websites. Details as follows:

SILVER CONNECT Complimentary

• Only text messaging to WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, iMessage, WeChat as well as access to some news websites. No voice, emails, VPNs or streaming content, realtime or deferred.
• Data limit: Unlimited
• Service speed: Up to 1 mbs

GOLD CONNECT USD 25/device/day (for the length of the cruise)

• Internet surfing and sharing pictures via social networks. Excluding audio/video streaming, real-time or deferred.
• Data limit: Unlimited
• Service speed: Up to 2 mbs

PLATINUM CONNECT USD 37/device/day (for the length of the cruise)

• Faster surfing and the streaming of playlists and videos.
• Data limit: Unlimited
• Service speed: Up to 7 mbs

Premium Wi-Fi can only be purchased while on board, and packages are valid on SH Diana and SH Vega. Kindly be advised that our Wi-Fi services operate based on line-of-sight connectivity to the satellite, and their performance may be influenced by the ship’s geographical location, and prevailing weather conditions. In some geographical locations the connectivity may be unavailable and or significantly limited.

If you have any health problems, there is a modern ship's emergency room on board our ships under the supervision of an experienced ship's doctor and an assisting nurse. This service is offered by our medical services partner VIKAND. Please note the consultation hours posted on board.

Our ships have been designed and built according to the latest sustainable practices. To reduce our environmental impact, we use dynamic positioning technology, which allows our ships to remain in locations without dropping anchor .

Compared with 15-20-year-old vessels, thanks to cutting-edge hydrodynamics and new engine technology, our ship's average consumption is 15%-30% lower, reducing the carbon footprint. In addition, our engines are of the latest generation with respect to CO2 and NOX quality of air emission. They are also fitted with SCRs (Selective catalytic reduction units) and urea injection where required to minimize NOX emissions. On board, we are reducing the use of paper and single-use plastics. Guests can use their complimentary refillable bottles to reduce the amount of plastic bottled water used.

Swan Hellenic staff also follow strict guidelines to limit our footprint in the destinations we visit. We are constantly reviewing our sustainability policy and looking at ways to leave a positive impact wherever we take our guests.

How close do we get to wildlife?

According to official safety guidelines, our passengers will always be briefed on minimum distances.

Official guidelines require we keep a minimum of five meters away from wildlife. However, penguins (in Antarctica) are curious creatures unafraid of humans, so this may not always go to plan!

For Antarctica:

5 meters is the general minimum rule whilst on land but varies for some species, especially if breeding. If wildlife approaches you, this is fine if you remain quiet, but in this climate of HPAI, it is best to back away.

For the Arctic:

The rules vary depending on the country. Minimum standard for Polar bears is 200 metres and Walrus 300 metres. Again it is about minimum disturbance and monitoring the behaviour.

Outside polar regions, it will all come down to environmental legislation for each country, but the essence is the same – no more than minor or transitory impact on wildlife.

While among wildlife, we recommend you walk slowly and keep noise to a minimum. If wildlife changes its behavior, stop moving or slowly put more distance between you. Animals are particularly sensitive to disturbance when they are breeding (including nesting) or molting. Your guides will keep a watchful eye at all times, but do keep your own distance.

What wildlife can I expect to see on our expeditions?

From penguins, seals and whales, to walruses, polar bears and Arctic foxes, you’re sure to see plenty of wildlife on your Swan Hellenic voyage. For more about what wildlife you’ll see, check out our blog.

Our ships are very well designed, with side and aft marina embarkation, which allows everyone to safely and easily board our Zodiac boats. Good mobility is essential, particularly for getting on and off the Zodiacs ashore. We have made the ride to shore as stable as possible by using superior quality non-rigid keel Zodiacs, which make it possible to land in the most exciting locations.

For less mobile guests who cannot get ashore, we can offer from time-to time sightseeing zodiac cruises in the destination and sail around the ice, icebergs, reefs, etc., with our specially designed hard keel Zodiacs. Please ask our expedition team for such options (not always available)

There are walking sticks available on board for guests' use.

There will always be guided walks of various difficulties, so you can choose what suits you best. Those wishing to partake in more active excursions, such as kayaking, will need prior experience.

Smoking is permitted in designated outdoor areas on Deck 8 aft portside and on Deck 7 Observation Lounge's starboard side. It is not permitted in any indoor area or on balconies.

At Swan Hellenic, we aim to make your time with us an effortless experience, so you can make the most of your expedition cruise. With this in mind, we include the following within your cruise fare:

• Regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation (only available for Antarctica voyages starting or ending in Ushuaia, and Arctic voyages starting and ending in Longyearbyen and Kangerlussuaq)
• Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
• One-night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
• All meals onboard
• 24-hour room service
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and selected alcoholic beverages, available 24 hours per day
• Lecture programs by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
• Standard WiFi
• Onboard gratuities and port taxes
• One selected shore excursion/expedition activity per port of call (kayaking not included – however this can be pre-booked)
• in polar regions: Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka to take home and use of rubber boots for wet zodiac landings.