I used to be invited aboard Swan Hellenic’s latest ship, SH Vega, for a brief cruise from Halifax to Boston. It was an amazing alternative to discover the ship and meet the expedition leaders and senior firm executives. Greeted by smiling crew members providing champagne and help to get registered and discover my stateroom, I instantly felt at residence on this swanky and classy floating boutique lodge.
SH Minerva and SH Vega, two new 5-star Polar Code PC 5 expedition cruise ships with ice-strengthened hulls, respectively launched in December 2021 and July 2022. Each accommodates 152 friends in 76 suites and staterooms, the bulk with giant balconies. A barely bigger PC 6 ice-class vessel, SH Diana, accommodating 192 friends with 96 staterooms and suites shall be launching in 2023. Each ship has extra-large stabilizers to make cruising as clean as doable.
What is Expedition Cruising?
Expedition cruising, one of many quickest rising forms of the cruises, focuses on technical sophistication utilizing ships that may navigate near the shore in shallow waters. All have fleets of Zodiacs for transporting passengers from the ship and for landings in distant pure environments. Some are outfitted with sea kayaks and different toys as nicely. An onboard expedition group educated about every itinerary and immersed in analysis and science, typically enhances the passenger expertise.
Swan Hellenic’s Expedition Team contains 10-15 folks per voyage together with expedition leaders, photographers, polar meteorologists, ornithologists, naturalists and invited specialists. No two voyages are ever the identical. While an itinerary is marketed, the captain and expedition group make actual time changes based mostly on climate, wildlife, snow and ice, and the distant host communities. Pack your sense of journey and be ready for surprises (good ones) alongside the best way.
No two expedition cruises are the identical
True to the promise of spontaneity throughout an expedition cruise, on the second day whereas we have been cruising within the Atlantic close to Cape Cod, the Captain stopped the ship and made a shock announcement that the Zodiacs have been being lowered into the water and friends have been welcomed to go for a Zodiac tour. I returned instantly to my stateroom to fetch my life jacket and headed straight to Basecamp to switch onto a Zodiac. We have been in a position to see and have been very entertained by some curious dolphins circling our Zodiac. Then our captain took us for an surprising enjoyable and quick cruise permitting for a 360-degree view of the SH Vega.
Exploring the brand new SH Vega
I used to be impressed by the open area of the highest deck.
The décor of SH Vega could be described as understated magnificence utilizing trendy Scandinavian designs and supplies. For an expedition ship the place the main focus has usually been on off-ship adventures and exploration, Swan Hellenic has delivered model and luxury whereas providing journey, science and exploration. From the second I entered the reception space on Deck 4 and was greeted by smiling workers providing champagne, I used to be struck by the posh features of Swan Hellenic’s ships, coupled with their real hospitality. For instance, wandering all 9 spacious decks, largely utilizing the open glass centrally positioned staircase, I instantly appreciated the choreography of Scandinavian furnishings and paintings. I even discovered an out of doors stargazing (or sunbathing) space and a helicopter pad used within the occasion of an emergency on the very best deck.
Panoramic Observation Lounge and Club Lounge
The spacious Observation Lounge, occupying half of Deck 7, afforded panoramic views on either side of the ship and of the bow with a small round space on the entrance of the ship preferrred to view wildlife, sunrises and sunsets, known as the Swan’s Nest.
The lounge was preferrred for studying, having fun with a drink, listening to lectures by the ship’s specialists or the pianist enjoying softly on the white child grand piano…or to only watch the surroundings. A present store promoting expedition gear, together with a well-used bar have been additionally positioned on this lounge.
The Club Lounge on Deck 7 featured a café/patisserie and a 24-hour espresso station, and entry to the pool and out of doors grill making this the busiest a part of the ship throughout our crusing. A heated infinity pool surrounded by comfy padded loungers gives an expensive oasis to calm down and benefit from the surrounding surroundings.
Wellness Center (Gym)
The Wellness Centre and Sundeck are positioned on Deck 8 and embrace an indoor fitness center with state-of-the-art health gear and weights. There can also be a sauna room with giant home windows and an out of doors scorching tub. The Beauty Salon (and small remedy rooms for massages at extra cost) is positioned on Deck 2 subsequent to the Medical Clinic. I loved a calming deep tissue therapeutic massage throughout the cruise.
The Expedition Lab – Science and Learning
There are alternatives to have interaction in scientific analysis within the Expedition Lab on Deck 3 adjoining to the Basecamp. During our crusing Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, Director of the Carl Sagan Center on the SETI Institute offered on trying to find life within the “Cosmic Ocean”. The Expedition Lab was not being utilized throughout our brief cruise; nonetheless, I anticipate it will likely be a hive of exercise throughout the upcoming expeditions in Antarctica. A Library is positioned reverse the Expedition Lab.
Basecamp
Lockers and expedition gear have been present in Basecamp on Deck 3 with giant doorways used for friends to embark on off-ship adventures. Zodiac boarding is conveniently accommodated on either side of the ship.
Accommodations
Located mid-ship on Deck 6, balcony stateroom #609, had 2 single beds aspect by aspect to create one King mattress, a cushty rest room with bathe stall, a pair of enormous closets with sturdy wooden hangers, and a great deal of area to retailer footwear, clothes and equipment. I’ve not had this a lot space for storing in a ship stateroom earlier than.
I’ve by no means had a hearth glowing and crackling in my ship cabin earlier than, however there it was, constructed into the cupboards on the foot of my mattress. While it wasn’t an actual working fire, fortunately, I used to be charmed a lot that I stored it on all evening and awoke to the crackling sounds.
One unusually sensible function in my stateroom was a heavy curtain that may be drawn between the mattress sitting space with a desk and small couch, providing some separation when two friends share the cabin. The desk had a built-in make-up mirror compartment that I used fortunately. My days started with a powerful morning espresso made contemporary in my cabin, whereas ready on my non-public balcony (in my plush bathrobe) for the solar to rise.
Most of the 75 staterooms on the SH Vega are 302 sq. foot balcony staterooms, and there are 6 bigger suites and 16 ocean view staterooms, together with one that’s wheelchair accessible. Adjoining staterooms can be found for households. All of the staterooms are positioned on Decks 5, 6 and seven.
Dining
With three eating venues, the Swan Restaurant, Club Lounge and Pool Bar & Grill, there’s one thing for everybody. For early risers, a lightweight breakfast choice was additionally accessible within the Club Lounge. At 7:30am within the Swan Restaurant, a full breakfast might be ordered a la carte on the desk, or from a big buffet that included fruit, yogurt, freshly baked breads, pastries and eggs. The cappuccino got here out piping scorching with completely frothed milk.
The climate cooperated for friends to take pleasure in eating al fresco on the Pool Bar and Grill with an assortment of scorching canines, sausages, rooster, and steak accompanied by French fries and plenty of salad decisions.
Dinner was served within the ship’s primary eating room, the Swan Restaurant with desk service from the menu together with day by day specials famous by the wait workers. One spotlight was a bowl of French onion soup adopted by a Lobster tail served with greens.
On our first evening, we loved deciding on our salads, soups, primary programs and desserts from a fantastically displayed buffet. A Caesar salad adopted by completely cooked lamb chops and various inexperienced greens hit the spot for me. A alternative of two crimson and two white complementary wines have been supplied by the wait workers, nonetheless, for wine aficionados a cellar of classic wines, premium spirits and craft beers are additionally accessible, at extra cost.
You may also select to take pleasure in your meals with the 24-hour room service which I doubtless would welcome on an extended cruise.
Following our cruise, SH Vega began her journey alongside South America on her method to Antarctica for the 2022/23 winter season. Her sister-ship, SH Minerva will be part of her shortly in Antarctica. Swan Hellenic’s third ship, the marginally bigger SH Diana shall be named in 2023 and can cruise the Mediterranean. The itineraries for the Swan Hellenic fleet embrace unique off-the-beaten-path experiences in probably the most unique locations on the planet. Imagine the enjoyment of exploring all 7 continents on Swan Hellenic’s expedition ships within the lap of luxurious.
If you’re contemplating an expedition cruise to see what others don’t, and have the will to do it in luxurious and luxury, selecting Swan Hellenic could be a superb possibility.
Many because of Swan Hellenic and its very succesful group in working with me on arranging and serving to us with this glorious cruise. Thanks to the CruiseCompete and All Things Cruise group as nicely for introducing me to Swan Hellenic!
Ed. Note: See Swan Hellenic cruises right here Swan Hellenic Cruises (cruisecompete.com)
About Swan Hellenic
Swan Hellenic was relaunched in July 2020 to proudly proceed the spirit of cultural expedition cruising the corporate pioneered within the Nineteen Fifties. Building on its British roots, the brand new firm has a world cultural cruising outlook devoted to offering friends with the chance to ‘see what others don’t’.
Swan Hellenic’s purpose-built ships function elegant Scandi-design interiors, intensive out of doors areas and devoted expedition services. SH Minerva and SH Vega, two new 5-star Polar Code PC 5 expedition cruise ships with ice-strengthened hulls, respectively launched in December 2021 and July 2022, every accommodate 152 friends in 76 spacious suites and staterooms, the bulk with giant balconies. A barely bigger PC 6 ice-class vessel, SH Diana, accommodating 192 friends in the identical distinctive consolation and magnificence in 96 staterooms and suites shall be arriving in early 2023.
All three ships function 3 eating venues – the Swan Restaurant, Club Lounge and Pool bar & Grill – and are being inbuilt full compliance with SOLAS Safe Return to Port necessities. Dedicated to friends with a ardour for journey and cultural exploration, the corporate’s meticulously deliberate itineraries discover the wild landscapes, wildlife, peoples and distinctive cultures of the world’s much less traveled areas.
The crews every embrace a group of 12 seasoned expedition guides, skilled audio system and lecturers, for a complete complement of 120 and 140 individuals respectively, providing excellent staff-to-guest ratios to ship the very best requirements of attentive private service.
Headquartered in Cyprus with workplaces in London, Dusseldorf, Monaco, Fort Lauderdale (serving the North America market) and Hong Kong (serving mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam and South-East Asia), in addition to partnerships serving India, Japan and Australia-New Zealand, Scandinavia and Iceland, Swan Hellenic helps the journey commerce with specialist native companions to offer prospects with skilled private service worldwide.
Ed. Note: See Swan Hellenic cruises right here Swan Hellenic Cruises (cruisecompete.com)