See what others don’t is more than just a tagline—it’s an invitation to experience the world in a way few ever do. A Swan Hellenic cruise is for the curious traveller, the explorer at heart, and the seeker of the extraordinary. While others follow well-worn paths, Swan Hellenic takes you beyond ordinary, revealing the unseen wonders of the world’s most remote and fascinating destinations. From the polar extremes of Antarctica and the Arctic to the vibrant cultures of Central and South America, the hidden treasures of Africa, or the history of Europe. Their boutique expedition cruises uncover what others may overlook.
Each thoughtfully curated cultural expedition cruise will be enriched by the knowledge of renowned experts and expedition guides, who socialize with the guests on board and take them on extraordinary journeys of discovery. From coastal elephants and unspoiled landscapes of wonder, to forts of the transatlantic slave trade, the lakeside dwellings of Benin, and the pristine Bijagos Archipelago to exploring the twisting cobbled streets of ancient medinas and falling in love with Lisbon – Europe’s second oldest capital city after Athens.
Swan Hellenic was relaunched in July 2020 to proudly advance the spirit of cultural expedition cruising the company pioneered in the 1950s. Building on its British roots, the new company has a distinctly cosmopolitan culture dedicated to providing guests with global opportunities to see what others don’t. The brand’s purpose-built boutique ships feature elegant Scandi-design interiors, extensive outdoor spaces and dedicated expedition facilities. SH Vega is a 5-star Polar Code PC 5 expedition cruise ship with an ice-strengthened hull that was launched in July 2022. She accommodates 152 guests in 76 spacious ocean-view suites and staterooms, the majority with large balconies. SH Diana is a slightly larger PC 6 ice-class vessel launched in April 2023 and accommodates 192 guests in 96 staterooms and suites. Amenities such as glass-enclosed rain showers, fluffy bathrobes, bedroom slippers, minibar with snacks and Illy Espresso coffee machines with pods and Kusmi tea bags ensconce guests in comfort and style. Elevators as well as a limited number of wheelchair-accessible staterooms are also available.
Dining is a highlight, with menus offering Asian and Italian fusion, French, and international fare. The onboard dress code is casual and guests dine at leisure with whomever they like in one of the ship’s three dining venues - the main restaurant, the laid-back Club Lounge, poolside - or if they wish, they can indulge in the 24-hour room service.
While sharing the unique design features of her sister ship, SH Diana also introduces certain key enhancements, including a dedicated presentation and lecture theatre overlooking the lounge, and on-board tenders to take guests ashore in addition to the customary expedition Zodiacs. Like her sibling, SH Diana features a state-of-the-art fitness center, spa, panoramic sauna, club room and a heated swimming pool with poolside grill, library as well as self-service launderettes. The crews each include a team of 12 seasoned expedition guides, expert speakers and lecturers, for a total complement of 120 and 140 persons respectively, offering outstanding staff-to-guest ratios to deliver the highest standards of attentive personal service. A host of experts accompany each voyage, including - but not limited to - geologists, meteorologists, historians, photographers, ornithologists, and marine biologists. Activity leaders guide kayaking, snorkeling, snowshoeing, and hiking excursions.
Swan Hellenic’s cultural expedition cruises have always been distinguished by the company, guidance and expert lectures of famous explorers, seasoned expedition guides and leading authorities in their fields. Maris Culinary Discovery at Sea brings a different JRE gourmet chef aboard in a series of exclusive cruises which take guests on a parallel voyage of gastronomic discovery. While the SETI Explore Space at Sea Series introduces world-renowned scientists from the SETI Institute to provide guests with expert insights into the history and latest discoveries in astronomy, astrophysics, astrobiology and planetary science, as well as the quest to find other forms of life within and beyond our solar system. Chopra's popular Explore & Restore program highlights wellness and well-being voyages. On many cruises, guests can also participate in Swan Hellenic’s Citizen Science partnerships, contributing valuable data obtained during their expeditions and on board, reporting cloud data with NASA, recording whale sightings with Happywhale, monitoring phytoplankton with the Secchi Disk Study, and Antarctic seabird numbers with Stony Brook University.
Swan Hellenic’s all-inclusive fare takes care of pre-cruise hotel accommodations, all meals, select wine and beer, non-alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service, complimentary Wi-Fi, crew gratuities, and a shore excursion or expedition activity at each port. Guests sailing on Polar region expeditions also receive a complimentary branded parka as a keepsake.
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