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Named after the first ship to cross the Arctic Northeast Passage, SH Vega was designed to journey to faraway places and remote polar regions in style and comfort. This 5-star expedition ship incorporates elegant Scandi-design with the latest in cruising technology, and has a PC5 ice-strengthened hull, and extra-large stabilizers, to make your journey as smooth as possible.
Built in Finland’s famous Helsinki Shipyard, SH Vega was made for wonderful cruising experiences. Welcoming spaces to relax on board, unobstructed views throughout the ship, and world-class restaurants, staterooms and amenities mean sailing on SH Vega is always a pleasure.
Where to start, the ship was beautiful. The rooms were excellent. The food was great, but all that was pale in comparison to the excellent planning on the excursions, the lectures, the flow of information. Most impressive was the knowledge of the staff and their concern for safety. I am retired and traveled alone. Any concerns about feeling isolated, left out or lonely was erased by the kindness of the staff and the warm and welcoming other passengers. With the initial emphasis on seeing wildlife, what was humbling and breathtaking was the amazing scenery. This trip exceeded all expectations and would be difficult to have an encore to. Most importantly, what initially was a cruise became an lifetime experience. The entire staff, from captain to steward created an atmosphere where quests became family and I'm left with a memory that is second to none. I am honored to have been a guest, thank you!
We travelled with Swan Hellenic to Svalbard for an Artic Cruise on SH Vega. This was our first cruise and while the ship was large it only has 149 passengers which gives it a real personal feel. The whole experience was unbelievable. All the staff were absolutely wonderful and attentive including the Captain who was happy to share his time with guests answering questions and his experiences of the many trips Swan Hellenic offer. The expedition team were very knowledgeable and the lectures they gave were extremely informative and interesting. They also gave so much of their time answering our questions. A special thank you to some team members we saw regularly, Ferdie who’s team made sure we were so well looked after, Paulina made our zodiac tours interesting and so much fun and Rolando who looked after our cabin meticulously. The expeditions were great and a mixture of land based tours and zodiac rides. The wildlife and glacier scenery was so unique and like nothing else I’ve seen anywhere in the world. Some of the areas we visited were breathtaking. We had the most amazing polar bear encounter in the early hours as it feasted on a dead sperm whale, this felt like a once in a lifetime experience. The ship and cabins were so clean and modern. The food was amazing and fine dining quality. I would highly recommend Swan Hellenic and I wouldn’t look beyond them for the Antarctic cruise I would like to do.
This is our second trip on SH Vega, the first was Greenland and this time Svalbard. We loved it last time and we were not disappointed on this trip. The ship is beautiful, lovingly cared for by the hard working crew. If you want entertainment, a casino, dressing up for dinner etc, then this is not the ship for you. However, if you want to visit stunning locations, travelling on a very comfortable ship - then this is for you. The cabins have everything you need, including lots of storage space and room for cases under the bed. If you do need to leave wet coats down in base camp then you are provided with tags and coat hangers so you can easily identify your own belongings. Every member of the crew are really helpful, the Expedition Team members are knowledgeable, interesting and very approachable. Getting in and out of Zodiacs was made easy by the crew members - always making you feel safe even when the sea was a little choppy! I cannot comment on transferring from a Zodiac onto a Kayak, as I have not had the courage to try that! The food was delicious - some buffet style with most evenings served at the table - food chosen from a menu. There is a main restaurant and a café area plus the bar - so plenty of choice, with food available 24/7. You can make tea and coffee in your cabin but drinks are also available in the café as a self serve option. Reception is open all the time - staff there were always very helpful. At the very top, The Captain, is very visible around the ship, always happy to stop and chat. It is clear that he loves SH VEGA and truly cares about his crew and guests. We can highly recommend this company and we have already booked our next trip!
My Swan Hellenic expedition cruise started in Longyearbyen, Svalbard and circumnavigated the archipelago for one week. It was one of the best trips I have ever taken and I have nothing but positive remarks for Swan Hellenic. The SH Vega was beautiful, the staff was extremely attentive, the food was amazing, the drinks were plentiful and the views in the Arctic region were absolutely incredible. To begin our trip, we flew into Copenhagen, stayed at the NH Collection hotel, met our fellow guests and flew on a chartered SAS flight to Longyearbyen the next morning. We visited The Global Seed Vault when we arrived, toured the small northernmost town of Longyearbyen and were given time on our own to shop, walk or grab a bite to eat before we boarded the SH Vega by zodiac boat. Embarkation was quick and painless and our luggage was already waiting for us in the beautiful and spacious stateroom. I was in room on the port side. It had a balcony with blackout blinds, a desk area with a lighted vanity and chair, sitting area with a sofa separated from the bedroom by blackout curtains, a fireplace, a nice rain shower, an abundance of storage space and drawers, two large closets with plenty of hangers and a safety lock box. Robes and slippers are available in the room as well as a coffee maker, tea kettle, snacks and a mini bar that's replenished daily. After a quick safety briefing, a buffet lunch was served in the dining room and then we were free to tour and familiarize ourselves with our home for the next week. The SH Vega posts a daily tentative itinerary on the television in the cabin as well as a live nightly presentation in the lounge at 6:30pm before dinner. There are daily lectures in between land tours, zodiac boat rides, kayaking excursions as well as a Bridge Tour, Engine Room Tour and the famous Polar Plunge to keep you occupied on this extremely busy expedition. We saw a plethora of wildlife to include reindeer, walrus, bearded seals, two polar bears (one walking around and the other was eating a seal), an arctic fox and hundreds, if not thousands, of birds. Disembarkation in Longyearbyen was very well planned out with breakfast, a tour of the northernmost museum and then a chartered flight on SAS back to Copenhagen which arrived around 3:30pm. My only recommendation I would have is for Swan Hellenic to include a hotel stay on the back end of the trip as there aren't any flights leaving Copenhagen for the U.S. after 5pm and we were on our own to find and pay for this extra night. Other than that, the trip was flawless and I cannot wait to sail with Swan Hellenic again in the near future. One final thought...don't blink, it goes by way too fast!
Another amazing journey with Swan Hellenic, onboard Vega. We enjoyed 7 days in the Arctic and had a great time. The onboarding process was so easy; our checked bags were collected the night and we were given our boarding passes for our trip from Copenhagen to Svalbard. This made our trip so easy and upon arrival to Svalbard, we identified our bags, which were then delivered to our cabins on board. So easy! The excursions were interesting. The Captain and expedition team worked closely together to take advantage of opportunities (such as polar bear sightings) and adapt plans when necessary, such as unexpected weather. The photographer on board does an amazing job documenting the journey, which is summarized in a video and provided to guests electronically along with the photos when you arrive home. The crew and food is amazing and I can’t wait to go on another SH adventure.
Where to start, the ship was beautiful. The rooms were excellent. The food was great, but all that was pale in comparison to the excellent planning on the excursions, the lectures, the flow of information. Most impressive was the knowledge of the staff and their concern for safety. I am retired and traveled alone. Any concerns about feeling isolated, left out or lonely was erased by the kindness of the staff and the warm and welcoming other passengers. With the initial emphasis on seeing wildlife, what was humbling and breathtaking was the amazing scenery. This trip exceeded all expectations and would be difficult to have an encore to. Most importantly, what initially was a cruise became an lifetime experience. The entire staff, from captain to steward created an atmosphere where quests became family and I'm left with a memory that is second to none. I am honored to have been a guest, thank you!
We travelled with Swan Hellenic to Svalbard for an Artic Cruise on SH Vega. This was our first cruise and while the ship was large it only has 149 passengers which gives it a real personal feel. The whole experience was unbelievable. All the staff were absolutely wonderful and attentive including the Captain who was happy to share his time with guests answering questions and his experiences of the many trips Swan Hellenic offer. The expedition team were very knowledgeable and the lectures they gave were extremely informative and interesting. They also gave so much of their time answering our questions. A special thank you to some team members we saw regularly, Ferdie who’s team made sure we were so well looked after, Paulina made our zodiac tours interesting and so much fun and Rolando who looked after our cabin meticulously. The expeditions were great and a mixture of land based tours and zodiac rides. The wildlife and glacier scenery was so unique and like nothing else I’ve seen anywhere in the world. Some of the areas we visited were breathtaking. We had the most amazing polar bear encounter in the early hours as it feasted on a dead sperm whale, this felt like a once in a lifetime experience. The ship and cabins were so clean and modern. The food was amazing and fine dining quality. I would highly recommend Swan Hellenic and I wouldn’t look beyond them for the Antarctic cruise I would like to do.
The Elegant Scandi interior is designed in neutral tones using natural textures. The smooth lines and rounded walls allow for a relaxing yet light ambience. The rich textiles, varied textures and intimate lighting create a harmonious, comfortable environment. Lighting options for every mood, along with a mesmerizing holographic fireplace create the perfect relaxing space.
For the comfort of our guests, suites have a separate living room and bedroom. All staterooms are equipped with spacious wardrobes and bathrooms.
When it comes to dining on your expedition cruise, our ships have a variety of welcoming venues.
From the gourmet offerings of the Swan Restaurant, and the Pool Bar & Grill’s delicious dishes, to the relaxed tapas-style dining of the Club Lounge, you’ll find exquisite cuisine, skillfully prepared by top chefs.
Plus, our carefully curated in-room menu offers a relaxing dining experience in the comfort of your own stateroom
If you are looking to experience the remote Polar regions or explore truly off-the-beaten path destinations and cultures of our spectacular planet, then you are in great company. Swan Hellenic exists to provide its guests with authentic, intimate and unforgettable moments in extraordinary locations and remote landmarks.
We know how important outdoor space is, so our spacious, relaxing public spaces provide wide open, unobstructed views throughout the ship. The destination will always be in view.
Take time to indulge and invigorate your senses…
Please note; there are no dedicated children's facilities on board.
Kids 8-12 are free of charge when sharing a room with an adult (only port taxes if any).
Kids 13-16 are charged at $100 USD per child per day plus port taxes
*port taxes will be added to your onboard bill for child fares*
