Swan Hellenic Avis 146

Swan Hellenic's SH Diana, crew, and expedition team all worked brilliantly in providing a full, engaging, and inspiring Arctic experience. Everyday was a engrossing experience shared by the guest and crew. Lectures were contextual to the experience and had excellent content. Meals, cabins, and daily operations were 5 stars every minute.

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.

Amazing trip to Arctic made even more amazing by the knowledgeable and personable expedition crew who couldn’t do enough to make sure that we had the best experiences possible. Guest lecturers really enhanced our experience. The cabin was spacious with loads of storage and kept clean by the wonderful hotel team who nothing was too much for! The food and service was second to none, delicious, healthy and varied served to us by the lovely restaurant staff who could not do enough for us and remembered our preferences from the first night. Being on such a small boat was an absolute pleasure and meant that we got the opportunity to get to know fellow guests and staff and despite being small it never felt crowded. Swan Hellenic clearly employ the best which makes for the most amazing trip!! Don’t hesitate book with Swan Hellenic you wont regret it!

Kayaking in the Arctic was on my bucket list...and on Swan Hellenic's SH Vega, I was able to mark that goal complete. By circling a section of the Svalbard archipelago and stopping off in fjords for Zodiac excursions near glaciers and landings for hikes on the arctic tundra, the cruise presented an awesome glimpse of life at the top of the world. The enthusiastic excursion leaders were personable, knowledgeable and professional and did everything they could to keep us safe and informed. We saw polar bears, walruses, seals, reindeer, caribou and even an arctic fox not to mention tens of thousands of birds. The intimate ship was immaculate and handled the one day of 10-foot seas with ease. The crew-- from the super friendly captain to the diligent cabin steward-- made this cruise so pleasurable. The food was delicious and served by an incredibly attentive waitstaff. I especially enjoyed the onboard laid-back vibe-- no need to get dressed up for dinner or be forced to dine at assigned tables or times. No, we were there to experience the Arctic in all its icy, snowy splendor. The parkas we were given to keep for good often got wet in the Zodiacs, but they kept us dry and warm. I am not a cruise person at all-- I hadn't been on a cruise ship in over 40 years-- but this experience was a memorable one. To get up close and personal with the stark, barren, other-worldly landscape was a trip of a lifetime for me, made even more special by the opportunity to kayak among the ice floes.

Experiencing some of the most amazing places in the world, on a Swan Hellenic cruise, has changed my life. I selected Swan Hellenic based on the itinerary, the intimate size of the ship and the beautiful, modern ship and cabins. I’ve returned 4 times based on the amazing crew and the exciting destinations and experiences.
Captain Lyubomir Garciyanov (currently on Vega) is so engaging, approachable and goes above and beyond to insure clients are happy and have the opportunity to “See what others don’t”. This leadership permeates throughout the staff. Everyone works very hard to make sure your guest experience is exceptional. The ship feels like home. It’s extremely comfortable, well maintained and the food is always delicious and varied.

This is an amazing cruise ship! The cabin was spacious with lots of storage room. The gym and the spa were nice. The outdoor hot tub and the pool were available most of the time when we were on board. The crew and the expedition team did a great job to serve all of us. The wait staff were extremely kind and attentive. The excursions by the expedition team were very thoughtfully and safely planned. We totally appreciated the hard work they put in and enjoyed it immensely.

What a fabulous experience. Understated elegance! The Staff, the ship, the crew, the guides, the food, can't say enough. The lectures and knowledge of the guides and of course the scenery....I would definitely cruise with Swan Hellenic again!

Vega is a beautiful small ship and the captain was excellent.
The staterooms are well appointed, comfortable & clean.
Food was very good & the crew was attentive & friendly.
The itinerary brought us to pristine, sometimes remote locations. The expedition team endeavoured to prepare us with information about each stop. We saw stunning fiords, waterfalls, glaciers, whales, walruses , seals , reindeer, 2 polar bears & 2 puffins. And many species of arctic birds. A very memorable trip.

Swan Hellenic Vega is definitely a ship to cruise on. Recently traveled from Halifax to Iceland. Amazing itinerary with numerous and enjoyable excursions. What sets them apart for me is the amazing crew and staff. I didn't once meet a crew member who did not have a friendly greeting and wide, warm smile. The restaurant and bar staff paid attention to every detail and catered to our every request. Food was excellent.
I highly recommend Swan Hellenic. It was our first cruise with them, but it won't be our last.

Good service all over the ship, very nice dinner servings and excursions with a lot of content

Schönes Schiff, sehr gut unterhalten, läuft ruhig, effiziente Satbilisatoren. Crew sehr freundlich, unaufdringlich aufmerksam, Zimmerservice ausgezeichnet. Zimmer schön mit viel Stauraum. Ausflüge waren sicher schön, habe aber nicht teilgenommen (bin Individualist). Interessante Vorträge und Info zu Schiff und Ausflügen. Sehr empfehlenswert (werde auf jeden Fall wieder eine Fahrt mit Swan Hellenic machen)

it was outstanding experience, I really felt special. the room was wonderful, it was clean, big and the bed was so comfy, the service was amazing, the staff were so helpful, the itinerary was chosen perfectly, the meals in the restaurants was delicious and comprehensive, lots of variety of food. I will definitely repeat this experience.

The cruise was very well organized. We were transported by private charter flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia smoothly, even though the flight was delayed due to weather. The transfer from Ushuaia airport to the cruise ship was also smooth. Disembarkation at Cape Town was smooth, but delayed - on account of a large cruise ship docking ahead of us.
A combination of relatively good weather (for Antarctica/South Georgia), an excellent Expedition Team (Nikki, Alex, Mark, Dimitry, Kevin, Ruth, amongst others), the efficient/wonderful staff of SH Diana (including Ana, Sona, Grace, Rossele, Eller and Erson) and the fabulous food by Executive Chef Amit Rao and his team, made the trip a once in a lifetime experience. Dr.Mila, our friendly on board doctor, could be seen making the rounds of the ship and greeting the passengers, on a daily basis.
We were able to do all of the scheduled itinerary (with last minute tweaks on account of weather), including a full one and half days at Tristan da Cunha/Nightingale Island. Informative talks by the Expedition Team made the time spent on board very interesting.
The cabins were very comfortable and the cabins/public areas kept spotlessly clean. Zodiac excursions/transfers were handled efficiently.
I would definitely recommend this trip with SH Diana to the adventurous.

We loved our 21-day cruise across the South Atlantic. Knowledgeable and helpful staff, comfortable and spacious cabin, plenty of activities, excellent food and drinks.
Only downside is the cost of a decent internet connection.

We have just returned from Antarctica, on an expedition cruise with Swan Hellenic, on board the SH Vega. The entire experience was faultless from seamless transfers, to a wonderful ambience on the supremely comfortable ship, impeccable service, excellent food and awe inspiring vistas. The expedition team & off-ship experiences were outstanding to ensure the wildlife sightings were plentiful. Thank you; Antarctica with Swan Hellenic is highly recommended.

Everything about this ship is 5 star. The staff, food, accommodation, facilities, safety.
Can't recommend it highly enough.

This was an spectacluar and amazing Journey. Everything was wonderful. Service, Housekeeping, Expeditionteam, Captain was akways Great.

There's many ads on the internet now grabbing your attention to visit Antarctica. For sure you should but what you should do, is be incredibly careful who your agent is and what cruise line you decide.
I made absolutley the right choice with both!
I travelled with the advice/super support/experience of Polar Routes and my Antarctica Expedition was made so memorable with Swan Hellenic!
It's not just a 'boat or a ship'....it's a travelling dream!
You are cared for from the very moment you arrive in Ushuaia, the bottom of the world....almost!
Then, when boarding you notice immediately the calm, beautiful, friendly and professional service you are about to experience for 10 whole days!
I travelled on SV Vega and fell in love with her, instantly. It's unavoidable!!
My cabin was, oustanding. A large double bed with an amazing artificial fireplace (I'll let you find out) at the end of the bed. A seating area and the most important aspect for me, a balcony.
Every day you were kept up to date with the activites and extra sights. Mine were different penguins, humpback whales, fur seals and mind blowing experience of an Orca Pod of 7, cruising under our Zodiac!
It's also not about the marine/wild life. It's the impact of the scenery. Every morning I woke up, I took a photo from my balcony. An every changing movie!!
Over my time with SV Vega, I made so many friends, ate so much incredible food, drank, yep I admit, quite alot and being a champagne lover, I almost said no to my last glass before departing.
The sights I saw and experienced with the aide of the crew and Expedition Teams leaves me breathless.
There is a highly skilled photographer on board who is unobtrusive and you are presented about a week lated with a link to a video record of your time on board.
If you truly want to feel special both in terms of being blessed to make this trip and with the correct operators, speak with Polar Routes and ask for Swan Hellenic.
Mind blowing.

Somehow the whole crew irrespective of role seemed to be focused on making sure every guest had a great experience. This encompassed all aspects of the cruise, the expedition, food and drink, accommodation and the voyage itself. Nothing was too much trouble and no effort spared.
This helped create a very pleasant atmosphere throughout the cruise which enhanced experiencing the wonders of Antarctica.

An Unforgettable Swan Hellenic Cruise to Antarctica
My experience with Swan Hellenic was absolutely amazing! I booked the cruise through Swoop Antarctica, and despite a slight delay due to a propeller issue, we were gifted with an unexpected extra day in Ushuaia—which turned out to be magical.

Incredible Landings & Zodiac Excursions
Throughout the journey, we completed five landings, including an unforgettable landing on an iceberg! We also had around 5-6 Zodiac excursions, each offering breathtaking views of the untouched Antarctic wilderness.

The sites we visited included:
📍 Petermann Island
📍 Pléneau Island
📍 Lemaire Channel
📍 Paradise Harbour
📍 Cuverville
📍 Portal Point
📍 Harry Davis Island
📍 Hope Bay
📍 Paulet Island

Our landings took place on both islands and the Antarctic continent, providing a truly immersive experience.

Seamless Embarkation Process
I arrived in Buenos Aires a day early and stayed at the luxurious Sofitel, a fantastic 5-star hotel. The pre-cruise process was smooth:
✔ Check-in at the hotel, where I received a $30 dining credit
✔ Registration at a designated Swan Hellenic table
✔ Free time for the rest of the day

The next morning, after breakfast, we were handed our boarding passes and transferred to Ezeiza Airport (EZE). Impressively, a Swan Hellenic representative even flew with us, ensuring everything was perfectly organized!

Upon landing in Ushuaia, the Swan Hellenic team was waiting to escort us to the buses and straight to the ship. After a warm welcome onboard, we enjoyed lunch and received our luggage.

We also had some free time in Ushuaia before being taken on an excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park and the famous End of the World Train, which was an absolute delight!

Life at Sea & The Drake Passage
The Drake Passage was manageable—I took seasickness pills, which helped a lot! Throughout the voyage, I felt completely safe, and I absolutely loved the food and the incredible crew who made the journey unforgettable.

Smooth & Fair Landing System
Since landings in Antarctica are limited to 100 people at a time, passengers were divided into color-coded groups. The crew rotated the order fairly, ensuring everyone got equal opportunities to experience the disembarkations and Zodiac excursions.

Overall, this was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, filled with breathtaking landscapes, seamless organization, and memories that will last forever! 🚢❄️🐧