Named after the first ship to cross the Arctic Northeast Passage,
Swan Hellenic’s SH Vega has began sailing on its inaugural cultural
expedition cruise of the Arctic, an 11-day sailing of the Svalbard
Archipelago which departed Tromsø on 20 July 2022.
The cruise line’s brand-new Scandi-design boutique cruise ship was
previously christened on 11 July at the Helsinki Shipyard by Patrizia
Zito née Passalacqua, wife of Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito.
Measuring 113m in length, the 10,600-ton vessel takes up to 152
guests in 76 staterooms and suites, majority of which are furnished with
large balconies. Guests can expect almost a 1:1 level of service with
an onboard team of 120 staff to attend to their needs.
Amenities onboard that all come furnished with multiple large windows
that offer unprecedented views of the lands of snow and ice comprise a
sauna, jacuzzi, heated outdoor pool, a 152-seat restaurant, an
observation lounge, and a club lounge with 24 hours tapas inspired
dining.
SH Vega was specially designed to withstand the harsh climates and
navigate the challenging icy waters of remote polar regions with its
ice-strengthened hull and jumbo stabilisers that still ensure a smooth
journey for expedition cruisers.
The sauna and jacuzzi on Deck 8 allows guests to get warm and cozy while enjoying views of the icy wilderness. Photo Credit: Swan Hellenic
Like its sister ship, SH Minerva, Swan Hellenic’s new cultural
expedition cruise vessel is built in accordance with the latest
environmental regulations and can sail non-stop for up to 40 days or
8,000 nautical miles.
The vessels are equipped with exhaust gas cleaning, advanced
wastewater treatment systems and waste storage facilities required for
operating in protected polar areas. Plans are also in the works for both
the SH Vega and SH Minerva to be installed with a particular battery
technology which will enable it to operate silently.
SH Vega’s season of maiden Arctic cruises takes cruisers to the
Svalbard Peninsula, Greenland, the Northwest Passage and the wilds of
Northern Canada. Following its ongoing Arctic expeditions, the ship will
then make her way down the US East Coast in late Autumn over 12 days,
taking in everything from New York, Norfolk and Charleston to Miami.
From November, SH Vega will offer a range of 11- to 21-day cultural
expedition cruises of Antarctica through until March 2023, sailing up
the West Coast of Africa to the Canary Islands and Western Europe, and
immersing guests in the Celtic lands of Britain and Ireland on the way
to her second Arctic season. This will end with a crossing from
Greenland to Nova Scotia, followed by the Caribbean and then Brazil in
October 2023.