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This cruise is your real 13 days Antarctic adventure. Aboard SH Vega, our new 5-star ice-class ship, you’ll experience this incredible part of the world in comfort and style. Traverse the formidable Southern Ocean with ease enjoying spectacular views from the ship’s sweeping windows and decks. Thanks to her compact size, we can also sail through narrow passages and visit remote bays; usually where the most interesting things are found.
Reminiscent of a boutique hotel, this elegant ship is equipped with an outdoor infinity pool, offering wonderful views of the open seas. Aboard you’ll also find our comfortable Observation Lounge, complete with a fully stocked bar, Club Lounge, gourmet Swan Restaurant, gym, sauna and our beautifully presented library. The natural, scandi-style interiors extend to our cosy yet spacious staterooms with their fireplaces and panoramic balconies.
After testing your mettle across the notorious Drake Passage, your arrival on the White Continent will be greeted with spellbinding landscapes and extraordinary wildlife. With our experienced team, you’ll explore this icy wonderland looking out for penguins, albatrosses, whales, sea elephants and much more. You can also take your Antarctic expedition to the next level on a traditional ‘polar plunge’. Take a dip into the icy waters of the Southern Ocean and enjoy the exhilarating aftereffects over a hot chocolate on our Pool Deck.
Make memories that you’ll keep for a lifetime in this extraordinary part of the world. Seal your status as a true Antarctic explorer under the expert guidance of our experienced Swan Hellenic expedition team.
Ushuaia is the gateway to the White Continent. Found at the southernmost tip of South America in Argentinian Patagonia, the city is often described as “the End of the World”. The city’s mountain backdrop rises above the harbour and entrance to the Beagle Channel. The town itself is walkable and has a few small museums as well as pubs, restaurants and cafes - a good place to try Patagonian lamb cooked over open fire pits.
You can spend your day at sea enjoying the many facilities available. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the jacuzzi whilst taking in incredible views along the way. If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to an informative talk or have a chat with one of our knowledgeable on-board experts.
Should the weather and sea ice conditions be on our side, we’ll venture into the Antarctic Circle to Marguerite Bay. Located below 66°33' South, this region is rarely visited due to the almost year-round sea ice. Here we’ll be searching for the whale pods that frequent the area, leopard seals, Adélie penguin rookeries and other birdlife. There are also several scientific research bases here that we can land at if conditions are favourable.
Among captivating glaciers, majestic icebergs and snowy islands, the Antarctic Peninsula is where most visitors to the White Continent will live out their Antarctica dream. The Antarctic Peninsula, the most accessible area of the continent, hosts several scientific bases and some of the most interesting wildlife scenery, such as the extremely photogenic Lemaire Channel. Shore excursions might include Petermann Island, where among Adelie penguins, blue-eyed shags and skuas, huge, lumbering elephant seals haul out.
While the South Shetlands’ proximity to Antarctica makes the ice-bound sea impassable during winter (April to October), these are the first islands to see snow melt in spring (November) and the slightly warmer temperature means that the fauna is also different from what you see in Antarctica proper. As we go ashore by Zodiac, notice ferns, grasses, lichens and native flora that have more in common with Patagonia than they do with Antarctica.
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Ushuaia is the gateway to the White Continent. Found at the southernmost tip of South America in Argentinian Patagonia, the city is often described as “the End of the World”. The city’s mountain backdrop rises above the harbour and entrance to the Beagle Channel. The town itself is walkable and has a few small museums as well as pubs, restaurants and cafes - a good place to try Patagonian lamb cooked over open fire pits.
09:00 AM – 05:30 PM (EST)
+1 (800) 537 6777
