HIGHLIGHTS
- Dare
to brave the notoriously rough two-day Drake Passage sea crossing
- Compare
monumental icebergs in the Gerlache Strait and Antarctic Sound as you
head to the Weddell Sea
- Get
up close to hundreds of penguins as they gather in their thousands in
their natural habitat
- Keep
an eye out at sea for breaching whales and huge albatross overhead
- Listen
to our engaging polar experts and learn tips from our team of
experienced photographers
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | Starting Rates | Oceanview M4 | Balcony D5 | Balcony M5 | Balcony D6 | Suite | Premium Suite |
|---|
Rates are listed per person in USD
|
| Start Date | End Date | (Starting from)
Starting Rates | (Mid-range)
Balcony M5 | (High-end)
Premium Suite |
|---|
ITINERARY
Day
1: End of the world, start of a journey
Your
voyage begins where the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to
be the southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern
tip of South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this
small resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of
the World,” and sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for
the remainder of the evening.
Day
2 – 3: Path of the polar explorers
Over
the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same
experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted
these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale
spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence
– Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when
north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas
– you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only
does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering
albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses,
light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars,
Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels
are a few of the birds you might see.
Day
4: From Point Wild to the Weddell Sea
We
will arrive early to the famous Point Wild, Elephant Island, where
Shackleton’s crew made their first landing after the loss of
their ship, Endurance. This inhospitable spit of land is a favorite
among our guests, and if conditions permit, we will offer activities
around the point before setting off for the Weddell Sea.
Day
5: Weddell Sea Devil Island
Today
you enter the wondrous Weddell Sea, a relatively unvisited area in
which we hope to carry out activities in Erebus and Terror Gulf. We may
also visit such places such as Beak Island and Devil Island, which
boast some stunning scenery as well as the pack ice for which the
Weddell Sea is famous.
Day
6: Exploring the most remote regions
As
we continue to explore the area of Erebus and Terror Gulf, we look for
new opportunities for activities. You may also visit Vega Island,
experiencing the wilderness of Antarctica in its most remote places.
Day
7: Orléans Strait whale search
Now
we sail down the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, entering the
Orleans Strait. Here we hope to see humpback and orca whales as we sail
toward Mikklesen Harbor for our afternoon activities.
Day
8: Port monuments and island wildlife
Passing
the Lemaire Channel, you next arrive in the area of Port Charcot, where
there is a cairn that was erected by the French Antarctic Expedition of
1903 – 05. In the afternoon, we head to Petermann Island to
see a great variety of birdlife. You might also enjoy Zodiac cruises
among icebergs that are highly popular with leopard seals and crabeater
seals. Minke whales, humpbacks, and gentoo penguins can also be found
here.
Day
9: Detaille Island’s historic station
Today
we reach Crystal Sound, viewing the area’s beautiful ice
formations and wildlife before landing at Detaille Island. This remote
island was once home to a British research station that is now an
historic monument.
Day
10: Amazing Argentine islands
Next
you arrive at the Yalour Islands, a small archipelago composed mostly
of isolated rocks and one principal island that offers us a rewarding
landing. Home to Adélie penguins and some of the most
southerly gentoos in the world, Yalour also has small patches of
bearded and crustose lichen, including xanthoria, buellia, caloplaca,
and usnea. Extensive moss beds and some Antarctic hair grass
(Deschampsia antarctica) can be seen as well.
We
hope to also visit the nearby Ukrainian research station, Vernadsky,
where a warm welcome awaits us. Here you can take a guided tour of the
facilities, which include a small gift shop, a post office that is
always popular with our guests, and Wordie House, a well-preserved
historic hut. This hut still contains its rations, tools, and beds, so
you can compare the amenities of an early facility with a modern one
like Vernadsky.
Day
11: Farewell to Antarctica
We
have our farewell to Antarctica in the Melchior Islands for our final
activities before heading towards the Drake Passage.
Day
12 – 13: Familiar seas, familiar friends
Your
return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake,
you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered
from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you
now, and you to them.
Day
14: There and back again
Every
adventure, no matter how great, must eventually come to an end.
It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that
will accompany you wherever your next journey leads.DAY
1: USHUAIA
Nestled
in the foothills of the snow-capped Martial Range, Ushuaia’s
colourful streets and mismatched buildings cascade from the imposing
mountains before coming to an abrupt halt at the shores of the Beagle
Channel. As one of the world’s southernmost cities, Ushuaia
carries its ‘end of the world’ reputation well. The
moody weather and dramatic surroundings certainly help. Board your
boutique ship before departing for your journey through one of the most
captivating wilderness regions of the world.
DAYS
2-3: DAY AT SEA
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.
DAY
4-9: ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
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.
Expedition Activities:
Kayak in
Antarctica With Swan Hellenic Expedition Team (single outing)
Duration: 02 h 00 m (Optional)
DAY
10-11: DAY AT SEA
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.
DAY
12: USHUAIA
Nestled
in the foothills of the snow-capped Martial Range, Ushuaia’s
colourful streets and mismatched buildings cascade from the imposing
mountains before coming to an abrupt halt at the shores of the Beagle
Channel. As one of the world’s southernmost cities, Ushuaia
carries its ‘end of the world’ reputation well. The
moody weather and dramatic surroundings certainly help. Board your
boutique ship before departing for your journey through one of the most
captivating wilderness regions of the world.
SH Vega (Luxury Expedition, 152-guests)
Making her maiden voyage in April 2022, our 5 star elegant Scandi-design boutique ship offers you an intimate setting from which you will be fully immersed in all the sights and scenery of your voyage.
Our brand new ship has been designed to journey to off the beaten path destinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Regional
flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation (ONLY
available for Antarctica cruises starting or ending in Ushuaia, Arctic
cruises starting and ending in Longyearbyen and Kangerlussuaq)
- Group
return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included
accommodation where applicable)
- One
night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or
onboard
- All
meals onboard
- 24-hour
room service
- Coffee,
tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours
per day
- Lecture
programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
- Standard
WiFi
- Onboard
gratuities and port taxes
- One
selected shore excursion/expedition activity per port of call (Kayak
not included, bookable for a fee on board)
- Branded
Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
- Itineraries
are correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
ADVENTURE OPTIONS
