Antarctica, a spot that’s nonetheless lined in thriller and solely seen by courageous explorers and in current occasions by scientists and loopy adventurers that don’t shrink back from this chilly elusive continent. Properly, that’s what most individuals say if you ask them about this huge wilderness on the very backside of our planet. Nonetheless, as a result of it’s a kind of “final frontiers” it’s changing into an more and more fashionable vacation spot and the cruise business is all for it. Because of this there are dozens of ships exploring this white desert yearly, permitting over 150.000 folks yearly to find Antarctica in essentially the most comfy method attainable.
So final month it was my flip and though I’m again house now, I’m nonetheless processing all of the impressions from this epic journey. As a result of there are such a lot of unknowns concerning this vacation spot and sort of journey, I’ve cut up my overview into 2 elements, hopefully answering your entire questions (if not simply pop them under within the remark field). Right here we go!
Why Swan Hellenic?
Swan Hellenic is a model that has been round for over 70 years however ever since 2020 it has identified a real renaissance when plans had been made to start operations with a fleet of newly purpose-built expedition ships. The primary one, the glossy 337 ft lengthy SH Minerva entered service by the tip of 2021, providing house for 152 visitors and 120 crew. Its sister-ship the SH Vega adopted not lengthy after in spring 2022 and the third and momentarily final one within the pipeline is the marginally bigger SH Diana that may begin service within the coming months.
I used to be on the lookout for an organization that operates smaller ships and the explanation behind that’s the truth that in Antarctica there’s solely a most variety of 100 visitors that may go ashore at any given second. However I don’t need to be roughing it both in order that’s when Swan Hellenic as a real 5 star firm got here on my radar, providing all of that after which some. And a luxurious boutique model that’s comparatively new all the time tickles my curiosity, irrelevant if its a cruise firm or a brand new resort model.
Staterooms
There are 3 distinct stateroom classes being Oceanview, Balcony or Suite. All of them provide ample house, heat and comfy interiors, gentle textures and most significantly an incredible mattress in which you’ll be able to simply drift away whereas listening to the crackling noise of the hearth. No worries, it’s not an actual one, but it surely seems fairly darn alike and offers that on the spot “hygge” feeling!
I all the time go for a balcony stateroom or larger, and this time was no exception. Our room 614 was positioned on deck 6 and from the second I walked in I used to be not solely taken away by how spacious it was but in addition by the prime quality finishes, the ridiculous quantity of storage and the general homely feeling it immediately gave me. The marginally Scandinavian feel and look that runs all through the ship makes the room really feel even bigger than it’s because of the gentle tones, intelligent use of house and the burst of sunshine that pierces by the ground to ceiling sliding home windows which give entry to the balcony.
The lavatory is sensible and whereas it doesn’t have a shower just like the suites it does have an incredible rain bathe which might be double the scale of what you usually get on a cruise ship. Belief me, you’re actually going to understand that when attempting to bathe whereas crossing the Drake Passage!
Culinary journey
One of many key stones of a great expedition cruise, is how well-fed the visitors are and Swan Hellenic clearly understands the significance of it. On the SH Vega there’s just one actual restaurant, the Swan restaurant the place you’ll have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Whereas the primary two are provided in a very nice buffet-style the place you’ll be able to nonetheless order your most well-liked eggs or related on the facet, the dinner is the place the true class of Swan Hellenic shines. Each night you’ll get a special menu with the selection of appetisers, soups, salads, entrees, cheese and desserts permitting you to create your personal 6-course meal in the event you really feel prefer it. Largely I used to be glad to have simply 3 or 4 programs trigger you’ll not go hungry at any given second throughout your voyage. It additionally permits you to really take pleasure in each dish and resulting from their collaboration with Michelin star chef Andrea Ribaldone and chef Sang Keun Oh , each plate that’s put in entrance of you seems like a portray and the style is equally spectacular. All visitors had been raving about it and I couldn’t agree extra.
The Membership lounge isn’t technically a restaurant but you do get to take pleasure in afternoon tea right here each day and there are all types of nibbles and finger meals on show 24/7. The freshly baked cookies are unattainable to move by with out grabbing one so don’t inform me I didn’t warn you.
Climate allowing there’s additionally an out of doors kitchen that enables for alfresco eating, a really outstanding expertise when cruising by huge icebergs or previous these imposing glaciers.
And if the entire above isn’t sufficient but, there’s additionally room service out there across the clock, with some very tasty choices that are laborious to disclaim. The right various for these days if you don’t need to go away the consolation of your room anymore.
The workforce
You possibly can have essentially the most wonderful ship with all of the bells and whistles however all the things can be in vein if it isn’t backed by a workforce of expert professionals. Fortunately Swan Hellenic understands this and employed a few of the finest within the business which immediately provides a lot worth to the general expertise. From the second I walked on the ship the employees discovered the proper stability between being skilled and on the identical time work together in a barely extra leisurely solution to make us really feel proper at house. And it doesn’t cease there trigger resulting from its measurement the employees knew our names, drink preferences and so forth after merely a day, one thing you received’t get on the bigger ships.
After all there’s additionally the expedition workforce which performs an important function in turning a visit to Antarctica right into a lifetime reminiscence. A minimum of 12 expedition crew members had been readily available to information us throughout landings, give explanations whereas on zodiac cruises and so forth. And this workforce underneath the watchful eye and steering of Antony Jinman (Google will inform you all about him) had some correct expertise with Antarctica like snowboarding all the best way to the geographic South Pole, a feat to not be underestimated. Naturalists had been equally on board to provide us some nice perception into the surroundings, the wildlife and all the things we noticed and skilled throughout our time down south.
There was even a visitor lecturer on board, and never simply any random man they picked up in Ushuaia however Ed Sobey, a well-known oceanographer and meteorologist that had all of the visitors consuming out of his hand when he gave one more lecture. It’s these small particulars that actually add worth to the general expertise and make a distinction in the long run.
Services onboard
It may be a smaller ship however that doesn’t imply you need to surrender on luxurious or services! First up is the gymnasium, not huge however greater than ample with peloton bikes, treadmills, weights, …. It’s greater than sufficient to maintain you match and by the quantity of individuals (no less than on our expedition) that labored out within the gymnasium every single day, I can inform it has all the things you want.
Proper throughout is the sauna and outside jacuzzi, way more up my sleeve and way more relaxed however hey… who am I? The sauna is big, has a big window to look at exterior in case there are any whales swimming by and may simply match 12 or extra, and whereas it may be a good squeeze the jacuzzi will in all probability accommodate about the identical quantity of individuals.
Slightly have a correct pool, then head over to deck 7 and also you’ll discover a first rate sized outside pool within the aft, completely positioned to gaze over the ocean or the close by mainland. Particularly when the solar comes out it’s a pleasure and concurrently a surreal expertise to swim within the coldest place on earth. However to not fear, the water temperature is all the time very pleasing to the purpose the place it virtually feels such as you’re swimming in an enormous bathtub tub.
Bookworms will equally have a good time because of the library on deck 3. Its low and central location on the ship additionally makes it much less weak for rocking up and down throughout tough seas which means you’ll be able to learn a e book on this tranquil oasis whereas feeling a mild movement relatively than a rollercoaster.
Citizen Science
Science… when you’re on a visit of a lifetime? Completely! Antarctica (and the Artic too for that matter) is generally visited by visitors such as you and me. Sending scientists and researchers to those areas is a pricey affair so why not use the time we’re spending in these areas to assist science alongside? The Citizen Science programme does simply that and it provides an additional layer to the general expertise. It offers you the prospect to assist perceive, analysis and observe these distant locations whereas equally gathering essential knowledge which can be utilized by the scientific group. The SH Vega even has its personal laboratory onboard. It’s not like the huge ones you see in Hollywood motion pictures however nonetheless it’s large enough to get the job finished.
There are numerous methods of serving to with the programme, and through our expedition I largely joined within the hen survey with Carine and Sue (each naturalists and ornithologists) which noticed us observing, counting and recording all of the birds for a full hour throughout our time on the Drake Passage. After all, all of that is on a voluntary foundation but it surely gave me a lot pleasure to assist even when it’s within the slightest method + I discovered so much throughout these observations on the aft deck. Most visitors on expeditions cruises like these are focused on our surroundings and the way it’s evolving, and thru this programme you get an opportunity to assist scientists perceive it higher and presumably discover methods to assist our planet, one thing which in my books is a free and essential bonus to a voyage like this.
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Is there extra than simply Antarctica?
Briefly… completely!
At present Swan Hellenic places its give attention to the polar areas throughout their respective summer season seasons however in between these and with the third ship the SH Diana coming into play, there may be actually no restrict to the locations on provide. All of it will depend on what your private preferences are or which bucket checklist vacation spot you need to tick, be it Antarctica, the west coast of Africa or the distant pacific islands like Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.
The important thing to success right here is the truth that the main benefits of the ship stay the identical, irrelevant of the vacation spot it’s exploring. It’s sufficiently small to get into locations larger ships simply can’t attain, and as a result of restricted quantity of visitors on board additionally it is very versatile with the itinerary ensuring it maximises all of the alternatives that current themselves alongside the best way.
What’s included
Properly, except you need to drink Louis Roederer Cristal champagne all day lengthy, there’s actually nothing that isn’t included.
From the second you collect on the designated luxurious resort in Buenos Aires the day earlier than setting sail, until the second you arrive again within the metropolis after an incredible expedition, all the things is included. And with that I imply all the things! The lodging in Buenos Aires, the chartered flight to and from Ushuaia, transfers, the entire expedition cruise onboard the ship, all of the meals and drinks (sure even the alcoholic ones),…. They even give you a correct parka, consuming bottle and waterproof backpack, all of which you’ll be able to take house afterwards. Boots you don’t want to fret about both trigger they are going to mortgage you these at some stage in your time onboard the ship.
If nonetheless your money is burning in your pocket and also you do need to spend it on one thing, then contemplate one or a number of spa remedies, an merchandise from the present store or a flowery bottle of wine or spirits from the reserve checklist. However that’s about the one choices you’ll have, trigger all the remainder is included, even the lifetime reminiscences!
Conclusion
If there’s one conclusion I’ve from this entire expertise, it’s the truth that you actually must chase these dream journeys and never delay them any longer. For me Antarctica was all the time on my thoughts and I needed to expertise it in one of the simplest ways attainable, and I really feel that Swan Hellenic was the proper alternative for that. Their method in direction of the entire expertise and the truth that it’s finished in a choose group guided by a few of the finest within the enterprise is greater than what you could possibly want for.
The one draw back is the truth that I’m now much more eager on exploring extra of Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the Arctic in the identical method and luxurious as I skilled this journey.
In half 2 of this overview I’ll dive deeper into what you’ll be able to anticipate to do and see throughout an expedition cruise in Antarctica on Swan Hellenic and the way a typical day seems like when visiting the seventh continent.
Disclosure: Our cruise was sponsored by Swan Hellenic.