Helsinki Shipyard floats out second of three next-generation ships for cultural expedition cruise pioneer
Swan Hellenic announced that Helsinki Shipyard had floated SH Vega out of dry dock. SH Vega is the twin ship of SH Minerva, launched at the end of last year and now exploring Antarctica. Steelwork production for the third slightly larger vessel commissioned from Helsinki started last Summer, and about 50% of the blocks are now ready at the yard. The Swan Hellenic fleet is thus coming together smoothly to take adventurous and discerning voyagers on a wide range of distinctive cruises.
All three ships are designed for minimal environmental impact and comply with the latest emission standards, while also being battery-ready for future emission-free silent sailing in port as well as wildlife and marine reserves.
SH Vega features
SH Vega features a 4.6-megawatt diesel-electric hybrid-ready propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction and PC5 ice-strengthened hull that is fully Safe Return to Port certified. At 113 m, the 10,500 GRT vessel has been specially designed for worldwide cruising to explore the most inspiring and inaccessible places on earth.
Providing elegant and spacious 5-star accommodation for 152 guests in 76 spacious cabins and suites, the vast majority with large balconies, SH Vega will be operated by an onboard team of 120 to provide the highest levels of personal service, priding itself on one of the highest GRT-to-passenger ratios in its category. The very latest hygiene technology will protect the health of all on board to the highest standards and includes air conditioning with UV sanitisation systems.
Designed for immersive experiences and extensive open views, SH Vega features an expedition laboratory, marine life library and observation lounge for lectures by expert expedition leaders and specialists from a wide range of disciplines. Expedition day trips by zodiac are a central feature of the programmes that will be offered, along with kayaking, trekking and other activities. The on-board amenities include a spa, sauna, gym, library, panoramic restaurant and club lounge serving world-class cuisine, as well as a pool deck with bar.
SH Vega will be delivered to Swan Hellenic in May 2022. Departing on her 11-day maiden cruise on the 29th of May, she will sail from Leith, the port of Edinburgh, to explore the Faroe Islands and Iceland, docking in Reykjavík on the 8th of June. The third ship in the fleet, temporarily named Vega 3, will be delivered in early 2023.
“SH Vega is a next-generation ship that advances the Swan Hellenic cultural expedition cruising tradition in the inspired mould of her sister ship. We are very proud of our contribution to everything she represents,” commented Simo Rastas, CEO of Helsinki Shipyard.
“We are again delighted with the quality of Helsinki’s work,” added Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito. “Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, everyone at the shipyard has maintained an ambitious schedule to the very highest standards. It’s wonderful to see our vision come together so well. We know our guests will love how such similar ships as SH Minerva and SH Vega can also be so different, enriching their voyages with us worldwide to see what others don’t.”
About Swan Hellenic
Swan Hellenic was relaunched in July 2020 to proudly continue the spirit of cultural expedition cruising the company pioneered in the 1950s. Building on its British roots, the new company has a global cultural cruising outlook dedicated to providing guests with the opportunity to ‘see what others don’t’.
Swan Hellenic’s purpose-built ships feature elegant Scandi-design interiors, extensive outdoor spaces and dedicated expedition facilities. SH Minerva and SH Vega, two new 5-star Polar Code PC 5 expedition cruise ships with ice-strengthened hulls, respectively launched in December 2021 and arriving in May 2022, each accommodate 152 guests in 76 spacious suites and staterooms, the majority with large balconies. A slightly larger PC 6 ice-class vessel accommodating 208 guests in the same distinctive comfort and style in 96 staterooms and suites will be arriving in early 2023.
All three ships feature 3 dining venues – the Swan Restaurant, Club Lounge and Pool bar & Grill – and are being built in full compliance with SOLAS Safe Return to Port requirements. Dedicated to guests with a passion for adventure and cultural exploration, the company’s meticulously planned itineraries explore the wild landscapes, wildlife, peoples and unique cultures of the world’s less travelled regions.
The crews each include a team of seasoned expedition guides, expert speakers and lecturers, for a total complement of 120 and 140 persons respectively, offering outstanding staff-to-guest ratios to deliver the highest standards of attentive personal service.
Headquartered in Cyprus with offices in London, Dusseldorf, Monaco, Fort Lauderdale (serving the North America market), Hong Kong (serving Greater China and South-East Asia), Sidney (serving Australia-New Zealand) and Copenhagen (serving Scandinavia and Iceland), as well as partnerships serving India and Japan, Swan Hellenic supports the travel trade with specialist local partners to provide customers with expert personal service worldwide.
For more information about Swan Hellenic, please visit www.swanhellenic.com
