Swan Hellenic Unveils its May and June 2024 Celts and Vikings Cruises
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Cultural expedition cruise pioneer offers three unique itineraries across the British Isles and Iceland for curious minds to delve deep into the fascinating histories and cultures of the Celts and Vikings, immersed in the extraordinary wild nature in which they lived
19 February 2024
Swan Hellenic is offering voyagers three expert-curated cultural expedition cruises, designed expressly to immerse them in the historical, cultural and wildlife wonders of the British Isles and Iceland. From the mystic romance of ancient Celtic civilizations to the legendary trails of Vikings and the breathtaking landscapes of Iceland, these voyages promise unforgettable exploration and discovery. All three cruises in the series are aboard Swan Hellenic’s purpose-designed boutique ice-class ship SH Vega.
The first is Spirit of the Celts (11 nights from 24 May to 4 June 2024), which sails from Portsmouth, England’s only island city, to Fowey in Cornwall, Tresco in the Scilly Isles, Bantry, Dingle, Galway and Killybegs in Ireland, then Iona, Stornoway, Loch Ewe and Oban in Scotland, followed by Portrush and Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland before finally concluding the odyssey in Dublin, Ireland.
With every destination offering a wealth of experiences, it’s difficult to single out highlights, but the spellbinding Callanish Stones on the west coast of Lewis and Harris, also famed for Harris tweed, are sure to be a treasured memory. Built some 500 years before Stonehenge, in 3,000 BC, they’re one of the two oldest stone circles in the UK. Another standout is the Causeway Coast, its clifftop walks and beaches leading to the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway with its 40,000 basalt formations, deservedly Ireland’s leading tourist attraction.
In the Wake of Celts and Vikings (12 nights from 4 to 16 June 2024) follows on, leaving Dublin for Iona, Portree on the Isle of Skye, then Ullapool, Stromness on Orkney, Lerwick on Shetland, and Tórshavn, port capital of the Faroe Islands, before embarking on a semi-circumnavigation of Iceland, calling at Djupivogur, Grimsey Island, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Vigur Island, Dynjandi waterfall, Látrabjarg cliffs and Reykjavik.
Highlights are again difficult to pick with so many magical places visited, but Orkney’s Skara Brae is a standout as Northern Europe's best preserved Neolithic village, predating Stonehenge and the Giza pyramids. The over one million seabirds on Grimsey also make for awe-inspiring encounters, only matched by the immense landscapes of Akureyri with its spectacular canyon and waterfalls.
The third cruise in this exceptional series is Iceland in Depth (8 nights from 16 to 24 June 2024), which departs Reykjavik for a full circumnavigation of the island, exploring the Dynjandi waterfall, Ísafjördur and the Westfjords region, Vigur Island, the seabird paradise of Grimsey, then Hrisey Island, famed for its wildlife and traditional Icelandic crafts. Next comes Akureyri, “Capital of the North”, with its spectacular surroundings, the art port of Seyðisfjörður and the charming fishing village of Djupivogur, followed by Heimaey, home to the largest puffin colony in the world, after which SH Vega will complete the circle to Reykjavik.
Each of these captivating cultural expedition cruises offers voyagers a special opportunity to unlock the rich secrets of these beautiful wild lands, where the legacies of Celtic and Viking culture intertwine. Moreover, they can be daisy-chained to create an extended in-depth experience. Which is one reason why there is already only limited availability of the middle cruise, In the Wake of Celts and Vikings. Take note!
Swan Hellenic Chief Commercial Officer Patrizia Iantorno comments: “The myths and legends of the Celts and Vikings have long exerted a fascination as strong as that of the otherworldly landscapes and rich wildlife of the regions where they lived. These three cultural expedition cruises have been crafted by our experts to provide an immersive experience of every aspect. We’re extremely proud of the result, knowing the unforgettable moments that will await our guests as they voyage in the sophisticated casual ambience of SH Vega, with its gourmet dining and designer amenities.”
About Swan Hellenic
Swan Hellenic was relaunched in July 2020 to proudly advance the spirit of cultural expedition cruising the company pioneered in the 1950s. Building on its British roots, the new company has a distinctly cosmopolitan culture dedicated to providing guests with global opportunities to see what others don’t.
Swan Hellenic's purpose-built boutique ships feature elegant Scandi-design interiors, extensive outdoor spaces and dedicated expedition facilities. SH Minerva and SH Vega, two 5-star Polar Code PC 5 expedition cruise ships with ice-strengthened hulls, launched in December 2021 and July 2022. Both accommodate 152 guests in 76 spacious suites and staterooms, the majority with large balconies. A slightly larger PC 6 ice-class vessel, SH Diana, accommodating 192 guests in the same distinctive comfort and style in 96 staterooms and suites, was launched in April 2023.
While sharing the unique design features of her sister ships, SH Diana also introduces certain key enhancements, including a dedicated presentation and lecture theatre overlooking the lounge, and on-board Tender boats to take guests ashore in addition to and in greater comfort than the customary expedition Zodiacs. Like her siblings, SH Diana features a state-of-the-art gym, spa, panoramic sauna, club room and swimming pool with poolside grill.
All three ships feature three dining venues – the Swan Restaurant, Club Lounge and Pool Bar & Grill – and are 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 cultures of the world’s less travelled and most historic regions.
The crews each include a team of 12 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.
Swan Hellenic’s cultural expedition cruises have always been distinguished by the company, guidance and expert lectures of famous explorers, seasoned expedition guides and leading authorities in their fields. Now, many of the cruises are also enriched by partnerships with unique organisations to bring very different experts on board in the same way, including JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs, Chopra and the SETI Institute.
Maris Culinary Discovery at Sea brings a different JRE gourmet chef aboard each in a series of exclusive cruises which take guests on a parallel voyage of gastronomic discovery. Chopra Explore & Restore well-being voyages pair inward journeys with outward exploration, resulting in a deeply enriching, healing experience with impacts that last long after the voyage has concluded. While the SETI Explore Space at Sea Series brings a different world-renowned scientist from the SETI Institute aboard each cruise to provide guests with expert insights into the history and latest discoveries in astronomy, astrophysics, astrobiology and planetary science, as well as the quest to find other forms of life within and beyond our solar system.
On many cruises, guests can also participate in Swan Hellenic’s Citizen Science partnerships, contributing valuable data obtained during their expeditions and on board, reporting cloud data with NASA, recording whale sightings with Happywhale, monitoring phytoplankton with the Secchi Disk Study, and Antarctic seabird numbers with Stony Brook University.
Headquartered in Cyprus with offices in London, Dusseldorf, Monaco, Fort Lauderdale (serving the North American market), Hong Kong (serving Greater China, India and South-East Asia), Sydney (serving Australia-New Zealand) and Copenhagen (serving Scandinavia and Iceland), together with a partnership serving Japan, Swan Hellenic supports the travel trade with local specialist partners to provide customers with expert personal service worldwide.
For more information about Swan Hellenic, please visit www.swanhellenic.com or call +44 (0) 207 846 0271
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