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July 11, 2022

The Naming Ceremony of SH Vega, Swan Hellenic‘s second ship, was held at the Helsinki Shipyard. The ship is now on her way to Norway for her first cultural cruise expedition to the Arctic, an 11-day exploration of the Svalbard archipelago, departing from Tromsø on July 20, 2022.

The new ship was named by Patrizia Zito, wife of Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito, in the presence of Helsinki Shipyard senior management, media and members of the cruise and travel industry from around the world.

SH Vega is the second in a series of three ice-class cruise ships built for premium discovery experiences around the world. SH Vega features a 5-megawatt diesel-electric propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction and a reinforced PC5 hull with extra-large stabilizers for exceptional passenger comfort.

SH Vega, like its twin sister SH Minerva, is designed to meet the latest environmental regulations and is fully self-sufficient for up to 40 days or 8,000 nautical miles. Preparations have also been made to implement battery technology that would enable silent operation. The ships are equipped with exhaust gas purification, advanced wastewater treatment systems, and waste storage facilities necessary to operate in sensitive polar areas.

Providing spacious 5-star accommodation for 152 guests in 76 spacious cabins and suites, the vast majority with large balconies, SH Vega is managed by an on-board team of 120 to provide the highest levels of personal service.

Designed to connect guests with the outside world, they feature open interior perspectives with an abundance of panoramic windows, large outdoor deck areas, and multiple near-sea viewing stations, including a Swan’s Nest platform at the bow.

 

On board comfort and elegance extend from the spacious lounge and 3 dining options – Swan Restaurant, Club Lounge, and Pool Bar & Grill – to the gymnasium, sauna, and Basecamp, a full-service locker room managed by the Concierge where guests prepare for their expeditions. Conference room facilities with state-of-the-art audiovisual presentation equipment support expert lectures on board, while a fully equipped photo lab with professional photographers in attendance ensures guests can create inspiring images and videos to relive their extraordinary experiences when they return home.

 

Immediately after the ceremony, SH Vega set sail from Helsinki bound for Tromsø, Norway, for an inaugural season of cruises exploring the magic of the Arctic, from the Svalbard Peninsula and the ice and fire landscapes of Iceland to the majesty of Greenland, the Northwest Passage, and the wilderness of northern Canada. In late fall it will make its way along the East Coast of the United States on a 12-day voyage, taking in everything from New York, Norfolk and Charleston to Miami. From November, it will offer a range of cultural expedition cruises from 11 to 21 days in Antarctica until March 2023, when it will sail from the west coast of Africa to the Canary Islands and Western Europe, also immersing guests in the Celtic lands of Britain and Ireland on the way to its second Arctic season. This will end with a crossing from Greenland to Nova Scotia, followed by the Caribbean and then Brazil in October 2023.

After the naming ceremony, Jonas Packalén, project manager of Helsinki Shipyard, commented, “This is a proud day for all of us. SH Vega is as beautiful and elegant as her twin sister! We wish her and her crew fair winds and open seas, with special thanks to everyone involved in the project for their unstinting dedication!”

Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito added, “I would like to congratulate everyone at Helsinki for their excellent work in creating this wonderful new ship. We are delighted with the quality of their work, the creation of another unique presence on the waves, and look forward to taking her first guests to see what others do not see, exploring the Arctic with exceptional comfort and style.”

SH Minerva and SH Vega will be joined early next year by the slightly larger SH Diana, which is already under construction at the Helsinki shipyard.

Don’t miss more updates, news and reviews of Swan Hellenic on Cruising Journal with photos, videos and cruises on offer!

Giorgia Lombardo

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