Review Time
Things I like about the Swan Hellenic Expedition to Antarctica:- Attentive and friendly crew- Wonderful cabin with a good bathroom and a great shower- Housekeeping was impeccable- Every meal was a total delight- Eco-friendly products- Plenty of towels- The large closets and abundant storage space- The key entry system worked every time!- The room décor was pleasant and relaxing- The workspace was large and accommodating- The well stocked refrigerator was nice, and the complimentary champagne was especially appreciated- Having movies available for watching was great- The library was a haven- Well executed Zodiac expeditions- Skillful handling of rough sea conditionsTips:- If you will need fast internet access you must upgrade the from the free on-board serviceAreas of improvement:- The onboard lectures need a bit of work and it would be nice to have experts, as opposed to crew members, give the lectures.This trip was the experience of a lifetime, and if I I could give more than 5 stars I certainly would
Expedition Cruising with Swan Hellenic.This was my husband and I’s first expedition cruise, and it won’t be our last. From start to finish this cruise was exceptional. We were greeted with champagne on arrival, a very swift check in and then down to our cabin. The cabin was beautiful with light wood fixture, masses of cupboard and hanging space. The beds were comfortable with soft bedding. The shower room was a decent size with a very good shower. The room was kept immaculate by our cabin steward.We enjoyed all the activities, from snorkeling to exploring the Seychelle atolls. The expedition crew were knowledgeable and helpful, ensuring our safety at all times. It was great fun riding around in the zodiacs and getting up close to the birds on the shore.The food on board was plentiful and delicious, with plenty of choice. The wine served with the meals was also very good.Due to political unrest in Tanzania our itinerary had to be changed. The team worked very hard to provide us with acceptable alternatives. We enjoyed our visit to Shimoni very much.We would certainly recommend Swan Hellenic and look forward to cruising with them again in the near future.
Наше путешествие Our journey began on October 19, 2025, aboard the Diana ship, sailing from the port of Victoria in Seychelles to Kenya.Let me say right away — everything was absolutely perfect! There was not a single thing to complain about.We were traveling as the entire Guru Team of eight people from Guru Travel (I’m sure you remember us — especially Francis, the bartender on Deck 7 😄). It was incredibly fun, and that fantastic atmosphere was maintained by the entire crew from the very first to the very last minute of our stay!We’d like to give special thanks to the expedition team — especially Dmitry, Sasha and Larisa as well as the chief security officer — Vladimir, and Ana - our waiter from the Philippines. Our cabin, number 501, was meticulously cleaned by a wonderful and always very friendly steward (unfortunately, we can’t recall his name). The whole Guru Team is thrilled and already misses all of you.Every minute spent on this ship now comes back to us in vivid, joyful memories.We’ll definitely be back!
Unfortunately we have had terrible experiences with Swan Hellenic. In March 2024 we where booked from Lima to Panama and they cancelled 2 weeks before. They did pay for our cancelled flights and pre cruise hotel booked separately so we thought we would give them another chance. Big mistake, now 3 weeks before our Rio to Buenos Aires Cruise on 6 November they have cancelled again, supposedly due to low occupancy. The ship has to go to Buenos Aires any way, so why not take the passengers. Their only offer was a 6 night cruise from Salvador to Rio departing in 2 weeks at the same price as our 8 night cruise but they would give us 3 nights hotel accommodation in Rio, some on board credit, or we could have a refund without charge! They will not pay for cancelled flights or hotels.I would definitely avoid them unless you are happy with short notice cancellations and don't mind potentially loosing thousands of pounds in airfares and hotels.
A lovely holiday, with many surprises & only one disappointment!I am an experienced cruiser and very experienced traveller. As a solo traveller, I tend to get a different view from others and look for different things in a trip.Let me get the disappointment & one other issue out of the way first.I am not normally a Hotel based, sunbathing, drink all day type but after booking the 10 night Seychelles cruise holiday which was due to depart UK 08/10, booked through Destinology (my first time of doing so), within a couple of weeks of paying my deposit, the trip was reduced to a 7 day cruise with 3 night all-inclusive stay at Mahe Resort and Spa Hotel. I really wanted to have 10 days to explore as much of the islands as possible but on reviewing the Hotel, decided to give myself a different break, it looked lovely.The alternative had been to cancel the whole trip with a full refund.The second issue was an injury I sustained on board SH Diana due to the inefficient electronic opening of double doors from the Club Lounge to the outside sun deck/terrace...see more at the end.The "cruise" is billed as an Expedition rather than a traditional cruise, the emphasis on exploration.There were something like 110 guests with 120 crew, the ratio was amazing but I understand the trip was quite undersold.In the event, I found the service amazing, the crew almost without fail, smiled, were busy, helpful, friendly and very efficient.My cabin was wonderful, on Deck 4, beautifully appointed, large, brilliant. Great selection of films on the TV (the engineer did have to reset my TV several times) & in a quiet location.Food was on the whole exceptional! As with general cruises, food available inclusively almost all day if you wished. The evening dinner was 5 courses plus coffee at a 5 star level. The surf & turf on the last but one night for the Captain's celebration dinner was SUPERB. The Exec Chef was friendly & approached guests to check it was enjoyed.I hadn't realised that drinks were included until the 3rd night, after which I had my fav tipple of Champagne twice a day.I have read other reviews & comments about there being a lack of sunbeds on other trips....I didnt discover the Stargazing deck until my last day, where there are plenty of sunloungers available too but there was a lack of available umbrellas for shade.The "excursion" team of which there are many, are friendly, very helpful and seemed well informed, experts aplenty amongst them in the Natural world field.The ship was impeccably clean and polished & there is a well-appointed laundry room with washers, dryers and ironing board etc., needed after a wet zodiac landing or arrival.The Islands of the Seychelles are all that they appear in the pictures, heavenly sandy beaches, pale blue crystal clear waters and temperatures were touching 30 degrees most days.Animal/bird life was interesting, my goal had been to see Fairy Terns and Tropic birds, tick. As a naturalist the onland variety IS limited, sometimes only a handful of species on an island.Stunning scenery & of course the amazing Coco de Mer "reserve" on Praslin.I noted one review complained about the lack of entertainment on board....this is not a Disco/Clubbing vibe of ship....it is classy, utter relaxation, an opportunity to chat in lovely lounges with other guests. Absolutely no excessive noise, other than perhaps some loud chat and laughter.Be prepared to get WET. Almost all landings are in Zodiacs & sometimes alongside ship was a bit choppy, great fun though.All in all a fabulous trip, well worth the money I paid, even as a solo traveller.NOW for the issue - (if youre still with me ;-) )....The injury I mention was because the double doors from the Club Lounge out did not operate in tandem. The left hand side door opened first, and appeared on the occasion that I walked through, that the right hand door was not going to open. As I then walked through the left side, & my right foot lifted to hit the deck outside, the right side door had opened and caught the back of my right heel, causing me to stumble but also, the bottom corner of the door was razor sharp and cut my foot. This turned out to be about a 2" cut, with a flap of skin lifted and lots of blood. Thankfully, the lovely chap who was a violinist on the entertainment team saw and helped me. The Doctor was called. She & a nurse took me to the sick bay & tended my wound, thankfully with no cost to myself. The Doctor caused it to be dressed 3 days running. Only now, almost 3 weeks later, has the wound dried up but I am still unable to wear a sports trainer on it as it will open up. I am disappointed that a member of the Exec team/the company didn't contact me in relation to the report the Doctor submitted. It did spoil my full enjoyment of two or three days. The Safety officer who attended showed little interest!
It was my first cruise experience, and I couldn't have been more impressed. Facilites were in uniformly exquisite condition, and staff and service were impeccable. I might prefer more presentations focused on cultures in the areas we visited, more casual access to the lecturers, and a better understanding (on my part) as to what each excursion included/entailed.
Our Arctic experience We have just had the ultimate trip of a lifetime and totally recommend SH Vega and their crew. We were on suite 625, spacious well laid out, plus added touches, like a log fire, that you don't experience else where, our Stewardess Myrish, always left the suite beautiful with added personal touches Rene, our evening entertainment, he is a very talented man, request's we're not an issue The bar staff, Alan with his very competent members, always asking wether they could assist The dinning room level 4and 7, not sure how Swan Hellenic are able to select such fantastic stall, there are just to many to name and not wanting to forget anyone, brilliant The expedition stall, so knowable and skilled in handling all passengers on zodiacs in sometimes tricky conditions we're great and talking with them during their cruise, always willing to assist and correct answers My most praise goes the Captian and head Chef The Captain, wether giving a presentation or conversations with the passengers always eliminated, we would enjoy another cruise with him at the helmThe Chef, the meal presentation and selection would be hard to find in some highend restaurants, each evening would come through the restaurant and ask about the meal, if any changes could be made, dedicated to his profession We can not leave without mentioning Dr Mish, ( hope we got that right), always caring and around passengers answering any queries that they may have Thankyou for the Experience Warren Lynn Affleck
The Swan Hellenic cruise line truly delivers on its promise of "cultural expedition." Sailing on one of their new, boutique ice-class vessels, like the SH Vega or SH Diana, is an experience that seamlessly blends five-star luxury with genuine, deep exploration. The ships themselves are a marvel of Scandinavian design—elegant, spacious, and immediately comforting, feeling more like a high-end floating hotel than a traditional cruise liner. The staterooms boast high-quality finishes, plentiful storage, and large balconies, ensuring your comfort even in the most remote polar regions.What elevates Swan Hellenic above competitors is the expedition team and the dedication to immersive travel. The expert lecturers, naturalists, and guides are world-class, offering fascinating lectures and ensuring safe, intimate Zodiac excursions. With a small passenger count (under 200), the experience is personalized; the staff quickly learns your name and preferences, and the ship is nimble enough to access hidden coves and react quickly to wildlife sightings, maximizing every moment of discovery. The included transfers, premium amenities, and exceptional dining—featuring both delicious buffet options and refined à la carte dinners—further cement this as a top-tier choice for the discerning traveller seeking adventure without sacrificing sophistication. It's an investment that offers incredible value for a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
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