SH Vega

Is SH Vega a good ship for Antarctica?

Yes, and it is the Swan Hellenic ship to pick for the Antarctic Circle or for both poles in one year. SH Vega is a 152-guest expedition ship with a Polar Class 5 hull, built to the same design as SH Minerva; what sets it apart is the calendar.¹⁶ In 2026-27 it sails 12 round trips from Ushuaia, two of them to the Antarctic Circle, and in 2027 it carries most of the line's Arctic program: 13 departures from Svalbard to northwest Greenland and across to Canada.²⁴ Its cheapest Antarctic fare is the 10-night Antarctic Peninsula Odyssey on November 24, 2026, from $11,425 per person with a Buenos Aires hotel night and charter flights included.³

It is not the ship for South Georgia, which it skips in 2026-27, or for a Junior Suite, which only SH Diana has.²³¹¹ We have not sailed on SH Vega. This page uses Swan Hellenic's ship, voyage and FAQ pages read on October 15, 2026, IAATO records and Cruise Industry News.

What are SH Vega's specifications?

SH Vega entered service in 2022 as the second ship of the relaunched fleet, a sister of SH Minerva with the same dimensions.⁵⁶

Figures are from the ship page's spec panel unless marked.¹ Transport Canada describes PC5 as year-round operation in medium first-year ice, which may include old ice.⁸ Swan Hellenic says Vega and Minerva can hold about 6 knots through sea ice 1.9 ft (0.58 m) thick or 3.9 ft (1.2 m) of brash ice.⁹ The FAQ adds "extra-large stabilizers" for the Drake Passage and recommends preventive seasickness medication.¹⁰

Which staterooms does SH Vega have?

Four categories, from a 215 sq ft (20 m²) Oceanview to a 506 sq ft (47 m²) Premium Suite; there are no Junior Suites, which only SH Diana offers.³¹¹

Fares are per person with two sharing for the Antarctic Peninsula Odyssey. All four categories list a flame-effect fireplace; Oceanview and Balcony rooms have two singles or a double, suites a king bed and a separate living room, and the Premium Suite a walk-in wardrobe.³ Vega's Premium Suite is 65 sq ft (6 m²) larger than the top suite on SH Diana.¹¹ For the case for paying more for a balcony, see our balcony guide.

Where does SH Vega sail in Antarctica in 2026-27?

Vega's season runs from November 24, 2026 to March 25, 2027, with 12 round trips from Ushuaia.²

The Odyssey plans five days on the Antarctic Peninsula, one more than the 9-night Antarctic Wonders, and at $11,425 it costs less than any of Vega's Antarctic Wonders dates.³² Mid-season is the expensive stretch: the January 4, January 13 and February 2 sailings cost $22,400 to $22,825, nearly double the November fare.² On the Weddell Sea route, the February 11 departure, at $16,450, costs $4,725 less than the January 22 one.²

IAATO expects 12 Vega voyages and 1,380 passengers in 2026-27, about 115 a trip, after counting 1,549 passengers on 11 voyages in 2025-26.¹² With 152 guests, a full Vega exceeds IAATO's limit of 100 visitors at a site, so landings run in at least two groups.¹³

Does SH Vega cross the Antarctic Circle?

It tries to, twice a season. The 13-night Cruise to the Antarctic Circle spends eight days along the Peninsula and aims to sail beyond 66°33′S, the latitude south of which, as Swan Hellenic's page notes, the midnight sun brings periods of 24-hour daylight.¹⁴ The December 22, 2026 sailing returns on January 4 and costs from $20,000; the March 12, 2027 sailing is cheaper but its Oceanview category showed Price on request, so its lowest fare was a $14,950 Balcony, with Suites from $22,750.²¹⁴

The captain decides on the day how far conditions allow, and Vega's PC5 rating gives it more margin in ice than PC6 SH Diana, which offers one Circle departure, on February 24 from $14,850.¹⁰⁸¹⁵ Our Antarctic Circle page explains what crossing the line involves.

What does SH Vega do in the Arctic in 2027?

It spends May to September in the Arctic with 13 departures, more than any other Swan Hellenic ship.⁴

The cheapest is the 7-night Exploring Svalbard on July 4, at $8,575 in an Oceanview stateroom with a Copenhagen hotel night and charter flights to Longyearbyen included; it spends six days around Svalbard.¹⁶ The May 31 voyage from Reykjavik stops at Dynjandi waterfall, Húsavík and Jan Mayen before four days in Svalbard.¹⁷

In Greenland, Deep Greenland sails north from Kangerlussuaq to Thule, Siorapaluk and Qaanaaq, then back via Upernavik, the Eqip Sermia glacier, Ilulissat and Sisimiut, with charter flights from Reykjavik included.¹⁸ The September Northern Lights trips cover Disko Bay in a week, from $9,000.¹⁹ Swan Hellenic's FAQ promises at least one kayak session per guest on Arctic cruises in normal conditions.¹⁰

How does SH Vega compare with SH Minerva and SH Diana?

Vega and SH Minerva are the same design, so the choice between them comes down to routes and dates; Diana is larger, cheaper on its best dates and PC6.²⁰²¹

Minerva has the 18-night Falklands and South Georgia voyage and the Ross Sea crossing, and spends the northern summer in Asia and the Pacific.²² Our guides to choosing an Antarctica cruise and to small versus large expedition ships help weigh ship size, ice class and price across other lines.

Who should book SH Vega?

Book Vega for an Antarctic Circle attempt on a PC5 ship, for a short November Peninsula trip at $11,425, or for a week in Svalbard from $8,575 or west Greenland from $9,000.²⁴ Look elsewhere if you want a Junior Suite (only SH Diana has them), South Georgia (Minerva and Diana sail there, Vega does not in 2026-27), or the lowest Antarctic fare, which is Diana's $9,800.² Kayaking and snowshoeing are optional extras with a separate charge.³