SH Vega Review Of A Short Mini Cruise From Halifax

Sharing our SH Vega Review

By John and Sandra Nowlan

As we were about to board Swan Hellenic’s newest expedition cruise ship in Halifax Harbour, we noticed a local security guard admiring the sleek, 152-passenger vessel.

We asked him what he thought of it. He hesitated for a few moments, then answered, “I like the colour.”

The security man was right, but there’s a lot more to admire about the SH Vega, whose maiden voyage was only in July of this year. The10,500-ton ship with a large crew of 120 was built in Finland as an identical sister ship to SH Minerva, launched in 2021.

The 152-pax SH Vega docked in Halifax. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

These two, 115-metre boutique vessels with Polar Class ice-strengthened hulls will be joined in 2023 by SH Diana, ten metres longer with capacity for 192 guests.

We share our SH Vega review, a first-look at the new ship on a short Halifax to Boston cruise that was mainly made up of travel agents, media and Swan Hellenic reps.

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The Swan Hellenic Brand

As an ultra-modern, three-ship operation, Swan Hellenic continues a seven-decade tradition of small-ship geographic and cultural exploration of some of the wildest and most remote areas of our planet.

Its roots are British, but the brand has been through several ownership changes including stints with G Adventures and Carnival Corporation’s P&O Line and Princess Cruises.

Currently, Swan Hellenic is owned by three Cyprus-based companies with offices in Germany and Monaco.

Swan Hellenic’s goal, with millions invested in contemporary, Scandinavian-inspired ships, is to be a significant player in the burgeoning and competitive expedition cruise market.

Let’s Go Aboard the New SH Vega

The commitment to quality is evident as soon as we boarded SH Vega. An open design with large public spaces, panoramic views and comfortable furniture in muted colours is conducive to relaxing or, as we soon learned, to excellent illustrated lectures by a team of scientists and researchers.

The full-width Observation Lounge, taking up the most space on deck 7, was the best area we’ve ever seen on an expedition ship for lectures and learning.

The comfortable Main Lounge. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

In addition, the lounge is the entertainment area with a grand piano, and on night two, a talented saxophone player.

Evening musical entertainment in Vega’s main lounge. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

Like other expedition ships, the emphasis is on culture, science and nature, not lavish entertainment or casinos.

Our SH Vega Review of the Accommodations

There are a few suites and oceanview (window-only) rooms on SH Vega, but most are balcony staterooms with a generous 302 square feet of space plus a large balcony. We occupied room #618.

One of our fellow journalists said it reminded him of a mini-suite on large cruise ships. Storage space is huge, the best we’ve ever seen in a standard balcony cabin.

For privacy and reading there’s a curtain divider between the Queen bed and the sofa/desk area.

Most of Vega’s large, comfortable mini suites have balconies. * Photo: John Nowlan

Our bathroom was generous in size with a large, semi-open rain shower. Unfortunately it leaked onto the bathroom floor when showering, but a well-placed towel solved the problem.

The soap and shampoo are both in large, push-button containers, a trend on many ships these days. We now bring our own bar soap on cruises, since we prefer it.

Lighting was excellent in the rooms, but the thermostat to control temperature was very strange with just plus and minus buttons and no indication of actual temperature. Not sure why the Helsinki shipyard used that unfriendly system when other ships have the current room temperature on the thermostat (in F. or C.) and guests simply move arrows up or down to get the comfort they want.

The unique highlight in SH Vega rooms has to be the wide fireplace built into the walls.

Vega’s staterooms sport realistic (electric) fireplaces. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

Granted, it’s electric and very sophisticated, but the realism of the flames, sparks and even fire crackle sounds is startling. It must be a special delight for guests cruising in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

VIDEO: Below, as part of his SH Vega review, John gives us a tour of one of the 302-square-foot balcony mini-suites, #620 (identical to the one he & Sandra occupied, #618).

Loved “Researching” Dining for our SH Vega Review!

The main dining room (the Swan Restaurant) on SH Vega is also a special delight.

Vega’s dining room. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

It offers buffet breakfast and lunch and a more formal dinner service with white tablecloths and outstanding service from the mainly Asian crew.

Hot and cold breakfast buffet on SH Vega

Hot and cold breakfast buffet. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

Breakfast even included smoked mackerel, smoked salmon and smoked trout the chef picked up in Halifax (although, with its British tradition it was surprising there were no kippers).

In good weather there’s a BBQ on the back deck next to the infinity swimming pool. We enjoyed wonderful ribs, chicken and two kinds of European sausage with a wide selection of wine and beers.

BBQ on the back deck. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

Drinks at the back deck BBQ. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

Standard spirits are complimentary too (premium are extra) at several bars on the ship.

The complimentary wine at dinner is a standout. Waiters offered two whites and two reds each evening, all excellent quality.

If you’d like a small sample before a more generous pour, no problem.

Dinner our first night was unexpectedly a buffet, but with excellent choices especially the lamb chops.

On the second night our South African executive chef, Avhier Singh, went all out with a choice of herb-marinated lobster tails (another Nova Scotia treat), tender medallions of beef or beetroot risotto.

Lobster tails at dinner on the SH Vega. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

His creativity was only surpassed by the pastry chef who produced an array of outstanding sweets for meals and for afternoon teatime (a British tradition the line has wisely maintained).

An outstanding pastry chef. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

Spontaneity on a Small Ship Cruise

Our cruise was a short one between Halifax and Boston (as the ship then carried on to Antarctica), but the seas off New England were calm and the captain decided to stop, lower a few of the 13 zodiacs stored at the stern (eight kayaks are also on board), start the outboards and let guests enjoy a trip or two around the ship.

Vega’s 13 Zodiacs on the back deck. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

Many had never been on a Zodiac, so the unexpected treat was a welcome and exhilarating experience.

It’s one of the pleasures of a small expedition ship – spontaneity and surprises.

Enjoying a little Zodiac ride; Vega carries aboard a fleet of 18

Enjoying a little Zodiac ride. * Photo: Chris Dikmen

Upcoming Cruises on SH Vega

With three modern Polar class ships at its disposal Swan Hellenic has ambitious plans for the next few years.

SH Minerva will have routes covering southern South America, much of northern Antarctica, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan.
Our ship, SH Vega, will cover the Arctic, Greenland and a return to Halifax followed by South America, the Antarctic Peninsula and the west coast of Africa.
The newest ship, SH Diana, will concentrate on Northern Scandinavia, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Expedition cruising is a niche product with prices that reflect the unusual itineraries, relatively large crew (including many scientists, historians and naturalists) and fine dining.

Pre-dinner caviar in the SH Vega’s main lounge. * Photo: Sandra & John Nowlan

What’s Included in Swan Hellenic’s Cruise Rates

Regional flights to embarkation port & from disembarkation port
One-night stay at a four-star or better hotel in embarkation port
Transportation to/from the ship
All meals including a wide choice of wine, beer and selected spirits
One complimentary excursion in each port of call
All gratuities, port fees & taxes
In the polar regions, a free parka

What are other small expedition ships have we cruised on?

In recent years we’ve sailed with two other expedition cruise companies, which provides a great point of comparison for our SH Vega review of our recent mini cruise.

To explore the Arctic, Greenland and Newfoundland, Adventure Canada of Toronto leases the 200-passenger Ocean Endeavour, a 40-year-old Polish-built vessel that started its life as a Baltic Sea car ferry. Passengers like it because its history blends nicely with visits to remote communities. It lacks the cabin amenities and luxury touches of SH Vega but makes up for it with superb cuisine, local entertainment brought on board and an outstanding team of scientists, anthropologists and historians, most of whom have Ph.Ds. Coffee, tea and hot cookies are always available in the library.

Hurtigruten’s MS Roald Amundsen is the world’s first hybrid powered expedition cruise ship. Launched in 2019 it’s large — 500 passengers — but often sails with fewer than 300 guests. Unlike Vega, it has a complete science center with a museum, library, a large touch screen TV and, best of all, a half dozen Zeiss binocular microscopes. The lounge for lectures is not nearly as comfortable as the one on SH Vega. Staterooms on Roald Amundsen are well equipped with extra touches like a heated bathroom floor and bathroom night light that SH Vega doesn’t have. Food is creative and prepared by a Michelin-trained chef but on our week-long Hurtigruten cruise along the Atlantic coast, no fresh fish was brought aboard. All seafood was a frozen west coast product.

Interested in an SH Vega Cruise?

Prices on Vega start at $8,204 USD per person for an 11-day Antarctic cruise this winter while, in the spring, prices start at $6,856 USD per person for 11 days in the Norwegian fjords. Here’s more info.

We hope you enjoyed our SH Vega review. We would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a luxury, small-ship expedition cruise experience with the emphasis on culture and learning.