CRUISE ID # SWANV1328051811
Reykjavík TO Longyearbyen
$17,375
WITH SPECIAL SAVINGS APPLIED
FARES SHOWN ARE PER GUEST
Suites & Fares
CHOOSE START DATE
: May 18, 2028
Itinerary
Sprawling Reykjavík, the nation's nerve center and government seat, is home to half the island's population. On a bay overlooked by proud Mt. Esja (pronounced eh-shyuh), with its ever-changing hues, Reykjavík presents a colorful sight, its concrete houses painted in light colors and topped by vibrant red, blue, and green roofs. In contrast to the almost treeless countryside, Reykjavík has many tall, native birches, rowans, and willows, as well as imported aspen, pines, and spruces.Reykjavík's name comes from the Icelandic words for smoke, reykur, and bay, vík. In AD 874, Norseman Ingólfur Arnarson saw Iceland rising out of the misty sea and came ashore at a bay eerily shrouded with plumes of steam from nearby hot springs. Today most of the houses in Reykjavík are heated by near-boiling water from the hot springs. Natural heating avoids air pollution; there's no smoke around. You may notice, however, that the hot water brings a slight sulfur smell to the bathroom.Prices are easily on a par with other major European cities. A practical option is to purchase a Reykjavík City Card at the Tourist Information Center or at the Reykjavík Youth Hostel. This card permits unlimited bus usage and admission to any of the city's seven pools, the Family Park and Zoo, and city museums. The cards are valid for one (ISK 3,300), two (ISK 4,400), or three days (ISK 4,900), and they pay for themselves after three or four uses a day. Even lacking the City Card, paying admission (ISK 500, or ISK 250 for seniors and people with disabilities) to one of the city art museums (Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, or Ásmundarsafn) gets you free same-day admission to the other two.
The town of Húsavík sits below Húsavíkurfjall mountain on the eastern shore of Skjálfandi bay. Just above the town is lake Botnsvatn, a popular place for outings. The lake is just the right size for a nice hike around it. The lakes surroundings are rich in vegetation and bird life and trout is said to be abundant, though small. Húsavík harbour lies below the bank right in the heart of town. The harbour once boasted a large fishing fleet, bustling with the activity of fishermen. It still serves as a fishing harbour but today's activity revolves more around the successful whale watching businesses. The first organised whale watching excursions in Iceland started from here in 1995. Since then, whale watching has become a major attraction and Húsavík continues to be the leading destination for whale watching. In addition to the tours, a fascinating whale museum is located right by the harbour. Húsavík is considered to be the oldest settlement in Iceland. The Swedish explorer, Gardar Svavarsson, spent one winter there in 870 AD during which time he built himself a house from which the settlement derives its name.
Longyearbyen is the biggest settlement in Svalbard. Seat of the Norwegian administration, it also has the best services and infrastructure in the archipelago. Located deep in the Adventfjord, a sidearm of the Isfjorden (Icefjord), Longyearbyen’s airport can be used all-year round, but its harbor is blocked by ice in winter. Most shops, hotels, restaurants and a hospital are within easy walking distance of the port. One of the most prominent buildings in town is the UNIS center, where several Norwegian universities have joined forces to operate and offer the northernmost higher education to both Norwegian and international students. Adjacent to UNIS, and well worth a visit, is the Svalbard Museum, covering the natural history and exploitation of Svalbard. Remnants of the former mining activity can be seen all around Longyearbyen and even in town.
About the Ship
Name
SH Vega
Operator
Swan Hellenic
Named after the first ship to cross the Arctic Northeast Passage, SH Vega was designed to journey to faraway places and remote polar regions in style and comfort.
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When it comes to dining on your expedition cruise, our ships have a variety of welcoming venues.
From the gourmet offerings of the Swan Restaurant, and the Pool Bar & Grill’s delicious dishes, to the relaxed tapas-style dining of the Club Lounge, you’ll find exquisite cuisine, skillfully prepared by top chefs. Plus, our carefully curated in-room menu offers a relaxing dining experience in the comfort of your own stateroom.
Crafted Menus
Our menus please the most discerning palates, showcasing healthy, fresh, local ingredients. We cater to most dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan and diabetic, as well as gluten-free options.
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We know how important outdoor space is, so our spacious, relaxing public spaces provide wide open, unobstructed views throughout the ship. The destination will always be in view.
Take time to indulge and invigorate your senses…
Searching for a new level of clarity and connection? Swan Hellenic has teamed-up with Chopra, a leading integrative health company founded by world-renowned pioneer Dr. Deepak Chopra, to create Explore & Restore – an extraordinary new program of transformative well-being voyages…
Embracing new horizons
Inspired by the healing properties of the sea, our new approach to well-being has been designed to take you on the ultim....
As well as taking you to unusual, off-the-beaten-track destinations, Swan Hellenic offers the company of like-minded people, and acclaimed experts, who give eye-opening lectures, and are on hand to chat throughout your voyage.
Our onboard experts are renowned in their fields and bring unparalleled knowledge to your adventures. Each moment with us is enriched by real insights into the peoples, cultures, wildlife, flora, geology and geography of each amazing place we visit. Wherever you choose to go, sailing with Swan Hellenic is a voyage of discovery, which is what makes us the first choice of adventurous minds worldwide.
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No stone is left unturned when it comes to researching our shore excursion programmes. All aspects of the itinerary are carefully planned in detail by a knowledgeable, well travelled team to ensure each aspect of the cruise is delivered to the highest possible standard.
We’ve thought of all our guests, including the less mobile. Our 12-person hard-hulled zodiacs, the boats that take guests off the ship, have been designed for increased c....
When you sail with Swan Hellenic, as well as visiting remote, unusual destinations, you’ll be traveling with friendly onboard experts. Renowned in their fields, these easy going specialists are on hand throughout your journey. From historians and naturalists, to meteorologists and ornithologists, our expedition team bring unparalleled knowledge to your adventures. Whether you chat with them at dinner, grab a morning coffee together, or catch o....
One thing we’ve discovered over the years is that our inquisitive, like-minded passengers share a thirst for knowledge. Sound familiar? Well, you’ll be pleased to hear we always select our lecturers and guest speakers with this in mind. We choose experienced people who give engaging and stimulating talks on a wide range of subjects that are relevant to the places we visit…
Our guest lecturers have a wealth of specialist knowledge, which ....
Please note: there are no dedicated children's facilities on board.
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Our ships are equipped with the latest, cutting-edge satellite internet technology. Our secure and robust Wi-Fi is available complimentary for the convenience of all guests for messaging and visiting selected news websites. Details as follows:
SILVER CONNECT Complimentary
- Only text messaging to WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, iMessage, WeChat as well as access to some news websites. No voice, emails, VPNs or streaming con....
On our ships, the primary “official” language spoken on board is English. Due to our international staff, many crew members speak Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, French, or Russian. Lectures are generally held in English language. Depending on the actual nationality split of each cruise, we provide technical support for online streamed translation for guests of other native languages. Please ask our Expedition team for support.
Ple....
If you have any health problems, there is a modern ship's emergency room on board our ships under the supervision of an experienced ship's doctor and an assisting nurse. This service is offered by our medical services partner VIKAND. Please note the consultation hours posted on board.
Am I allowed to take certain prescriptive medication with me?
If you require and are carrying a particular medication, you will need proof in ....
Our expedition cruises are mainly concerned with what happens outside the ship, so dress codes are very relaxed, and there are no formalities at mealtimes.
At breakfast and lunch, you’ll wear the clothes you'll be wearing outside (minus the outer gear). Once you’ve changed out of your expedition gear in the evening, you’ll probably want to put on something casual and comfortable. It’s always worth having an extra layer if you want to rus....
On board
The on-board currency is the USD. Onboard spending will be added to your final bill. It is worth taking a debit/credit card in case of any problems paying your bill. Remember to tell your bank before traveling to avoid having your card refused.
Antarctica
There is no official currency as Antarctica does not belong to one country. It is governed by the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) signed by various nati....