HIGHLIGHTS

• Dare to brave the notoriously rough two-day Drake Passage sea crossing
• Compare monumental icebergs in the Gerlache Strait and Antarctic Sound as you head to the Weddell Sea
• Get up close to hundreds of penguins as they gather in their thousands in their natural habitat
• Keep an eye out at sea for breaching whales and huge albatross overhead
• Listen to our engaging polar experts and learn tips from our team of experienced photographers

ITINERARY

USHUAIA
DAY 1
Ushuaia is the gateway to the White Continent. Found at the southernmost tip of South America in Argentinian Patagonia, the city is often described as “the End of the World”. The city’s mountain backdrop rises above the harbour and entrance to the Beagle Channel. The town itself is walkable and has a few small museums as well as pubs, restaurants and cafes - a good place to try Patagonian lamb cooked over open fire pits.


AT SEA
DAY 2-3
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.


ANTARCTIC SOUND & WEDDELL SEA
DAY 4-5
As you sail quietly past house-sized, free-floating tabular icebergs and pancake ice, you may be able to hear the sounds of creaking and popping as huge chunks break off and crash into the sea. While Gerlache Strait is filled with ice, the Antarctic Sound takes it up a notch with even more impressive bergs and ice cliffs. Possible landing points where you will meet thousands of breeding Adélie penguins include Brown Bluff and Paulet Island.


ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
DAY 6-8
Among captivating glaciers, majestic icebergs and snowy islands, the Antarctic Peninsula is where most visitors to the White Continent will live out their Antarctica dream. The Antarctic Peninsula, the most accessible area of the continent, hosts several scientific bases and some of the most interesting wildlife scenery, such as the extremely photogenic Lemaire Channel. Shore excursions might include Petermann Island, where among Adelie penguins, blue-eyed shags and skuas, huge, lumbering elephant seals haul out.


SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS
DAY 9
While the South Shetlands’ proximity to Antarctica makes the ice-bound sea impassable during winter (April to October), these are the first islands to see snow melt in spring (November) and the slightly warmer temperature means that the fauna is also different from what you see in Antarctica proper. As we go ashore by Zodiac, notice ferns, grasses, lichens and native flora that have more in common with Patagonia than they do with Antarctica.


AT SEA
DAY 10-11
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.


USHUAIA
DAY 11
Ushuaia is the gateway to the White Continent. Found at the southernmost tip of South America in Argentinian Patagonia, the city is often described as “the End of the World”. The city’s mountain backdrop rises above the harbour and entrance to the Beagle Channel. The town itself is walkable and has a few small museums as well as pubs, restaurants and cafes - a good place to try Patagonian lamb cooked over open fire pits.

Stateroom Types
Our 76 stateroom including 6 suites have all the amenities you will need to feel comfortable including dressing gowns, hairdryers, personal safes and minibars.

Our stylish stateroom all have desks, a dressing area and comfy seating. En suite bathrooms all feature glass-enclosed rain showers.

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Deck Plan

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Return flights: Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
• One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5* hotel or onboard
• All transfers between the hotel, port and airport
• Onboard accommodation
• All meals onboard including room service 24 hours a day
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks & select alcoholic beverages 24 hours a day
• Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
• Shore excursion programme led by our expert expedition team
• Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka
• Use of rubber boots for shore landings
• Standard WIFI
• Onboard gratuities & port taxes
• Itineraries are correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dare to brave the notoriously rough two-day Drake Passage sea crossing
• Compare monumental icebergs in the Gerlache Strait and Antarctic Sound as you head to the Weddell Sea
• Get up close to hundreds of penguins as they gather in their thousands in their natural habitat
• Keep an eye out at sea for breaching whales and huge albatross overhead
• Listen to our engaging polar experts and learn tips from our team of experienced photographers

ITINERARY

USHUAIA
DAY 1
Ushuaia is the gateway to the White Continent. Found at the southernmost tip of South America in Argentinian Patagonia, the city is often described as “the End of the World”. The city’s mountain backdrop rises above the harbour and entrance to the Beagle Channel. The town itself is walkable and has a few small museums as well as pubs, restaurants and cafes - a good place to try Patagonian lamb cooked over open fire pits.


AT SEA
DAY 2-4
As you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring the ship’s facilities and learning about your destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the options are numerous.


MARGUERITE BAY
DAY 5

ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
DAY 6-9
Among captivating glaciers, majestic icebergs and snowy islands, the Antarctic Peninsula is where most visitors to the White Continent will live out their Antarctica dream. The Antarctic Peninsula, the most accessible area of the continent, hosts several scientific bases and some of the most interesting wildlife scenery, such as the extremely photogenic Lemaire Channel. Shore excursions might include Petermann Island, where among Adelie penguins, blue-eyed shags and skuas, huge, lumbering elephant seals haul out.


SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS
DAY 10
While the South Shetlands’ proximity to Antarctica makes the ice-bound sea impassable during winter (April to November), these are the first islands to see snow melt in spring (March) and the slightly warmer temperature means that the fauna is also different from what you see in Antarctica proper. As we go ashore by Zodiac, notice ferns, grasses, lichens and native flora that have more in common with Patagonia than they do with Antarctica.


AT SEA
DAY 11-12
As you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring the ship’s facilities and learning about your destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the options are numerous.


USHUAIA
DAY 13
Ushuaia is the gateway to the White Continent. Found at the southernmost tip of South America in Argentinian Patagonia, the city is often described as “the End of the World”. The city’s mountain backdrop rises above the harbour and entrance to the Beagle Channel. The town itself is walkable and has a few small museums as well as pubs, restaurants and cafes - a good place to try Patagonian lamb cooked over open fire pits.

Stateroom Types
Our 76 stateroom including 6 suites have all the amenities you will need to feel comfortable including dressing gowns, hairdryers, personal safes and minibars.

Our stylish stateroom all have desks, a dressing area and comfy seating. En suite bathrooms all feature glass-enclosed rain showers.

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Deck Plan

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Return flights: Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
• One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5* hotel or onboard
• All transfers between the hotel, port and airport
• Onboard accommodation
• All meals onboard including room service 24 hours a day
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks & select alcoholic beverages 24 hours a day
• Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
• Shore excursion programme led by our expert expedition team
• Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka
• Use of rubber boots for shore landings
• Standard WIFI
• Onboard gratuities & port taxes
• Itineraries are correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn about the fascinating fauna and unlikely flora on the South Shetland Islands
• Observe Adélie penguins, blue-eyed shags, skuas and elephant seals on Petermann Island
• Discover the island where Shackleton’s ill-fated crew sought refuge
• Step ashore the rarely visited South Orkney islands and observe nesting penguins
• Visit Gough Island, one of the most remote inhabited islands on the planet

ITINERARY

USHUAIA
DAY 1
Nestled in the foothills of the snow-capped Martial Range, Ushuaia’s colourful streets and mismatched buildings cascade from the imposing mountains before coming to an abrupt halt at the shores of the Beagle Channel. As one of the world’s southernmost cities, Ushuaia carries its ‘end of the world’ reputation well. The moody weather and dramatic surroundings certainly help. Board your boutique ship before departing for your journey through one of the most captivating wilderness regions of the world.


AT SEA
DAY 2-3
As you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring the ship’s facilities and learning about your destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the options are numerous.


SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS
DAY 4
While the South Shetlands’ proximity to Antarctica makes the ice-bound sea impassable during winter, these are the first islands to see snow melt in spring and the slightly warmer temperature means that the fauna is also different from what you see in Antarctica proper. As we go ashore by Zodiac, notice ferns, grasses, lichens and native flora that have more in common with Patagonia than they do with Antarctica.


ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
DAY 5-6
Among captivating glaciers, majestic icebergs and snowy islands, the Antarctic Peninsula is where most visitors to the White Continent will live out their Antarctica dream. The Antarctic Peninsula, the most accessible area of the continent, hosts several scientific bases and some of the most interesting wildlife scenery, such as the extremely photogenic Lemaire Channel. Shore excursions might include Petermann Island, where among Adelie penguins, blue-eyed shags and skuas, huge, lumbering elephant seals haul out.


SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS
DAY 7
While the South Shetlands’ proximity to Antarctica makes the ice-bound sea impassable during winter (April to November), these are the first islands to see snow melt in spring (March) and the slightly warmer temperature means that the fauna is also different from what you see in Antarctica proper. As we go ashore by Zodiac, notice ferns, grasses, lichens and native flora that have more in common with Patagonia than they do with Antarctica.


SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS
DAY 8
Located east of the South Shetland Islands, the South Orkney Islands are rarely visited. Often shrouded in mist, the archipelago’s four islands are surrounded by icebergs and sea ice that often presents a challenge when landing. Unfortunately, the former sealing and whaling industries decimated the islands' populations of sea mammals, however, seal populations have started to make a return. Those lucky enough to make a shore landing can also observe nesting Adélie penguins, gentoo penguins and downy snow petrels.


AT SEA
DAY 9
As you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring the ship’s facilities and learning about your destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the options are numerous.


SOUTH GEORGIA
DAY 10-11
Often called the “Galapagos of the Poles”, South Georgia has a number of landing sites where you get up close to half a million king penguins or three million breeding pairs of macaroni penguins, making up the largest population in the world. If you are lucky you will also see harrumphing elephant seals - from a distance! We also visit Grytviken, the historic whaling station where legendary British explorer Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) is buried.


AT SEA
DAY 12-14
As you cruise to your next port of call, spend the day at sea savouring the ship’s facilities and learning about your destination’s many facets from the knowledgeable onboard experts. Listen to an enriching talk, indulge in a relaxing treatment at the spa, work out in the well-equipped gym, enjoy some down- time in your cabin, share travel reminiscences with newly found friends: the options are numerous.


GOUGH ISLAND
DAY 15
Located 1700 Nautical miles from Cape Town, Gough Island is difficult to locate on a map. With just a permanent group of Scientists Gough is definitely one of the most remote inhabited islands on the planet, home also to some of the world’s rarest birds: the Gough Moorhen and the Gough Bunting. We hope to spot some migrating whales and other fascinating wildlife in the vicinity of the atlantic Gem.


TRISTAN DA CUNHA
DAY 16
With barely 250 permanent inhabitants, Tristan da Cunha is far from the beaten path. The island teems with wildlife such as Northern rockhopper penguins, the endangered Tristan Albatross and sea lions while the surrounding upwellings attract vast numbers of Whales and Dolphins.


AT SEA
DAY 17-20
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.


CAPE TOWN
DAY 21
Ending our epic transatlantic journey with one of the most spectacular city sceneries in Africa . Domiated by Table Mountain , Cape town is a cosmopolitan city with plenty of nearby splendid vineyards , wonderful harbour fronts and surprising restaurants where one can indulge on the delicious seafood

Stateroom Types
Our 76 stateroom including 6 suites have all the amenities you will need to feel comfortable including dressing gowns, hairdryers, personal safes and minibars.

Our stylish stateroom all have desks, a dressing area and comfy seating. En suite bathrooms all feature glass-enclosed rain showers.

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---

---

---

---

Deck Plan

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Flight: Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
• One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5* hotel or onboard
• All transfers between the hotel, port and airport
• Onboard accommodation
• All meals onboard including room service 24 hours a day
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks & select alcoholic beverages 24 hours a day
• Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
• Shore excursion programme led by our expert expedition team
• Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka
• Use of rubber boots for shore landings
• Standard WIFI
• Onboard gratuities & port taxes
• Itineraries are correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the unique experience of a sun that hardly sets as we cross the polar circle
• Create unforgettable memories by reaching earth's southernmost regions
• Follow in the footsteps of the world's most legendary explorers who reached the South Pole within weeks of each other
• Marvel at the colours as they change from glassy white to turquoise green in this vast frozen wilderness
• Discover rarely-visited islands where the world's rarest birds live among exceptional flora

ITINERARY

DAY 1 USHUAIA
Ushuaia is the gateway to the White Continent. Found at the southernmost tip of South America in Argentinian Patagonia, the city is often described as "the End of the World". The city's mountain backdrop rises above the harbour and entrance to the Beagle Channel. The town itself is walkable and has a few small museums as well as pubs, restaurants and cafes - a good place to try Patagonian lamb cooked over open fire pits.

DAY 2 AT SEA
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship's observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert's view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

DAY 3-5 SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS & ANTARCTIC SOUND
While the South Shetlands' proximity to Antarctica makes the ice-bound sea impassable during winter (April to November), these are the first islands to see snow melt in spring (March) and the slightly warmer temperature means that the fauna is also different from what you see in Antarctica proper. As we go ashore by Zodiac, notice ferns, grasses, lichens and native flora that have more in common with Patagonia than they do with Antarctica. The Antarctic Sound takes it up a notch with even more impressive bergs and ice cliffs. Possible landing points where you will meet thousands of breeding Adelie penguins include Brown Bluff and Paulet Island.

DAY 6-7 ANTARCTIC PENINSULA
Among captivating glaciers, majestic icebergs and snowy islands, the Antarctic Peninsula is where most visitors to the White Continent will live out their Antarctica dream. The Antarctic Peninsula, the most accessible area of the continent, hosts several scientific bases and some of the most interesting wildlife scenery, such as the extremely photogenic Lemaire Channel. Shore excursions might include Petermann Island, where among Adelie penguins, blue-eyed shags and skuas, huge, lumbering elephant seals haul out.

DAY 8-11 BELLINGSHAUSEN SEA
Take in the magnitude of translucent bergs silently floating on crystal-clear seas, often broken up by the tail of a fluking whale and leopard seals resting on an ice floe, as we sail via two of the largest islands in the Antarctic - Alexander and Thurston Islands - past Peter I Island. Rarely visited by ships, Peter I is claimed by Norway. This ice-covered volcanic island is home to elephant seals, cape pigeons and southern fulmars.

DAY 12-14 AMUNDSEN SEA
One of the most remote areas of Antarctica, covered mostly by glacial ice from the Thwaites ice tongue, and part of the Southern Ocean, Amundsen Sea is named for legendary Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen who led the first team to reach the South Pole in 1911. Marie Byrd Land on Antarctica's western coast is the largest single unclaimed territory on earth where chinstrap penguins and skuas have set up home on the ice-capped Shepard Island.

DAY 15-22 ROSS SEA
One of the least-visited spots in Antarctica, our on-shore excursions will hopefully take us to Hut Point on Ross Island, site of the US McMurdo research station and New Zealand's Scott Base. But the big draw is following in the footsteps of the great explorer, Robert Scott. Scott's cabin is here on the slopes of Mount Erebus, where he set off for the South Pole reaching it on 17 January 1912 five weeks after Amundsen.

DAY 23 AT SEA

DAY 24 BALLENY ISLANDS
The Balleny Islands lie over 2,000 kilometres south of New Zealand, only a couple of hundred kilometres off the coast of Antarctica. The heavily glaciated islands have had few human visitors since their discovery in 1839. The surrounding Ross Sea is one of the most biologically productive regions in the Southern Ocean, with research into the extent of this claim still ongoing. Weather and condition permitting, here we can explore the striking coastal environments in our Zodiacs. We'll be hoping to spot humpback, fin and minke whales along with crabeater, Weddell, elephant and leopard seals. Some of the islands here are also home to large colonies of Adelie and chinstrap penguins.

DAY 25-26 AT SEA

DAY 27 MACQUARIE ISLAND
Sealers discovered the tiny windswept Macquarie Island (or Macca) in 1810. The southernmost territory of Australia, it is the site for Macquarie Island Station, an Australian Antarctic base, and a Tasmanian natural reserve and world heritage site protecting a pesty tundra ecosystem. Colonies of loudly barking southern elephant seals breed here and you might spot giant petrels and albatross. Four species of penguin make the island home including royal penguins, king, gentoo and southern rockhoppers.

DAY 28 AT SEA

DAY 29 CAMPBELL ISLAND & AUCKLAND ISLANDS
Renowned for their seafaring and whaling traditions, the principal Maori iwi, Ngai Tahu considers Auckland Islands (Maungahuka) a place of great spiritual significance. Port Ross at the north end of the main Auckland Island - the largest of New Zealand's subantarctic islands - is a breeding site for southern right whales. You might also get to spot New Zealand sea lions alongside some of the world's rarest birds including yellow-eyed penguins, white-capped mollymawk and Gibson's wandering albatross.

DAY 30 ENDERBY ISLAND
The smaller Enderby Island is a treat for birders including the Auckland Island snipe and teal, southern royal and light-mantled sooty albatrosses. The pocket-sized Auckland Island tomtit is a regular visitor and Hooker's sea lion haul out here. Growing on this remote archipelago 465 km south of South Island is an exceptionally rich flora of 200 native species such as pink gentiana, red rata blossoms, white tree daisies and megaherbs including the Campbell Island carrot.

DAY 31 AT SEA

DAY 32 DUNEDIN
Your luxury expedition cruise sadly comes to an end in Dunedin, on the South Island, the principal city of the Otago region. Set in a pretty bay that serves as a port and surrounded by bush-covered hills, the town has quirky historic appeal. One of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere, Dunedin is known as the Edinburgh of New Zealand, and it's proud of its Celtic connections. Small and eminently walkable, see elaborate civic buildings, New Zealand's only castles, funky alleyways filled with street art, and picturesque parks. The Toitu Otago Early Settlers Museum and Otago Museum come highly recommended, as well as a visit to the Dunedin Chinese Garden.

Stateroom Types
Our 76 stateroom including 6 suites have all the amenities you will need to feel comfortable including dressing gowns, hairdryers, personal safes and minibars.

Our stylish stateroom all have desks, a dressing area and comfy seating. En suite bathrooms all feature glass-enclosed rain showers.

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---

---

---

---

Deck Plan

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Return regional flights to the port of embarkation and/or disembarkation (where specified)
• Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
• One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
• All meals onboard
• 24-hour room service
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
• Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
• Standard WiFi
• Onboard gratuities and port taxes
• One selected shore excursion/expedition activity per port of call
• Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
• Itineraries are correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change

• Lecture Programme
• Zodiac Excurcions
• Polar Plunge