This cruise is your real 13 days Antarctic adventure. Aboard SH Vega, our new 5-star ice-class ship, you’ll experience this incredible part of the world in comfort and style. Traverse the formidable Southern Ocean with ease enjoying spectacular views from the ship’s sweeping windows and decks. Thanks to her compact size, we can also sail through narrow passages and visit remote bays; usually where the most interesting things are found.
Reminiscent of a boutique hotel, this elegant ship is equipped with an outdoor infinity pool, offering wonderful views of the open seas. Aboard you’ll also find our comfortable Observation Lounge, complete with a fully stocked bar, Club Lounge, gourmet Swan Restaurant, gym, sauna and our beautifully presented library. The natural, scandi-style interiors extend to our cosy yet spacious staterooms with their fireplaces and panoramic balconies.
After testing your mettle across the notorious Drake Passage, your arrival on the White Continent will be greeted with spellbinding landscapes and extraordinary wildlife. With our experienced team, you’ll explore this icy wonderland looking out for penguins, albatrosses, whales, sea elephants and much more. You can also take your Antarctic expedition to the next level on a traditional ‘polar plunge’. Take a dip into the icy waters of the Southern Ocean and enjoy the exhilarating aftereffects over a hot chocolate on our Pool Deck.
Make memories that you’ll keep for a lifetime in this extraordinary part of the world. Seal your status as a true Antarctic explorer under the expert guidance of our experienced Swan Hellenic expedition team.
Featuring Shackleton experts and special programming celebrating the history of this great explorer, download our brochure including the itinerary and all the details of this epic voyage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
* Prices are per person in a sharing basis and in USD. Single supplement 1.7x.
Everything was beyond my wildest expectations and I am so glad that I decided to come along. I came for so many reasons that I was bound to have a great experience – the animals, the science, the isolation and beauty, and of course Shackleton. My view is that it was the journey that mattered – life is too short to focus on ticking off a specific box, rather than look at the big picture. It all delivered!
I’m sitting here looking out the window at this glorious view of the Beagle Channel on my last morning here in Ushuaia and I didn’t want to leave here without touching base and saying thanks again for providing such a marvelous adventure for all!
Thank you Ice Tracks for the most memorable trip of my life. I’ve travelled the globe a good deal but this trip to Antarctica on the Akademik Sergey Vavilov, following in the tracks of Sir Ernest Shackleton a century ago, will live in my heart and my memory for ever. The landscape and wildlife were magical beyond anything I could have imagined. Our Russian ship was spotlessly clean and comfortable, and our guides were fun, knowledgeable and super-competent. I learned such a lot from the expertise of the wild life experts on board – not to mention the resident photographers. The pictures I took throughout the voyage are now among my most prized possessions. The on-board presentations were all fascinating; we even had the privilege of watching a life size bust of Sir Ernest Shackleton gradually materialize at the hands of a talented sculptor as we sailed on down to the ‘Big Ice’. The organization of the whole voyage was superb. I’m saving up to get Ice Tracks to take me to the Arctic next.
Sue Cook (suecook.com) Shackleton Centenary Voyage , Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica
We are struggling for words to describe what an amazing adventure we have had and all thanks to you at Ice Tracks. The Iguazu Falls, Puerto Bemberg and Del Socorro were brilliant for the wildlife and scenery, but we topped that with South Georgia and setting foot on The Peninsula was the icing on the cake.
Well done Ice Tracks, we cannot thank you enough and are looking forward to our next adventure with you.
Thank you for your patience with our ‘little concerns’. Thank you for organising this trip for us. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share such a magnificent journey with you. Thank you for being yourself, you have opened our eyes.
Tim and Jan Burr travelled to Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica for the Shackleton Centenary Voyage
We loved it. Could not have been better and we were hugely well looked after. Everything perfect … Nothing to improve and wonderful people on board. Thank you for everything and salaams and thanks to all who laboured so hard to make sure we enjoyed every second. Long in our memories.
Ice Tracks was honoured to have had on board such an accomplished couple like Jennifer and Simon who have achieved a Guiness record on the Polar and travel adventure fields. He is the oldest person to have reached the South Pole on skis unsupported and she is the first person to have circumnavigated the globe on helicopter from Pole to Pole.
Jennifer and Simon Murray, Shackleton Centenary Voyage to Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica
A very big thank you to the entire Ice Tracks team for organizing such an unbelievable trip. Right from request for Visa documents, travel information, tracking the flight arrangements, the pickups and drops to the expedition itself went like clockwork. Your attention to detail to ensure that every member of your team was well looked after was immaculate. All the staff on the ship spared no efforts to make sure of the safety and comfort of everyone and put together such a wonderful expedition. Once again thank you Caro, Angie and Cris for making a dream vacation come true.
Reena travelled with us to Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica on the Shackleton Centenary Voyage
I just want to say a very big “thank you” to all of you for being so caring and attentive. Right from the start when I asked if you could help me to make a trip to Iguazu, everything went smoothly. On arrival in Ushuaia, I couldn’t believe the fabulous hotel we stayed in with such a beautiful setting and the commemorative dinner on the first evening which was so special and which gave all the Ice Trackers a chance to meet. The whole trip was excellent and the Ice Tracks contribution added another dimension and really made people think about Shackleton and his comrades and what they must have gone through a century ago.
I just want to say the most enormous THANK YOU for putting together a trip that none of us will ever forget, and I know I speak for Spencer too, and everyone else I came across. You took such infinite trouble to make the trip interesting and packed with activity and action, and I think many new friendships were forged.
Harriet travelled with her son Spencer to Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica for the Shackleton Centenary Voyage
Angie and Caro, thank you both hugely for the opportunity to take part in the Shackleton Centenary Voyage. I could not have asked for a better group of pax, ship, crew and expedition team.
Of course meeting you guys who put the whole thing together was a privilege and it’s wonderful to see you realising people’s lifelong dreams. There were so many highlights but King Haakon Bay was a standout for me.
Peter travelled with Ice Tracks to Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica for the Shackleton Centenary Voyage
