Swan Hellenic, Antarctica
Swan Hellenic is preparing to launch SH Vega, a five-star, Scandi-design luxury expedition ship with capacity for just 152 guests. A high-end spa, from Ocean View Monaco, with a panoramic-view sauna featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, a well-equipped gym with personal trainers, and pillow menus for optimized sleep are just a few of the on-board elements that will help power guests towards better physical and mental health by the end of the cruise.
If the trip of a lifetime to Antarctica is on the cards, SH Vega’s expedition cruise, Shackleton’s Discovery, could bring 18 days of polar heaven. Take the Zodiacs out to observe chinstrap penguins – which look as though they are wearing a black hat – humpback whales and Weddell seals, among others, will naturally imbue mindfulness as well as joy and wonder. As long as conditions allow, expert expedition leaders will take guests kayaking through floating ice, glaciers and icebergs. Icy hikes are also on the menu, as is snowshoeing.
How to do it
A 17-night Shackleton’s Discovery voyage from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, both in Argentina, departs on November 7 2022 and costs from £15,150pp. The itinerary includes calls at West Point Island, Saunders Island and Port Stanley (in the Falkland Islands), South Georgia, the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula (00 49 211 13 866 123; swanhellenic.com).
Princess Cruises, Iceland and Norway
Princess Cruises has gone big on sleep fitness, reporting that helped the people in the world do not get the sleep they need. The company delved into the science, brought in a sleep expert and created the Princess Luxury Bed – a mattress exclusively designed for Princess Cruises (44,000 have been rolled out across the fleet).
In the Lotus Spa, a connection between mind, body and soul is the focus through treatments such as acupuncture and hot stone massage. A running track and sports court keep guests active outside, but there is also a vast fitness center and classes in such pursuits as yoga and Zumba.
An Iceland and Norway cruise on Sky Princess offers plenty of energetic outings. Hike up to the turquoise Kjenndalen glacier in Norway; in Iceland, hop off at Isafjordur and trek through Hornstrandir’s nature reserve and Hesteyri village (abandoned 50 years ago) and the volcanic landscape of Grundarfjordur, or rejuvenate in Reykjavik’s famous geothermal spa. Princess Cruises’ Ocean Medallion technology also means you can order from anywhere for the ultimate chill factor – just make a request through the app and it will find you.
How to do it
A 14-night Iceland & Norway voyage from Southampton departs on May 13 2023 and costs from £1,759pp. It includes calls to Skjolden, Olden, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Grundarfjordur and Reykjavik (0344 33 88 663; princesscruises.com).
Covid rules For full details of boarding requirements, consult individual cruise line websites. Refer to gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for further travel information.
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