Swan Hellenic Diana

Alex Burridge – MD  Arctic Travel Centre
July 2025

My last trip to Svalbard was on an older Russian Expedition vessel built in 1987.  This time I was boarding a purpose built Luxury Expedition ship, the Swan Hellenic Diana,  launched in May 2023.

I’m not sure what it is in me – and I still favour adventure over comfort – well at least I thought I did.  I’ve already admitted to finally accepting that a balcony can be a very useful and enjoyable.  But an electric fire in your cabin.. read on if you’d like to find out a little more about an expedition cruise on-board the SH Diana.

Swan Hellenic Ship

The ship has a very relaxed feel and whilst it has many luxury elements and is undoubtedly of a high standard there’s no need to dress up (unless you want to) for dinner.  The off-ship operation is well run and a fleet of 14 zodiacs can facilitate all guests out exploring at the one time.  She has an ice-strengthened hull and is powered by a hybrid diesel electric engines.  She has an Observation lounge, plenty of exterior viewing areas, an expedition lab, a library, three dining areas (one alfresco), two lifts, in addition to room service, a heated outdoor pool, an open deck jacuzzi and a gym.

The expedition team were friendly and knowledgeable and certainly made every effort to seek out Polar bears and other Arctic wildlife.  We actually made it to 82 degrees North, 200km north of Svalbard and 700km from the North Pole in search of sea ice, seals and polar bears.

Swan Hellenic Cabins

Most cabins (staterooms and suites) have balconies and a flame effect fireplace.
Having a balcony is valuable in many ways: If wildlife is spotted (on your side) then within a few steps you can be outside and watching whatever it is passing.  Whilst I was writing this I spotted a Humpback whale passed by, diving to feed as we went on our way.  Currently we have northern fulmars, kittiwakes, Arctic skuas and glaucous Gulls (the world’s second largest gull – and major predator at guillemot and kittiwake breeding colonies) cruising alongside the ship.

In calm seas, and if not too cold, you can also sit outside and simply enjoy a sense of peace, perhaps even with a glass of wine or champagne.

Inside our cabin we have a small couch, a desk (which I am writing this at) and a large TV – that pivots so you can watch a presentation, view menus, the daily programme or maybe a movie in bed.  There is a flame effect fire which makes the sound of wood burning and in turn the cabin feels very cosy.  The floor to ceiling doors/windows have two curtains and the sitting area has an additional curtain; which not only means you can separate the two areas, it also helps keep the bedroom dark in the land of the midnight sun.

Larger suites have a living area and separate bedroom with a walk-in robe and a bath, in addition to a shower and larger balconies.

Today on returning from lunch we had our very own polar bear on the bed…  The cabins are frequently tidied and kept very clean, a set of buttons by the door ensures privacy when required.  Room service is available 24 hours, a simple set menu outside of meal times and the full menu during serving hours.

Swan Hellenic Dining

Cuisine is of a very high standard.  Breakfast and lunch are of a buffet style. Dinner is a five-course affair (if you choose an item from each course).  There are always several, and equally delicious, options to choose from.  As I mentioned at the outset – even though the cuisine is of high standard it’s a very relaxed atmosphere.  If you decide to have your desert in your cabin, then all you have to do is ask and it will be delivered to your cabin.

There are three dining areas, the more formal dining room on Deck 4, another dining area on Deck 7, which also connects onto the outside Bistro area where on suitable weather days (which we’ve had a few) they grill meat, prawns and other tasty morsels.

Swan Hellenic Amenities

There is a small library, a citizen science laboratory, spa, sauna, gym and two small outdoor heated pools.  On deck 7 there is a very comfortable presentation area, with a bar which leads out to an observation area and one deck lower to the ‘Swan Nest’ which is ideally situated to view any wildlife.

Expedition Parka & waterproof backpack.
The expedition parka (yours to keep) is very useful for Polar Exploration.  Numerous pockets for lens caps, phone/camera, your hands and a detachable liner.  It really is a well-designed jacket.  In addition you also receive a water-proof backpack – again very useful (as you can fit additional layers of clothing as well as a camera with room for a reasonably large lens (mine is 200-500mm zoom and that fits easily).

You also get the use of a pair of binoculars (Nikon 10×42); again very useful to watch any wildlife be that whales, birds, walrus, artic fox or Polar Bears (especially given that in Norway (which includes Svalbard) you must be at least 300metres from bears.

Flight-seeing from Ultramarine

Overview

Swan Hellenic Diana (192) (and Vega (158) or Minerva (158)) are good options for anyone looking for a very comfortable polar adventure, with excellent  cuisine.  The ships and operation definitely sit at the top of the Expedition-Luxury range from the ship’s amenities perspective; they could well sit under luxury.

Possibly the only negative is the maximum number of guests.  In the Arctic, as it is in Antarctica, many sites are limited to 100 guest ashore at any one time – 13 of the 43 sites on Svalbard are limited to 39 (guests and crew).  As a result any larger ships, with anywhere close to capacity, you’ll likely spend a little less time ashore (than you would on a ship with closer to 100 guests) and not be able to go to the sites that have the 39 people limit.