Nine days of a “cultural” expedition cruise, following a route through the volcanoes of Africa, sounds tempting, but if you do it on a ship like the SH Vega from the new company Swan Hellenic, it will taste like heaven.
I had the opportunity to attend the christening of this ship in Helsinki last year, but due to some setbacks, I couldn't sail on it and I was left wanting more. Swan Hellenic gave me the chance to finally experience it on this unusual itinerary that alternates days at sea with visits to must-see corners of the world.
The route is one leg of the grand West African, embarking in Dakar (Senegal), a day of sailing and visiting Sao Felipe on Isla do Fogo, Porto Novo on Isla de Sao Antao both in Cape Verde and sailing for two days towards the Canary Islands to visit first La Palma, then La Gomera and finally disembark in Tenerife.
See also: SH Vega expedition cruise begins its inaugural Arctic season
This trip has brought me more "firsts" and "awe-inspiring" moments that I'll never forget. From Dakar, which is exactly the bustling yet friendly city I imagined, to walking on volcanic lava from at least a couple of volcanoes, one of them Tajogaite on La Palma, Zodiac trips that were as fun as I'd dreamed, and even seeing a whale blow while peacefully sunbathing by the pool on a day of sailing.
See also: Sailing on the new Swan Hellenic (Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 60 – March 2022)
Experiencing all of this while traveling on a new, small ship, with every pampering service at your disposal, has made this an unforgettable experience. My special thanks to the entire crew.
But since images speak louder than words, here is a video shot by one of the members of the SH Vega expedition team, Thomas Le Coz.
Extensive report in CruisesNews Magazine June 2023.
