Swan Hellenic is capitalising on the forecast for exceptional Northern Lights this year by launching four Northern Lights Voyages on its luxurious ice-class ship, SH Vega.
The new itineraries are:
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A 10-night trip to Greenland from August 30 to September 9;
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A trip through the Canadian Northwest Passage for 16 nights between September 9 and 25;
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A 12-night cruise to Iceland and East Greenland from August 18 to 30;
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A 15-night journey through the Canadian Arctic from September 25 to October 10.
Some of these cruises will feature the guidance of onboard astronomers.
“We are very proud of these Arctic Northern Lights voyages with their exceptional onboard experiences. They not only offer rare access to the raw beauty, history and cultures of these remote, pristine regions, but also bring special opportunities to witness the Northern Lights from land and sea. We can’t wait to welcome guests aboard,” said Patrizia Lantorno, Chief Commercial Officer at Swan Hellenic.
Scientists have forecast that 2024 will be the most spectacular year to observe the Northern Lights in the past two decades. This is attributed to the sun reaching its peak in an 11-year cycle, known as a solar maximum, which significantly enhances the visibility and intensity of the Northern Lights.
The last time a solar maximum happened was in 2014. However, it was the weakest solar maximum in a century. Njål Gulbrandsen, a space physics researcher at Tromsø Geophysical Observatory, told The Guardian that the Northern Lights would be much brighter in this solar maximum.
“We have to go far back to see this level of activity,” said Gulbrandsen.
Swan Hellenic is represented by Cruise Corner in the South African market.
