Swan Hellenic is raising the bar for polar exploration with a one‑of‑a‑kind 32‑night Grand Voyage from Ushuaia to Dunedin, offering one of the most in‑depth semi‑circumnavigations of Antarctica ever offered on a boutique ice‑class ship.
You can learn more about the line at Swan Hellenic.
A Grand Voyage across the full span of Antarctica
In February–March 2027 and again in 2028, the cultural‑expedition specialist will operate Ultimate Antarctica Adventure: From Ushuaia to Dunedin aboard SH Minerva, a purpose‑built ice‑class expedition ship. The 2027 departure runs 3 February–8 March (from around USD 26,295 per person on an extended launch offer), with the 2028 sailing scheduled for 4 February–7 March (from around USD 29,175 per person).
Both journeys trace a rare route from Argentina’s southern frontier across the Antarctic Peninsula, deep into the Ross Sea and sub‑Antarctic islands south of New Zealand, before finishing in Dunedin. Guests enjoy the small‑ship comfort, refined accommodation and wellness spaces SH Minerva is known for, along with expert‑led lectures and immersive Zodiac landings that have helped Swan Hellenic earn an outstanding 4.7/5 rating from Cruise Critic members.
Elevated Expeditions offers and New Zealand “daisy-chain” extension
For 2027, the Grand Voyage is included in Swan Hellenic’s Elevated Expeditions offer, giving early bookers (before 31 March 2026) an inclusive fare from USD 26,295 per person, up to USD 500 onboard credit per guest and a complimentary Wi‑Fi upgrade. The package is aimed at enthusiasts looking to secure space on this highly specialised itinerary while enjoying added value.
Guests in 2027 can also “daisy‑chain” their Antarctic crossing with New Zealand in Depth, a 13‑night coastal exploration from Dunedin to Auckland priced from around USD 11,100 per person. This rare follow‑on voyage uncovers New Zealand’s natural and cultural highlights by sea, from Fiordland’s Dusky, Doubtful and Milford Sounds and Stewart Island’s Oban and Golden Bay to Akaroa, Kaikoura, Picton, Abel Tasman National Park, Wellington, Tauranga, the Bay of Islands and Auckland.
Inside the Ultimate Antarctica itinerary
The Grand Voyage begins in Ushuaia, where colourful streets sit beneath snow‑capped Andean peaks at the “End of the World.” From there, SH Minerva heads toward the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing among towering glaciers, brilliant blue icebergs and wildlife that can include gentoo and chinstrap penguins, Weddell seals and migrating whales. Weather and ice permitting, highlights may include the narrow Lemaire Channel—nicknamed the “Kodak Gap” for its spectacular, mirror‑calm scenery—and landings in serene, wildlife‑rich spots such as Mikkelsen Harbour.
Pushing south of the Antarctic Circle into more rarely visited waters, the ship continues toward Peter I Island, a remote Norwegian‑claimed volcanic island that is almost entirely ice‑covered and surrounded by immense drifting bergs, home to elephant seals and seabirds like Cape petrels and southern fulmars. The itinerary also includes the historic Bay of Whales region, once the closest navigable point to the South Pole and the base for Roald Amundsen’s 1911 expedition, now a powerful symbol of polar exploration even though the original bay vanished when iceberg B‑9 calved in 1987.
Ross Sea, Balleny Islands and New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic
Guests will experience the crossing of the International Date Line before entering the legendary Ross Sea, often described as “the last ocean” and considered one of the planet’s most pristine marine ecosystems. Here, weather and ice conditions permitting, SH Minerva aims to visit historic huts from the Heroic Age of exploration—linked to figures such as Shackleton, Scott and Borchgrevink—alongside vast Adélie and emperor penguin colonies, orcas and other marine life.
Further along, the dramatic volcanic Balleny Islands rise from the Southern Ocean, their jagged silhouettes marking remote summer feeding grounds for humpback, fin and minke whales, as well as crabeater, Weddell, elephant and leopard seals. The final phase of the voyage focuses on New Zealand’s sub‑Antarctic islands with Zodiac expeditions to places such as Campbell Island (known for royal albatross and giant petrels), Enderby Island (home to Hooker’s sea lions, yellow‑eyed penguins and hardy Rata “forests”) and Snares Island, famed for the endemic Snares crested penguin, before making landfall in Dunedin.
One of the most comprehensive Antarctic expeditions ever offered
Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito describes the 32‑night Ushuaia–Dunedin crossing as one of the most comprehensive and exclusive Antarctic expeditions available, blending scientific discovery, natural beauty and exploration history in a single long‑form journey across the White Continent. At just over a month in length, it sits firmly in “Grand Voyage” territory, aimed at travellers seeking a deep, once‑in‑a‑lifetime immersion rather than a short‑stay snapshot.
For more details on Ultimate Antarctica Adventure: From Ushuaia to Dunedin, New Zealand in Depth, and Swan Hellenic’s broader expedition portfolio, visit the line’s official site at Swan Hellenic.
