We have long wanted to discover Ireland, the land of green hills, myths and legends and breathtaking landscapes.
Auch Schottland allgemein für Whisky, Kilt und Dudelsack bekannt, aber auch für seine Clans und Highland Games, die Tartans**, die Mythen und atemberaubenden Landschaften stand auf unserer ToDo Liste.
** A tartan is a weaving pattern for fabrics that, from 1815 onwards, was also used to represent membership in a Scottish clan. Tartan ist ein Webmuster für Stoffe, das ab 1815 auch repräsentativ für die Zugehörigkeit zu einem schottischen Clan genutzt wird.
Now it was a dream. Discover Ireland and Scotland together on our cruise with the SH Vega from Swan Hellenic. On board the SH Vega, one of the newest, most modern expedition cruise ships in the world, we experienced a journey that touched our hearts. SH Vega von Swan Hellenic. An Bord der SH Vega, eines der neuesten modernsten Expeditions-Kreuzfahrtschiffe der Welt, erlebten wir eine Reise, die unsere Herzen berührte.
Swan Hellenic's motto “See what others don't see!” became reality on our trip. Every day we discovered new, unknown places with zodiacs, kayaks or on foot. Every port, every stop was an adventure in itself. We experienced impressive moments in nature and exciting encounters with people from other cultures.
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The adventure “Spirit of the Celts” begins
Very early in the morning we took the EW flight from Düsseldorf to London. As always, we parked at the airport. Booked via . Holiday Extras*.
Paul met us at London Heathrow Airport and took us in a limousine to Portsmouth, our starting point for the cruise, in just under 90 minutes.
The port city of Portsmouth, whose harbor is the heart of the city, is located in the south of England. The probably better known port of Southampton is just 20 miles away.
When we came to Portsmouth we immediately noticed the Spinnaker Tower.
Unser Tipp für Portsmouth
When we came to Portsmouth we immediately noticed the Spinnaker Tower. Spinnaker Tower* auf.
Do you want to marvel at the port city from above? Then let's head to the Spinnaker Tower, which, at 170 m high, is one of the tallest buildings in Great Britain. Built in the shape of a sail, the tower features a glass-floored sky walk high up that you can access using a high-speed elevator or over 600 steps.
Für sehr Mutige empfehlen wir das Spinnaker Tower Abseil-Erlebnis*.
Anreise zur SH Vega
The travel price for a cruise with Swan Hellenic also included an overnight stay in a 4/5 star hotel before the cruise. We didn't take advantage of this because the flight times from Düsseldorf didn't suit us.
We arrived at the Portsmouth cruise terminal around 10am on the day of departure. Since check-in didn't start until around 2 p.m. and we couldn't drop off our luggage, we spent the time in Cafe Ceanos - This is located on the 1st floor of the terminal.
This is also the check-in area for the Swan Hellenic cruise, with a nice outdoor area from which we could see the SH Vega.
Rout
In front of us was the SH Vega, with which we visited the ports of Fowey (GB), Tresco-Scilly Islands (GB), Bantry (Ireland), Dingle (Ireland), Galway (Ireland), Killybegs (Ireland), and the island of Iona (Scotland), Stornoway (Scotland), Loch Ewe (Scotland), Oban (Scotland), Porttrush (Scotland), Rathlin Island (Ireland) and Dublin (Ireland). Galway (Irland), Killybegs (Irland), die Insel Iona (Schottland), Stornoway (Schottland), Loch Ewe (Schottland), Oban (Schottland), Porttrush (Schottland), die Insel Rathlin (Irland) und Dublin (Irland) anlaufen werden.
Onboard from SH Vega
Ralf, the head of the SH Vega expedition team, welcomed us warmly and accompanied us through the security check.
Barely 5 minutes later we were standing on the quay and in front of us was the SH Vega from Swan Hellenic.
Our first impression: WOW. Half the size of the MSC Seaside but 70% fewer passengers. MSC Seaside aber 70 % weniger Passagiere.
The last passengers had left the SH Vega because it had just returned from the 10-day trip from Lisbon.
We entered the SH Vega on deck 4 and were welcomed with champagne and juice. We were immediately addressed by name by Arnold, the restaurant manager.
Our cabin steward Ronaldo took our luggage from us and accompanied us to reception. A photo was taken there and we received our boarding passes. Everything was personal and very uncomplicated.
Suite 502
Ronaldo took our luggage and accompanied us to our suite 502 on deck 5.
The 28 m2 balcony cabin was located in the front part of the ship. What caught our attention first was the fireplace with flame effect (not real) and crackling fire.
Die Balkonkabine verfügte über ein Schlafbereich mit einem Doppelbett. Der Wohnbereich mit Sofa, Tisch, Stuhl, Schminktisch inklusive klappbarem beleuchtetem Schminkspiegel. Das luxuriöse Bad verfügte über eine Dusche mit Regenschauerdusche und Handbrause. Auf dem ca. 6 m2 großem Balkon stand ein Tisch und zwei Stühle.
As in all suites, ours also had a coffee pad machine and a fairly large TV.
As in all suites, ours also had a coffee pad machine and a fairly large TV. The many sockets, both US standard and Schuko/Euro standard, were very practical. These were located next to both sides of the bed, at the desk, behind the coffee machine and next to the sofa. We have never had as many options for stowing our clothes on a cruise ship as on the SH Vega. In addition to tons of clothes hangers, there were of course two very high-quality bathrobes, flip flops, care products in the bathroom from Lajatica and lots of high quality towels. Lajatica by Bocelli und jede Menge hochwertige Handtücher.
Welche Suiten und Kabinen es noch an Bord der SH Vega gibt, haben wir in unserem blogbeitrag Want to get to know Swan Hellenic! ausführlich beschrieben.
In our home on board a large cabin or rather suite, two expedition backpacks from Swan Hellenic and two reusable bottles awaited us. There were several taps for free drinking water on board. Drinking was the key word, the drinks from the minibar were included in Swan Hellenic's all-inclusive concept.
Mandatory rescue exercise
Bevor es mit der Rettungsübung losging, nutzen wir die Zeit um uns auf diesem Luxus Expeditionsschiff umzusehen. Einen ausführlichen Beitrag über die SH Vega findet Ihr in unserem blogbeitrag Want to get to know Swan Hellenic!
Wie auf fast allen Kreuzfahrtschiffen wurde das Sicherheitsvideo auf dem Kabinen TV gezeigt. Auch auf der SH Vega mussten wir mit den, in der Kabine befindlichen Rettungswesten, zu unserer Musterstation. Dies war für uns die Observation Lounge auf Deck 7.
All (72) passengers had to put on their life jackets properly, then a safety video was shown again and Janet led us in single file with her hand on the shoulder of the man in front of her to our lifeboat on deck 4.
By, by Portsmouth
Then the exercise was over and we enjoyed the exit from Portsmouth in bright sunshine on deck 7.
At around 6:30 p.m. there was a briefing from expedition leader Ralf in the observation lounge. Here he introduced himself and his 5-person expedition team. Julia, Dali, Page, Richard, Zane and the editor of this trip Marie Luise.
Dinner was served in the restaurant between 7 and 9 p.m. On today's arrival day there was a large selection of dishes in buffet form. We liked that there were no fixed tables or table times.
We enjoyed our first evening on board with delicious delicacies, good wine and a view of the sea.
Our travel reports: Cruise with the SH Vega
- Want to get to know Swan Hellenic!
„See, what others don’t”- is the slogan and concept of Swan Hellenic. Get to know the SH Vega from Swan Hellenic with us. - Around Ireland and Scotland on board the SH Vega
We have long wanted to discover Ireland, the land of green hills, myths and legends and breathtaking landscapes. Now, a dream comes true. Ireland and Scotland discover together on our cruise with the SH Vega from Swan Hellenic. - Along the English Coast – Fowey – Tresco – Bantry
We'll take you on our cruise along the English coast - visit Fowey, the small historic fishing town on the west coast of England - explore the flower island of Tresco - continue to Ireland in Bantry Bay Tresco – Weiter nach Irland in die Bantry Bay - We only knew the Hebrides from the weather report and Galway only from a song
We met the Galway Girl - Were greeted by the town crier - Spotted a typical pup - Stood near the edge and explored the island of Iona in Scotland - Heavy seas, stones, Scottish fjords without Nessi but with whisky
Stonehenge, who doesn't know it? We visited the no less well-known Callanish Standing Stones - Swan Hellenic's slogan “See what others don’t” also became a reality - Spectacular rocky landscapes, Puffins and Dublin
The crazy man in the Texas hat accompanied us to the rocky landscapes at the Giant’s Causeway – the castle from GOT – before we explored Dublin with the Guinness Brewery Giant’s Causeway – der Burg aus GOT – bevor wir Dublin mit der Guinness-Brauerei erkundeten
Werbung: Advertising. Participation in the cruise on the SH Vega was partially supported by Swan Hellenic and took place at the invitation of Swan Hellenic. This has no influence on the reporting and we have only described our own experiences and impressions.
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