Swan Hellenic Launches Six SETI-Led Cruises for 2027
SH Vega’s Halifax-to-Reykjavik voyage will follow Viking routes between Canada and Iceland, with SETI Institute President and CEO Bill Diamond aboard.
Swan Hellenic will offer six Explore Space at Sea cruises in 2027 through its partnership with the SETI Institute, with one guest expert accompanying each voyage. Departures run from March through November, covering the Pacific islands, Patagonia, West Africa, the North Atlantic, the Arctic and Antarctica.
The series continues a partnership announced in December 2022 that brings astronomy, astrophysics, astrobiology and planetary science into the line’s cultural expedition cruises.
“We are delighted to celebrate the fifth year of our successful partnership with the SETI Institute,” said Mario Bounas, chief commercial officer of Swan Hellenic.
Participating experts will discuss recent scientific discoveries and research into life beyond Earth. The established program combines lectures and informal conversations with guests, and has also included guided stargazing and demonstrations using a portable deep-space telescope installed for the series.
Three sailings aboard SH Vega
SH Vega will host half of the announced departures, beginning with a Patagonia and Falkland Islands itinerary from Ushuaia to Montevideo, March 25–April 8. Joining that voyage will be Uma Gorti, chair of astronomy and astrophysics at the SETI Institute’s Carl Sagan Center.
Bill Diamond, president and CEO of the SETI Institute, will accompany the ship’s May 20–31 sailing from Halifax to Reykjavik. That itinerary follows Viking routes between Canada and Iceland.
The next departure, May 31–June 10, will take guests from Reykjavik to Longyearbyen in Svalbard. Its accompanying expert will be Megan Seritan, deputy manager of the Ring-Moon Systems Node of NASA’s Planetary Data System at the SETI Institute.
Pacific islands, West Africa and Antarctica
The series opens aboard SH Minerva with a March 21–April 3 voyage from Auckland to Honiara. The itinerary includes New Caledonia, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, with Ross Beyer, a planetary scientist at the Carl Sagan Center, accompanying guests.
Two further departures will operate aboard SH Diana. Derek Kozel, principal investigator of the GNU Radio Project, will join the May 5–14 itinerary from Dakar to Lisbon, covering the West African coast and Atlantic islands.
Janice Bishop, chair of planetary exploration at the Carl Sagan Center, will accompany the final scheduled voyage, October 29–November 18. That South Atlantic itinerary will sail from Cape Town to Ushuaia and include Antarctica.
