Swan Hellenic’s Vega shakedown cruise delayed

Swan Hellenic has blamed registration issues for delaying SH Vega’s preview cruise for more than 24 hours.

The ship was initially scheduled to leave the Helsinki Shipyard in Finland at 3pm on July 11, but captain Tuomo Leskinen informed passengers, including trade representatives and media, that the 152-passenger vessel could not depart.

The ship is now scheduled to depart from the shipyard at which it was constructed at 6pm today (July 12) and will sail to Copenhagen, arriving a day later than planned.

Mario Bounas, the line’s vice-president of global marketing, said the shakedown cruise was delayed last night due to a late change to the ship’s registration.

He told Travel Weekly: “It’s been delayed because of the registration of the ship. From what I understand it was going to be registered in Nassau and then it changed to Panama. It has been so frustrating.”

Bounas added four UK travel agents were among the affected passengers on board.

Lisa McAuley, owner of travel advice publisher Silver Travel Advisor, said the ship was “lovely” but admitted it was “disappointing” that some agents had not been able to sail.

“The christening went off seamlessly and it was really nice to meet the expedition team,” she said, adding how Bounas had even given a tour of the third, slightly larger ship SH Diana, which will join the fleet next year.

“I was looking forward to being on Vega for a day at sea.”

Guests were given the choice of joining the delayed preview cruise or flying home today after the delay was announced, added McAuley.

Swan Hellenic acquired Vega from Helsinki Shipyard last month after Russian-based leasing firm GTLK, which was initially due to buy the vessel, was sanctioned and failed to take delivery of the ship.

Despite the delay of its preview cruise, the ship will start its Arctic itinerary programme as planned on July 20, the line confirmed.

Prices for the round-trip maiden Svalbard Encompassed sailing from Tromso starts from £5,672.