Swan Hellenic has announced the guest lecturers and guides accompanying guests on its "Arctic Cultural Expedition Cruises" for 2025. The company has also opened bookings for all 40 of its 2025-26 Arctic voyages, sailing six itineraries aboard boutique ice-class ships SH Vega and SH Diana.
The four core itineraries include the seven-night round-trip cruise “Exploring Svalbard 2025-26,” from Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost settlement; the 10-night “Iceland to Greenland Roundtrip Cruise 2025” from Reykjavik; the 10-night “Roundtrip Cruise to the Edge of the Arctic 2025-26” from Tromsø; and the 10-night “Cruise from Iceland to Greenland 2025,” sailing from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq. Complementing these are two longer cruises offering opportunities to experience the Northern Lights: the 16-night “Greenland and Northern Lights Roundtrip Cruise” from Kangerlussuaq; and 15-night “Canadian Arctic and Northern Lights Cruise” from Kangerlussuaq to Halifax.
Guests will be accompanied by world authorities in their fields, who will give lectures, lead expeditions and take part in the social life onboard. The expert lineup for 2025 includes:
- Uli Reyer – A Ph.D. biologist and former professor at the University of Zurich, Reyer is a specialist in animal behavior and Alpine birds. A seasoned Arctic lecturer, he blends science and myth-busting with adventure, bringing the polar world to life in German and English. Reyer will accompany guests on “Exploring Svalbard” itineraries on June 20 and 27, 2025.
- Urs H. Fischer – A glaciologist and adventurer, Fischer has spent decades studying glacier dynamics across the Arctic, Himalayas and Alps. He will accompany guests on the nine-night “Cruise from Svalbard to Norway” from Longyearbyen to Tromsø, departing on June 22, 2025, and two sailings of the 10-night “Roundtrip Cruise to the Edge of the Arctic” from Tromsø, departing on July 1 and 11, 2025.
- Aleqa Hammond – Greenland’s first female prime minister, Hammond is a passionate advocate for Arctic culture, politics and the environment. Fluent in six languages, she shares deep insights into Greenland’s past, present and future. Hammond will accompany guests on the July 31 “Iceland to Greenland Roundtrip Cruise.”
- Arielle Montgomery – A Stanford-educated engineer-turned-Greenland-advocate, Montgomery (aka “Icebergchick”) captures the Arctic’s beauty through photography. Passionate about Kalaallit culture and climate awareness, she inspires change through storytelling. Montgomery will join the August 10 sailing of “Iceland to Greenland Roundtrip Cruise” from Reykjavik, and the August 20, 2025 sailing of “Greenland in Depth” from Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq.
- Antony Jinman – A polar explorer, educator and entrepreneur, Jinman is the 12th Briton to have skied to both the North and South Poles, the latter solo. He shares his adventures to inspire and educate on conservation, exploration and climate change. Jinman will be on the 16-night round-trip “Canadian Northwest Passage & Northern Lights” voyage, departing Kangerlussuaq on August 30, 2025.
- Gabrielle Slowey – A political scientist and Fulbright Arctic chair, Slowey researches Indigenous governance, resource politics and reconciliation. With decades of community-driven work, she brings deep insight into Arctic policy and self-determination. Slowey will be part of the 16-night round-trip “Canadian Northwest Passage & Northern Lights” voyage departing Kangerlussuaq on August 30, and the 15-night “Canadian Arctic and Northern Lights Cruise,” departing Kangerlussuaq for Halifax on September 15, 2025.
The experts who will be accompanying guests and working alongside the expedition teams on Swan Hellenic’s 2026 Arctic sailings are yet to be finalized. Good to know: All Swan Hellenic cruises are fully inclusive and feature gourmet cuisine, specialist talks and hands-on, expert-led expeditions.
For more information, visit www.swanhellenic.com.
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