Winter Weekend in Cappadocia
May 10, 2025The thought of a cruise brings to mind the image of a massive floating city with multiple swimming pools, games arcades, casinos, shops, nightclubs, bars and restaurants. Days full of activity and nights fuelled by drinks, good food and dancing seem to be the norm, and while that is definitely true of a certain kind of cruise vacation, the expedition cruise is an entirely different experience.
While larger cruise ships also undertake expedition cruises, the best ones to take are often on smaller, more specifically designed ships that are able to foray deeper into the unexplored waters, bringing you ever closer to the sights that you would be unlikely to see in any other way. These special expedition ships are designed to support research, and while they can be luxurious in their own way, and are extremely well appointed and comfortable, they offer something that you won’t find anywhere else.
After months of research, I finally decided to take an expedition cruise to the Arctic Circle and around the Svalbard Archipelago (more on the cruise here) aboard the Swan Hellenic Diana (SH Diana), a polar class ice breaker expedition vessel, capable of travelling deep into the icy waters of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. With just 190 passengers, and 152 crew members as compared to larger lines who host upto 4000 guests on each cruise, the SH Diana was cozy and intimate, with a personal touch around every corner.
Right away, when I got to my stateroom, where my luggage was waiting for me, I was greeted by my complimentary Swan Hellenic parka, in the cruise line’s signature turquoise colour, a re-usable thermos water bottle and extremely functional waterproof backpack, all of which were mine to keep at the end of my 10-day voyage. The room also had re-usable glass water bottles in keeping with the cruise’s spirit of sustainability and environmental sensitivity as well as a pair of high-powered binoculars for use during the cruise (sadly those had to be left on board when I disembarked!)
First up on the evening’s agenda was registering my details and receiving my identification card and lanyard which would serve as my room key and ID while on board and during any off-ship expeditions. The card was scanned each time we got on and off the ship to make sure everyone was safe and accounted for at all times.
Next up was a safety and security briefing for all passengers after which we were given the opportunity to try on our Swan Hellenic parkas and exchange them for the right size if they didn’t fit.
The smallest size was too big for my tiny frame and unfortunately they didn’t have any kids parkas on board for me, but I had foreseen something like that happening and had brought my ski jacket along for the cruise which served perfectly well to keep my warm and dry. My parka also made a great gift for my mum when I got back home!
The evening then led into a cocktail reception in the Observation Lounge, located on one of the highest decks of the ship. Here, we were introduced to our captain, the heads of various departments including food and beverage and housekeeping and most significantly, our expedition team. This is really where an expedition cruise differs from many other cruises. Each cruise is staffed by a dedicated and highly trained expedition team. (different lines will have different nomenclature and slightly different activities and protocols). Members of the team are experts in the region, its wildlife, flora and fauna, as well as maintaining the safety and security of the guests and the delicate environment around us. Expedition team members are independent contractors and may work across many different ships and cruise lines in a given region during a single season before moving on to a different region for its specific season. The team on board the SH Diana included a marine biologist with special knowledge about whales and other cetaceans that inhabit the arctic, an expert on arctic animals, a biologist with an encyclopaedic inventory about the flora and fauna of the region and even an astronomer to tell us about the stars and more. The 10 member team would be responsible for all our on-shore expeditions and zodiac cruises throughout the voyage as well as deciding where, when and if we would be able to go ashore based on weather and visibility conditions, and of course the presence of polar bears!
Finally, we were introduced to a team of scientists and researchers from the University of Basel in Switzerland who would be on board for the duration of our cruise conducting research into the marine life of the region and microplastics that are affecting the environment. They would also be delivering talks on various subjects throughout the cruise and would be available for guests to ask any questions about their research or any other topics within their vast repertoire.
Each day would include one or two expeditions, one in the morning and one after lunch, either in the form of a shore landing or a cruise in a zodiac, a small, rubber boat that would take us close to land masses, glaciers and other geographical features.
Each evening would involve a debrief on the day’s expedition, what we had experienced and seen and a tentative plan for the next day. As we were repeatedly reminded, the most important word on any expedition cruise is flexibility as destinations and excursions were subject to change at a moments notice due to natural conditions.
The ship itself was wonderful and the crew was friendly, helpful and very efficient. Meals were served in the main dining room with breakfast and lunch being presented buffet style and dinner featuring a 4 course set menu with several entrée options to choose from each night. A light and late lunch was also served in the smaller cafe style restaurant, where a tea time selection of snacks and pastries was also available each evening. Tea and coffee was free flowing and the bar was open all day with all except the most premium liquor and wine being included in the in the cruise pricing.
Staterooms ranged from outside cabins to suites, and were spacious, well decorated and extremely comfortable and housekeeping was provided twice each day as well as on demand. The ship also featured an observation post and an open deck from which to take in the voyage and the surrounding and the observation lounge, which served as a bar and place to relax was stocked with puzzles, books and blankets for guests to use and occupy themselves with.
After having been on a few mainstream cruises, the expedition cruise was unique and very enjoyable. The experiences I had and the wildlife and nature I was able to witness was unparalleled. Overall, for adventure seekers and those in search of a vacation truly off the beaten path, I would certainly recommend exploring an expedition cruise at least once in your life.
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Disha
Disha is a former corporate lawyer with a flair for writing. As an avid traveller, she is always seeking new adventures and loves telling stories about her globe trotting.
