In Tailor-Made this month we highlight Swan Hellenic's Luxury Expedition ships Minerva, Vega and Diana.  As we're getting a lot of inquiry for the Antarctic 2026-27 and Arctic 2027 seasons we've included recenlty updated offers.  In South America we go in search of Condors and Kings and take a brief look at two amazingly different animals found in Brazil's Pantanal; the Giant Anteater and Maned wolf and finally we take a look at one of the newsest ships in the Galapagos Islands - Monique.
 
Buen Viajes

Alex Burridge

Swan Hellenic Minerva & Diana meet-up in Antarctica

 SWAN HELLENIC LUXURY EXPEDITION SHIPS 

Three classic ships built in Helsinki Finland:  Minerva was launched in 2021, Vega 2022, and Diana in 2023.  Purpose-built for polar cruising these Luxury-Expedition cruise ships offer a range of very comfortable cabins and excellent cuisine; with ice-strengthened hulls and a fleet of zoadiacs they offer a very comfortable platform from which to explore the Arctic and Anatrctica alike.
 

VIEW ARTICLE ON SWAN HELLENIC MINERVA, VEGA & DIANA
 

 SWAN HELLENIC OFFERS 

SYLVIA EARLE & DOUGLAS MAWSON 2026/27  SAVE UP TO 20% PLUS AIR CREDITS ON SELECT ANTARCTIC CRUISES

Sylvia Earle Antarctica

SYLVIA EARLE

                                                                              Discount     Air Credit (AU$)   Departure Date

Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctic Peninsula   15%                 $5,000              24 Oct 2026

Across the Antarctic Circle                                      10%                 $715                 13 Nov 2026
Across the Antarctic Circle                                      10%                $1,425               18 Dec 2026
Antarctica: Through the Lens                                  0%                  $4,300               25 Jan 2027
Antarctic Womens Expedition: Fly the Drake          15%                $4,300               23 Feb 2027
Wild Antarctica ft. Weddell Sea New Scientist        20%                $1,425               02 Mar 2027
Spirit of Antarctica: Whale Migration                       20%                $715                   13 Mar 2027

DOUGLAS MAWSON

In Shackleton’s Footsteps                              20%                        $2,150               08 Nov 2026 Spirit of Antarctica: New Scientist                  15%                        $715                   07 Dec 2026
Antarctic Explorer Express                            10%                        $715                   07 Jan 2027
Antarctic Peninsula: Fly the Drake                0%                         $5,000               13 Jan 2027
Spirit of Antarctica                                         15%                        $715                   17 Feb 2027
Spirit of Antarctica                                         15%                        $715                   27 Feb 2027

NOTE:  Book by 30 September 2026.
All voyages are subject to availability.  Offer can be changed or withdrawn without notice.
Please call 1300 784 794 and we can discuss which, voyage, cabin & ship best suit you and immediately check availability.

 SYLVIA EARLE & DOUGLAS MAWSON
ARCTIC 2027 - SAVE UP TO 30%
PLUS AIR CREDIT

Sylvia Earle - Greenland

SYLVIA EARLE

                                                                     Discount     Air Credit (AU$)   Departure Date
Svalbard Odyssey                                           15%            $4,300                   24 Jun 2027
Polar Bears and the Changing Arctic                0%            $2,150                   03 Jul 2027
Svalbard Odyssey                                          30%             $2,850                   09 Jul 2027
Jewels of the Arctic                                        30%              $4,300                  18 Jul 2027
Iceland & Greenland: Photography                30%              $2,850                  31 Jul 2027
Jewels of the Arctic                                        30%               $5,000                  09 Aug 2027
Northwest Passage                                        15%              $4,300                   30 Aug 2027
Northwest Passage                                        15%              $4,300                   12 Sep 2027

DOUGLAS MAWSON

Iceland: Circumnavigating the Land of Fire and Ice   20%  $4,300                  17 Jul 2027
Svalbard Odyssey                                          30%              $2,850                  08 Aug 2027
Spitsbergen: Realm of the Ice Bear               30%              $2,850                  17 Aug 2027
Iceland and Greenland Northern Lights         15%              $2,850                  25 Aug 2027


NOTE:  Book by 30 September 2026.
All voyages are subject to availability.  Offer can be changed or withdrawn without notice.
Please call 1300 784 794 and we can discuss which voyage, cabin & ship best suit you and immediately check availability.

SWAN HELLENIC ARCTIC 2027 OFFERS 
SAVE UP TO 28%

Swan Hellenic Vega - Greenland

Here I highlight two very different wildlife viewing oportunities, that with knowledge and pre-planning, we can build into your itinerary.  If you're not heading to the Falklands or South Georgia and would still like to see King penguins we can arrange that.  If you want to see South America's only wolf (whose prey consists of a lot of fruit (particularly the 'wolf apple') as well as rodents, rabbits and occasionally birds) or the amazing Giant Anteater - we can do that too (and as with all wildlife whilst the chances are very good - it wouldn't be right to 'guarantee').

  WOLVES & ANTEATERS

Giant Anteater - Pantanl Brazil

The Pantanal, known worldwide for its amazing wildlife, now offers travellers a unique opportunity to observe two amazingly different, yet equally beautiful animals.  For the last 50 years, the only way to have a good chance to see Maned Wolves was to fly hours from Cuiabá and then drive many more hours to one of a handful of locations far, far from the Pantanal. So, with the discovery of Maned Wolves visible daily in the North Pantanal alongwith the opportunity to see Giant Anteaters just outside of Pocone' offers the opportunity for more amazing wildlife as part of a visit to the Pantanal region of Brazil.

The chance to see both of these beautiful animlas in a visit to the Pantanal - it's an exmaple of how we can tailor your trip to suit your individual needs - our expert, and longstanding, partners work with us to create your perfect itinerary.

Call  us on 1300 784 794 to discuss your plans.

VIEW PANTANAL ARTICLE

Maned Wolf - Pantanal Brazil

 CONDORS & KINGS

Male Andean Condor

Condors are found throughout Patagonia, you will likely even see them when leaving Ushuaia en-route to Antarctica.  They are also found in Peru and as far north as Ecuador.  One amazing place to see them is Peru’s Colca Canyon.  Another is just outside Punta Arenas (Chile); gateway to either Patagonia or for those flying to or from Punta Arenas to King George Island/Antarctica.

Less than an hour’s drive from Punta Arenas there is a Condor roost which with planning can be woven into your trip.  It will be an early start as the plan is to get there before the Andean Condors leave their roosting site; as the day warms the condors will use the thermals to start their days exploring and hunting.

Another beautiful bird found near Punta Arenas is the King Penguin.  The only mainland colony in South America.  This small, but growing, colony is found within the King Penguin Nature Reserve (open October to May); it's approximately a two hour trip by road. 

If you’d like to incorporate either, or both, of these two experiences into your time in Patagonia we’ll build in the extra time to make it happen.   

King Penguin colony Chile

 MV MONIQUE LAUNCHED APRIL 2026

MV Monique 16 berth luxury ship

Monique is among the newest catamarans in the Galapagos (completing her maiden voyage in April 2026), taking guests to some of the islands’ most iconic sites. With three spacious decks, the Monique provides the ideal setting for just 16 guests to experience the surrounding landscapes in comfort. A nearly 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio ensures tailored attention throughout the voyage, with a dedicated Cruise Service Officer available to assist with every detail of your experience

VIEW MONIQUE & HER ITINERARIES

VIEW OFFERS ON-BOARD MONIQUE & GRAND OCEAN SPRAY

VIEW OFFERS ON-BOARD EVOLVE, ORIGIN & THEORY 

Monique Stateroom

For help please call 1300 784 794 or email contact@tailormadejourneys.com.au