75 tourists sail to discover Guyana aboard the SH Vega

Some 75 foreigners, mostly from Australia, arrived in Guyana on Wednesday aboard the SH Vega cruise ship, eager to explore the country’s culture, nature, and hospitality as part of an immersive tour experience.
The SH Vega docked at the Guyana National Shipping Company (GNSC) wharf in Georgetown, carrying the 75 tourists who embarked on a 12-hour tour around the city and other nearby areas.

As the tourists disembarked, Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Susan Rodrigues welcomed them to Guyana. She noted that several agencies collaborated to make the visit possible, with extensive preparations to ensure a smooth experience for the travellers.
“I am really excited about the trajectory we are on in this sector, particularly tourism,” the minister said. “Today we are able to welcome the Swan Hellenic cruise ship, a Norwegian cruise line. It originated in Barbados, made a stop in Trinidad, and has now arrived in Georgetown. They will proceed at midnight tonight to Suriname, after which they will take a tour of the Amazon River and then return.”
“We are pleased to welcome about 75 passengers on the cruise ship today. They have all disembarked and have been split into groups. Some will do a Georgetown city tour, while others are boarding a plane to visit Kaieteur Falls. They’re in good hands – we’ve arranged all of the logistics in collaboration with various stakeholders, including Evergreen Adventures, Jaybridge, the Guyana Tourism Authority, immigration, and the police.”
Bringing all of these stakeholders together, she added, was a massive undertaking, but the team succeeded in organising a special welcome for the visitors. Local entertainment, including steel pan music, was provided, along with displays from Banks DIH and local arts and crafts vendors, offering tourists a true taste of Guyana to take home.
Meanwhile, the ship’s captain, Oleksii Varyvoda, outlined the vessel’s features, emphasising the highlight of the cruise: the journey along the majestic Amazon River. He also detailed the ship’s eco-friendly amenities, designed to minimise environmental impact.
“The SH Vega is the second sister of the third series, delivered in 2022. She’s considered a green ship due to her smart systems controlling NOx emissions. Since IMO 2020, we’ve switched to very low sulphur marine diesel oil. Additionally, we have an advanced wastewater treatment system that treats all grey water – from sinks and showers – converting it into clean effluent, which we safely dispose of four nautical miles from the baseline. We also have an advanced ballast water treatment system that prevents the migration of microorganisms from one part of the globe to another, protecting ecosystems worldwide.”