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Swan Hellenic defines the art of discovery cruising. Minerva, which could be described as your floating country house hotel offers you all the benefits of a small ship, with cruises to off the beaten track destinations. Swan Hellenic's varied guest speaker programme means each and every voyage is a unique cultural travel experience. Read Swan Hellenic reviews and browse photos of Minerva
Cruisers can explore the world whilst in the comfort and luxury of a Swan Hellenic Cruise. As the market leaders in discovery travel, Swan Hellenic’s reputation has been built on years of experience, providing exceptional cruising and adventure.
Swan Hellenic Cruises have broken the mould of discovery cruising by employing a number of notable guest speakers and lecturers. They combine the perfection of a country hotel with the luxury of cruising.
All the staterooms on a Swan Hellenic cruise are decorated to an exceptional standard, with all the facilities and services that guests could wish for. Some rooms have spectacular sea views, providing a beautiful panoramic sight - perfect in the morning, at sunset or after dark.
Dining on a Swan Hellenic cruise is like dining in the finest restaurant. With al fresco, relaxed and formal dining available - there is something on offer for every taste. The cuisine served is well known for being delicious, and the wines served compliment the gourmet food perfectly.
As the Swan Hellenic cruise visits a multitude of exciting and inspiring destinations, guest will receive guidance and information from a range of experienced and knowledgeable guides - all employed by Swan Hellenic to make the cruise even more memorable and educational.
Swan Hellenic cruises visit a range of destinations, including: the Black Sea, Africa, the Red Sea, Caribbean, Dubai and many more. Cruising with Swan Hellenic combines the ultimate in luxury with journeys of discovery and inspiration.
To find out more about Swan Hellenic cruising, speak to one of our Cruise Experts today.
Swan Hellenic Cruise History
Founded in 1954 By R. K. Swan, the company chartered small cruise ships for years. It was bought by P&O Cruises in 1982, and then changed hands when Carnival Corporation merged with P&O in April 2004. In 2007, the Carnival Corporation disbanded Swan Hellenic, and its single ship was transferred to the Princess Cruises fleet. Some months later, a semi-retired Lord Sterling purchased the brand from the Carnival Corporation and joined partners with the UK’s Voyages of Discovery to operate it as a separate brand. So, the “swanners,” as its intellectual passengers are called, now have their very own ship, Minerva.
All Shore Excursions Included All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Mr Jeremy Pearson, Mr Adrian Tinniswood, Revd Stephen Platten, Mr Tim Earl and Mr Mike Nelhams
Portsmouth,Uk : Amsterdam : Oostende : St Malo (Mont St. Michel) France : Bordeaux : Bordeaux : La Pallice : Belle Ile : Brest, France : St Peter Port, Guernsey : Honfleur : Portsmouth,Uk
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe, Professor Ian Beckett, Dr Philip de Souza and Revd Tim Blewett
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe, Professor Ian Beckett, Dr Philip de Souza, Revd Tim Blewett, Lord Douglas Hurd, Professor Alexi Lepore, Father Robert Mackley and Ms Louise Schofield
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Lord Douglas Hurd, Professor Alexi Lepore, Father Robert Mackley and Ms Louise Schofield
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Lord Douglas Hurd, Professor Alexi Lepore, Father Robert Mackley, Ms Louise Schofield, Mr Nigel McGilchrist, Dr Michael Squire and Revd Robin Griffith Jones
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Mr Nigel McGilchrist, Dr Michael Squire and Revd Robin Griffith Jones
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Sir Michael Llewellyn-Smith, Dame Averil Cameron and Revd David Brindley
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Dr Peter Cattermole, Mrs Nirvana Romell, Dr Richard Chartres and Mr Tom Holland
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Dr Peter Cattermole, Mrs Nirvana Romell, Dr Richard Chartres, Mr Tom Holland, Mr Jeremy Paterson, Mr Andy Bunten and Professor Colin Renfrew
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Mr Jeremy Paterson, Mr Andy Bunten and Professor Colin Renfrew
Naples : Naples : Florence (From Livorno) : Rome : Alghero, Sardinia : Palermo (Sicily), Italy : Trapani : La Goulette : Sousse : Valletta : Piraeus : Piraeus : Piraeus : Antalya : Limassol : Tripoli : Beirut : Port Said : Transit Suez Canal : Sokhna : Sokhna : Aqaba, Jordan : Sharm El Sheik : Safaga : Safaga
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Mr Jeremy Paterson, Mr Andy Bunten, Professor Colin Renfrew, Professors Carole and Robert Hillenbrand, Mr Adrian Sindall and Canon Ralph Godsall
Piraeus : Piraeus : Antalya : Limassol : Tripoli : Beirut : Port Said : Transit Suez Canal : Sokhna : Sokhna : Aqaba, Jordan : Sharm El Sheik : Safaga : Safaga
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Professors Carole and Robert Hillenbrand, Mr Adrian Sindall and Canon Ralph Godsall
Piraeus : Piraeus : Antalya : Limassol : Tripoli : Beirut : Port Said : Transit Suez Canal : Sokhna : Sokhna : Aqaba, Jordan : Sharm El Sheik : Safaga : Safaga : Safaga : Djibouti : Djibouti : Salalah : Muscat - Oman : Muscat - Oman : Khasab : Dubai, Uae : Dubai, Uae
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Professors Carole and Robert Hillenbrand, Mr Adrian Sindall and Canon Ralph Godsall
Safaga : Safaga : Djibouti : Djibouti : Salalah : Muscat - Oman : Muscat - Oman : Khasab : Dubai, Uae : Dubai, Uae
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Canon Dr Andrew Wingate, Dr Robert Bradnock and Mr James Parry
Dubai, Uae : Dubai, Uae : Khasab : Porbandar : Mumbai : Mumbai : Mangalore, India : Kochi : Tuticorin : Colombo, Sri Lanka : Colombo, Sri Lanka : Colombo, Sri Lanka : Galle : Port Blair : Yangon : Yangon : Yangon : Penang : Malacca, Malaysia : Singapore : Singapore
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Canon Dr Andrew Wingate, Dr Robert Bradnock, Mr James Parry, Dr Phillip Cribb, Professor Graham Chapman, Professor Ian Beckett and Revd Canon Ralph Godsall
Colombo, Sri Lanka : Colombo, Sri Lanka : Galle : Port Blair : Yangon : Yangon : Yangon : Penang : Malacca, Malaysia : Singapore : Singapore
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Dr Phillip Cribb, Professor Graham Chapman, Professor Ian Beckett and Revd Canon Ralph Godsall
Colombo, Sri Lanka : Colombo, Sri Lanka : Galle : Port Blair : Yangon : Yangon : Yangon : Penang : Malacca, Malaysia : Singapore : Singapore : Singapore : Cirebon : Semarang : Padang Bay : Lembar, Lombok : Komodo Island : Ujung Pandang : Pare Pare : Sandakan : Bohol : Manila : Hong Kong : Hong Kong
All Shore Excursions Included FREE Flights & Transfers All Gratuities Included Guest Speakers Onboard are Dr Phillip Cribb, Professor Graham Chapman, Professor Ian Beckett, Revd Canon Ralph Godsall, Dr Sam Turvey, Mr Michael Saunders, Professor Chris Gosden and Revd Dr Rupert Bursell
I'm a brazilian habitual
cruise user. I never been
used a UK cruise line
before and 5 months ago,
I booked a cruise with
Swan Hellenic at Minerva
ship. I paid 707 GBP in
april and the balance
payment was schedulled to
aug 31/2011...
Passengers travelling on
Swan Hellenic's Minerva
between 23 November 2011
and 7 April 2012 should
be aware of the following
rather brief announcement
put on their website
yesterday (having been
announced in more detail
in a press release on...
My wife and I travelled
in July 2011 on the Swan
Hellenic ship the Minerva
on the Empires of the
Baltic cruise. This was
our
8th cruise with Swan
Hellenic. We have not
been with another cruise
line so we cannot make a
direct comparison...
Having spent an extremely
comfortable pre - cruise
night at the Marriott
Meon Valley Hotel where
we left our car for the
duration of our cruise we
were coached to Minerva
berthed in Portsmouth
some 1/2 hour away...
We have just returned
from the Ancient Cities
in the Sand cruise (Oman
to Jordan). Previously
we have travelled with a
number of the other major
cruise lines, but this
was our first with Swan
Hellenic. What attracted
us to this cruise was the
itinerary,...
Our first time with Swan
Hellenic and one of our
best cruises. This
delightful ship has
converted us to small
ship cruising, we really
enjoyed the friendly
ambience on board. Our
cabin although not the
most spacious we have had
was kept in immaculate
order by...
Last year we booked our
first cruise with Swan
Hellenic. We wanted to
try out 'small' ship
cruising around the
Eastern Med We were
unfortunate with the
weather admittedly but
the cruise left something
to be desired...
Having cruised many times
before on large ships we
decided to try a smaller
one and decided on Swan
Hellenics, Minerva.
It was the best decision
we could have made. We
chose the cruise to
Thailand, Singapore ,
Malaysia and India...
IN contrast to your many
'glowing' reports of Swan
Hellenic, passengers who
tried to join Minerva for
the Christmas cruise 2010
found no one to assist at
Termina 5 Heathrow during
the snow conditions of
pre-Christmas week ...