Swan Hellenic’s 2013/14 programme of cruises sees its flagship 350 passenger ship, MINERVA, visiting 184 ports around the world, including16 new destinations.
In Summer 2013 Minerva sails from its home port of Portsmouth, offering a varied programme of no-fly cruises to the Baltic, Norway, Spitsbergen, The British Isles, Iceland, France and Ireland.
These include partnership cruises that have been designed in conjunction with the National Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society. Fly-cruises are also available, including the Black Sea and the Dalmatian coast and itineraries that explore the Mediterranean in the Autumn sunshine.
Further highlights of the summer 2013 programme include a 16-day cruise focusing on Oslo and the Fjords. This cruise, in June, marks MINERVA’s return to Oslo and also offers maiden calls in Haugesund, Førde and Ulvik.
Scenic cruising in the fjords is a highlight of the cruise, which also features cruising Sognefjord to Flåm, for a chance to ride on the famous railway, and Nordfjord to see the spectacular Briksdal Glacier in Jostedal National Park.
MINERVA visits Spitsbergen for the first time on its 21-day Above the Arctic Circle itinerary in July, spending four days calling at the remote settlements of Longyearbyen, Barentsburg and Ny-Alesund as well as cruising in Magdalenefjord.
Swan Hellenic’s Winter 2013/14 programme marks the start of its Diamond anniversary year. MINERVA will cruise to the Caribbean, Central America and make a circumnavigation of South America.
New ports of call include Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Casilda in Cuba, Cartagena in Colombia and the San Blas islands. Passengers can al;so enjoy the 84-day winter voyage around South America.
Renowned for its eminent Guest Speakers, the 2013 programme includes Professor Mark Horton, co-presenter of BBC2’s BAFTA award winning programme Coast, the historian Mr Antony Beevor, Dr Andrew Burnett, Deputy Director of the British Museum, and Dr Emily Lethbridge, who recently spent a year in Iceland reading and researching the sagas in the landscapes in which they were written.
Swan Hellenic, which prides itself for for all inclusive value including shore excursion programme and all gratuities on board and ashore for the first time, can for the first time choose a higher grade Balcony suite (Grades A-C) and enjoy a complimentary return chauffeur service from their home to the UK airport or port within a radius of 75 miles.
Managing director Colin Stone comments: “Our passengers are constantly in search of new cultural experiences and enjoy visiting destinations that other larger cruise lines do not explore. With the addition of 16 new ports of call across five continents the forthcoming programme has something to suit all tastes. In addition, we always listen to our passengers’ comments and are pleased to be able to announce some new launch promotions.
“We anticipate that the complimentary insurance and chauffeur service will be well received, further reinforcing Swan Hellenic’s reputation of exceptional inclusive value small ship discovery cruising.”
Further highlights of the 2013 programme
- The Realms of the British Isles cruise in partnership with the National Trust. This 15-day itinerary offers visits to distinguished National Trust houses, gardens and also features scenic cruising in the Inner Hebrides and along the Jurassic coast of Dorset. National Trust Guest Speakers feature on this cruise.
- In partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society, and with an RHS Guest Speaker, explore further off the beaten track with a 156-day cruise to the Shores of the Emerald Isle. Visit diverse gardens and enjoy maiden calls in the remote ports of Dingle in Eire, Inishmore on the Isles of Arran and the nature sanctuary of Lundy Island.
- The Rhythms of Cuba and the Caribbean 16-day cruise offers two days exploring Havana, a full day in Santiago de Cuba and a morning call in Casilda, allowing exploration of many of the UNESCO world heritage sites in Cuba.
See also: Swan Hellenic summer 2013 brochure: 16 new port calls on upgraded MINERVA
