Swan Hellenic will enter Asia Pacific for the first time, with its third, five-star purpose-built expedition ship SH Minerva, with itineraries encompassing Papua New Guinea, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.
“We already have Australian customers who travel with us globally, but now we’ll be even closer to this key market who are curious and conscious travellers, keen to explore remote areas in luxury,” Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zitto said. “It’s a perfect match.”
“See What Others Don’t” is the tagline of pioneer Swan Hellenic which, since 1931, has become known for forging unusual routes, whether Antarctica or the Arctic, cruising Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, or following the footsteps of explorers in South America’s Amazon.
Launching locally on 4 April with the World Eden of Papua New Guinea itinerary, the 5-star, 76 stateroom/suite/152 guest 2021-build SH Minerva is a purpose-built expedition (PC5) ship.
The Asia Pacific launch of Swan Hellenic’s local itineraries will be an expedition sail into the heart of the Melanesian archipelago. The voyage will chart a course through the waters of the Solomon Islands and onwards to the rugged coastlines of Papua New Guinea and West Papua.
From the uninhabited tropical paradise of Njari and Crown Islands, SH Minerva will also navigate the historic passages of Bougainville and Buka, explore coral atolls, with cultural saturation meeting the Arfak people and resilient communities of the Bismarck Sea.
“This cruise is completely original and multi-gen appealing, combining cultural immersion, historical experiences, and active adventures,” Swan Hellenic APAC regional director Beth Stolyar said.
“With charter flights from Brisbane and returning to Bali and Easter school holidays dates, it is an excellent option for families.”
The history
Swan Hellenic created cultural expedition cruising in 1954, taking members of London University’s Hellenic Society around the famous sites of ancient Greece in the company of eminent classics professors and those pioneering values remain.
“We’ll take you to some of the most remote, inaccessible places on Earth, experiencing, diverse cultures, ancient sites and civilisations,” CEO Zitto said. “Swan Hellenic’s mission to enrich curious minds means it’s only natural that we attract them.”
Guests not only experience the Scandi-styled, light-filled staterooms with original art, epicurean explorations (by Michelin star-winning consultant chefs Andrea Ribaldone and Sang Keun Oh) and spa offerings (including La Mer seaweed extract treatments, but like-minded camaraderie.
Of the wide a wide variety of nationalities represented, most guests are over 35 and there has also been a spike in solo bookings due to what the line said is a safe, sociable community created on the boutique ships.
Theres’ also a solid presence of younger guests and families with children (over eight years) with some families choosing Swan Hellenic as an educational experience for their kids due to the wildlife, cultural and scientific experiences.
Seasoned expedition guides, world renowned experts and scientists are also onboard. This includes members from the SETI Institute (who has partnered with Swan Hellenic), a space and Earth science research organisation supporting NASA and NSF programs.
Cultural & expedition Cruises
There are 12 expedition cruise Itineraries close to home, including Japan, Korea, Raja Ampat, the Philippines, Pacific Islands, NZ and PNG.
“It’s immensely rewarding for me to co-design and organize unique discovery experiences – geographical, scientific, natural, cultural and artistic – that immerse our guests in the authentic life of each destination,” Expedition Operations director Anthony Jinman said.
Jinman and his team have created encounters with Ivatan islanders preserving centuries-old traditions in Japan, a stop in a buzzing UNESCO-listed 16th century Philippine town and a journey up PNG’s Sepik River, experiencing the unique customs and ceremonies of the region’s isolated tribes.
You can also hit map-blips like Njari, a tiny paradisiacal island located between the Wilson Strait and Vella Gulf in the Solomon Islands or tick big bucket list items like Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial.
Swan Hellenic is further expanding its extensive polar heritage, debuting a new Antarctic itinerary. The 33-day Ultimate Antarctica Adventure from Ushuaia to Dunedin will take in the Antarctic Peninsula, Amundsen Sea, Ross Sea and New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic island before arriving in Dunedin, following the footsteps of explorers.
