Minerva in Portsmouth
Minerva in Portsmouth / Swan Hellenic
1 of 7
Orpheus Lounge
Orpheus Lounge / Swan Hellenic
2 of 7
Superior Balcony Suite
Superior Balcony Suite / Swan Hellenic
3 of 7
Livingstone Lounge
Livingstone Lounge / Swan Hellenic
4 of 7
 Minerva
Minerva / Swan Hellenic
5 of 7
Bar in the Orpheus Lounge
Bar in the Orpheus Lounge / Swan Hellenic
6 of 7
Swan Restaurant
Swan Restaurant / Swan Hellenic
7 of 7

Swan Hellenic

Our Review
Deal Expert / Travel Blogger

The reincarnation of a venerable British line that was founded in the 1950s when two men with the surname Swan began chartering ships to take well-educated British passengers to the Greek Islands, the new Swan Hellenic (reborn in 2020) has its sights firmly set on polar adventure. Its three luxury expedition ships — SH Minerva, SH Vega, and SH Diana — feature Scandinavian-inspired design, accommodate 152 to 192 guests, and cruise Antarctica and the Arctic in season (winter and summer, respectively) and more accessible destinations such as Africa, Central America & the Caribbean, Canada, and the Mediterranean in between.

What We Love

Sparkling New Polar-Ice-Rated Ships: All three Swan Hellenic ships are PC5 polar ice-rated vessels with strengthened hulls and extra-large stabilizers, so they’re equipped for the harsh conditions of the polar regions. But these vessels are also superbly luxurious with staterooms and suites decorated in sophisticated contemporary neutral hues, a restaurant serving a mix of international and local cuisine, two lounges, an aft pool deck, and a spa and fitness center.

Diverse Itineraries: Swan Hellenic is ideal for the curious traveler, whether you want to spy on polar bears in the High Arctic around Svalbard, wander amid penguin colonies along the Antarctic Peninsula, explore the southwest coast of Africa from South Africa to Angola, island-hop from the Seychelles to Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean or circumnavigate Sicily.

Best Known For

Lecturers: The talks led by its ships’ expedition teams and a roster of invited speakers and academics who are experts in the region being explored are both outstanding in quality and often equally entertaining.

Environmental Practices: New ships mean state-of-the-art technology and Swan Hellenic’s three polar expedition ships were built with sustainable practices and system designed to ensure cleaner emissions and wastewater in the fragile ecosystems of the regions the line explores.

Well-Being Voyages: In 2024, Swan Hellenic began a new holistic travel program called Explore & Restore, in partnership with Deepak Chopra, that focuses on daily yoga, meditation, and journaling to spark transformation and renewal.

Who It's Best For

Curious, Well-Traveled Explorers: Travelers drawn to Swan Hellenic are mature, well-traveled, and mainly English-speaking, including those from North America. They love the cruise line’s commitment to culture, geography, and to preserving the ecological beauty of the world as well as the array of excursions offered — from physically challenging hikes to relaxed museum and heritage site visits. 

Don't Say We Didn't Warn You

The Ships are Fancy, But the Dress Code Isn’t: With staterooms that would feel at home in a luxury boutique hotel, Swan Hellenic’s three ships offer an elegant home base for exploration — but the cruise line’s laid-back approach (there is no formal dress code) means that guests mostly wear whatever feels most comfortable and weather-suitable. 

Nights are Low-Key: There’s no casino and no show lounge onboard Swan Hellenic ships, so guests spend their evenings enjoying conversations with new friends or listening to piano music in the Observation Lounge. 

ShermansTravel Editorial Staff
Deal Expert / Travel Blogger