Swan Hellenic heads East for winter 2017

Swan Hellenic’s Minerva will sail to destinations in Dubai, Sri Lanka, Oman, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar, Hong Kong and Borneo in the winter 2017-2018 season.

Starting on 27 October 2017 with a cruise from Greece to Oman through the Suez Canal and Red Sea, Minerva will sail a total of 13 cruises to 26 countries during the season. A second cruise will take guests to the major cities of the Arabian Peninsula, including Dubai, a maiden call in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island.

“For the winter 2017 and 2018 season Swan Hellenic’s passengers are going to have the chance to really get under the skin of some of the most exotic and modern destinations in the Middle East and the Far East,” said Lynn Cornish, Swan Hellenic’s director of cruise planning and product. “Minerva will be making maiden calls at Mina Salman in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi’s nature reserve of Sir Bani Yas, in addition to visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Kinabalu National Park in Borneo and Old Town of Galle in Sri Lanka. Our guest speakers will be bringing all of our destinations to life as will our local guides during the included shore excursions.”

On leaving the Middle East, Minerva will head down the west coast of India with calls in Porbandar, Mumbai, Marmagao, Cochin and Tuticorin before reaching the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. From here, the vessel will sail across the Bay of Bengal to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore on the ‘Colours of India and Indochina’ cruise in partnership with RHS Garden Holidays.

Minerva’s cruise over Christmas and New Year departs from Singapore and makes six calls in Indonesia. The ship will then conclude the winter season with a trip through the Suez Canal and three Mediterranean cruises before arriving back in Portsmouth, UK on 29 April 2018.

Swan Hellenic has organised optional pre- and post-cruise tours, which include stays in Muscat, Dubai, Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Greece and Italy.