Minerva called in the UK capital as part of a 14-day ‘Chelsea Flower Show’ itinerary
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Twenty years after her naming ceremony, Swan Hellenic’s Minerva returned to London, UK on 24 May, sailing under Tower Bridge before mooring alongside HMS Belfast on the Thames.
Minerva called in the UK capital as part of a 14-day ‘Chelsea Flower Show’ itinerary developed in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), which is hosting the flower show this week. The ship’s guests were able to visit the renowned flower show and visit London’s tourist attractions.
Prior to arriving in London, Minerva called at various European ports to enable guests to see gardens such as Monet’s famed gardens at Giverny, Les Jardins du Montmarin, Jardin des Plantes de Nantes, Parc Oriental de Maulevrier, the restored gardens at nearby Chateau de Trevarez and the Trompenburg Tuinen and Arboretum in the Netherlands.
On 30 August, Swan Hellenic and the RHS will offer a garden-themed ‘Riviera and Islands of the Mediterranean’ cruise with visits to Barcelona, Spain; Montpellier, France; Monaco; Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily and mainland Italy.
In 2017, garden-themed cruises include ‘Volcanic Islands and Vistas’ from Tenerife, Spain to the Canary Islands, and the ‘Summer Gardens and Castles of Britain and France’. This will sail from Portsmouth, UK on 15 July and take guests to gardens in France, Guernsey, England, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man and a visit to the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park.