Cruise line Swan Hellenic has welcomed back SH Minerva to the fleet, ready to join sister ships SH Vega and SH Diana, to begin the 2025-26 winter season in refreshed style. The cruise line first launched in the UK in the 1950s as Swan Tours, and after a buy-out by P&O and changing hands a few times, it has now relaunched as Swan Hellenic. Aimed squarely at the luxury market, Swan Hellenic seeks to provide guests with opportunities around the globe, allowing them to see what others don’t.
SH Minerva will be the face of another first for the company in March 2026, as she launches the first-ever Asia-Pacific Season
, as it becomes part of the line-up for the award-winning cultural expedition cruise line.
The new explorations of the Asia-Pacific region will include the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan, offering curated experiences that range from primitive art, ancient rituals, and anthropology to historical WWII sites, wildlife, snorkelling, and watersports adventures.
“We’re delighted to welcome back our flagship SH Minerva,” says Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito “A symbol of Swan Hellenic’s rebirth, her inaugural Asia-Pacific Season will take us to fly our flag across the globe, reaching every ocean and continent. It’s a moment of immense pride for us.”
The expedition ship SH Minerva was built in Helsinki Shipyard OY at the end of 2021 and chartered to Swan Hellenic by the Irish owner, STLC Europe Nine Leasing Ltd.
SH Minerva’s return to service marks an exciting new chapter for the company, with a three-ship fleet that takes its guests to live uniquely immersive discovery experiences in the heart of remote destinations all around the world, all while cruising and relaxing in refined elegance. These intimate ships, each accommodating fewer than 200 guests, offer unique experiences that set Swan Hellenic apart.
