Swan Hellenic’s Minerva is full of Eastern promise for winter 2017
SWAN Hellenic’s Minerva will be heading east next winter to 26 countries including exotic destinations such as Sri Lanka, Oman, Dubai, India, Vietnam, Philippines and Borneo.
The 13 cruises begin with a Greece to Oman trip through the Suez Canal down to the Red Sea
The 13 cruises begin with a Greece to Oman trip through the Suez Canal down to the Red Sea, in October 2017, before Minerva’s second cruise to the major cities of the Arabian Peninsula.
These include a maiden call in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island nature reserve.
“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.”
From the Middle East Minerva will sail along the west coast of India, calling at Porbandar, Mumbai, Marmagao, Cochin and Tuticorin before ending up in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo.
The ship will call at Mumbai, India
Red Sea
Minerva will then make her way across the Bay of Bengal to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore in partnership with RHS Garden Holidays, on the Colours Of India And Indochina cruise.
Christmas and New Year will see Minerva leave Singapore for six calls in Indonesia, when the host of BBC’s Coast, Professor Mark Horton, will be a guest speaker.
World's largest cruise ship takes to the ocean
Other calls in the Far East include Vietnam’s east coast, Hong Kong, Philippines, Borneo, Brunei and Myanmar before Minerva sails back through the Suez Canal for three Mediterranean cruises before arriving back in Portsmouth in April 2018.
Pre and post-cruise extensions are also available, including stays in Muscat, Dubai, Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Greece and Italy.
For more information go to swanhellenic.com.