Last Updated on June 4, 2024
Swan Hellenic, the venerable British touring and cruise company, has been welcoming guests since the early 1950s. It now has new owners, three new expedition ships and three unique themes that should appeal to anyone wanting to combine luxury and adventure.
We were recently on Swan Hellenic’s newest ship, SH Diana. Our itinerary took us from New York to Halifax on a Deepak Chopra Wellness theme cruise with scheduled stops at Martha’s Vineyard, Provincetown and Boston plus a sail through the Cape Cod Canal.
The 192 passenger SH Diana, launched in May of 2023, is the largest of the three, Finnish built expedition ships in the Swan Hellenic fleet. The other two, SH Minerva and SH Vega, have a similar profile but have a guest capacity of just 152. Zodiacs and kayaks are stored near the stern but Diana adds two tender boats. All three combine ice certified strength for Arctic and Antarctic exploration with modern Scandinavian design, excellent cuisine, friendly service and outstanding creature comforts.
Experts On Board
Naturalists are an important part of any expedition cruise, especially in the Arctic and Antarctic. On our relatively short cruise we were fortunate to have two well qualified experts on board. Dr. Anthony Jinman from Britain is one of the few people in the world who reached both the North and South Poles on skies. His slide and video presentation of both near-impossible feats was compelling.
The second lecturer aboard the SH Diana was Dr. Ed Sobey, an oceanographer from Seattle. He talked about ice age and erosion forces that created the giant sandpit known as Cape Cod. Then as we entered the Cape Cod Canal Dr. Sobey gave a running commentary from the bridge over the PA system. In 1909 construction began on the 17.4 mile artificial waterway that runs from Buzzards Bay in the south to Cape Cod Bay in the north. A swift running current changes direction every six hours with the tide.
An “Explore and Restore” Theme
The main feature of our cruise from New York was its “Explore and Restore” theme with wellness expert Dr. Deepak Chopra and his team. He recently signed an exclusive contract with Swan Hellenic for six cruises this year and even more in 2025. His opening seminar emphasized his philosophy – the interconnectedness of mental, emotional and physical health. Then for the next six days his team took over with yoga, meditation and self-help seminars based on Chopra teachings.
His team leader on the cruise was 20 year veteran Jennifer Johnson, Senior Director of Programs and Products. She said her goal for guests who partake in the Chopra activities is a greater understanding of self and of other cultures. By combining Chopra techniques with the facilities of a modern expedition ship, Jennifer Johnson added that guests can have both a fulfilling inner journey and a very satisfying outer journey.
Like the other two ships in the fleet, SH Diana will stay four months a year in the Antarctic. It will later reposition itself for four months in the Arctic. The other weeks are spent repositioning and visiting worldwide ports that offer adventure and discovery. Every voyage on Swan Hellenic includes one of three themes, including Chopra.
SH Diana: Culinary and Exploration Themes
The second Swan Hellenic theme is Culinary. With few exceptions, cuisine on our Chopra cruise was outstanding but Swan Hellenic’s new affiliation with Europe’s JRE – Jeune Restaurateurs – will raise the bar. This association of young chefs also offers what they call, “the pinnacle of gastronomy” and has grown since 1974 to include 350 restaurants.
Now, Swan Hellenic culinary theme cruises will also invite JRE chefs aboard to create signature dishes every night culminating in an extraordinary Gala Dinner to showcase the chef’s passion and skills.
The third Swan Hellenic theme will focus on ”Exploration of Earth and Beyond”. In partnership with the SETI Institute (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence), experts who advise NASA will come aboard to discuss and illustrate the latest discoveries in astronomy, astrophysics, astrobiology and planetary science. An advanced telescope will be installed for guest use during these out of the world theme cruises.
SH Diana Unique Features
Swan Hellenic faces stiff competition in the expedition cruise market but its unique features should make it a hit. All the rooms are bright and spacious with plenty of closet space, very comfortable beds and clever Scandinavian design. Every room includes an electric fireplace and slippers in two sizes. Bathrooms are very functional but there’s no bar soap, only liquid dispensers.
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On the SH Diana plastic is discouraged with stainless steel bottles for all guests and water filling stations throughout the ship. Internet is free but complicated to access, especially with more than one device. The company should make high quality internet available to all.
Coffee, tea and snacks are available throughout the day. Complimentary beer, wine and spirits are included every day even good quality non-alcohol beer and wine. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style but dinner is a special occasion. At dinner there are white linen tablecloths, excellent menu choices and servers in formal white jackets and bowties. We had lobster on three separate occasions and outstanding lamb shank and osso buco. On our “Explore and Restore” cruise, all menus included a few healthy choices approved by Dr. Chopra. Many were vegetarian but not all and included Pistachio Crusted Salmon and Beef with Potatoes and Peas.
Even though the Swan Hellenic brand is almost 75 years old, it remains little known to the casual luxury market. The company’s goal is now to make it more accessible to potential guests who are active and curious about wellness, cuisine, culture, history and geography.
You may also enjoy: Viking Octantis – An Expedition in Antarctica / A Bordeaux Cruise Through Vineyards and History / A Guide to A Galapagos Cruise Vacation
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