The ‘all new’ Minerva, fresh from a major refit, will set sail from Portsmouth on 02 March 2012 to embark on a series of new spring cruises around the Canary Islands, Mediterranean and Black Sea, Swan Hellenic said in a statement.
The 2012 cruise programme allows passengers to explore the flora, fauna and landscapes of the Canary Islands on Islands of the Sun while Vintage Iberia & Italy allows guests to travel up the Guadalquivir River and stay in the centre of Seville – an experience which is unique to Minerva due to her smaller size.
Postcard from the Mediterranean showcases the romantically classic Mediterranean cities including Rome , Naples , Athens and Istanbul while Black Sea Panorama sees Minerva return to Constanta in Romania . A Classic Spring has been designed following the success of the 2011 spring botany themed cruises and explores the slopes of Mount Parnassus , the spring flowers in Katakolon and the stunning hillsides of the Adriatic .
The 2012 brochure also features new ports including Akrafjord in Norway – a scenic area south of Hardangar Fjord and Ostende, Belgium where passengers will spend an evening in port and hear WW1’s ‘the last post’ first hand. Other highlights include a welcome return to Israel and a second season of no fly cruises from new homeport Portsmouth.
Minerva will be returning to Portsmouth in 2012 for a number of no fly cruises following the popularity of cruises sailing from the new homeport last season. No fly cruises include St Petersburg and the Baltic with three historians accompanying this cruise as Guest Speakers and A French Accent where passengers can discover Bordeaux , Amsterdam and Bruges .
As part of Swan Hellenic’s discovery cruising ethos, all sailings are escorted by Guest Speakers, who bring each destination to life. All speakers have specialist knowledge relevant to the destinations, cultures and experiences on offer and include a number of National Trust and NADFAS representatives. Guest Speakers include Professor Mark Horton (Midsummer in Norway) of BBC’s Coast series, Mr Jeremy Pearson (Treasures of the British Isles) of the National Trust, military historian and NADFAS Accredited Lecturer, Professor Ian Beckett (South to the Mediterranean), Sir Roy Strong (Palaces & Gardens) who specialises in garden design and horticulture and The Rt Revd & Rt Hon Dr Richard Chartres, (Spring Celebration) noted for his role within the Royal Wedding service earlier this year.
