Swan Hellenic, the expedition cruise line that is gearing up to resume operations under a new ownership, said it has appointed Pierre Thomas  as Director of Expedition Operations.

“The highly-experienced guide and lecturer Pierre Thomas, an expedition leader worldwide for over 26 years, including with top names in the cruise industry, has now found his home at Swan Hellenic, the company said in a statement.

“He has led expeditions on the water, under the water and overland by motorbike, and lectures in 5 languages on topics as varied as tropical fish, African history, the Panama Canal and Central American Post-World War II politics,” it continued. Thomas has previous expedition cruise experience with Lindblad, Metropolitan Touring, Noble Caledonia and Silversea Cruises.

“With a strong management team of top names in the high-end cruise industry and an order book that is now running at three custom-designed expedition cruise ships, Swan Hellenic is clearly on track to create an entirely new high-end cruise experience, beginning 2021 and already taking eager bookings,” the company stated.

The company has three newbuildings on order. Two 10,700 gross ton,  five star polar PC5 ice-class expedition cruise ships arriving in November 2021 and April 2022, respectively,  will each accommodate 152 guests in 76 spacious cabins and suites, the majority with large balconies. A larger P6 ice-class vessel of 12,500 gross tons and accommodating 192 guests in 96 cabins and suites will be arriving at the year-end 2022.

Photo: Pierre Thomas at work