SHIP PROFILE

Swan Hellenic Cruises

MS Minerva

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Operator: Swan Hellenic Cruises
Year Built / Last Refurbished: 1996 / 2007
Length / Tonnage: 436 / 12,500
Number of Cabins / Passengers: 194 / 356
Officers / Crew: British / International
Operating Area: Year Round Extended Cruises through Mediterranean, Black Seas, Middle East and Asia

She originally sailed for Swan Hellenic from 1996 through 2003. She then left the fleet and sailed as Explorer 2 until 2007. She returned to the Swan Hellenic in 2007 and began sailing for them as Minerva again in May of 2008. The atmosphere on board is designed to provide the feel of an English country house. She operates on extended voyages throughout the year and each cruise is escorted by a guest speaker with extensive knowledge of the ports to be visited. Service on board is generally very good.

Onboard you will find a congenial atmosphere, panelled rooms, the glint of brass, deep pile carpets and welcoming, buttoned leather sofas.

Favorite daytime venues include the conservatory-style Shackleton's Bar with its cane chairs and potted palms. You can also hide away in the Library where newspapers, an extensive collection of fiction, books on the destinations the ship visits, as well as games and assorted jigsaws are among the most popular diversions during days at sea. There's also an internet facility to keep in touch with home.

Minerva features an expansive teak promenade deck, so reminiscent of the golden age of cruising. It's the perfect vantage point from which to spy new coastlines, to photograph bird life in Antarctica or gaze out at Mediterranean sunsets. Aft, the promenade leads to the sun deck where you can lie back and relax or take a cooling dip in the pool.

Soft, subtle lighting and carefully chosen fabrics also extend to the cabins, all recently refurbished. A wide range of accommodation choices includes suites with private balconies, deluxe and superior outside cabins with picture windows, comfortable inside cabins that don't miss out on essentials like ample storage space or on refinements such as bathrobes, binoculars and books.

Minerva's main restaurant offers open seating and varied dinner menus throughout each cruise often reflecting the tastes of the countries to be visited. The Bridge Cafe serves breakfast and lunch in a more casual setting.

More informal is the Veranda that opens onto the Pool Deck, letting you dine alfresco.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are arranged on an open sitting basis and may be taken in the Dining Room or the Veranda. Opening times will vary according to the daily programme.

Most of your fellow passengers will be well traveled, mostly British and over the age of 40 as they are the most likely to be able to afford the cost and time of Minerva's extended itineraries.

From April to November she cruises the Mediterranean. In the fall she sails for the Middle East and Asia via the Suez Canal. She returns via the same route in the early spring. During her extended cruises she has visited a wide variety of ports including: Jordan, Yemen, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Egypt, Syria, Cyprus, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Albania, Croatia, Italy, Malta, Libya, Tunisia, France, Spain, Portugal, Britain, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Russia, LaTVia, Poland, Germany, Portugal, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Tunisia, and Lebanon

These programs and service on these ships are designed and promoted for the British market so if you are looking for the typical Caribbean cruise experience you should probably look to another cruise line. If you are looking for a destination-oriented itinerary with experienced travelers who are more into history than bingo or art auctions then Minerva might be just the right ship for you.

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