Swan Hellenic Announces Pacific Asia and Africa Itineraries For 2026

Already a major player in the expedition cruising sphere, Swan Hellenic are taking their offering to the next level with brand new itineraries in Africa and Pacific Asia announced for 2026. Relaunched in 2020 and perfectly coinciding with the current expedition cruising boom, Swan Hellenic seamlessly fuses modern luxury with deeply immersive discovery, keeping the idea of ‘seeing what others don’t’ at the heart of everything they do.

Rejoining the fleet this year, the sleek SH Minerva will join SH Vega and SH Diana in Ushuaia for the 2025-2026 Antarctica winter season, before embarking on an odyssey around the South Pacific, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan and Papua New Guinea from March 2026. 

This incredible series of voyages kicks off in Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, and Swan Hellenic’s ambitious determination to only visit each port once during the season means that truly adventurous travellers can yoke multiple voyages together back-to-back for the most extensive travel experience.

Swan Hellenic are truly breaking new ground and indeed, these Pacific Asia itineraries showcase a new side to expedition cruising, one for which even the most seasoned expedition traveller would be hard-pressed to find a comparison. Yes, these voyages tick the usual boxes of immersive exploration, isolated destinations, jaw-dropping vistas and surreal wildlife viewing opportunities. However, they also boast the added dimension of allowing guests to really connect with the culture, spiritual history and customs of the indigenous people who still inhabit these lesser-explored regions, making for a truly once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. 

The first Asia Pacific voyage sets off from Honiara and takes guests around the volcanoes, lagoons, history and culture of Melanesia and Polynesia, providing opportunities to snorkel around the reefs of Niari Island and partake in ancestral rituals along the Sepik River.

The next couple of itineraries sail in and around Raja Ampat, unlocking the secrets of the Coral triangle and Indonesia’s more secluded islands. On these voyages, guests have the chance to swim with sharks, trek verdant rainforests, bask in the rays of sun-drenched beaches, and absorb the spiritual history of Indonesia through temple visits and tours of sacred sites. Following this, SH Minerva will dock amidst the dizzying architecture, buzzing markets and delectable cuisine of Manila, before setting off on voyage number four through the Hundred Islands National Park all the way to poignant plains of Hiroshima. This latter voyage in particular leaves the idea of surface-level exploration far behind and would be an incredibly eye-opening trip for those who wish to undergo thought-provoking experiences which will stay with them long after the trip concludes.

“We’re so proud that SH Minerva, the emblem of Swan Hellenic’s renaissance, is bringing the magic of this extraordinary region to our enthusiastic guests for the first time,” says Swan Hellenic Chief Commercial Officer Patrizia Iantorno. “These first four cultural expedition cruises of the Asia-Pacific offer deep explorations of its immense cultural diversity and natural beauty, while launching a new chapter of global exploration for Swan Hellenic.”

Whilst SH Minerva explores Pacific Asia, her sister SH Diana will be offering guests an entirely different experience, as she roves up the west coast of Africa, a treasure trove as yet largely untapped by the rest of the expedition cruise industry. The African itineraries kick off in Cape Town before exploring the German colonial architecture, sprawling dunes and freshwater lagoons of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. The second voyage uses the Angolan capital of Luanda as a jumping off point for the Gulf of Guinea, with the itinerary specifically focused on the landscapes and wildlife of the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe, widely considered to be one of the most impressive biodiversity hotspots on the planet.

Following this, SH Diana will dock in Ghana, where she will spend the first part of her next voyage exploring the pristine beaches that make up this part of the coastline, before introducing guests to the uniquely French-influenced charm of the Ivory Coast and the stunning Bissagos Islands where guests can learn more about endangered wildlife and the lives of indigenous people who call the archipelago home. The final voyage of the African itineraries sets off from Cape Verde’s luxurious capital, taking guests from the volcanic beaches of the Canary Islands all the way to the vibrant streets and bustling markets of Morocco, concluding against the iconic backdrop of Casablanca.

Swan Hellenic’s innovative itineraries are proving something of a revolution, truly making waves in the expedition cruising sphere, as they open up a largely unexplored corner of the globe to curious travellers for the very first time. Their experienced teams of experts comprise historians, naturalists, botanists, culture experts and more and the sleek style and contemporary comfort aboard their ships is second to none. 

Bookings for all of these voyages are now open, and you can find out more here.