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Swan Hellenic Minerva Cruise


alita

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I'll be cruising Athens to Istanbul on the Minerva in September. It's my first time on this line and I don't know much about it, but the itinerary is wonderful and the guest speaker programme sounds levels above the usual port destination lectures on most ships. Also like the fact that it is a small ship and includes "tailor-made" shore excursions. If there are cruisers here on CC who've had experiences with this company I'd like to hear from you... I've scoured this board but haven't found any posts about the Minerva, she seems to be a well-kept secret!

 

The name of my cruise is "The Hospitable Sea"... anyone else booked on this one?

 

alita

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I'll be interested in your findings. I have booked on her for the first time next February from Bangkok to India. They are very much "cultural" cruises and I know you get reading lists before you sail so they do sound very nice indeed.

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Hope you finally find someone who has been on this ship. We are looking at Black Sea cruises for next year and like their itinerary. I wandered about the company's status though as they seem to have disappeared for a while and are now back.

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Its very British. Take a good book or something to do in the evening as there is very little in the way of entertainment other than the very good lectures. You will meet lovely people and some who are just a little above themselves! It can be a good laugh. Its very well organised. The food is a bit school food but OK, the crew are super. Breakfasts on the deck by the pool are best.

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Thanks for the information... I do know that the ownership changed a couple of years ago -- very much for the better -- and the company is now going strong. My particular cruise sold out last month and when I look at their website I see that upcoming cruises are sold out too.

 

ditsy... your description made me smile, I've heard similar things but my take is that I'll be so exhausted by the end of each day -- the cruise is *very* port intensive -- that I'll be happy to retire to my cabin early each night. In fact, a preference would probably be to order dinner in my room from time to time; anyone know if there's a proper room service dinner menu?

 

I'll post a review when I return!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi there, we were on Swan when they were on their previous ship. I believe that this is their original ship. (I think!?) We very much enjoyed our cruise with them and loved the way they looked after you. If you went to somewhere where one felt a bit vulnerable, they always made sure people were safe on trips. As well as the trip leader, there was always another person at the back making sure everyone was accounted for, helping people up steps, pointing out facilities etc. It is very British but we did meet some people from the Us and Canada on our cruise. As for entertainment, we had a choice of a recent film, local shows of companies who were from the 'stop of the day', shows by the Filipino crew as well as some very interesting lectures that you could see again in your cabin television. There was also the odd quiz for those who enjoyed them. There is no casino on board and this was converted to a bar. Hope this helps. :o

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Having spent 42 days on another port intensive "British" ship (MV Discovery), I wish they had replaced the entertainment in the evenings with the always superb lectures and enrichment classes they held during the mornings and afternoons during the sea days.

 

The entertainment was very good for such a small ship and the lectures during the day simply could not be missed. But that left little time to just be on the ship being lazy and "cruising" with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face (slathered with sun screen of course).

 

So any ship with similar offerings that does substitute the evening entertainment for their excellent enrichment lectures sounds like my kind of ship. And hopefully our Voyages to Antiquity will be just that one.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 year later...

We are seasoned vacationers, and esp. love cruises (# 32 coming up) As time goes on, we find we are interested in the venues more than all of the activites on board. Last fall, we sailed with Swan for the first time, Highlights of the Ancient World. We were 2 of six Americans. If you enjoy history, culture, a wide selection of excursions which are presented in a well organized booklet delivered a month before the journey, this could be the trip for you!

 

We are actually taking the Islands of the Sun trip the end of this month. So, we must enjoy. Evenings can be a little quiet, but if you do take the usual 2 tours each day, you will be tired. I am a reader and a knitter, so found no problem entertaining myself in the evening. Plus if you chose not to attend the lectures, they are broadcast on the 'telly'.

There are very interesting people to talk to, at first can be a bit daunting, but after a day or so, very friendly. Dinner is a bit of a fuss with dressing up, but there is a very good alternative. We are looking forward to our sailing, as the ship has been refurbished this winter.

Any questions, I'd be glad to answer.

Sharon

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We have done six cruises with Minerva and Australian friends joined us on two of these. We have booked for two more this year. We have cruised with other lines but this suits us best. Small ship, open dining, excellent buffet, intelligent lectures and pleasant fellow passengers. The entertainment is limited - young opera singers but music in the bars such as harpist and pianist. The lectures are of a high standard - not flogging tours! Some of the passengers are quite aged but we are all going to get there one day. The included tours are perfectly organised and all tipping is done so no embarrassing moments watching fellow passengers scuttle by. If you want a floating resort this is not for you but if you want to be treated as an intelligents person it is wonderful.

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  • 2 weeks later...

not been on minerva but was on MINERVA 2 which i loved. they have just dry docked the ship new added balcony cabins among other things she sails on march 2nd. i will nbe going to portsmouth to see her arrive i got ship visit on her in may abnd would love tp see what she is like. i will post my thought here i would love tpo do a cruise on her sometime

dave

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  • 1 month later...

I'm very much a fan of Swan Hellenic. You are able to sail with plenty of well-travelled, like-minded fellow passengers and, of course, excellent lecturers. Thankfully no casino, 'production shows', ship's photographer or, my absolute bete noir, piped music!!! I am booked on two cruises in 2012 - 'St Petersburg & The Baltic' (22 May) and 'South to the Mediterranean' (1 August). Both cruises have excellent itineraries. This is 'old fashioned' cruising as it used to be, but with all the modern comforts we have, over the years, come to expect.

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  • 4 weeks later...

I have just made a reservation on Minerva for the Grand Voyage,Dubai to Singapore Dec 5 to Jan3. Anyone else going ? I have never been on Minerva but did spend 71 days on M.V. Discovery and loved it .

B.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Just received today via snail mail a sale notice from Swan Hellenic for cruises from now until into 2013 that are deeply discounted--and no single supplement for some of those cruises in case anyone is interested.....

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Hi! I'm on the Minerva from Athens to Dubai from Nov 7 to Dec 5. I expect it to be a good as many have described. Looking forward to booking excursions (free). I've been many places to date, smallest was 39 pax to Antarctica. Tom

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