Passengers booked on Swan Hellenic’s Minerva early next year have been forced to change their plans because the ship has been chartered to Germany operator Phoenix Reisen.
The company is operating a 68-day cruise from South America to Cadiz in Spain between January 30 and April 7.
Four Swan cruises have been affected including a 22-night Antarctica cruise and a 26-night cruise from Buenos Aires to Cape Town.
The change means there are two new 12-night cruises in April to get the ship from Cadiz to Aqaba, where it will resume its planned schedule. One is from Cadiz to Piraeus from April 7-19, the other from Piraeus to Aqaba from April 19 to May 1.
Passengers booked on the affected cruises can switch to alternative Swan departures or have a full refund. Swan Hellenic managing director Colin Stone said most people have switched, with only about 20 still to decide.
He said the charter will enable them to forget about filling the rest of winter and look forward to next summer. He said: “This has been a tough year and 2010 is looking challenging. The charter is in our long-term interest.”
For winter 2010/11, Swan will be cruising in the Far East instead of Antarctica. Stone said: “Our passengers are very keen to go to a warm winter destination, and it is good for us as it is very expensive to reposition to Antarctica.”
All Leisure Group chairman Roger Allard said his company was committed to offering full Swan Hellenic programmes in the future. “In the current market environment, it is prudent where possible to reduce risk, particularly on positioning cruises.”