Sixteen new destinations feature in Swan Hellenic’s 2013-14 sailing programme on the single ship Minerva.
The line is reflecting sister All Leisure brand Voyages of Discovery in offering free return chauffeur-driven transfers for passengers opting for higher grade cabins as well as a 10% early booking discount until May 31 and free insurance.
The complimentary chauffeur service covers travel within a 75-mile radius of the departure port or airport on all cruises departing from February 13, 2013.
Those booking a 2013 cruise are also being offered up to 30% off winter 2012-13 extended voyages.
Newly revamped Minerva will call at 184 ports around the world in 2013/14 with ex-UK summer departures from Portsmouth to the Baltic, Norway, Spitsbergen, British Isles, Iceland, France and Ireland.
Swan Hellenic’s winter 2013-14 programme marks the start of the company’s Diamond anniversary year.
The 350-passenger Minerva will cruise to the Caribbean, Central America and make a circumnavigation of South America. New ports of call include Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Casilda in Cuba, Cartagena in Colombia and the San Blas islands. Prices for a 84-day winter voyage around South America start at £11,765 per person.
Guest speakers for 2013 include Professor Mark Horton, co-presenter of BBC2 programme Coast, historian Antony Beevor, Dr Andrew Burnett, deputy director of the British Museum, and Dr Emily Lethbridge, who recently spent a year in Iceland reading and researching sagas in the landscapes in which they were written.
Minerva returns to Oslo in June 2013 on a 16-day Norwegian fjords itinerary that includes maiden calls in Haugesund, Førde and Ulvik.
The vessel visits Spitsbergen for the first time on a 21-day Above the Arctic Circle itinerary in July next year, spending four days calling at the remote settlements of Longyearbyen, Barentsburg and Ny-Alesund as well as cruising in Magdalenefjord. Prices start at £3,395 per person.
Brochure prices include shore excursions and gratuities. Entrance fees to attractions featured in shore excursions are also included.
Swan Hellenic managing director Colin Stone said: “Our passengers are constantly in search of new cultural experiences and enjoy visiting destinations that other larger cruise lines do not explore.
“With the addition of 16 new ports of call across five continents the forthcoming programme has something to suit all tastes.
“In addition, we always listen to our passengers’ comments and are pleased to be able to announce some new launch promotions.
“We anticipate that the complimentary insurance and chauffeur service will be well received, further reinforcing Swan Hellenic’s reputation of exceptional inclusive value small ship discovery cruising.”