Last updated on January 1st, 2024
Swan Hellenic Launches in North America with JourneyWoman
(Sponsored feature)Â
Today, we are celebrating the launch of the “Small Ships” section of our Women’s Travel Directory, in addition to our women-friendly tours, retreats, and places to stay. Over the next few weeks, we’ll introduce you to companies that offer no single supplement to solo women, help us women travel by water in sustainable ways and are committed to preserving the beauty of the world with comprehensive, concrete ecological commitments and actions.
The first of our new partners is Swan Hellenic, which offers Beyond Ordinary boutique-style cultural expeditions on all 7 continents. Swan Hellenic grew out of Swans Travel Bureau, a London family business established by travel industry veteran W. F. Swan in 1931. The company operated its first “discovery cruise” in 1954, taking visitors to the sites of ancient Greece. From the very beginning, Swan Hellenic has taken curious adventurers to unusual destinations, enabling guests to explore places that are largely unknown.
Swan Hellenic is offering JourneyWoman readers an exclusive special – no single supplement on several of their expeditions, starting this summer. If you’re really keen, you can join JourneyWoman CEO Carolyn Ray on one of them! Call 1-800-537-6777 between 9 am – 6 pm ET and use the code CAT0040 at the time of booking to take advantage of these JourneyWoman exclusive offers! Please say you are from JourneyWoman when you call to book.Â
About Swan Hellenic
Swan Hellenic’s three ships — the Minerva, Vega, and Diana — are brand new and carry less than 200 passengers each. The crews include a team of 12 seasoned expedition guides, expert speakers, and lecturers, delivering the highest standards of attentive personal service. The company is committed to high sustainability standards both on board and in the context of their destinations.
“We are a perfect fit for independent solo travellers who want to be adventurous, but also appreciate some comfort along the way,” says Kelly Predmesky, Director, North America, Swan Hellenic. “Having travellers the calibre of JourneyWoman readers, who want a sense of community and to be connected to like-minded travellers, just makes the experience for everyone even more meaningful.”
 Read more about Swan Hellenic and their commitment to women’s solo travel here. ​
Current deals with Swan Hellenic
For these special discounts, call 1-800-537-6777 between 9 am – 6 pm ET and use the code CAT0040 at the time of booking to take advantage of these JourneyWoman exclusive offers!
Paradise Islands of the Indian Ocean
Seychelles (Port Victoria to Mombasa), October 24 – November 4, 2023​
​From US$2,750 per person (original price from US$8,500)​
Explore palm-fringed beaches with white sands and discover the unique wildlife of the Seychelles from the luxury of a five-star expedition ship.
​Read more here.​
Madagascar and its Eastern Islands
Mombasa to Maputo, November 4 – 14, 2023​
​From US$2,000 per person (original price from US$10,000)​
The luxury expedition cruise leaves the Kenyan capital of Mombasa and heads via the stunning landscapes of the Seychelles for a voyage discovering the Eastern Madagascar & Mozambique coasts.
​Read more here.​
Extraordinary Southern Africa
Maputo to Capetown, November 14 – 21, 2023​
​From US$1,750 per person (original price from US$7,500)​
Explore the best of South Africa from the comfort of a boutique expedition ship as it visits ports along the Indian Ocean on the South Africa Discovery cruise.
​Read more here.​
Africa to America Antarctic Epic​
​Capetown to Ushuaia, November 21 – December 11, 2023​
​From US$5,000 per person (original price from US$15,200)​
Voyage across the southern Atlantic on this epic Southern Atlantic & Antarctic Islands Discovery cruise on board a boutique ship that takes you places few have been before.
​Read more here.​
Previous offers
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Island Hearts of the Arctic: Iceland + Eastern Greenland
August 14-26, 2023 (13 days)
From Reykjavik to Reykjavik on the SH Vega
Experience the wild and fantastic landscapes of Iceland and East Greenland on our Iceland and Eastern Greenland cruise. Circumnavigate Iceland, the land of fire and ice, accompanied by breaching whales, and discover the phenomena of fjords, spectacular waterfalls, and never-ending volcanic scenery. From northern Iceland, we head to Eastern Greenland, to explore regions in the northernmost part of the world. Encounter some of the most interesting Indigenous cultures and ways of life in sparsely populated regions, as well as national parks, protected areas for wildlife – such as arctic hare and muskoxen – and the world’s largest fjord system.
Call ​1-800-537-6777​ and use the code CAT0040 at the time of booking to take advantage of JourneyWoman exclusive offers!
Greenland Discovery: Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq
August 26 – September 5, 2023 (11 days)
Escape to a remote and remarkable region of the world on the SH Vega
Navigate through an intricate fjord system that keeps the secrets of Norse people and settlements more than 4,500 years old, the pathways of Inuit migrations, and Viking ruins. Discover UNESCO-listed World Heritage sites and unspoiled, picturesque waterways filled with floating icebergs.
Call ​1-800-537-6777​ and use the code CAT0040 at the time of booking to take advantage of JourneyWoman exclusive offers!
Voyage to the Northwest Passage: Greenland + the Canadian Arctic
September 5 – September 21, 2023 (17 days)
Follow in the steps of early explorers on the SH Vega
Voyage on this unforgettable Canadian Arctic Discovery cruise departing from Greenland on our boutique expedition ship and circle around Baffin Bay in the Canadian Arctic before navigating part of the Northwest Passage among mountainous icebergs, charming fjords, and some of the most active glaciers in the world in an area that is ice-bound for some of the year. Witness polar bears and be enchanted by a blessing of narwhal diving around you, then glimpse long white tusks break the icy arctic waters, and discover landscapes covered in arctic willow and purple saxifrage. Your voyage will take you to a region that has been visited by some of history’s greatest explorers such as John Franklin, James Ross, and Norwegian Roald Amundsen. Visiting Inuit communities with their colorful harbor homes make your cruise a history lesson like no other.
Call ​1-800-537-6777​ and use the code CAT0040 at the time of booking to take advantage of JourneyWoman exclusive offers!
Threading the Islands from Troy to Istanbul
September 12-23, 2023 (12 days)
From Piraeus to Istanbul on the SH Diana
From Athens’ most famous ruins at the Acropolis, set sail on this adventure exploring Ancient Greek and Roman ruins on this Ancient Cities of the Eastern Mediterranean cruise on board our five-star boutique ship. Stand in the stadium that first hosted the Olympic Games in 776 BC and discover the excavations at Akrotiri on Santorini and decide whether this was indeed the Lost City of Atlantis. We follow in the footsteps of Minoans, Venetians, and Turks who all left their legacy on these ancient lands, and walk the ancient streets of Roman cities, such as Ephesus in modern-day Turkey. This captivating cruise takes you to some of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, from the Temple of Zeus to the Colossus of Rhodes and the Temple of Artemis.
Call ​1-800-537-6777​ and use the code CAT0040 at the time of booking to take advantage of JourneyWoman exclusive offers!
Greenland to Nova Scotia: Exploring the Canadian Arctic
September 21 – October 6, 2023 (16 days)
From Kangerlussuaq to Halifax on the SH Vega
Trace a path along the Northwest Passage on our Northern Canadian Discovery cruise on our boutique expedition ship following part of the legendary ice-filled route that challenged great explorers. As we sail from Greenland through the iceberg capital of the world, gaze in awe at the ice-filled straits and fjords crammed with gargantuan icebergs. The northern Canadian coast around Nunavut is a haven for caribou and polar bears, and in Newfoundland, we get the chance to hear the stories of the indigenous Inuit people and discover ancient whaling sites.
Call ​1-800-537-6777​ and use the code CAT0040 at the time of booking to take advantage of JourneyWoman exclusive offers!
Sailing the Cusp of Europe and Asia
September 23 – October 3, 2023 (11 days)
From Istanbul to Limassol on the SH Diana
Leaving the culturally diverse city of Istanbul in Turkey behind, our five-star boutique ship heads across the Aegean Sea on our Highlights of the Aegean & Southern Turkey before landing in Cyprus. This absorbing voyage takes us on a journey through Eastern Mediterranean history, discovering once-glorious ancient sites that were home to some of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Discover the remnants of Ancient Greek and Roman trading ports, cities, and temples as you roam through World Heritage archaeological sites.
Call ​1-800-537-6777​ and use the code CAT0040 at the time of booking to take advantage of JourneyWoman exclusive offers!
Holy Land, Suez Canal, and Jordan
October 3 – October 14, 2023 (12 days)
From Limassol to Jeddah on the SH Diana
Departing from Cyprus, we’ll call in at the Egyptian port city on the Mediterranean, Port Said, before spending the day sailing through the Suez Canal en route to the Red Sea. You have plenty of time to discover the charms of the Red Sea, from the beauty of diving in its waters to the intriguing ports of Sharm El-Sheikh, Aqaba, and Safaga, perhaps traveling inland to visit ancient sites such as Cairo, Luxor, and Petra. Then it’s time to call into Saudi Arabia, at the holy city of Medina before exploring some prime diving around Marmar Island. Finally, we arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s jewel, knowing we’ve seen some of the most colorful places on the Red Sea.
Call ​1-800-537-6777​ and use the code CAT0040 at the time of booking to take advantage of JourneyWoman exclusive offers!
Join JourneyWoman CEO Carolyn Ray on this trip!
Paradise Islands of the Indian Ocean
October 24 – November 4, 2023 (12 days)
Seychelles, ldabra, Zanzibar with Lamu: From Port Victoria, Mahe Island to Mombasa
Explore palm-fringed beaches with white sands and discover the unique wildlife of the Seychelles from the luxury of our five-star expedition ship on our Seychelles & East Africa Discovery cruise. You’ll explore a handful of the remote 115 islands that make up this Indian Ocean archipelago, before heading to Tanzania and Kenya, known for their rich cultures and pungent spices, and ending our cruise in Mombasa. Diving, snorkeling and even surfing in these waters filled with colorful fish is pure joy. Head on land and you’ll encounter nesting turtles, giant tortoises, pink flamingos, and red fodies who make these lush shores home.
Call ​1-800-537-6777​ and use the code CAT0040 at the time of booking to take advantage of JourneyWoman exclusive offers!
JourneyWoman Staff
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