On May 4th 2023, the Naming Ceremony of Swan Hellenic’s third ice-class cultural expedition cruise ship, SH Diana, took place in Amsterdam.
SH Diana was named by luxury travel visionary and icon Valerie Ann Wilson, Founder and CEO of Valerie Wilson Travel, with Swan Hellenic senior management including CEO Andrea Zito , local dignitaries, VIP guests and the media also present.
Cruise port Amsterdam, represented by harbourmaster Jordy Husslage and commercial director Monic van der Heyden presented Finnish Captain Kai Ukkonen the Amsterdam port plaque and a book on the region’s shipping ports and activities for the ship’s library.
After she had been blessed by a priest, the naming cerenony was followed by a press conference and a sumptuous celebration gala dinner on board prepared by chefs of Maris, an exciting new partnership with JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs, which offers Swan Hellenic guests a unique experience of exceptional dining prepared by this gourmet organisation’s world-famous chefs.
SH Diana is the third unit in a series of three elegantly appointed, PC6 ice-class, cultural expedition cruise vessels designed for premium discovery voyages worldwide, foremost the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Powered by a 4.6-megawatt diesel-electric propulsion system with selective catalytic reduction, with her ice-strengthened hull and extra-large stabilisers she provides exceptional passenger comfort. The 125 m long, 12,100-ton SH Diana, complying with the latest environmental regulations is completely self-sufficient for up to 40 days or 8,000 nautical miles.
Environmental sustainability is guaranteed by exhaust gas cleaning, advanced wastewater treatment systems and the waste storage facilities. These are required for operating in sensitive environments like polar areas. SH Diana has already been prepared to implement zero-emission battery technology, which would also make it possible to operate silently in port, marine reserves and other sensitive natural areas.
SH Diana’s spacious 5-star accommodation for 192 guests include 96 spacious staterooms and suites, the vast majority with large balconies. SH Diana is operated by an onboard team of 141 to provide impeccable personal service.
With the same elegant design as her sister ships, with open-plan interiors, unobstructed sea views and extensive deck areas, SH Diana nevertheless boasts certain important differences, among these a dedicated presentation and lecture theatre overlooking the lounge and on-board tender boats (aptly named Castor and Pollux; she is the first to explore ashore with comfortable tender boats as well as zodiacs) to take guests ashore. Of course like her sisters, SH Diana features a gymnasium, spa, panoramic sauna, restaurant and wine cellar, club room and infinity swimming pool with poolside grill.
Also SH Diana’s maiden seaon marks the first cruises in the Maris series of culinary discovery at sea, which brings a renowned JRE-Jeunes Restaurateurs chef on board. During the voyage following her naming ceremony, it is Michael Ammon, the owner and chef of the Michelin-starred Gasthaus Jakob in the Bavarian Forest, renowned for innovative terroir-based specialties. Michael will present guests astonishing signature dishes every night, building to the climax of an extraordinary gala dinner showcasing his creativity and skills. Michael will also be putting on a cooking show revealing some secrets of his art, and will lead gastronomic excursions ashore to explore the local culinary specialities.
Dr Terje Leiren, professor emeritus of Scandinavian studies and history at the University of Washington, Seattle, the author of four books and over 40 academic articles on Scandinavian history, will also be accompanying the maiden cultural expedition cruise throughout, sharing his expert knowledge with the guests on board.
After her first cultural expedition cruise departing Amsterdam on May 4th , “Norway Explored,” an 11-day odyssey through the fjords up the Norwegian coast reaching Tromsø on the 14th of May 2022, SH Diana’s will start a series of maiden cruises exploring the beauty of Norway and the Arctic.
Come late autumn, having completed her arctic season of 7 cultural expedition cruises, SH Diana will make her way down the Mediterranean, marking Swan Hellenic’s historic return to the region for which the concept of cultural expedition cruising was originally created 70 years ago. Then she will continue through the Suez Canal to the Paradise Islands, Madagascar and Southern Africa on her way to Antarctica.
Many of these cruises will be enriched by partnerships with unique organisations, in addition to the already mentioned Maris chefs, like participation in Citizen Science programmes and the presence of world-renowned scientists from the SETI Institute. Each SETI scientist will come aboard for the duration of a cruise, providing guests with expert insights into the history and latest discoveries in astronomy, astrophysics, astrobiology and planetary science.
During her inauguaral cruise after the naming ceremony in Amsterdam, when SH Diana called at the tiny Norwegian village of Mandal, Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito commented: “You could easily miss this charming town while sailing north. But we’re proud to explore it, with its distinctive church, peaceful forests and varied wildlife. And it’s not only here that our guests will see what others don’t. It will be a constant feature of their cruise, like every Swan Hellenic cultural expedition cruise, as they immerse themselves in unique days of fjord exploration, making their way up almost the entire coast of Norway. Guest feedback on the new SH Diana and our Maris experience is already exceeding all expectations. We can’t wait to see how this grows and develops as she voyages worldwide.”
During the 1950s, a British travel agency Swan’s Tours started organising cruise holidays to historical sites in Greece. With archeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler (a famous British archaeologist noted for his discoveries in Great Britain and India) acting as a guest lecturer during these cruises, of which each itinerary was unique, they became a great success. Soon, other guest lecturers as well as destinations like Turkey and Egypt were added. The company was later renamed Swan Hellenic and over the years would become the leading cruise line regarding cultural expedition cruises and with their current fleet of three modern luxurury expedition cruise ships, offering impeccable service and visiting spectacular destinations worldwide, the company has without doubt strengthened its leading position.
My previous article on SH Minerva, Swan Hellenic’s first cultural expedition vessel
