15 Night Cruise sailing from Portsmouth roundtrip aboard Minerva.

As ever we have listened to you, our loyal and growing number of passengers who remain as passionate about the Swan Hellenic lifestyle as our staff and ship's company, and are now able to act on those comments and announce a visionary multi-million pound upgrade which will take Swan Hellenic and Minerva forward into the next era.

From the onboard environment to inspiring itineraries, and from our knowledgeable reservations team to our European ship's officers and attentive crew, we are committed to providing you with the ultimate discovery cruise experience.

You will travel with like-minded people and as you share the experiences of your voyage, you may find acquaintances turn into lasting friendships. Your cruise will be further enriched by the presence of distinguished guest speakers drawn from the diplomatic, media and academic worlds. Their insightful presentations and the more informal conversations you can enjoy in the Darwin Lounge will really bring our destinations to life.

Highlights of this cruise:

Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a city steeped in history with an impressive cast of characters from maritime heroes to literary giants. From its humble beginnings as a Saxon fishing village, Portsmouth developed into a military garrison town and then into the home of one of the most powerful sea-borne fighting forces in history. 2005 will see the opening of a new, contemporary, national icon based on the south coast, providing a unique 'window on the sea'

At the heart of the city is Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Here you can explore Lord Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory and tour Queen Victoria's battleship, HMS Warrior 1860. You can see Henry Vlll's Mary Rose and trace the history of the Royal Navy at the Royal Naval Museum. Then come right up to date with "Action Stations" an interactive attraction on today's navy.

Other attractions include Charles Dickens' birthplace, the D-Day Museum featuring the Overlord Embroidery, Southsea Castle, the Royal Marines Museum, and Portsmouth Cathedral.

Southsea, Portsmouth's own resort area offers four miles of beach and promenade, including gardens and piers. You can take an undersea safari at the Blue Reef Aquarium or splash around at the Pyramids with their fun pools, flumes and waves.

At the harbour entrance lies Gunwharf Quays, a world-class waterfront shopping and leisure development. Spinnaker Tower is also situated here. This is a striking new attraction soaring 170m into the air and offering spectacular views over the south coast.

If you want to shop then Portsmouth City Centre and Southsea offer an excellent selection of shops from high street names to independent retailers.

Tallinn
Tallin, Estonia's capital city, is located at the north-eastern extremity of Europe on the shores of the Baltic Sea. It has been hailed as the 'New Prague', though it is more compact and easier to get around.Tallinn's old town is very pretty, all cobblestones, castles and church spires with an eye-catching smorgasbord of medieval and baroque architecture.

On the fringes of the old town, a new district is emerging with gleaming new hotels and offices as Estonia celebrates the EU membership it attained in 2004. Half the fun in Tallinn is just walking around the old town streets viewing the layers of history with Russian orthodox churches, Dominican monasteries, old merchant houses and medieval meeting halls. In Tallinn art and culture are taken very seriously and there is a fun filled local nightlife scene.

St Petersburg
Situated in the west, on the Baltic Sea, St Petersburg is a city of magnificent palaces and elaborate churches in grandiose Baroque and neo-classical designs. Highlights include Trezzini's gold-spired landmark of St Peter and St Paul, the bright color, domes and gold of the Church on Spilled Blood and the carved and gilded extravaganza of St Isaac's Cathedral. On Nevsky prospekt, St Petersburg's main thoroughfare, the styles of three centuries, from classical to Baroque to Style Moderne, have created one of the most beautiful streets in the world.

Adding to the beauty of the buildings are the canals and rivers, which cross Nevsky prospect and have been compared to Venice. The winding waterways lead to the broad River Neva, at the heart of St Petersburg. Although the capital moved to Moscow after the revolution, St Petersburg is certainly Russia's first city in terms of beauty. It is also the center for classical culture - from opera to ballet to music - with historic venues, such as the Mariinsky Theater.