14 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.

Tobermory
Tobermory is the largest settlement on the Isle of Mull, the fourth largest island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It lies on the east coast towards the northern end of the island and is a favourite tourist spot with its many coloured buildings.

Mull is a ruggedly beautiful place which is a popular destination for tourists, with its attractive villages and mountains. There are castles to visit for those wanting a more relaxing time. It is accessible by ferry from Oban, Lochaline, or Kilchoan.

Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town on the island of Anglesey and is perhaps known best for being a busy ferry port. However, the town also has a number of interesting attractions and is a bustling shopping and visitors area.

Around Holyhead there is excellent fishing, golfing and, of course, sailing facilities. There is wonderful scenery, walks and beaches and there are a number of both historic and prehistoric sites to explore close-by.

The maritime museum in Holyhead and South Stack Lighthouse are well worth a visit.

St Peter Port
St Peter Port is the capital of Guernsey and has been described as the Channel Island's most beautiful town. It is located in the Channel Islands southeast of the English Channel. Guernsey is a lush garden of flowers and vegetables, with about 300 miles of roads and lanes. The island has retained its natural beauty and the coastline has remained unspoilt. Dotted around the island you will see occasional crumbling ruins, and herds of the golden Guernsey cows.

St. Peter Port is an elegant and charming little town with lines of Regency and Victorian buildings and numerous cobbled streets. Steep stairways and alleyways weave their way up and down between houses and there is a mass of boats in its harbour.

Shopping in St Peter Port is an unmissable experience. Electronic and photographic equipment, jewellery and perfume are all good, low duty buys, along with wines, spirits and tobacco and of course the famous Guernsey jumper. Small boutiques offer exclusive clothes, shoes and leather goods, whilst the Old Quarter is the place to find antiques.