Cultural and Lecture Holiday Operators

Specialist Reports Special Interest Holidays Cultural and Lecture Holiday Operators Swan Hellenic 

	Swan Hellenic
77 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1PP			MAP
tel: (020) 7800 2200

Part of the P&O stable. For family cruises the educational tag has been dropped in favour of describing the holidays as discoveries, and lectures are renamed talks.

Recommendations

Offering young people's cruises for under 26s billed as ‘a cruise for the whole family where everyone is happy. an exciting blend of discovery and relaxation - a good introduction to Swan Hellenic'. The cruises are in the summer holidays and planned with pick and mix options to appeal to the range of age groups.
The two options for 2001 are a fortnight from Palma to Venice, or a week as far as Naples, or a week from Naples on to Venice; or a fortnight from Venice to Istanbul again with the option of just a week as far as Athens or from Athens onwards. There are the usual talks - on anything from the way in which the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas have shaped Italian history and identity, to marine life in the Mediterranean and the importance of shark and turtle conservation. There are also activities like jigsaws in the library and included in the activities is a chance to snorkel at all ports. Crew members are also expected to cater particularly to younger clients with one waiter reported to perform magic tricks while others organise shore games of basketball with teens. There are later departures from ports or overnight calls to cater to families seeking a little more independence than Swan's traditional, older clients.

Sample Price

Per adult in an outside cabin for 11 nights from £1,135, for eight nights from £1,680. There is a 50% discount on under 26s travelling with full fare passengers and sharing a cabin.