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November 30, 2020

Swan Hellenic and Tillberg Design of Sweden have released a virtual video tour so you can discover in advance the new ship under construction by the 5-star expedition company, currently being built in the Helsinki Shipyard.

Fredrik Johansson, a Tillberg partner and the Executive Project Director, noted that: “Defining a new generation of expedition ships for the legendary company Swan Hellenic was for us incredibly stimulating and gratifying. We are doing our best to repay the trust placed in us during the entire project planning, working closely with a team that, although they have a very clear vision of the iconic brand, gave us total creative freedom.”

The video begins with us returning on board the Minerva after an excursion on a zodiac boat. The first thing that you can see is, therefore, the changing room of the Basecamp concierge service, where guests are helped to remove the expedition gear to be cleaned and sterilized to avoid cross contamination. However, this is also a place to socialize with a coffee before or after the expedition, relaxing among the characteristic furnishings, with natural textures and light colors. Walking through the large reception area with clean and decisive lines, you enter into the luminous vortex of the main staircase, with sunlight filtering through the wall’s geometric wooden slats.

Arriving to the Swan Restaurant, with its many choices for seating and its spectacular panoramic windows, you can enjoy the same ambiance of natural wood and warm natural materials. But they have a surprise waiting for you: with changes to the lighting and furniture, the environment transforms from the rich casual comfort for the day into a sophisticated venue for dinner.

The next stop is the Observation Lounge, at the heart of the ship. The enormous windows with chrome, the overstuffed chairs and couches make guests feel like they are outside and inside the room at the same time. The lounge offers a variety of places to sit, including the welcoming little corners tucked away both inside and outside, and also has a large LED screen for conferences, a piano as well as pop-us screens for entertainment and multiple other uses.

Next you take a break at the Club Lounge, where elegant food is served 24 hours a day, with cozy seating and a holographic fireplace surrounded by panoramic vistas. The tour continues on to the outside Pool Bar and Grill. Here you can admire the heated infinity pool, while the wide open outside decks allow the cultural expedition guests of the Swan Hellenic to actually immerse themselves in the landscapes that they are visiting.

We move on, therefore, to the splendid panoramic sauna and outdoor whirlpool tub, where it is possible to enjoy the wonders of a warm steam bath and an indulgent massage while surrounded by the arctic panorama. The moment has arrived to discover the sober elegance of the Balcony Stateroom or Suite, a modern medley of pastel colors, natural textures, hi-tech entertainment and multiple options for lighting for any mood, lit by a holographic fireplace that warms the atmosphere.

The video is able to transport you aboard, to take in the luxurious and relaxing atmosphere, surrounded by unique landscapes that frame every one of the Swan Hellenic trips. “The keynotes of the interiors of Scandinavian design that we have created are the sophisticated elegance and the comfort, without ever forgetting that with Swan Hellenic the attention is always aimed at the extraordinary outdoor panoramas. For this we designed all the interiors to create a seamless connection with the outside world,” explains Iina Forsblom, the director of Tillberg Cruise Newbuild.

The Swan Hellenic CEO, Andrea Zito, has also expressed his satisfaction underlining the style of the company and its imprint on cultural cruising where nature, knowledge and incredible comfort come together for a truly extraordinary experience. “We are enthusiastic about the way in which these projects came together, creating unique experiences that honor the cultural patrimony of the Swan Hellenic cultural expeditions and at the same time bring them up-to-date – in terms of comfort, service and above all vision – transforming the paradigm of the classic cruise ship into a world of comfort and casual elegance that faces outwards toward the exterior to see what others don’t see.”

All that’s left to do is to enjoy, for the moment only virtually, this new class of ship which promises true innovation, style and fabulous itineraries. Beginning in 2021, this will become reality and it will be possible to see up close for yourself this new product which has already sparked wide interest.

Information about Swan Hellenic, advice, offers and Reviews available on Cruising Journal.

Gabriele Bassi

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