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.

Oslo
Oslo is the capital city of Norway. It is situated on a fjord and is surrounded by forests. It has developed into a thriving city with many restaurants, nightclubs, cafes, shopping complexes and tourist attractions.

Oslo offers some 50 museums and many art galleries. Amongst the internationally known attractions are: the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Viking Ship Museum, the Munch Museum and Holmenkollen.

New attractions in Oslo include the Nobel Peace Centre and the Holocaust Center.

Flam
Flľm is a Norwegian village at the inner end of the Aurlandsfjord, an arm of the Sognefjord. The town is located in the municipality of Aurland, in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. Surrounded by steep mountainsides, roaring waterfalls and deep valleys, this area is a paradise for everyone looking for a one-of-a-kind experience with nature.

Flľm is known for its railway which is widely known as one of the world's most fantastic stretches of railroad. The exciting history of the railway can be learnt by visiting the Flľmsbana Museum in Flľm. Other attractions include the Otternes Farmyard, the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre and the Borgund Stave Church.

Bergen
Bergen is located on the south-western coast of Norway, in the county of Hordaland, in between a group of mountains known as De syv fjell ("the Seven Mountains"). It is recognized as the unofficial capital of the region known as West Norway, and also recognized and marketed as the gateway city to the world famous fjords of Norway.

The oldest part of the city is on the north side of the bay of Vľgen. Here you find Bryggen, a number of old, wooden houses dating from the early 18th century.

A popular tourist attraction is the open air fishmarket on the harbour. Further down you find the main shopping area, rebuilt after a fire in 1916 in art nouveau and functionalism, around the main square Torgalmenningen. Several old quarters of white, wooden houses surround the centre, notably Nordnes, Marken and Sandviken.

Visitors should not miss the ride with the funicular up to Mount Flryen, where one is rewarded with a splendid view over the city and the fabled seven mountains.