From On Board: SH Minerva in Melanesia; Enriching journeys

#expeditioncruising .

One of the hallmarks of expedition cruising is enrichment, and to this end, Swan Hellenic, via Expedition Operations Manager Jane Wilson, has assembled a stellar cast of lecturers and supporting staff to deliver a series of talks that help us interpret both the human and natural environment in which we're travelling. 

Stand out performers in this regard – for me at least – are Prof Brent, who brings the gnarly subject of volcanology to life, and Dr Jacquie (pic above), who has highlighted some of the mysteries of human migration from Asia to the South Pacific. Capt Frank went into detail about the WWII activity in this region (of which there is heaps) and Conrad and Chris talked about birds and plants. Dannii, meanwhile, relived her passion for marine animals of all shapes and sizes.

Jane Wilson

Ever since my first expedition cruise back in 1998, I've relished learning from these gifted educators and raconteurs. Everything from geology, geography, history and biology to photography, art and ornithology. It's a feast for the inquisitive mind, and when coupled with guided excursions in these highly unusual locations, the experience is complete.

I confess that when a new player enters the cut-and-thrust of the expedition cruising market, I am often cynical about their understanding of what the client expects and whether they have sufficient grasp of the complexities of operating in this sector. Fielding ships in the expedition cruising market is not for the faint-hearted. The list of failed cruise lines is long and likely to grow longer as the world faces geopolitical, environmental and financial challenges, but I am delighted to find that Swan Hellenic Expeditions, helmed by the immensely experienced Jane Wilson, has the goods for delivering an outstanding experience under often challenging circumstances. 

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