The pioneering company’s 2027 Asia-Pacific Season has been expanded from five to ten cultural expedition voyages rich in discovery, from coral paradises to inspiring sites of centuries-old history and famous battle sites of the Second World War.
The big news is the addition of two New Zealand voyages at the beginning of the season and deep exploration of Japan at the end, including two entirely new voyages that each feature a visit to Busan in the Republic of Korea.
In New Zealand, spectacular fjords and raw nature, Wellington’s panoramic Mount Victoria Forest with its magical film locations and deep insights into Maori culture, and Aukland, home to the Weta Workshop special effects studio, famous for its blockbuster films and film locations for the Lord of the Rings.
From Vanuatu, where Champagne Beach on Espiritu Santo Island is naturally infused with carbon dioxide rising from the seabed, making the water fizz like champagne, continue to the Solomon Islands to experience vibrant Melanesian cultures, inspiring landscapes and World War II sites, including the bunkers, guns and sunken ships of Honiara.
In Papua New Guinea, the tunnels, shelters and bunkers of a Japanese World War II base in volcanic Rabaul, a swim in the coral-rich waters of Kimbe Bay and snorkelling in the sunken caldera of Garove Island.
A further standout is Kopar Village at the mouth of the isolated Sepik River, which has always been rich in saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, making them sacred in the local culture. Boys here undergo one of the toughest initiation rites in Melanesia, having hundreds of scars carved into their skin to depict the reptiles.
"We’re proud to be more than doubling the number of our cultural expedition voyages in the Asia-Pacific for 2027, following SH Minerva's debut success, we're meeting exceptional demand” says Swan Hellenic Chief Commercial Officer Mario Bounas.
"Our Asia Unlocked offer is a further expression of this commitment, bringing free upgrades to a balcony stateroom and Gold wi-fi for all new bookings completed by November 09, 2026."
