Swan Hellenic reborn, revealed as the owner of two expedition newbuilds on order at Helsinki Shipyard

A new management team led by Silversea/V.Ships Leisure veteran Andrea Zito has bought the Swan Hellenic brand from G Adventures, which acquired the rights in early in 2017 after Swan Hellenic, part of the All Leisure Group, ceased trading.

Each newbuild, originally reported by the yard for Vodohod Ltd, will cater to 152 passengers and 120 crew. The first ship is planned to sail for Antarctica in November 2021. The second will enter service in April 2022.

Pioneering cultural expedition cruising

‘I am proud to announce the rebirth of Swan Hellenic, a pioneering, iconic travel brand with the mission to be the leader in cultural expedition cruising,' said Zito, CEO.

The new Swan Hellenic retains its British heritage whilst being international in outlook, he said. It is 'aimed at the traveller who wishes to explore, experience and enrich whilst the infinite beauty of the world and its inhabitants in a safe and sustainable way.’

Family brand

Zito added, ‘Swan Hellenic was always a family brand and we want to continue along the same line by inviting all cruise industry partners to become part of the new Swan Hellenic community.’

The company will launch with offices in Monaco, the UK and Germany, to start.

The senior management team has more than 100 years of cruise industry experience and is led in the UK by John Warner (G Adventures/Trailfinders) and Mario Bounas (Royal Caribbean/The Langham), Alfredo Spadon in Germany (Silversea/MSC) and Zito in the Monaco headquarters.

More information will be disclosed in the coming weeks but, for now, Zito concluded: ‘We are back and we’re bigger and bolder than ever.’