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Pekka Vyhtinen (CC BY 4.0)
Home › Cruise Lines › Swan Hellenic › SH Minerva

SH Minerva

35 upcoming departures  ·  23 itineraries

SH Minerva is a 152-guest Swan Hellenic expedition ship, in service since 2021. This page lists 35 upcoming departures across 23 itineraries in Asia, day by day and port by port. Its live AIS position is plotted on the map below and refreshed through the day.

✓ Small-ship expedition travelers ✓ Guests who value lectures and destination learning ✓ Travelers wanting balconies on most cabins
Class Vega class polar expedition ship, PC5 ice class
Built 2021
Gross Tonnage 10,617
Guests 152
Crew 117
Length 113.5 m
Beam 24.3 m
Decks 9
Cabins 76
Max speed 14.0 kn
Flag Liberia
Guests per crew 1.3
Space ratio 70

SH Minerva at a glance

Ship size

Bigger than 46%

A small ship at 10,617 gross tons — #304 of 565 ships we track. 70 tons of ship per guest.

Best for

  • Small-ship expedition travelers
  • Guests who value lectures and destination learning
  • Travelers wanting balconies on most cabins
  • Passengers seeking included wellness facilities
  • Scenic-viewing enthusiasts

Think twice if you want

  • Families seeking kids clubs
  • Travelers wanting large theater productions
  • Guests needing extensive accessible public areas
  • Passengers preferring many specialty restaurants
  • Travelers wanting a large casino or nightlife scene

Live Position ● 55 minutes ago

Heading to: Papeete
9.0 knots

Position via AIS — updated periodically, not real-time.

About SH Minerva

SH Minerva is a compact boutique expedition ship designed for cultural and polar exploration. Built in Helsinki and delivered in 2021, the 152-guest vessel combines a PC5 ice-strengthened hull with Scandinavian-style interiors, extensive outdoor viewing areas and dedicated expedition equipment. Its small scale supports an intimate onboard atmosphere, while the high staff-to-guest ratio provides attentive service. Guests can expect scenic observation spaces, expedition briefings, flexible landing operations and comfortable accommodation focused on remote-destination discovery rather than large-ship resort entertainment.

Ship at a Glance

Operator
Swan Hellenic Expeditions
Builder / shipyard
Helsinki Shipyard Oy, Finland
Registry / flag
Liberia (confirmed by the ship’s AIS identity)
Call sign
5LYP6
IMO number
9895240
MMSI
636093399
Draft
5.7 m
Previous names
Vega 1; NB516

Onboard Experience

Signature highlights

A PC5 ice-strengthened hull, extra-large stabilizers, extensive outdoor viewing areas and dedicated expedition facilities support voyages in remote and polar regions. The ship also has a panoramic observation lounge and a small-ship atmosphere.

Pools, spa & wellness

Facilities include a panoramic sauna, open-deck jacuzzi, infinity pool, gym, spa and beauty salon.

Environmental features

The vessel uses diesel-electric propulsion with selective catalytic reduction, exhaust-gas cleaning, advanced wastewater treatment and dedicated waste-storage facilities. Its design supports extended autonomy of up to 40 days or 8,000 nautical miles and was prepared for future battery technology.

Deck plans

3456789

Venues Cabins only Both · Tap a deck to see what's on it

Deck 3

Marina Zodiac Boarding Base Camp Library Clinic Beauty Salon Expedition Lab

Cabins & suites

Oceanview 21% Balcony 71% Suite 8%
CategoryTypeCabinsSizeBalconySleepsDecks
Oceanview StateroomSold under the Oceanview category; one stateroom is designated accessible. Oceanview 16 205 sq ft — 2 4
Balcony StateroomIncludes the D5, M5 and D6 booking codes. Balcony 54 300 sq ft 65 sq ft 2 5, 6
SuiteTwo-room Balcony Suite category. Suite 4 470 sq ft 130 sq ft 2 5, 6
Premium SuiteTwo-room Premium Suite with terrace. Suite 2 525 sq ft 130 sq ft 2 6

Dining, bars & venues

12 included 3 extra cost in the fare, by the line's own published policy.

Dining

Swan Restaurant Varies
Deck 4
The ship's principal dining room serving included meals, with some premium dining and drinks charged separately.
Pool Bar & Grill Varies
Deck 7
Outdoor casual dining and beverage venue beside the swimming pool.
Club Lounge Varies
Deck 7
Casual lounge and dining venue serving snacks, light meals and beverages.

Bars & lounges

Bar Varies
Deck 7
Bar serving beverages in the Observation Lounge area.

Where SH Minerva sails, month by month

Oct
26
Nov
26
Dec
26
Jan
27
Feb
27
Mar
27
Apr
27
May
27
Jun
27
Jul
27
Aug
27
Sep
27
Asia 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 2 0 0 0
Antarctica 0 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Departures per month over the next 12 months, from the cruise line's published schedule.

Ports it visits most

Explore This Ship

Jump from SH Minerva sailings into the broader destination network with cruise line and region hub pages.

Itineraries & Sailings

10 Nights

Antarctic Peninsula Odyssey cruise

Ports of Call
Next: Dec 17, 2026
3 upcoming departures
9 Nights

Antarctic Wonders: roundtrip cruise from Ushuaia

Ports of Call
Next: Nov 11, 2026
3 upcoming departures
17 Nights

Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia roundtrip cruise

Ports of Call
Next: Jan 6, 2027
1 upcoming departure
13 Nights

Cruising the Pacific Islands: New Caledonia, Vanuatu & Solomon Islands

Ports of Call
Next: Mar 21, 2027
2 upcoming departures
10 Nights

East Asia Expedition: From the Wild North to Hiroshima’s Heritage

Ports of Call
Next: Oct 3, 2028
1 upcoming departure
11 Nights

Expedition to Antarctica: Weddell Sea cruise

Ports of Call
Next: Jan 23, 2027
1 upcoming departure
18 Nights

In Shackleton's Footsteps: Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula

Ports of Call
Next: Nov 20, 2026
2 upcoming departures
11 Nights

Japan and Korea cruise: Cultural Shores and Northern Landscapes

Ports of Call
Next: Jun 19, 2027
2 upcoming departures
11 Nights

Kyushu and Beyond: Sacred Shores of Japan

Ports of Call
Next: Jun 7, 2028
1 upcoming departure
All 23 itineraries and their departure dates

All Upcoming Departures

Departure Return Itinerary Nights Region Book
Nov 11, 2026Nov 20, 2026Antarctic Wonders: roundtrip cruise from Ushuaia9AntarcticaBook →
Nov 20, 2026Dec 8, 2026In Shackleton's Footsteps: Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula18AntarcticaBook →
Dec 17, 2026Dec 27, 2026Antarctic Peninsula Odyssey cruise10AntarcticaBook →
Jan 6, 2027Jan 23, 2027Antarctica, the Falklands and South Georgia roundtrip cruise17AntarcticaBook →
Jan 23, 2027Feb 3, 2027Expedition to Antarctica: Weddell Sea cruise11AntarcticaBook →
Feb 3, 2027Mar 8, 2027Ultimate Antarctica Adventure from Ushuaia to Dunedin33AntarcticaBook →
Mar 8, 2027Mar 21, 2027New Zealand in Depth13AsiaBook →
Mar 21, 2027Apr 3, 2027Cruising the Pacific Islands: New Caledonia, Vanuatu & Solomon Islands13AsiaBook →
Apr 3, 2027Apr 16, 2027Solomon Islands Secrets: cruise from Guadalcanal to the Sepik River13AsiaBook →
Apr 16, 2027Apr 26, 2027Raja Ampat & Cenderawasih Bay Expedition: Indonesia's Coral Triangle10AsiaBook →
May 7, 2027May 18, 2027Paradise Passage: from the Philippines to Raja Ampat11AsiaBook →
May 18, 2027May 29, 2027Raja Ampat & Cenderawasih Bay Expedition: Indonesia’s Coral Triangle11AsiaBook →
May 29, 2027Jun 9, 2027Raja Ampat and Philippines: The Last Paradise on Earth11AsiaBook →
Jun 9, 2027Jun 19, 2027Pearls of the Pacific: Exploring the Philippines and Japan10AsiaBook →
Jun 19, 2027Jun 30, 2027Japan and Korea cruise: Cultural Shores and Northern Landscapes11AsiaBook →
Nov 21, 2027Nov 30, 2027Antarctic Wonders: roundtrip cruise from Ushuaia9AntarcticaBook →
Nov 30, 2027Dec 18, 2027In Shackleton's Footsteps: Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula18AntarcticaBook →
Dec 18, 2027Dec 28, 2027Antarctic Peninsula Odyssey cruise10AntarcticaBook →
Jan 7, 2028Jan 17, 2028Antarctic Peninsula Odyssey cruise10AntarcticaBook →
Jan 17, 2028Jan 26, 2028Roundtrip cruise to Antarctica from Ushuaia9AntarcticaBook →
Jan 26, 2028Feb 4, 2028Antarctic Wonders: roundtrip cruise from Ushuaia9AntarcticaBook →
Feb 4, 2028Mar 8, 2028Ultimate Antarctica Adventure from Ushuaia to Dunedin33AntarcticaBook →
Mar 8, 2028Mar 21, 2028New Zealand in Depth13AsiaBook →
Mar 21, 2028Apr 3, 2028Cruising the Pacific Islands: New Caledonia, Vanuatu & Solomon Islands13AsiaBook →

Showing the next 24 of 35 departures. Every itinerary and its dates are listed under All itineraries above.

SH Minerva FAQ

What flag does SH Minerva sail under?

SH Minerva is registered in Liberia.

How many passengers does SH Minerva hold?

SH Minerva carries about 152 guests with roughly 117 crew.

How old is SH Minerva?

SH Minerva entered service in 2021.

How big is SH Minerva?

At 10,617 gross tons and 114 m long, SH Minerva is a small ship — larger than 46% of the 565 cruise ships cruises.to tracks.

What is the dress code on SH Minerva?

Dress is relaxed and casual, including during dinner. Formal eveningwear is not required.

Which dining venues are included?

Meals at Swan Restaurant, Club Lounge and Pool Bar & Grill are included, along with 24-hour room service. Premium drinks, reserve wines and selected special dining experiences may cost extra.

Are gratuities included?

Onboard gratuities are included in Swan Hellenic's standard expedition fare.

Is Wi-Fi included on SH Minerva?

Entry-level Wi-Fi is included. Upgraded connectivity packages may be available for an additional charge.

Is SH Minerva accessible for wheelchair users?

The ship has one accessible Oceanview Stateroom and elevators serving the passenger decks except the Stargazing Deck. The Marina and Swan's Nest can be difficult to access, and Zodiac transfers depend on conditions and individual mobility.

Does SH Minerva have kids facilities?

The ship does not have a dedicated kids club or dedicated children's facilities. Children may be accepted under Swan Hellenic's age and voyage-specific rules.