Swan Hellenic’s new vessel, the “SH DIANA”, was launched at the Helsinki Shipyard. The final stage of construction is underway, and the ship is expected to enter service on April 15th from Italy. Construction of the ship started in June 2021, and sea trials will be conducted in March.
The SH DIANA is the largest ship in the Swan Hellenic fleet, with a gross tonnage of 12,100 and a length of 410 feet. It can accommodate 192 passengers and has a crew of 141. The new ship is 15% larger than other expedition cruise vessels in the Swan Hellenic fleet, such as the SH MINERVA and the SH VEGA. It has been built to the Polar Class 6 classification, as opposed to the older vessels which were built to Polar Class 5 for strengthened hulls to break the ice.
The SH DIANA is powered by a diesel-electric power plant and has been designed to have an endurance of 40 days and 8,000 nautical miles. It features three dining venues, a library, a club room, a spa, a gym, an outdoor heated pool, and a beauty salon. The accommodation on the ship ranges from 215 square feet of standard staterooms to premium suites of over 500 square feet, with most rooms featuring balconies.
In the past, the main selling point for expedition cruises was the destination, and the amenities on the cruise ships were basic. However, this has changed in recent years with the rise of luxury in the expedition cruise market. Over the past five years, more than 40 cruise ships have been launched in this segment of the cruise industry.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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