Swan Hellenic has sailed in with a rescue plan for passengers left high and dry by Hebridean International's decision to sell Hebridean Spirit.
It is offering past Spirit passengers, or those currently booked, a past-passenger 5% discount off 2009/10 cruises on Minerva and Swan's Danube river programme.
Minerva is currently on a Cape to Cape cruise - sailing from Cape Horn to the Cape of Good Hope. On March 25 it leaves Cape Town for a 20-day cruise to Kenya, then sails from Kenya to Aqaba, through the Suez Canal and across the top of Africa, visiting Alexandria and Libya. In fact it will be there just a few days after I should have been! The ship will then start its Mediterranean and Northern Europe season.
Like Hebridean, Swan offers free excursions at every port and gratuities are included in the price; however, Minerva is bigger than Spirit and it's not all-inclusive so Spirit passengers will find they have to pay for drinks.
You can get details at the website or call reservations on 0845 017 1806.
Jane Archer
