Scottish agents piped aboard Swan Hellenic's SH Diana

The overnight stop in Leith on 27th July on her inaugural voyage from Norway was the ninth night of a 12-night Sailing with the Vikings expedition for SH Diana, which joined the Swan Hellenic fleet in April 2023 as the third and largest vessel.

The inaugural voyage from Norway for SH Diana traced the legendary routes of the Vikings from Tromsø, though the dramatically narrow Trollfjorden and Lofoten Islands, past the coastal beauty of Brønnøysund, Molde, and Geiranger’s majestic fjords to the UK. SH Diana then sailed to Lerwick on the Shetland Islands and onto Leith. From here the SH Diana continued the voyage to Aberdeen, Newcastle Upon Tyne and Scheveningen in The Hague to its final destination of Amsterdam.

Swan Hellenic UK General Manager Mario Bounas said: “We’re delighted to see SH Diana on her inaugural voyage from Norway to Scotland and for the chance to showcase her elegance and beauty to our valued Scottish travel agent partners and members of the Scottish cruise travel industry as well as UK agents”.

Bryan Bath from Bryton Travel said: “We have been very impressed with the elegant and comfortable interiors, expedition facilities and the exceptional culinary offering on board SH Diana. This was an excellent opportunity for Scottish agents to experience and ultimately sell expedition cruises to their clients.”

Leith-based travel agent Jimmy, Martin from Jimmy Martin Travel said: “Everything was right, the ship was beautiful and a surprise to us for such a superior level being an expedition ship. Sunshine was on Leith, the group was just fab, made some lovely new friends and the food, well I think I tasted the whole menu, was incredible. I don’t think it will be too long before we are back on board and rest assured, we will get the staff told, Swan Hellenic is the way to go”.

Joanne Martin from Love to Travel said:  “We had the chance to step aboard a Swan Hellenic ship. The dining is sensational, the finish immaculate and the staff extremely friendly and helpful. This is something I know my clients will love!”