Name: Pearls of the Pacific: Exploring the Philippines and Japan SH Minerva 11 Nights
Brand: Swan Hellenic
Availability: InStock

Voyage Overview

Embarkation

Manila

Disembarkation

Hiroshima

Destination Highlight

Asia

About the Ship

Ready to sail and explore in style and comfort? Designed for voyages to far-flung places and remote polar regions, the SH Minerva incorporates stylish, sophisticated interiors with the latest in cruising technology. This elegant 5-star expedition ship has a special PC5 ice-strengthened hull, and extra-large stabilizers, to make sailing with us as smooth as possible.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 - May 27, 2028

Manila

MANILA, the capital city of the Philippines, was founded in, 1571 by Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi. It is one of the oldest cities in the country and was the seat of power for most of the colonial rules of the Philippines. It is situated on the eastern shore of Manila Bay and contains a multitude of landmarks, some of which date back to the 16th century. It is home to the baroque 16th-century San Agustin Church as well as Fort Santiago, a storied citadel and military prison. In the 19th century Manila became one of the most modern cities in Asia. Before the Spanish–American War, Manila saw the rise of the Philippine Revolution. Under the American rule following the Spanish-American War, the United States changed the official language from Spanish to English. Towards the end of World War II, during the Battle of Manila, most of the city was flattened by intensive aerial bombardment. Today, tourism is a vital industry in Manila. Major shopping malls and bazaars thrive around Manila.

Day 2 - May 28, 2028

Hundred Islands National Park

Day 3 - May 29, 2028

Salomague

Day 4 - May 30, 2028

Batanes

Day 4 - May 30, 2028

Batanes

Day 6 - Jun 01, 2028

Naha, Okinawa

Day 7 - Jun 02, 2028

Naze, Amani Oshima

Day 8 - Jun 03, 2028

Yakushima

Yakushima is a round-shaped subtropical island off the southern coast of Kyushu island and part of Kagoshima prefecture. One fifth of this island is designated a Natural World Heritage Site in 1993, and it is covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan’s oldest living trees. The symbol of Yakushima is called Yaku-Sugi, meaning Japanese cedar, which is only used for cedar trees over 1,000 years old. The oldest Yaku-Sugi is considered to be more than 7,000 years old. As a subtropical island with mountains that are nearly 2,000 meters high, Yakushima attracts a lot of rainfall around the year with a local saying that it rains 35 days a month! No matter how the weather is, the walking in the Cedar tree forest is what you cannot miss on this island. You can see many rare plants due to the abundance of water and the changes in temperature at different altitudes. The range of flora is very wide, from coral reef to alpine plants.

Day 9 - Jun 04, 2028

Sakitsu

Day 10 - Jun 05, 2028

Kagoshima

Kagoshima city is the capital of Kagoshima prefecture and also Kyushu’s southernmost major city. This city is often compared to its Italian sister city Naples, due to its’s similarities such as mild climate and active volcano, Sakurajima. Sakurajima is one of the most renowned active volcanos not only in Japan but also in the whole entire world. This smoking Sakurajima is centred in Kinko Bay and is one of the main symbols of this prefecture. We cannot talk about Sakurajima without the history of continuous eruption. Sakurajima used to be an isolated island; however, the land has banded together with Osumi peninsula from the eruption in 1914. You may have a chance to see the smoke coming from the top of Sakurajima depending on the weather condition. Not only does the scenery of Sakurajima represent the beauty of Kagoshima City but Senganen garden is also symbolic to elegance in the Kagoshima region. This Japanese garden was constructed by a feudal lord, Mitsuhisa Shimazu, as a guest house of the Kagoshima castle which attracts many visitors for its splendid view.

Day 11 - Jun 06, 2028

Uwajima

Day 12 - Jun 07, 2028

Hiroshima

History buffs will want to write home Hiroshima. Despite being devastated in 1945, this Japanese city is known to all for its commitment peace – its ruin on the 6th August 1945 led to the end of the war and today, the Peace Memorial (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) , is a constant reminder of the destruction that war brings. A walk in the leafy boulevards of Peace Memorial Park brings quiet contemplation. The Flames of Peace – set in the park’s central feature pond – burn brightly and will continue to do so until all the nuclear bombs I the world have been destroyed. There are many other inspiring messages of hope around the city too; the Children’s’ Peace Monument just north of the park is a homage to little Sadako Sasaki, who was just two in 1945. When she developed leukemia in 1956, she believed that if she folded 1,000 paper cranes – a symbol of longevity and happiness in Japan – she would recover. Sadly she died before she finished her task but her classmates finished the rest. It is impossible to ignore the events of 1945 in Hiroshima, but this is far from a depressing place. The great efforts that have been made in rebuilding of the city over the years have given Hiroshima a vibrant, eclectic edge, with the downtown shopping area and street food stalls being well worth a visit. The proximity to Miyajima and its iconic, impressive, Torii gate should not be overlooked either. If you are lucky enough to visit during the unpredictable and short-lived Sakura (cherry blossom) season, then the extraordinary sight of the delicate pink blossom floating across the water to the red gate, means you can consider yourself one of the luckiest people on the planet.

Stateroom Options

Premium Suite

Premium Suites have a king size bed, separate living room, and flame-effect fireplace. There’s also a luxurious ensuite bathroom – with separate bath tub and shower – walk-in wardrobe, and a 12m2 (129ft2) private balcony.

All In The Details
Your stateroom has a welcome bottle of Champagne, snacks, and a well-stocked minibar. Plus, there’s an Illy espresso coffee machine, tea facilities, smart HDTV, free Wi-fi, personal safe, and a pair of Nikon Prostaff 3S 10x42 binoculars to help you watch out for wildlife!

Spa Time
Your stateroom has a luxurious bathroom, featuring a large sink, and glass-enclosed rain shower. There are high quality Lajatica toiletries, which transform your ensuite into your own personal spa, including hand soap, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion. Plus, there are fluffy bathrobes and bedroom slippers, a hairdryer, and a selection of high quality towels.

Suite

Suites feature a king size bed, and have a separate living room, with a flame-effect fireplace. There’s also a luxurious ensuite bathroom – with separate bath tub and walk-in shower – and a 10m2 (108ft2) private balcony.

Balcony

Balcony Staterooms measure 25m2 (269ft2) – including a 5m2 (54ft2) private balcony – and can accommodate two or three guests. They feature two single beds or a double bed, bedroom with living room area, a flame-effect fireplace and a luxurious bathroom.

Oceanview

Oceanview Staterooms measure 20m2 (215ft2) and can accommodate two guests. They feature two single beds or a double bed, bedroom with living room area, a flame-effect fireplace and a luxurious bathroom.

Included Amenities

Exclusive Bonus: Contact us for exclusive perks available on this sailing.

Gratuities & Tips

Your travel fare already includes the tip and daily service fees.

Therefore, it's not common practice or expected to tip for services rendered onboard our Ships. Many of our guests wish to give special thanks to different parts of our service crew on board. It is always at your sole discretion to honor the service provided by the crew in the bars, restaurants, and staterooms, as well as for the expedition team members. Tipping can be handled, therefore, very individually. But for our guests' convenience, you may contact our guest reception and debit the amount to your onboard account. Monies collected from onboard accounts will be divided equally among all crew members after the cruise. Officers and the Expedition Team are not included in this breakdown.

Starting From

$10,989

per person

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Trip Summary

Ship Name SH Minerva

Departure Date May 27, 2028

Duration 11 Nights

Offer ID 1686303999

Ship Facts

Built 2021

Guests 158

Crew 122