Swan Hellenic surprised today with the announcement of two extraordinary Grand Voyages, each exploring the West Coast of Africa and beyond in an unforgettable seamless experience.

The first departs Cape Town on 25 March 2026, combining 5 northbound cruises to create a unique 51-night Grand Voyage, sailing the entire West Coast of Africa to Casablanca and on to Lisbon.

The second is an equally remarkable 35-night Grand Voyage sailing south from Lisbon to Luanda from 7 September 2026.

Interest in these exceptional cruises is already very strong, so the message is book early to be sure of your voyage!

Each thoughtfully curated cultural expedition cruise will be enriched by the knowledge of renowned experts and expedition guides, who socialize with the guests on board and take them on extraordinary journeys of discovery. From coastal elephants and unspoiled landscapes of wonder, to forts of the transatlantic slave trade, the lakeside dwellings of Benin, and the pristine Bijagos Archipelago. And from exploring the twisting cobbled streets of ancient medinas to falling in love with Lisbon – Europe’s second oldest capital city after Athens, and winner of best culinary destination in the 2024 World Culinary Awards.

Each Grand Voyage is on the purpose-built boutique ship SH Diana, featuring elegant yet comfortable Scandi-design interiors, extensive outdoor spaces and dedicated expedition facilities. Accommodating 192 guests in 96 staterooms and suites, the majority with large balconies, SH Diana features a state-of-the-art gym, spa, panoramic sauna, club room, swimming pool with poolside grill, and three dining venues: the Swan Restaurant, Club Lounge, and Pool Bar & Grill. In addition – and enriching the experience compared with most expedition ships – there is a dedicated presentation and lecture theatre overlooking the lounge, and on-board Tender boats to take guests ashore in greater comfort than the customary expedition Zodiacs, which are still abundantly present to suit each destination and guest personal preference.

The five northbound cruises in the first half of 2026 range from 7 to 13 nights long and are all still available separately or daisy chained as desired. In chronological order, they are:

The 11-night Cruising in Namibia: the Skeleton Coast, departing Cape Town on 25 March 2026 and arriving in Luanda on 5 April 2026.

The 13-night Southwest Africa Cruise, departing Luanda on 5 April 2026 and arriving in Tema (Accra) on 18 April 2026.

The 13-night Cruise West Africa: The Slavery Coast, departing Tema (Accra) on 18 April and arriving in Dakar on 1 May.

The 7-night Cruise from Senegal to Morocco, departing Dakar on 1 May 2026 and arriving in Casablanca on 8 May 2026.

The 7-night Morocco to Portugal Cruise, departing Casablanca on 8 May 2026 and arriving in Lisbon on 15 May 2026.

The three southbound cruises in the second half of 2026 are:

The 9-night Atlantic Cruise from Portugal to Senegal, departing Lisbon on 7 September 2026 and arriving in Dakar on 16 September.

The 13-night The Slavery Coast: from Senegal to Ghana, departing Dakar on 16 September 2026 and arriving in Tema (Accra) on 29 September 2026.

The 13-night West Africa Cruise from Ghana to Angola, departing Tema (Accra) on 29 September 2026 and arriving in Luanda on 12 October 2026.

Patrizia Iantorno, Chief Commercial Officer of Swan Hellenic, says: “We’re proud and delighted that our expert-designed African cultural expedition cruises have met with such an enthusiastic response. Combining in-depth encounters with pristine nature, extraordinary wildlife and unique cultures, they each offer exceptional experiences. Which is why we’re delighted to respond to guest demand and offer the opportunity to combine them all into unique Grand Voyages of a lifetime for an equally unique price”.

Complete information is available on the Swan Hellenic Website.