PHOTO: Swan Hellenic's Minerva. (Courtesy of Swan Hellenic)

Swan Hellenic has always sought out those specialist Guest Speakers who can explain the past and illuminate the future and who enjoy sharing their unique insights with Swan passengers. Among those travelling on Minerva for the first time in 2014 are:

General Sir David Richards, the former Chief of the UK Defence Staff and principal military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and Government. Sir David will be one of the Guest Speakers on From Petra to Oman (5 – 20 November 2014). With extensive operational experience in many parts of the world including the Arabian Peninsula, it will be fascinating to hear his insights into contemporary issues facing this region.

Miss Rosie Atkins launched Gardens Illustrated magazine in 1992 and is a former Curator of London’s Chelsea Physic Garden. A current Member of the RHS Council, she will be speaking about gardens on A Scandinavian Spring (28 April – 9 May 2014), one of our two 2014 RHS partnership cruises, visiting a range of Scandinavia’s gardens at the height of spring.

Miss Joanna Hardy will be well known to viewers of BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. A gemmologist and Liveryman of the Goldsmiths Company, and former senior specialist and auctioneer in the jewellery department of Sotheby’s London, Joanna will be talking about India and the allure of adornment and the love affair between India’s Maharajahs and European Jewellery houses. Joanna is travelling as a Guest Speaker on Indian Exploration.