A Cruise Like No Other: Sailing from PH to Japan on an Expedition Vessel

The SH Minerva had already made stops in other places in the Philippines by the time she eased into the Eva Macapagal pier in Manila in early May. It was the cruise ship’s first ever visit to the country, after having come from islands in Indonesia on the Asia Pacific leg of its 2026 sailing season. The ship owned and operated by Swan Hellenic dropped anchor in Casulian Island in Surigao del Norte; Baclayon Port in Bohol, Digyo in Inopacan, Leyte; and Romblon before ending its “Raja Ampat and Philippines: The Last Paradise on Earth” itinerary in Manila.

Manila was the takeoff point of the next leg of the cruise, which included stops in Hundred Islands in Pangasinan, Vigan in Ilocos Sur, and two islands in Batanes (Batan and Sabtang) before moving further north to Japan’s southern islands and ending in Hiroshima. Cruise officials designed the leg for passengers eager to explore this part of East and Southeast Asia, combining excursions to remote tropical islands with meaningful spiritual and cultural experiences.

And it all happens aboard a vessel that allows its guests to “see what others don’t”—a tagline and promise that takes the cruising experience to a whole new level.

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SH Minerva is one of the three boutique ships of cruise company Swan Hellenic. (The other two are SH Vega and SH Diana). Built in 2021, SH Minerva is an ice-class expedition vessel designed to operate in areas that experience extreme climates, from the polar regions with heavy ice conditions to tropical waters. Swan Hellenic itself was first established in the 1950s and operated until the mid-2000s until it was acquired by bigger companies and discontinued. It made a comeback with a new fleet of ships in 2020.

Swan Hellenic sets itself apart from other cruise companies by focusing on “cultural expedition cruising.” This means its cruises are built around more mindful and “intellectual exploration,” with onboard lectures by academics, historians, and scientists to help passengers understand more deeply the cultural, historical, and even ecological contexts surrounding the destinations rather than purely entertainment-driven experiences. While SH vessels make regular visits to the polar regions, it is relatively smaller and passengers are much fewer compared to the gigantic cruise lines of other companies in the industry. There’s also a strong focus on luxury and sophistication and a return to the “romantic” and “adventure” aspects of ocean travel.

I experienced this myself when I boarded the SH Minerva to join the Manila to Hiroshima sailing, which is a first in the ship’s calendar. I was welcomed by a friendly contingent of cruise staff, many of whom, as expected, were Filipinos. (I would find out later that approximately half a million Filipinos work as seafarers on both cargo and passenger ships vessels, making them the single biggest nationality bloc aboard cruise liners and accounting for 30 percent of the entire global cruise ship industry).

There is a total of 76 staterooms in the SH Minerva and a maximum capacity of only 152 guests. Compare that to the humongous cruise liners that could easily accommodate thousands upon thousands of passengers. The guest cabins are located on three of the nine decks of the ships.

My own room was a balcony suite that had all the trappings of a luxury suite on land: queen-sized bed, a pillow menu, a living area with sofa, vanity and work desk, smart TV with infotainment system, an espresso machine, a minibar, and a private balcony. It also had a really cool electric fireplace that glowed and crackled like the real thing, helping add an even cozier element to the space.

There’s a note that room service is available 24 hours a day, although mealtimes at the ship’s dining lounges are can’t-miss affairs—fine dining at the main restaurant at Deck 4, and more casual eats at the Club Lounge & Bar and the Pool Bar and Grill, both of which are on Deck 7. On the same floor, there’s also an Observation Lounge, which is tastefully decorated in comfortable chairs and couches that have panoramic ocean views. This is also where the lectures of the professors and academics are held.

We departed Manila at dusk, with the gentle waves lulling me to sleep. By morning, we were in Pangasinan, in calm waters near the famed Hundred Islands. We disembarked to waiting Zodiacs, or the rubber-hulled vessels that could ferry small groups to shore, in the absence of an appropriate port.

It was the same the next day at the Salomangue Port in Cabugao, the nearest to Ilocos Sur’s capital of Vigan, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and again the next day at Batan port in Batanes. The treasures of the destination towns on terra firma we visited were all prefaced with a short adventure ride on the Zodiacs.

Every night, there was a choice to attend lectures that spanned topics from World War 2 history to the secrets of orchids, get a coffee and snacks at the club lounge, or simply chill on the balcony chair with a book, and occasionally gazing out into the epically vast ocean. I spent my time doing a variation of all three.

With fewer than 100 guests on this leg of the cruise, it became easy to identify and establish a rapport with the fellow guests. I saw them in the hallways, took elevator rides with them up to the lounge or down to the disembarkation points, and, even, on occasion, shared meals with them at the restaurants. The passengers were an interesting mix:  young honeymooners, retirees enjoying leisure time away from their routine lives at home, and even solo travelers determined to see the world at their own leisurely pace.

There was one full day at sea after SH Minerva left Philippine territory and entered international waters. I had time to explore the ship further; going for a swim in the dipping pool on Deck 7, checking out the selection at the library on Deck 3, and admiring the view at Deck 6’s Swan’s Nest, which is an outdoor observation platform with 180-degree views of the open water. Lunch was themed and there was always something for all types of tastes (it was Mediterranean cuisine that day, prepared by the executive chef, who is Filipino). I spent the afternoon in the near-empty Club Lounge with a steaming cup of café latte and a book.

Dinner was at the main restaurant, whose menu is also changed daily, although there are a few dishes that are always available. It comes with unlimited wine or cocktails, and ice cream for dessert that’s off-menu, but which the waitstaff is more than happy to procure for those craving it.

The ship also offers relatively stable internet, so guests don’t miss out on communicating with loved ones, or just want to catch up on their movies or TV series.

The first stop in Japan was Miyakojima, known for its fine textiles that are turned into exquisite kimonos, and a variety of sea salt that is prized the world over. Being near the southern tip of Japan’s Okinawa prefecture, it is also known for its white sandy beaches, bannered by Toguchi no Hama, whose fine powdery white sand can rival nearly any beach in the Philippines.

Every day after that was like a practical, real-world lesson in culture and history. One day we were hiking up a slop toward Shuri Castle, which was the seat of kings in the Okinawa empire of ancient Japan, the next we were admiring the artworks of famed Japanese artist Tanaka Isson at a dedicated museum beside a cultural center in the island of Amami. It helped that all the shore excursions on this sailing were already included in the cruise price.

On Day 8, we once again set off by Zodiac toward a definite highlight of the trip: a walking tour of the tiny fishing village of Sakitsu on the island of Amakusa. With a population of less than 500, it’s perhaps best-known for its history of Christian residents who worshipped in secret back when Christianity was illegal in Japan. The next stop—Kagoshima—was also a highlight for its stunning views of an active volcano right across the bay, as was the town of Uwajima, with its nearly perfectly preserved castle from the 1600s on top of a hill overlooking the city.

On our final evening aboard the SH Minerva, we celebrated with a grand buffet feast in the open-air part of Deck 7 beside the pool that featured some of the best cuisine that we had over the course of 11 days. Our small group toasted to the journey that we had just gone through together, onboard a ship that showed us that cruising doesn’t just have to be all about merriment and excess (although there’s certainly nothing wrong with that if that is what you’re looking for); it can be about decelerating, and going on a thoughtful exploration of new spots on the map, or discovering unique features on paths we may have previously walked on.

While I’ve been on my share of cruise ships in the past, sailing on the SH Minerva offered a valuable new perspective on the experience. It took me to places I didn’t even know about and would not have otherwise even bothered to look into. It made me more aware of the places I would visit, the people I would meet, and sometimes even the food I would eat. Most of all, it reminded me that traveling isn’t just about simply seeing the world, but attempting to understand it and cultivating an even greater appreciation for it.

Executive Resources Inc. serves as the official General Sales Agent (GSA) for Swan Hellenic in the Philippines. For booking inquiries and reservations, contact 0917 578 1642. Address: 5F The Pilgrims' Center, 758 P. Ocampo Street, Malate, Manila. Email [email protected]