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A culture of care for people and planet

A tradition focused on the future

Swan Hellenic cares deeply about our planet’s rich environmental and cultural heritage. It’s a core part of who we are and how we live, sharing life-changing experiences with our guests as we explore the world’s wild places, diverse cultures and ancient civilizations. So, we’re determined to preserve this rich heritage for future generations, investing in sustainability both for immediate impact and in the spirit of the Ancient Greek proverb:

A society grows great when old men plant trees
in whose shade they know they will never sit

The environmental and social challenges humanity faces today are of unprecedented scale and complexity. We take targeted concrete action to address them whether operating independently, with trusted partners or our guests.

Going above and beyond stringent industry standards

Shipping is the only industry to have strictly enforced global standards governing its safety, environmental and labour aspects. These standards are set by a United Nations agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and incorporated into national legislation for enforcement by the relevant government authorities.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has developed additional voluntary standards which go beyond them, including in respect of grey water discharge.

Swan Hellenic’s sustainability policies are fully compliant with and exceed these already high requirements as well as the more stringent standards set by certain local authorities in specific areas. In addition, a series of our sustainability policies extend beyond the scope of the IMO standards. This makes a Swan Hellenic cultural expedition cruise one of the most sustainable choices for anyone looking to explore our beautiful planet.

Our Focus Areas

Swan Hellenic’s sustainability policies, actions and alliances aim to address the complex interlinked challenges our planet faces today. So, while we describe them here for the sake of clarity in relation to six distinct focus areas and the related United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, our initiatives themselves frequently impact several in synergy.

Most of our actions are naturally related to our own operations, but several also see us enabling our guests to join us in contributing to conservation and climate research during their cultural expedition cruises.



Proud member of

Sustainable progress can only be built on collective actions. Swan Hellenic partners with leading organisations to leverage our expertise and deliver more powerfully on our commitments.

Featured Projects

Clouds affect how much sunlight is absorbed by the earth and how much heat escapes back into space. By observing and recording cloud cover, we can help scientists understand how surface and air temperatures are affected by cloud cover, and how clouds respond to climate change.

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We only use WWF approved sustainable fish and source the food we serve locally whenever possible. Striving to always offer a selection of prime local specialities, wines, beers and spirits, we aim to take our guests on voyages of gastronomic discovery that reduce food miles and support local economies.

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Dynamically inclusive companies and societies are key to sustainable development. As the pioneer of cultural expedition cruising, welcoming adventurers of every age, gender, orientation, country and interest to explore worldwide, Swan Hellenic has always championed these values. We promote gender equity and women and girls’ empowerment. Strong internal policies ensure our employees enjoy equal opportunities of employment and professional development, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, culture, religion, age, sexual orientation, functional ability and political view.

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