Swan Hellenic has been named one of the world’s top five expedition cruise lines and, amongst these, is one of only three operators specialising in expedition cruises to be included in this prestigious ranking established by Condé Nast Traveller’s ‘Readers’ Choice Awards 2026’, one of the most prestigious accolades in the luxury travel sector.
More than 798,000 readers across the United States took part in this year’s survey, rating their travel experiences around the globe and celebrating the hotels, cruise lines, destinations, airlines and resorts they would most eagerly return to.
Swan Hellenic’s place among the Top Five — and its ranking as one of only three dedicated cruise lines in the top five, alongside Viking and Celebrity Cruises — reflects a different kind of expedition travel: intimate, thoughtful and shaped by genuine curiosity.
Aboard its elegant boutique ships, guests journey beyond the familiar to encounter remote landscapes, extraordinary wildlife and cultures that reward deeper exploration.
Each voyage combines the spirit of discovery with refined comfort and highly personal service. Expert expedition leaders, historians, naturalists and local voices bring every destination to life, while small guest numbers create a relaxed atmosphere and allow for more meaningful experiences both ashore and on board.
From the polar silence of Antarctica and the Arctic to the cultural riches Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, Swan Hellenic creates journeys for travellers who don’t simply want to see more of the planet, but to understand it.
“We are honored to be recognized as one of the world’s Top Three Expedition Cruise Lines and one of the World’s Top Five Expedition Operators by Condé Nast Traveler’s discerning readers,” said Andrea Zito, CEO of Swan Hellenic. “This distinction celebrates the rare and meaningful experiences we create for our guests, as well as the passion of our teams at sea and ashore. It also affirms something we have always believed: that cultural expedition travel should do more than take you somewhere extraordinary. It should change the way you see the world.”
The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the publication’s longest-running honours and remain among the most influential reader-voted distinctions in global travel.
