Andrea Zito admits he doesn’t play enough golf, but the chief executive officer of boutique cruise line Swan Hellenic, Zito knows how to pick outstanding courses. Swan Hellenic’s cruise this fall between Lisbon, Morocco and the Canary Islands is proof.
The cruise, which embarks Sept. 7 from Lisbon on the SH Diana, is the adventure cruise line’s first foray into golf as an amenity on a six-night “Atlantic Horizons’’ journey to ports that include Casablanca (Morocco) and Puerto del Rosario in the Canary Islands – best known for its white sand beaches and off-beat street art.
Launched in May 2023, the SH Diana (12,100 tons) is Swan Hellenic’s largest boutique expedition ship, designed for cultural and heritage exploration in remote regions.
SH Diana (Swan Hellenic)
“The Diana (96 staterooms and suites) is a small ship that can get into ports other ships can’t go to,’’ Zito told me. “It’s very intimate. We’ve already had a lot of interest in golf – and I think we have selected some excellent courses. You can play six days or you can play two days – whatever you want.’’
The golf package can be purchased as a complete offering or individual courses can be booked separately, supplementing Swan Hellenic’s established cultural excursion programs.
Pricing starts at $370 per course or $1475 for all five. The cruise itself starts from $4,080 per person or $5,555USD for a combined starting price – a strong value story given five curated rounds at championship courses across three countries.
The golf itinerary begins at Palmares Golf Resort in Lagos, Portugal, which features 27 holes of Robert Trent Jones Jr. created in three distinct loops above the Alvor Estuary and Lagos Bay.
Then it’s on to Morocco and The Tony Jacklin Casablanca, a parkland course bordering Bouskoura Forest, followed by Gary Player’s Golf de Mogador near Essaouira’s historic medina. Make time to visit Essaouira’s UNESCO World Heritage site – a great example of a late 18th-century fortified seaport town.
“One of my favorite places in Morocco,’’ Zito said.
The Moroccan segment concludes at Golf du Soleil in Agadir, with two beautifully landscaped 18-hole courses amongst palm trees and lakes.
The voyage ends at Costa Teguise Golf in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, where legendary British architect John Harris has designed a par 72 course featuring over 3,000 palm trees set against volcanic terrain overlooking the Atlantic. Built-in the 1970s, the course is among the Harris’ final – and best – layouts.
Swan Hellenic’s golf offering includes all transfers, green fees, manual trolleys, driving range access where time permits and refreshments at each club. Each round is structured to allow 4.5 to 5 hours for completing 18-hole rounds on foot with trolleys. Additional services cover baggage handling, shoe cleaning and golf club maintenance.
Electric trolley and cart reservations are available at extra cost, subject to availability. The package also permits additional rounds to be booked alongside the main offering.
Feature Photo Courtesy of Palmares Golf Resort