The Slavery Coast - cruise from Senegal to Ghana
15 Days - SH Diana
Embark on a profound journey along the Slavery Coast, starting in Senegal and ending in Ghana. Experience the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of each port of call. Reflect on the past while enjoying stunning landscapes and vibrant local traditions.
from USD $9342pp
Home » 15 Day SH Diana: The Slavery Coast – cruise from Senegal to Ghana
Itinerary Highlights
- Witness incredible flamingos, pelicans and herons in the pristine Bijagós Archipelago.
- Delve into West Africa's transatlantic slave trade history at the 15th-century Elmina Castle.
- Indulge in West African cuisine, with a variety of fresh seafood, spices, and local dishes.
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Dakar (Hotel Night)
- Day 2 and 3: Dakar
- Day 4: Banjul
- Day 5 to 7: Bijagos Archipelago
- Day 8: Freetown
- Day 9: Day at sea
- Day 10: Monrovia
- Day 11: Day at sea
- Day 12: Abidjan
- Day 13: Takoradi
- Day 14: Elmina
- Day 15: Tema (Accra)
Day 1: Dakar (Hotel Night)
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by the cruise representative and driven on the group transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 and 3: Dakar
The morning of day 2, you will take the group transfer from your hotel to the port and board your cruise.
Fabulous museums, a thriving art scene and elegant seaside dining showcase Dakar's rich culture and forward outlook. The bustling traditional Medina quarter with its mosques, tea shops and street markets contrasts with the Senegalese capital's French-influenced architecture and cuisine. Mbalax music dominates the vibrant nightlife. Traditional crafts like woodcarvings and paintings sell at Soumbédioune market, making it the perfect souvenir stop.
Day 4: Banjul
At the meeting point of the Gambia River and the Atlantic, Gambia’s relaxed capital city, Banjul, sits on a little island filled with colonial buildings and vibrant markets. The 19th-century Albert Market sells souvenirs and the vibrant traditional clothing of The Gambia’s diverse ethnic groups. Locals invite visitors to their typical Gambian home or ‘compound’ and tell stories of their heritage while offering herbal tea and traditional snacks.
Day 5 to 7: Bijagos Archipelago
The remote Bijagos archipelago off Guinea-Bissau has 88 islands of mangroves, mudflats, savannahs and palm forests, protected as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. On Canhabaque island, local culture retains coming-of-age ceremonies like difuntu and fanado. The former capital Bolama, now sits abandoned, while Orango National Park’s biodiverse ecosystems include wooded savannahs and isolated villages led by matriarchal queen-priestesses.
Day 8: Freetown
Sierra Leone’s portside capital city occupies a major position in history as the home of formerly enslaved people from North America and Britain. Sites like Cotton Tree and the King’s Yard Gate symbolise the town’s sombre past. Freetown today is a diverse city with a rich heritage – colourful Krio architecture, hearty, rice-based cuisine and lively beaches. Nearby, the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary rescues endangered primates in a rainforest.
Day 9: Day at sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Day 10: Monrovia
The bustling capital of Liberia, Monrovia, was founded in the 1800s as a settlement for formerly enslaved people from North America. The National Museum is custodian to the region’s history and art. Today’s city is a mix of architectural styles, lively beaches and street markets, such as the jumbled Waterside Market, filled with colourful fabric and crafts. Liberia's Creole cuisine fuses flavours brought from West Africa to America.
Day 11: Day at sea
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
Day 12: Abidjan
A city pulsating with energy, Abidjan, the former capital of Côte D’Ivoire, stands as a hub of creativity and innovation. The thriving arts and music scene interweaves with the cultures, cuisines and traditions that define Abidjan. Serving as a window into West Africa, the infectious tropical mood permeates the city. Abidjan's unique atmosphere, galleries and markets, along with the fascinating National Museum, make it a captivating destination.
Day 13: Takoradi
The twin cities of Sekondi-Takoradi, known as Tadi, are a key commercial hub on Ghana’s deepwater port, featuring a 17th-century Dutch fort, a relaxed beachfront and Africa’s largest market offering coconuts, dried fish, and tangy jollof rice. Nearby Kakum National Park hosts an endangered Ghanaian rainforest with native wildlife, lush plant life, exotic birds, vibrant butterflies and a Canopy Walkway, suspended 100 feet above the ground.
Day 14: Elmina
A solemn reminder of the past, 15th century Elmina Castle in Ghana was a key slave trade hub, originally protecting gold trade before Dutch and British slave trade involvement. This UNESCO site exemplified the era's contradictions, with Europeans in luxurious quarters above filthy, cramped slave dungeons. The infamous Door of No Return opened to ships on the gruelling Middle Passage.
Day 15: Tema (Accra)
Tema is a short drive from Ghana’s fast-paced capital, Accra, a city that's culturally rich, modern and historic all at once. European-built forts and Black Star Independence Square’s public monuments offer a glimpse at the past. The neighbourhood of Jamestown, a 17th-century fishing community with old colonial buildings, is its pulse with an art scene and local bites like waakye – rice and beans with sides – at a low-key ‘chop bar’.
This morning, you will disembark and take the group transfer from the ship to the Tema airport.
Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
---|---|---|---|
15 Sep 2026 - 29 Sep 2026 | USD $9342pp | ||
Triple Oceanview M4 | USD $9342pp | Contact us | |
Oceanview D4 | USD $10667pp | Contact us | |
Triple Balcony M5 | USD $11156pp | Contact us | |
Oceanview M4 | USD $11211pp | Contact us | |
Balcony D5 | USD $12844pp | Contact us | |
Balcony M5 | USD $13388pp | Contact us | |
Balcony D6 | USD $13932pp | Contact us | |
Quadruple Suite | USD $14020pp | Contact us | |
Junior Suite | USD $16041pp | Contact us | |
Suite | USD $18694pp | Contact us | |
Premium Suite | USD $21415pp | Contact us |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Oceanview D4
20 m2
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Oceanview M4
20 m2
Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Balcony D5
28 m2
Located on deck 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Balcony M5
28 m2
Located on deck 5, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Balcony D6
28 m2
Located on deck 6, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or a double bed, distinct bedroom and living room areas, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6 sq. m balcony.
Junior Suite
35 m2
SH Diana’s Junior Suites features a Super King Size bed, separate living room area with homely flame-effect fireplace, private kitchen, luxurious en-suite bathroom and a 7 sq. m private balcony.
Suite
44 m2
Our Suites features a superking bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom and a 12 sq.m. private balcony.
Premium Suite
47 m2
SH Diana’s Premium Suites feature a Super King Size bed, separate living room with homely flame-effect fireplace, luxurious en-suite bathroom, spacious walk-in wardrobe and a 12 sq. m private balcony.
Triple Oceanview M4
19 m2
Located on Deck 4 at the bow. Light, bright and crafted from natural materials Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds or a double bed, a bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
To make it a Triple room, the third guest will sleep on a Single Sofa bed – Dimensions of the Sofa: 1860 X 1230 mm
Triple Balcony M5
28 m2
Balcony stateroom is a Swan Hellenic guest favorite. Located on Deck 5 at the centre of the ship, staterooms features 2 single beds or a double bed, bedroom, living room, luxurious bathroom and your own 6 m2 balcony.
To make it a Triple room, the third guest will sleep on a Single Sofa bed – Dimensions of the Sofa: 1900 X 1380 mm
Quadruple Suite
44 m2
Located on Deck 5 and 6 at the centre of the ship, our spacious Suites with a 12 sq.m. private balconies are a favorite with discerning guests, and those that prefer a little more space and comfort.
To make it a Quad room, the third and fourth guests will sleep on a Double Sofa bed – Dimensions of the Sofa: 1900 X 1380 mm
SH Diana Deckplan
Specifications
CREW: 141
GUESTS: 192
DECKS: 9
LENGTH: 410 ft (125 m)
BREADTH: 75 ft (23 m)
TONNAGE: 12,100 GRT
CRUISING SPEED: 14.5 knots
PROPULSION HYBRID DIESEL ELECTRIC: 4x Medium speed, Polar Class PC6
REGISTERED: Malta
LIFEBOATS: 2 fully enclosed
TENDER BOATS: 2 (48 pax each)
ZODIACS: 15
Whats included?
- Group transfer from airport to hotel
- Group transfer from hotel to ship
- Group transfer from ship to airport
- One-night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel
- All meals onboard
- 24-hour room service
- Coffee, tea, soft drinks, and selected alcoholic beverages available 24 hours per day
- Lecture programs by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
- Standard Wi-Fi
- Onboard gratuities and port taxes
- One selected shore excursion/expedition activity per port of call
- Branded Swan Hellenic backpack and stainless-steel water bottle
What’s not included?
- Flights not mentioned
- Any items not mentioned as included