micronesia and melanesia aboard new boutique …

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MICRONESIA AND MELANESIA ABOARD NEW BOUTIQUE EXPEDITION SHIP

Imagine exploring one of the least-visited regions on earth on acruise through Micronesia and Melanesia. This extraordinary19-day expedition visits paradise; a word that is so overusedthese days it has almost become absurd. Yet visitors willwonder if they have stumbled across its most accurate meaningin these subregions of Oceania. From Guam, Yap, Papua NewGuinea, and the Solomon Islands to the Floridas, Vanuatu andthe islands of Fuji; visit remote, idyllic islands, strewn acrossthousands of kilometres of the Pacific Ocean. Discover theirremarkable history and culture, and explore beautiful bays,beaches, reefs, and shipwrecks in the company of an expertteam. Welcome to a place where the smiles are as big as thehorizons.

ITINERARY

DAY 1, GUAM

Begin your epic 19-day cruise through Micronesia and Melanesia today in Guam. It’s been 500 years since the first European, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, spotted this island in the northwest Pacific Ocean on 6 March 1521 during his first circumnavigation. Since then, Guam has changed hands several times, but nowadays it’s a ‘Territory of the United States’. Before becoming an American domain, Guam was Spanish for more than 300 years and Fort Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, located near Umatac on the southwest coast, is a fragment of that rule, as is the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in the capital. The island’s indigenous inhabitants are the Chamorro people, who are believed to have populated Guam since around 2,000 BCE. Known for its rich Chamorro culture, the island is also renowned for its World War II historical places of interest, romantic viewpoints like the fabled Two Lovers Point, hotspots such as Tumon Bay, and of

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course, diving. Apra Harbor is home to several shipwrecks.

DAY 2, GAFERUT, YAP

Your next port of call is Gaferut, an uninhabited atoll in Yap,which is one of the four-member states of the Federated Statesof Micronesia (FSM). Despite being comprised of four mainislands and many others – including Gaferut – that dot theocean for nearly 1,000 kilometres, Yap is minuscule comparedto the other island groups in this part of the Pacific. Within Yap,Gaferut itself is a speck; however, its importance as a criticalbird and turtle nesting site belies its physical size. Onshore,enjoy nature walks on which you’ll spot sacred coconut crabsand birdlife including frigatebirds, boobies, noddies and terns.Offshore, these waters boast a rich array of marine life,including manta rays. Dive, snorkel or swim to your heart’scontent.

DAY 3, LAMOTREK, YAP

Remaining within the region of Yap today, you’ll visit the coralatoll of Lamotrek. It’s the only inhabited island in the vicinity,and so it follows that a stop at Lamotrek celebrates Yapeseculture. There are only approximately 11,000 residents in thewhole of Yap. The main islanders and outer islanders areculturally and linguistically diverse, however, among the traitsthat all islanders share, and included in the characteristics thatunite the Yapese, are hospitality and generosity. Bask in thewarmth of your welcome. As you come ashore, turmeric-tintedislanders will undoubtedly be waiting on the sand, under acanopy of coconut trees, clapping, singing and dancing, waitingto adorn you with floral garlands called leis. During your stay,you’ll learn all about the people of Lamotrek’s lives andlivelihoods, as well as enjoying the lagoon, which is frequentlytraversed by traditional outrigger canoes.

DAY 4, SATAWAL, YAP

Today your state-of-the-art ship will find its way to Satawal – theeasternmost of Yap’s islands – approximately 70 kilometres eastof Lamotrek. All our vessels are equipped with the latesttechnology, including navigational equipment. Still, for millenniaships have plied this waters without the use of any instrumentssuch as sextants, compasses, clocks, radios, or satellites.Disney film fans amongst guests will recognise the ancientMicronesian art, science and spiritual practice, Wayfinding, fromMoana – and if you know the movie, we defy you not to sing‘We Know The Way’ today when we visit Lamotrek. The forestedisland is famed for producing master navigators, such as MauPialiug; these experts use the sun, swells and sky to cross theopen ocean and pass down this tradition orally to theirapprentices. Learn more about Pialiug today. In 1976, heoffered to sail the Hokule’a canoe from Hawaii to Tahiti to provethat ancient seafarers could have gone all that way. At the time,he was among the last of his kind. You might enjoy discoveringhow the sacred cultural practice is still being preserved onSatawal, and enjoy seeing the large ocean-worthy canoes thatthe Satawalese people create.

DAY 5, AT SEA

When Ferdinand Magellan crossed the world’s largest body ofwater some 500 years ago, he dubbed it Mar Pacífico, meaning‘peaceful sea’. Cruise the Pacific Ocean as you depart fromSatawal to Tingwon in Papua New Guinea. Perhaps attend anonboard talk or simply take in the magnificent seascapes.

DAY 6, TINGWON

Explore an untrammelled paradise today that is postcard-perfect, hardly visited by tourists, and lined by a gentle coast that is made for Instagram. Located west of New Hanover,

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Tingwon island is the largest of the small group of TingwonIslands, all of which share a common healthy barrier reef. Atonly 1.5 square kilometres, it won’t take a visitor long to explorethe island, meet the islanders and learn all about life onTingwon, leaving guests plenty of time to enjoy the beach andreef. The ocean here is calm, crystal clear and home to myriadextraordinary sea creatures.

DAY 7, RABAUL

Your destination today is the former capital of New Britain,Rabaul. Its position in Papua New Guinea’s northeastern tip isextraordinary, sited inside the flooded caldera of an enormousvolcano. The town’s proximity to these volatile mountains – plusaerial bombardment during World War II – have forced Rabaulto rise from the ashes more than once. Most recently in 1994,when nearby Mount Tavurvur erupted, demolishing much of thetown. Rabaul’s spirit wasn’t destroyed and thanks to itsimpressive harbour, buzzing markets and fascinating wartimepast, it’s a genuinely interesting place to visit.

DAY 8, RABAUL & AT SEA

Having overnighted onboard your luxurious ship, enjoy the morning in Rabaul exploring its ever- lingering WWII history. Rabaul is home to several historical war sites including the Japanese Peace Memorial and the Rabaul 1942-45 Memorial. There’s a small museum – the so-called Yamamoto Bunker – located in what was a Japanese fortification that offers a survey of the Far Eastern country’s wartime presence. Simpson Harbour is awash with downed ships and WWII wrecks – it’s a popular diving site. And for a higher perspective of it all, there’s an observatory, which monitors the country’s two volcanic arcs and offers spectacular views of the ocean, town and surrounding volcanoes. You’ll then cruise from Papua New Guinea to the

Solomon Islands, enjoy indulging in the amenities of your shipfor the rest of the day.

DAY 9, NJARI ISLAND

The Solomon Islands are known as the South Pacific’s best-keptsecret. As part of the Coral Triangle of the western Pacific, theSolomon Islands boast some of the most thrilling diving andsnorkelling sites in the world. The water is warm, clear and fullof beautiful fish and marine mammals. Proving that good thingsdo come in small packages, Njari is a tiny island locatedbetween the Wilson Strait and Vella Gulf in the SolomonIslands’ north region. An idyllic speck in the ocean, it’s almostentirely covered in trees. There’s hardly any infrastructure tospeak of so the coves and bays remain unspoiled; daytrippersenjoy the seclusion, beauty, and opportunity to swim andsnorkel in these beautiful waters.

DAY 10, RODERICK BAY

Shipwrecks and secluded beaches: your trip to Micronesia andMelanesia could hardly be complete without experiencing thesetwo things. Today you’ll arrive at rugged – one of the two Florida(or Nggela) Islands, which are known for diving, snorkelling,surfing and a laid-back atmosphere. Nggela Sule’s mostcompelling attraction in recent years? Roderick Bay is a hiddencove on the northwestern coast of this mangrove-swampedisland. It cradles the decaying remains of the World Discovererwhich ran aground here in 2000, having hit an uncharted rockor reef in the Sandfly Passage. Driven by its Instagram- friendlyaesthetic, Roderick Bay has become the island’s mainattraction. Now an integral part of the landscape, snorkelaround the wreck to see how it has quickly become an artificialreef, attracting an abundance of colourful sea life.

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DAY 11, SANTA ANA

As well as being known for sheer beauty, The Solomons arerenowned for their authenticity. Both the people and landscapesare genuinely lovely, as you’ll discover today when you visitSanta Ana (or Owaraha or Owa Raha), which is located in theMakira-Ulawa Province. It’s a place seemingly out of time wherethe islanders live in a (relatively) traditional way. See somecustoms today and meet community members.

DAY 12, AT SEA

Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind and dowhatever takes your fancy. So whether that is going to the gym,visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading achapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue seadays are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploringon land.

DAY 13, CHAMPAGNE BEACH & PARADISE LAGOON

Espiritu Santo is Vanuatu’s largest island. Santo, as the localscall it, was named by the 17th-century Portuguese navigatorPedro de Quiros on his quest to find Australia. James AMichener wrote Tales of the South Pacific while stationed on theisland as a U.S. Navy lieutenant during the 1940s. The book,which was published in 1947, evolved into the well-knownRodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. You’ll be sureto hum the famous score as you sun yourself today on theshockingly white sand of the gloriously named Champagnebeach, or as you marvel at the brilliant blue water of ParadiseLagoon, a swimming hole on the Riri River.

DAY 14, AMBRYM ISLAND

Consisting of some 80 relatively small, new (geologically speaking) islands of volcanic origin, Vanuatu is a Y-shaped

archipelago. These isles are spread across approximately 1,300kilometres of ocean. Today, explore Ambrym, the fifth largest ofVanuatu’s islands. Home to Mount Marum and Mount Benbow,the isle appeals to adventure-seekers, who enjoy scaling theseawe-inspiring twin volcanoes. Ambrym is also renowned for itssand drawings, which you might like to see, and it’s friendlylocals. Vanuatu is known as the Isles of Smiles, and it’s nomisnomer.

DAY 15, TEGUA ISLAND

Today you’ll visit Tegua island, a half-moon-shaped speck ofland less than four miles long and 10 miles wide. It’s one of fivecoral atolls in the Torres Group – you’ve travelled 650 milesnorth from Efate. Visitors to Tegua are few and far between; lifeis lived here at a slower pace and in a different way to thatwhich you’ve seen in Guam, for example. The effects of climatechange and rising sea levels can be seen on many islands inVanuatu. Though gorgeous and tropical, the impact that climatechange has had on the Tegua atoll is hard to ignore. It’ssobering to be sure, but it’s also so important to learn aboutand to see for yourself.

DAY 16, UREPARAPARA, DIVERS BAY

Ureparapara, sometimes casually called ‘Parapara’, is the third largest of the Banks Islands in northern Vanuatu. Those who sail into the island’s harbour never forget it – the long aquatic entry point is a semi- collapsed volcano caldera, which is surrounded by verdant headlands and filled with water that is an irresistible shade of cobalt blue. This breach in what was the volcano’s crater is now called Divers Bay, and it offers exceptional diving and snorkeling. Parapara is also famed regionally for being the site of ancient stone-and-earthworks structures located in the island’s interior called nowons and votwos, tentatively listed for

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inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

DAY 17, AT SEA

As you cruise from Vanuatu towards the western division of Fuji,enjoy a full day indulging in the amenities of your ship. Youmight find your inner calm practising some yoga. Listen to aninformative talk. Lounge on the deck and enjoy a cocktail fromthe bar. Tonight after a delicious dinner in the restaurant, settlein for some light entertainment and a nightcap before headingto your comfortable cabin.

DAY 18, NABUKERU, YASAWA

The vertiginous, volcanic islands of Yasawa extend in anorth-easterly arc from Viti Levu, the main Fijian island. A chainof palm-fringed islands with perfect white sandy beaches,tranquil lagoons and picturesque villages, Yasawa is beautifuland mysterious. Little is known about the early history of theYasawa people except that they were renowned as warriors andfeared by the eastern Fijians. In 1789, Captain William Bligh ofthe mutiny on the Bounty fame, rowed through the Yasawashaving been cast adrift in a small boat. He was chased byseveral war canoes, but fate intervened when a storm blew in,and the pursuing warriors abandoned their chase. The passagethrough which he escaped is still known as Bligh Water. Thishistory is at odds with the peaceful and pleasant greeting you’llreceive when you visit the village of Nabukera to meet theislanders. It is customary for visitors to ask permission to entera town by offering a tangled bundle of kava roots as sevusevu,a gesture of respect and sign of friendly intentions. In this highlyritualised Fijian society, if accepted, guests become part of thevillage ‘family’.

DAY 19, LAUTOKA

Arrive in Lautoka and disembark your ship after breakfast. Iftimings allow before you transfer to the airport to begin yourjourney home, explore Fiji’s second-largest city. Sometimesknown by its other name, Sugar City, Lautoka is a sweet spot,best discovered with sand between your toes. There’s aphotogenic esplanade set against the backdrop of MountKoroyanitu; palm trees shade its wide, colourful boulevards; andyou might like to visit the Sugar Mill, Sri Krishna Kaliya Templeor the town’s market.

Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

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YOUR SHIP: MINERVA

YOUR SHIP: Minerva

VESSEL TYPE:

LENGTH:

PASSENGER CAPACITY:

BUILT/REFURBISHED:

The 5 star elegant Scandi-design boutique ship offers you anintimate setting from which you will be fully immersed in all thesights and scenery of your voyage.Introducing SH MinervaMinerva has been designed to journey to off the beaten pathdestinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. Theship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined withextra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth aspossible.Sophisticated EleganceWe know how important outdoor space is, so our spacious,relaxing public spaces provide wide open, unobstructed viewsthroughout the ship. The destination will always be in view.

>Your WellbeingThe safety & happiness of the guests is paramount to the120-strong crew on board as well as the passionate expeditionteam who'll be serving up thrilling shore excursions and lastingmemories.Cabin TypesThe 76 cabins including 6 suites have all the amenities you willneed to feel comfortable including dressing gowns, hairdryers,personal safes and minibars. The stylish cabins all have desks,a dressing area and comfy seating. En suite bathrooms allfeature glass-enclosed rain showers.

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INSIDE YOUR SHIP

Balcony. From Oceanview

Premium Suite Suite

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PRICING

24-Sep-2022 to 12-Oct-2022

Suite £13815 GBP pp

Premium Suite £15799 GBP pp

Oceanview £9675 GBP pp

Balcony. From £10645 GBP pp

micronesia and melanesia aboard new boutique …

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