Australia & Asia's Scenic Shores

Arrive in Sydney and embark your ship. The capital of Australian New South Wales is celebrated for its magnificent natural harbor, the world's largest. Nestled at the foot of the Blue Mountains on the edge of the blue Pacific, Sydney is blessed with a natural setting few cities in the world can rival. Settle in to your veranda stateroom, and explore this culture-rich and much-loved city.

Enjoy a second day in Sydney. You may pull back the curtain and enjoy an insider's view of Australia's world-class opera house. Or, join a professional photographer for a walking tour in the harbor area and an opportunity to snap fantastic images of vivid street art, historic houses and more. Alternately, you might choose to explore the natural wonders of the nearby Blue Mountains.

Continue following the east coast of Australia today, often called the 'Sunshine Coast.' Linger on the Sun Deck or on your veranda for vistas of azure and turquoise as you sail through some of the world's most beautiful waters. Perhaps take a dip in the Infinity Pool or stroll the Promenade Deck. This evening, enjoy the jazz strains of live music at Torshavn.

Call on the capital of Queensland, Australia, today, situated on the Brisbane River and spread over hills rising from Moreton Bay. This picturesque city is known for its Queenslander architecture, a distinct style characterized by terraces and raised living spaces. Brisbane itself enjoys a flourishing culinary scene amid a sophisticated collection of art galleries. Head out to explore the surrounding areas and you will find yourself enveloped in beautiful vineyards, stunning seascapes and wonderful nature.

Continue following the east coast of Australia today, often called the 'Sunshine Coast.' Linger on the Sun Deck or on your veranda for vistas of azure and turquoise as you sail through some of the world's most beautiful waters. Perhaps take a dip in the Infinity Pool or stroll the Promenade Deck. This evening, enjoy the jazz strains of live music at Torshavn.

Stumbled upon in 1770 by Captain James Cook 49 days after Easter (Whitsunday), the Whitsunday archipelago emerges from the Coral Sea amid the Great Barrier Reef. The seafaring Ngaro people called this paradise home until 1870 and hunted these waters in bark canoes. Nature's brushstrokes are astonishing here: pure-white sands meet cerulean waters, swirling together at sandbars to merge into a palette of turquoise, cream and emerald-green hills. Witness these islands and Airlie Beach firsthand; glassy, invigorating and impossibly blue, the waters provide the ideal oasis for relaxation and idling away a few hours on the beach.

Call on Cairns today, built on the shoulders of gold prospectors. Today, it is a major sugarcane and fishing port, and gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Take in the major sights of Cairns on a city tour, featuring a stop at its historic Royal Australian Navy base, Cairns Botanic Gardens and Palm Cove, a quaint, beach-loving community. Or perhaps board a catamaran for an exciting sail to the magnificent reef, the largest continuous system of its kind on Earth, or join an excursion to the lush Daintree Rainforest.

Sail the waters of the Coral Sea today, home to the world-renowned Great Barrier Reef. With crystal clear waters lapping at atolls and a vast diversity of marine life, this pristine body of water is a paradise for divers and pure pleasure to cruise.

Explore Thursday Island today, just off the northernmost tip of Australia's Cape York Peninsula in the Torres Strait. This picturesque island is home to a thriving artistic community. It once hosted an international pearl-diving industry, with divers coming from Japan, Malaysia and India. You will have time to explore on your own today, and perhaps discover the history of the island's defense during a visit to Green Hill Fort.

Sail the shallow tropical waters of the Arafura Sea. Millennia ago, the floor of these waters formed a land bridge linking Australia and New Guinea, making migration easy between the two land masses. As you cruise today, enjoy coffee or a drink in the Explorers' Lounge or stroll the wraparound Promenade Deck.

Sail the shallow tropical waters of the Arafura Sea. Millennia ago, the floor of these waters formed a land bridge linking Australia and New Guinea, making migration easy between the two land masses. As you cruise today, enjoy coffee or a drink in the Explorers' Lounge or stroll the wraparound Promenade Deck.

Arrive today in Darwin, Australia, the cultural hub of what is known as the 'Top End' of the continent for its northernmost location. A panoramic city tour reveals the highlights of the largest city in the thinly populated Northern Territory state. You will pass Christ Church Cathedral, the seven-gabled Government House and the Old Admiralty House. A stop at the East Point lookout reveals the coastal beauty of the Top End. If you would like, you can set out along the Adelaide River to view the area's famed jumping crocodiles.

As you sail the Timor Sea today, you might enjoy some yoga on the Sports Deck and indulge in a soak in the Thermal Pool of The Spa. It is thought that the early inhabitants of Australia 'island hopped' to the continent across these shallow waters. In more modern days, in the late 1980s, skilled sportsmen and -women raced 1,000 miles by junkung, or outrigger canoe, across the Timor from Bali, Indonesia to Darwin, Australia.

Anchor among the stunning vistas of Indonesia's Komodo Island. You will go ashore to visit Komodo National Park and the Tamarind Woods, a magnificent menagerie of wildlife including the legendary Komodo dragon, the largest lizard in the world. These patient hunters can grow up to ten feet long and weigh as much as 275 pounds. You might also see the island's Timor deer, wild horses and boars and giant fruit bats. If you wish, don a snorkel and mask and explore the vibrant underwater world at Pink Beach, so called for the rose-hued coral washed ashore and crushed to a fine powder by crashing waves.

Today, you can explore the colorful markets and rich culture of arts, crafts and traditional dance on the island of Bali. You will tour its bustling provincial capital of Denpasar. Take in the colors, flavors and fragrances of the local market and explore the Bali Museum and the sublime temple of Jagatnatha. Or, see how the traditional Balinese once lived and witness the creativity of talented artisans.

Sail the Java Sea today in waters that were traversed by merchant ships from the Dutch East India Company throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. As you cruise, you will have a chance to sample some cuisine of the islands such as rijsttafel, a rice dish adopted by the Dutch and still enjoyed throughout The Netherlands.

Call in Semarang today on the island of Java. Stop for photos of the Great Mosque of Central Java and visit the Sam Po Kong temple, a historic Chinese Muslim temple. Alternately, venture to Borobudur temple, the largest Buddhist monument in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You may walk in the footsteps of the devout, tracing the clockwise path along its round base and climbing to its apex, where sweeping views of four volcanoes reward you.

Spend the day relaxing on board as you cruise the Java Sea. Evidence points to the sea bottom being above water before water levels rose following the last ice age. This shallow body of water was also the sight of a disastrous naval battle during World War II, when Allied Forces were defeated by the Japanese on Feb. 27, 1942.

Sail into the South China Sea today, waters that were navigated for thousands of years by dynastic emperors and the barbarians that opposed them. Nanhai, or the South Sea, is one of the Four Seas of Chinese literature. In that literary tradition, it serves as mere metaphor. But the beauty of these waters and the enriching destinations to which they lead is very real.

Sail into the South China Sea today, waters that were navigated for thousands of years by dynastic emperors and the barbarians that opposed them. Nanhai, or the South Sea, is one of the Four Seas of Chinese literature. In that literary tradition, it serves as mere metaphor. But the beauty of these waters and the enriching destinations to which they lead is very real.

Gain insight into the lives of indigenous Malaysian tribes during a visit to the colorful Mari Mari Cultural Village. Enjoy swimming or snorkeling among 12,000 acres of protected coral reefs and other marine life during an island getaway off the coast of Sabah. Or, experience a walk through Kinabalu Park's montane oak and chestnut rainforest in the shadow of majestic Mt. Kinabalu.

Continue to sail the South China Sea today, once called the Sea of Cham after the maritime kingdom of Champa that ruled Southeast Asia before the 16th century. Today these waters are the second-most used sea lane in the world. As you sail, relax in the Explorers' Lounge and enjoy the spectacular vistas from the ship.

Call on the bustling metropolis of Manila today. See the highlights of this former Spanish colonial city during a wide-ranging panoramic tour, including the old downtown and Old Intramuros, which was home to the elite during the colonial era. You can embark a wooden canoe for an exhilarating river ride to Pagsanjan Falls.

Spend your second day in Manila absorbing its storied history. You can visit Corregidor Island, where General Douglas MacArthur commanded US forces in the Pacific during the early days of World War II. Or, explore the city's finest art, archaeology and natural history museums—all located in the vicinity of Rizal Park, named for national hero Dr. José Rizal, whose writings ultimately led to Philippine independence.

As you sail the South China Sea today, relax in the Explorers' Lounge and enjoy the spectacular vistas from the ship. As you cruise, mingle with newfound friends in The Living Room, and attend a port talk about your upcoming destinations.

Cruise into dazzling Hong Kong this morning and admire the glittering forest of skyscrapers standing between soaring mountains, a bustling harbor and offshore islands. See where deeply held Eastern traditions meet modern Western sensibilities during a panoramic city tour that takes you up Victoria Peak for sweeping views of the metropolis. An overnight stay in Hong Kong lets you explore further on your own or with one of our shore excursions.

Disembark this morning and transfer to the Hong Kong airport for your flight home. Or explore with our extension in this fascinating city.