Australia, Indonesia & Asia

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.

Trace Australia's renowned Gold Coast, lined with resorts and picturesque beaches. As you cruise today, mingle with newfound friends in The Living Room, browse the Scandinavian-inspired artwork throughout your ship and attend a talk about your upcoming ports.

Call on Queensland, Australia's picturesque capital. An included panoramic tour introduces you to its main sights, with ample opportunity to step out and take photos. See the historic Parliament House, Treasury Building and Customs House. Pass the botanical gardens before taking in sweeping views of the city and its namesake river. If you prefer, you may learn more about the continent's famous wildlife on a visit to the world's largest koala sanctuary.

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 Great Barrier 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. Your day at sea provides the ideal opportunity to read about your upcoming ports in The Library and to perhaps make an appointment at The Salon for a hair treatment, manicure, shave or Nordic scalp massage.

Explore Thursday Island today, home to a thriving artistic community. You will have time to explore on your own, or perhaps join an optional excursion to discover the history of the island's defense during a visit to Green Hill Fort. Alternately, learn about the indigenous people of Torres Strait during an optional excursion that includes a traditional outdoor dance performance.

Sail the shallow tropical waters of the Arafura Sea. 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. As you cruise today, enjoy coffee or a drink in the Explorers' Lounge or stroll the wraparound Promenade Deck.

Arrive today in Darwin, Australia, capital of the continent's Northern Territory. Take in the city's highlights on an included panoramic tour, passing 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, or travel by seaplane, boat and airboat through the forest and wetlands of Sweets Lagoon.

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.

Anchor among the stunning vistas of Indonesia's Komodo Island. Go ashore to visit Komodo National Park and the Tamarind Woods, a magnificent menagerie of wildlife including the famed Komodo dragon. 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.

Explore the colorful markets and rich culture of arts, crafts and traditional dance in 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.

Sail the Java Sea today. 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 oldest church in Central Java, visit a historic Chinese Muslim temple and walk through the stunning Rainbow Village on an included tour. Alternately, you may choose to board a vintage railcar for a ride through the Javanese countryside before visiting a coffee plantation.

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.

As you cruise the South China Sea, attend an illuminating enrichment lecture on board. Take in the sea views from the Explorers' Lounge. Tonight, dine at your choice of venues, perhaps pairing sommelier-selected wines with a carefully prepared tasting menu at The Chef's Table.

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.

Named for the stunning Mt. Kinabalu that rises to jagged heights, Kota Kinabalu is the capital of the Malaysian state of Sabah. Today's modern city was built after Jesselton, as Kota Kinabalu was once known, was destroyed during World War II. Enjoy your time exploring this historic destination, the gateway to remarkably preserved indigenous cultures on Borneo, before setting sail tomorrow for the Philippines.

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.

Spend a relaxing day on board as you cruise the East China Sea. Perhaps you will learn about your next destination, China, in The Library or at an enrichment lecture. Enjoy a Norwegian-inspired lunch at Mamsen's gourmet deli. This evening, savor wine pairings with your dinner at The Chef's Table.

Built on islands at the mouth of the Jiulong River, Xiamen boasts picturesque colonial architecture. The venerable Xiamen University, with perhaps the most beautiful campus in China, actually has its own beach. On a panoramic tour of the city, you will see the university campus, the Baicheng Beach boardwalk and the majestic Nanputuo Temple complex, perched on a hillside overlooking the city and central to the city's Fujian community. If you wish, you can immerse yourself in local culture during a bike ride, a tai chi class and a tea ceremony.

Arrive in cosmopolitan Hong Kong today and admire the forest of skyscrapers standing between soaring mountains, a bustling harbor and offshore islands. Because we are berthed overnight here, you may explore this cultural capital on your own this evening.

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