Duration
86 Nights
Journey Type
Cruise only (Please call for flight options)
Ports
54 Ports
24 August
Setting sail from Broome
Western Australia is a closed book to many UK visitors, and those who do choose this coast often get no further than Perth and the Margaret River. For travellers by ship, however, Broome is the gateway to the extraordinary Kimberley region. But that's not all: it is also the pearling capital of Australia and boasts fantastic white sand beaches and memorable sunsets. Very relaxed nowadays, Broome was the centre of the 'pearl rush' in the 1800s, which resulted in a real melting pot of cultures here, with Japanese, Filipino and Malay influences.
Don't miss
Visit a local pearl farm to learn all about this fascinating process, not to mention the history of the first pearlers. Shop for samples in Chinatown!
25 August
Australia: Lacepede Islands
The Lacepede Islands, situated just off Australia’s Kimberley coast, are a fantastic destination for birding enthusiasts, supporting over 1% of the world’s population of brown boobies and roseate terns. Other bird species here include masked boobies, Australian pelicans and lesser frigatebirds, and it’s also a key breeding site for green turtles.
26 August
Australia: Horizontal Falls (Talbot Bay)
Talbot Bay is home to one of the world’s most unusual natural wonders, the ‘Horizontal Falls’. This amazing spectacle occurs when tidal movements force water through the narrow gaps in the ridges either side of Poulton Creek, with the water building up on one side quicker than it can flow through the gap, causing a spectacular waterfall effect.
27 August
Australia: Montgomery Reef
Montgomery Reef was once described as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ by Sir David Attenborough. At low tide the sea level drops so rapidly that the waters trapped inside the reef create a raging torrent as they escape, teeming with wildlife including turtles, sea birds, sharks, octopuses and even dugongs.
27-28 August
Australia: Freshwater Cove, Kuri Bay
29 August
Australia: Hunter River & Mitchell Falls
The Hunter River region is home to a spectacular system of mangroves surrounded by red sandstone cliffs, providing a habitat for mudskippers, fiddler crabs, saltwater crocodiles and numerous species of bird. Head further inland and you’ll reach the stunning Mitchell Falls, where the waters cascade from one shimmering emerald pool to the next.
30 August
At sea
31 August
Australia: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
1 September
Australia: Vansittart Bay
Vansittart Bay lies close to the northern tip of Western Australia, and is home to some interesting examples of aboriginal rock art. You can also take a trip across a lagoon to visit the intact wreckage of a C-53 aircraft that crash landed here during the Second World War.
2-3 September
At sea
4 September
Australia: Darwin
More of a large town than a city, Darwin is less about what’s contained within the city limits and more about the huge expanse of wild landscape that’s outside it. Closer to Jakarta than Sydney, the city really does feel remote in its tropical perch.
5-6 September
At sea
7 September
Indonesia: Asmat Region
The Asmat people of West Papua are one of Indonesia’s most fascinating indigenous groups, notorious in the past for their cannibalism and headhunting, a practice said by some to have persisted as recently as the 1990s. The Asmat are also known for their magnificent wood carvings, and their cultural traditions remain strong in the face of encroaching modernity.
8 September
At sea
9 September
Indonesia: Fakfak / Kokas
10 September
Indonesia: Misool
Misool is one of the main islands in the Raja Ampat archipelago, surrounded by some of the most spectacular coral reefs on earth. Snorkel, swim and kayak amongst these rich, biodiverse waters, and explore white sandy beaches, mangroves, lakes and jungle-clad limestone peaks.
11-12 September
Indonesia: Yenwaoupnor, Mansuar Island, Manokwari (Irian Jaya)
13-14 September
Indonesia: Cenderawasih Bay
The broad sweep of Cenderawasih Bay, off the northern coast of Papua, is known for its spectacularly biodiverse coral reefs. These waters are home to dolphins, dugongs and four different species of turtle, but the star attraction is the resident population of whale sharks, the biggest fish in the sea.
15 September
Indonesia: Jayapura
Jayapura, also known as Port Numbay, is the capital of Indonesia’s Papua province. This busy city is well off the tourist trail, and provides an introduction to the fascinating customs of the region. Nearby sights include beautiful Lake Sentani, where you can take a trip on a local longboat out to one of the islands.
16 September
Papua New Guinea: Vanimo
17 September
At sea
18 September
Papua New Guinea: Garove Island
Garove is a flooded volcanic caldera, with most of the inhabitants living on the outside of the volcano, and just one village inside the steep-sided caldera itself. Visiting ships are met by curious locals in outrigger canoes, and you may be welcomed ashore with a traditional ‘sing-sing’.
19 September
Papua New Guinea: Duke of York Island
19 September
Papua New Guinea: Rabaul
Looming over Rabaul is smouldering Mount Tavurvur, an active volcano that buried much of the city when it erupted in 1994, and which still periodically belches smoke and ash. Rabaul is also an appealing destination for history buffs, with several World War II sites still scattered with rusting wreckage.
20 September
At sea
21 September
Solomon Islands: Ghizo
Ghizo island is small compared to its neighbours, but it’s also home to the Solomon Islands’ second biggest city, which is somewhat confusingly called Gizo (sounds the same, different spelling). The open air market is a great place to find unique souvenirs such as shell jewellery, and there is excellent snorkelling and diving just offshore.
22 September
Solomon Islands: Honiara
Honiara is the capital of the Solomon Islands and the nation’s only real port, situated on the largely unspoilt island of Guadalcanal. Reminders of the famous Second World War battle that took place here can be seen all over the island, as well as under the water at the fantastic dive sites off the north coast.
23 September
At sea
24 September
Solomon Islands: Vanikoro
25 September
Vanuatu: Ambrym Island
Ambrym is known as the ‘Black Island’ due to its dark volcanic soil, with two active volcanoes, Mount Marum and Mount Benbow. The island is also known for its magic and sorcery, and for its traditional Rom dances, when locals don elaborate masks and costumes.
26 September
At sea
27 September
Fiji: Lautoka
Lautoka is Fiji’s second largest city, known as the ‘Sugar City’ due to its important role in the local sugarcane industry. The waterfront area is pleasant enough, but we’d recommend using Lautoka as a jumping off point to visit some of the smaller surrounding islands, or the forests and waterfalls of the interior.
28-30 September
Fiji: Kadavu Island, Fulaga
Tonga: Pangai, Nukupule
1 October
Tonga: Vava'u
The Vava’u group of islands is part of the Kingdom of Tonga, the last surviving Polynesian monarchy and the only South Pacific nation never to have been colonised by Europeans. Vava’u is idyllic but also authentic, and is one of the best places in the region to see humpback whales during their annual migration between May and October.
2 October
At sea
3 October
Samoa: Apia
Apia is the capital of Samoa, situated on the north coast of the island of Upolu. Highlights include the colourful markets and Robert Louis Stevenson's former house, now a museum, though you may just want to use the city as a jumping off point for the beautiful beaches located further along the coast.
4 October
Niue: Alofi
5 October
At sea
6 October
Cook Islands: Aitutaki
The sleepy island of Aitutaki is big on natural beauty, thanks to its stunning reef-enclosed lagoon. It’s also a deeply spiritual place: in the village of Arutanga you’ll find the oldest church in the Cook Islands, dating back to 1829, and services here are a spellbinding spectacle, with hymns featuring unaccompanied four-part harmonies.
7 October
At sea
8 October
French Polynesia: Raiatea
Raiatea, the second largest of the Society Islands, played a vital role in the development of Polynesian culture; it was from this island that settlers departed for Hawaii and New Zealand over a millennium ago. The island feels wilder than Tahiti, with steep, jungle-covered mountains, cascading waterfalls and ancient Polynesian temples.
9 October
French Polynesia: Huahine
Huahine is perhaps the most beautiful of the Society Islands, and one of the least developed too. The laid back ambience means it’s impossible not to relax here, whether you’re on one of the gorgeous beaches or taking a stroll around the friendly village of Fare.
10 October
French Polynesia: Papeete
Papeete is the capital of French Polynesia, situated on the northwest coast of Tahiti. The port is not the most magical spot, so we advise venturing forth to luxuriate in the turquoise lagoons, relax on the white sand beaches fringed with palm trees, and explore the rugged mountain peaks.
11-12 October
Anna
French Polynesia: Toau Atoll
12 October
French Polynesia: Fakarava (Tuamotu Islands)
The Fakarava atoll surrounds a deep lagoon in the west of the Tuamotu island group, scarcely populated and home to a host of rare wildlife. The entire atoll has been declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and the shallow coastal waters make for excellent snorkelling.
13-15 October
At sea
16 October
Pitcairn Islands: Pitcairn Island
The remote South Pacific island of Pitcairn was settled by a party of British sailors and Tahitians following the famous mutiny on the HMS Bounty in 1789, and their descendants still live on the island. The tiny capital, Adamstown, has a population of around 50 people.
17-18 October
Pitcairn Islands: Henderson Island, Ducie Island
19-20 October
At sea
21-22 October
Chile: Hanga Roa (Easter Island)
The enigmatic moai statues of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) remain one of the world’s most intriguing archaeological mysteries. Descendants of the Polynesian settlers who carved them still live here, though these days the island belongs to Chile, despite being separated from the mainland by over 2,000 miles of Pacific Ocean.
23-29 October
At sea
30 October
Chile: Santiago (San Antonio)
Chile’s cosmopolitan capital is a smart, sophisticated place, where life plays out against the stunning backdrop of the snow-capped Andean mountains. Santiago’s moneyed elite congregate in the upmarket districts of the barrio alto, while the Centro buzzes with commerce and culture, home to museums, theatres and shopping malls.
31 October
At sea
1 November
Chile: Puerto Montt
Puerto Montt is the capital of the Chilean Lake District, spread out around a wide bay against a backdrop of snow-capped volcanoes. This wild region offers a host of outdoor activities, including mountain hikes, kayaking, white water rafting, fishing, zip lining and cycling.
2 November
At sea
3 November
Chile: Caleta Tortel
The little fishing village of Caleta Tortel hugs the base of a mountain, perched above turquoise waters fed by glaciers. There are no cars or horses in Caleta Tortel - instead, the piers and houses are connected together by a remarkable network of wooden boardwalks.
4 November
Chile: Pio XI Glacier
5 November
Chile: El Brujo Glacier
The remote El Brujo Glacier is situated at the end of Asia Fjord, a branch of the Peel Fjord in Chile’s spectacular Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. As you cruise along the channel you’ll see waterfalls cascading down from the snowy mountains, while the water's surface is scattered with chunks of ice.
6-7 November
Chile: Punta Arenas
The weather-beaten city of Punta Arenas is a laid back and welcoming place, in spite of its inhospitable location on the shores of the Strait of Magellan. Nearby attractions include penguin colonies and the dramatic scenery of Torres del Paine National Park, while beyond the horizon lie the frozen wastes of Antarctica.
8-9 November
At sea
10-14 November
Antarctica: Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica is the world’s last great wilderness, an alien landscape of snow-covered mountains, jagged icebergs and extraordinary wildlife. Visiting at the beginning of the cruise season in October or November means bigger icebergs and pristine snowy landscapes, along with the chance to see breeding elephant seals. There may still be sea ice around the Antarctic Peninsula, and temperatures are cold. Expedition trips will spend time exploring the peninsula, making several landings at various sites and cruising through scenic channels.
15-16 November
At sea
17 November
Argentina: Ushuaia
Perched on the ragged southern edge of Argentina, where the snow-capped Andes fall away into the churning sea, Ushuaia has a frontier town feel to it, and serves as the base for expeditions into the icy waters of Antarctica.
17 November
Arriving in Buenos Aires
The streets of Buenos Aires are redolent of a grand old European capital, lined with elegant architecture that wouldn't look out of place in Madrid or Paris. There is also plenty of Latin passion on display: Argentina is the home of tango, that most electrifying of dances, and the central Plaza de Mayo has played host to countless revolutions and rallies over the years. Food is an important part of life here, and carnivores shouldn't pass up the opportunity to try the world's finest beef at one of the many steakhouses, known as parrillas. Other attractions include the beautiful Recoleta cemetery, the grand Teatro Colón and the colourful, arty district of La Boca.
Our tip
Plan to stay longer than you think you’ll need; the city offers plenty and the breathtaking Iguazu Falls can be reached by a short flight.
Your home from home
What we love
Seabourn Venture and Pursuit bring the trademark Seabourn style and sophistication to the world of expedition cruising, with interiors by designer Adam D Tihany, sumptuous veranda suite accommodation and high-tech toys including a pair of six-seater submarines.
Capacity | 264 Guests |
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Style | The contemporary décor appeals to a sophisticated and cosmopolitan crowd, and the familiar Seabourn style of cruising is enhanced by an experienced expedition team. |
Inclusions |
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Tailor-make your trip
Where to stay in Broome
For a back to nature setting with added style, go for Eco Beach - a unique wilderness experience.
Explore the Kimberley region
At Gantheaume Point at low tide you will see ancient dinosaur footprints – magical!
Where to stay in Buenos Aires
Just steps away from the elegant Santa Fe Avenue and famous Florida Street, we love the Alvear Art Hotel.
Explore Buenos Aires
Take a private city tour to see all the highlights including the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cabildo, colourful La Boca, the Colon Theatre and the Recoleta cemetery, resting place of Evita.