Unlocking the Mysteries of the Coral Sea

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Highlights

  • A rare opportunity to discover diverse cultures, see varied wildlife, and learn storied histories.
  • Explore a number of World War II wreckages and memorials.
  • See a sundry of terrains—from lagoon to mountainside, and from coral reef to mangrove.
  • Sail alongside dolphins, see near-extinct birds and visit prehistoric reptiles, such as the Crested Gecko Rhacodactylus Ciliatus.
  • Experience each island’s unique customs of craft, song and dance.

Highlights

  • A rare opportunity to discover diverse cultures, see varied wildlife, and learn storied histories.
  • Explore a number of World War II wreckages and memorials.
  • See a sundry of terrains—from lagoon to mountainside, and from coral reef to mangrove.
  • Sail alongside dolphins, see near-extinct birds and visit prehistoric reptiles, such as the Crested Gecko Rhacodactylus Ciliatus.
  • Experience each island’s unique customs of craft, song and dance.
Capacity: 114, Types: Luxury Small Ship CruiseLuxury Expedition

Oceania's biodiversity is simply astonishing. This is a geologically complex region of unique ecosystems and species, above and beneath the warm tropical waters, and you will have plenty of opportunity to experience both with our frequent Zodiac outings.

  • A rare opportunity to discover diverse cultures, see varied wildlife, and learn storied histories.
  • Explore a number of World War II wreckages and memorials.
  • See a sundry of terrains—from lagoon to mountainside, and from coral reef to mangrove.
  • Sail alongside dolphins, see near-extinct birds and visit prehistoric reptiles, such as the Crested Gecko Rhacodactylus Ciliatus.
  • Experience each island’s unique customs of craft, song and dance.

There are no future departures for this trip at this stage.

show reverse itinerary
Day 1 — Cairns, Australia
Embark the Silver Discoverer for this stunning Silversea Expedition – Unlocking the Mysteries of the Coral Sea. This afternoon, you will be introduced to your Expedition Team and attend a safety briefing, and tonight we invite you to familiarise yourself with your new home away from home, meet some of your fellow travellers and enjoy the first of many memorable meals in The Restaurant.
Day 2 — At Sea
A leisurely day at sea is yours to enjoy. Begin perhaps with a late breakfast and another cup of coffee or tea during the first of the day’s lectures. Join the lectures and hear fascinating tales of adventure and learn more about the region’s endemic wildlife and remarkable nature. Our knowledgeable Lecture Staff members are experts in a variety of scientific fields.
Day 3 — Alotau, Papua New Guinea
Alotau, a sleepy town in the southeast of Papua New Guinea, is nestled in the hillsides of the northern shore of Milne Bay. In 1968 it became the province’s capital when administrators were moved from overcrowded Samarai Island. Alotau played a pivotal role in the WWII Battle of Milne Bay—it was here that the Japanese suffered their first defeat. As a consequence, there are several memorials and relics here to commemorate the town’s significance, and you are invited to take a half-day tour to explore them.
Day 4 — Punawan Island, Papua New Guinea
Punawan is an uninhabited island, used by residents of neighboring islands for its bountiful fishing opportunities. White sandy beaches and warm coastal waters will welcome you to this island paradise, which is a haven for divers and snorkelers alike.
Day 5 — Kitava and Nuratu Island, Papua New Guinea 

A lot has been written about the Trobriand Islanders—a proud and fascinating group of people who live in traditional settlements that honor ancestral customs and traditions, which include a matrilineal line of descent alongside show-stopping dances and chants, which are primarily performed to attract and lure the opposite sex. Indeed, the Trobriand people have what we would consider a liberal attitude to sexual relations, hence their land space’s nickname—The Islands of Love—which are part of the Kula Ring. Once we’ve anchored offshore, we will make our landing by Zodiac to this uplifted coral island where the island’s students will entertain and welcome us with a colourful presentation of local songs and dances. Souvenirs you may want to pick up here include intricately carved canes, boats and bowls, as well as some of the costumes used during the dances. For the keen walkers, hiking to Kitava’s primary school is a great way to see more of the island, including traditional houses and the all-important yam gardens. During the afternoon we will be able to relax on the beach of Nuratu, and swim or snorkel in the warm water, enjoying our last stop in Papua New Guinea.
Day 6 — Iwa Island, Papua New Guinea 

The islands in the Trobriands and Woodlark are mostly rocky and secluded, and Iwa is no exception. Villagers build food-garden lined stone paths and carve out steps from the beach to their homes on the higher part of the island. Seldom visited by outsiders (tourists), the native tribes still like to do their best to welcome visitors with a unique display of tradition songs and dance.
Day 7 — Kennedy Island, Solomon Islands
Kasolo Island is more popularly known as Kennedy Island because it is the historically famous landmark where JFK was marooned during World War II. Amid great publicity, the remains of the sunken PT-109 warship on which he was stationed, were discovered in nearby Blackett Strait. Today, Kennedy Island is a popular dive site for wreck seekers.
Day 8 — Tulagi, Solomon Islands
At just 3.5 miles long by only 0.6 miles wide, Tulagi is one of the smallest of the 992 Solomon Islands. Meanwhile, nearby Gavutu Island was converted into a protected dolphin training ground from which the dolphins were freed in 2010 to now roam the waters in the wild. So, as we sail into dock, be on the lookout for both spinner and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. Conditions permitting, today we will offer a Zodiac® cruise near Taroaniara to observe the local huts along the mangrove shores. Alternatively, we will cruise aboard Silver Discoverer into the channel that divides the Nggela Sule and Nggela Pile islands, where we will enjoy an afternoon of watersports at the mostly abandoned Roderick Bay Yacht Club.
Day 9 — Port Mary, Santa Ana, Solomon Islands
Today, Port Mary, the small bay in front of the main village of Ghupuna, welcomes us with beautiful white-sand beaches, large, lush trees, and traditional houses built of local timber and leaf. Santa Ana’s leaf houses were built flush to the ground until the 1970s but are now mostly built on stilts. Dozens of curious children will greet us, and we hope to arrange a local reception with dances by the island’s local students. If you’re on the lookout for a truly unique souvenir, Santa Ana is renowned for its small, ornately crafted ceremonial food bowls, dance sticks and fishing floats.
Day 10 — At Sea
A leisurely day at sea to exchange notes with fellow travellers and take advantage of the luxurious amenities aboard Silver Discoverer. Help our birders spot some of the seabirds found far away from their nesting grounds. Enjoy a lecture or an interesting book can be good company too. Or just relax in the comfort of your suite and watch a movie on the in-­‐suite interactive television.
Day 11 — Luganville and Champagne Beach, Vanuatu
Luganville (called "Santo" by people from Vanuatu's northern islands and "Kanal" by rural residents of the large island of Espiritu Santo) is the second largest city in the archipelago of Vanuatu (formerly known as New Hebrides). Here you will see, firsthand, the South Pacific’s rich island heritage, which spans over 3,000 years of Pacific region immigration. On Luganville's main street, (which is unusually wide, thanks to a WWII general's insistence that it should accommodate four trucks abreast), visitors will find interesting general stores, commercial shops and tourist boutiques. You may want to join a highlights tour of Luganville, to take in the city’s main sites and visit with the island women for a display of their unique water music rhythms. Alternatively, divers are invited to explore the WWII wrecks that lie at the ocean’s floor. In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to go to Champagne Beach, so-named for the freshwater springs that bubble up through the white sand to create a variety of dancing, coloured lights (an all-natural consequence of the varying densities of salt- and fresh-water). This is undoubtedly a unique place to swim, cool off and watch the bright spectrum of fish that dart over the sand and amongst the rocks. We also hope to see the unique Water Music Women who stand waist-deep in the water in a half-moon pattern and use their hands to produce a wide range of musical sounds with the water. The crescent formation reflects the way the women have worked for thousands of years, standing in a semi-circle at the water’s edge, washing, bathing and collecting shellfish.
Day 12 — Ambrym, Vanuatu
Ambrym, one of the larger islands in Vanuatu, is well known for its highly active volcanoes and their dominatingly wide caldera. Indeed, upon arrival you will no doubt notice how the black shores stand out against Ambrym’s lush vegetation. The highlight of any visit to Ambrym is the Rom dance, which is usually only performed during grade-taking ceremonies or men’s secret society meetings. It involves near-naked musicians and dancers clad in banana leaves and wooden masks, dancing in a mesmerizing fashion. If it has not rained, the performance takes on a mythical air, as dancers ostensibly “disappear” into the clouds of dust raised by their stomping feet. For those who are interested, a full day trek to the volcano will be offered though at the cost of witnessing the alluring Rom dance.
Day 13 — Lifou, New Caledonia
Lifou, a French commune, not only has one of the most diverse landscapes in the Pacific Islands but is also the largest coral atoll in the Loyalty archipelago. As a consequence, our divers will be awestruck by the incredible coral reefs, teeming with brightly coloured marine life, that they’ll be able to see. Indeed, Jinek Bay, located just a short stroll from where the ship docks, is considered to be one of the Pacific’s highest quality reefs. Meanwhile, the above-water terrain does not disappoint, either. Here, our land-lovers can explore surrounds that include limestone caves, white-sand beaches and lush, green forests. Today is not the day to forget your camera as you are bound to be awestruck Lifou’s breathtakingly beautiful views—the northern coast of the island is made up of high, steep cliffs, whilst the southern side boasts pristine beaches that cradle stunning, turquoise waters. Life on Lifou offers visitors a glimpse of island charm—time seems to be measured by the positions of the sun and the tide, while residents preserve their traditional Kanak culture, which encompasses a tight, clan structure that have a close affinity for the land they have inhabited for thousands of years.
Day 14 — Ile des Pins, New Caledonia
Welcome to Ile des Pins—an island that is teaming with animal life and home to unusual creatures such as the Crested Gecko Rhacodactylus ciliatus and the world's largest gecko Rhacodactylus leachianus. The “Isle of Pines” is nicknamed l'île la plus proche du paradis ("the closest island to Paradise"), and it’s easy to see why. Divers and snorkelers will enjoy touring the lagoon where incredible species of fish and corals can be seen in the transparent water. Meanwhile, our by-foot explorers will enjoy a fascinating journey to penal colony ruins, which feature a water tower that was built by prisoners in 1874/75; renovated in 2005, it is still used by islanders today
Day 15 — At Sea
Enjoy a day aboard Silver Discoverer. Partake in authority-led lectures, martini tastings, cooking demonstrations or photography tutorials for lasting lessons to take home. Alternatively, relax, and enjoy Silversea’s signature luxury amenities including your in-suite bar that we’ve stocked to your preference, and gourmet dining selections by Relais & Chateaux.
Day 16 — Norfolk Island, Norfolk
Today is dedicated to the birdwatchers amongst us. Norfolk Island, with neighbouring Nepean Island, has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area because it supports the entire populations of White-Chested and Slender-Billed Norfolk Parakeets and Norfolk Gerygones, as well as over 1% of the world populations of Wedge-Tailed Shearwaters and Red-Tailed Tropicbirds. Norfolk Island also has a botanical garden, which is home to a sizeable variety of plant species.
Day 17 — At Sea
As we continue sailing towards our next port of call, enjoy this rare opportunity to truly relax. Alternatively, share memories with fellow passengers in the piano bar; review the abundance of photographs you have no doubt taken, and perhaps take a moment to reflect on (what we hope) has been the trip of a lifetime.
Day 18 — Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Famous for spectacular beaches, breathtaking bays and an abundance of water activities, the Bay of Islands, commonly regarded as New Zealand’s “birthplace,” is a dynamic, sub-tropical region that is rich in tourism, fruit growing, dairy, wool-ranching, winemaking and crafts. Northland boasts sandy beaches, beautiful bays, crystal-clear waters and an abundance of islands—there are 144 of them in the aptly named Bay of Islands. Meanwhile, harbors cut deep into the coast, which is fringed by bush land and punctuated by the occasional village. Upon arrival at the Waitangi wharf our Maori Guide will escort us to the historical Waitangi Treaty Grounds where his/ her tribesmen will greet us with a traditional Maori welcome. Our guide will then proceed to take us on an exploration of the area upon which we will learn about New Zealand’s history, discovering the stories, personalities and events that shaped this magnificent and culturally rich country. During this once-in-a-lifetime experience, you will view the world’s largest ceremonial war canoe, stand on the spot where the Waitangi Treaty was signed, visit the historical Treaty House, and learn about the carvings in the carved Meeting House. Following our guided tour, you can opt to partake in a private workshop, to learn local skills and crafts, such as flax weaving, woodcarving and kapa haka (Māori song and dance, including the famous Haka). At midday we will be served an authentic hangi feast, which is cooked in an underground pit oven. The Māori guides and performers will join us to share our meal. Come the afternoon, we will undertake a Waka activity that provides a rare and unique insight into ancient Nga Puhi tribal customs, rituals and traditions. As we paddle a 50 ft. Māori Waka (canoe) on the tidal estuaries of the Waitangi River to the Haruru Falls, your Maori hosts will inform and entertain you with stories of their ancestors’ rich histories. Upon our return to the Waitangi wharf, we will say farewell to the new friends we made during our Bay of Islands Cultural Experience and return to the Silver Discoverer for our last night on board.
Day 19 — Auckland, New Zealand
Following breakfast, disembark Silver Discoverer. Expedition highlights and wildlife listed here are possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed. Your Expedition Leader and Captain will work together to ensure opportunities for adventure and exploration are the best possible, taking into account the prevailing weather and wildlife activity. Expedition Team members scheduled for this voyage are subject to change or cancellation.
Caledonian Sky
The MS Caledonian Sky, fully refurbished in 2021, accommodates a maximum of 114 passengers in 57 spacious outside suites. Many have walk-in wardrobes and some feature tub baths. There will be seven c…

Caledonian Sky

Length: 90 metres
Passenger Capacity: 114 (in 57 suites)
Built: 1991 / refurbished 2021

The MS Caledonian Sky, fully refurbished in 2021, accommodates a maximum of 114 passengers in 57 spacious outside suites. Many have walk-in wardrobes and some feature tub baths. There will be seven categories of suites and sixteen suites will have private balconies. For those familiar with the MS Island Sky, Caledonian Sky is a sister ship,she will feel like a second home, although there are some differences. The dining room, lounge, Lido Deck and bar are all similar. However, the ‘Club’ on the MS Caledonian Sky has been transported to the very top deck. Here, there is a library and bar which leads out on to a lovely forward deck. The ‘Club’ has wonderful views with ceiling to floor windows.

Your Suite Onboard there are 57 exceptionally spacious and well designed suites. The passenger accommodation is arranged over four decks and all suites have outside views. All feature a sitting room area and some have private balconies. Each affords considerable comfort with en-suite bathroom featuring a country style wash basin, hot towel rack and vanity unit with sink and walk-in shower and/or bath tub.

Facilities in the suites also include walk-in or spacious wardrobes, dressing table with large mirror and stool or desk, mini-fridge, flat screen television, telephone, programmable electronic safe, hairdryer, assorted toiletries, air-conditioning and heating. Bottled water, towelling dressing gowns and slippers are also provided for your comfort.

Your space The spacious and finely decorated public rooms include a large lounge where daily briefings and talks will be provided throughout the voyage and an elegant bar where a pianist plays periodically throughout the day. The bar also features a 24-hour tea and coffee station. In addition there is the Club Lounge on the Panoramic Deck which features a bar. The onboard travel library is the perfect place to relax with a book and is stocked with reference books pertaining to the places the vessel is visiting along with a selection of games and two computers with internet access. Daily newspapers and magazines are also placed in the library depending on local availability. Outside there is a rear Lido deck where meals are served in warm weather under shade. On the top deck there is a further observation and sun deck with bar service and comfortable deck furniture for sun bathing or relaxing with a book. There is also a small gymnasium onboard and hairdressers with appointments made on request.

Your dining With only one sitting and a maximum of just over 100 passengers, the quality of cuisine will be of a consistent superior quality. Where possible and when it meets his high standards, our accomplished chef will obtain local produce in markets or buy the catch of the day from a passing fishing boat. Such purchases enhance the well stocked larders and bring a local touch to the varied menus. In the main elegant dining room, breakfast is served buffet-style, with certain items cooked to order and lunch and dinner is à la carte. When weather permits, breakfast, a buffet-style lunch and dinner are also served on deck. To enhance your dining experience even further a selection of wines are included with lunch and dinner. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge and tea and coffee are available 24 hours. With sufficient notice, most diets can be catered for on board.

For your comfort, safety and security The vessel is equipped with the latest safety, navigation and communications equipment along with roll stabilisers to minimise the ship’s motion. The Captain and officers operate an open-bridge policy that allows passengers onto the bridge at most times with the exception of arrival and departure from port and during times of complicated navigation. Here you can check the ship’s progress by charts and learn more from the officers about your journey. There is also a dedicated channel on your television in your suite showing the routing of the vessel along with technical information and estimated times of arrival and departure from port. On board you will also find a clinic and doctor and a lift that serves all decks. Smoking on board is restricted to outside decks only.

Gratuities Unlike many other cruise vessels, onboard the MS Caledonian Sky you do not need to worry about tipping staff as we have included them in your holiday price. In addition we tip all their guides and drivers along the way, thereby taking away the hassle of always having to remember to have some small change with you.

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