Expedition Molucca Islands, Raja Ampat And The Philippines: Idylls Above And Below The Water
17 nights
HANSEATIC spirit
22 May '28Cruise overview
The unusual as a premiere: from lush jungle and secluded lagoons to fascinating cultures. This route reveals the mysteries of seldom-visited islands and every landing opens doors to new wonders of the Pacific.
Itinerary
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is Australia’s most colorful, and exotic, capital city. Surrounded on three sides by the turquoise waters of the Timor Sea, the streets are lined with tropical flowers and trees. Warm and dry in winter, hot and steamy in summer, it’s a relaxed and casual place, as well as a beguiling blend of tropical frontier outpost and Outback hardiness. Thanks to its close proximity to Southeast Asia and its multicultural population it also seems more like Asia than the rest of Australia. Darwin is a city that has always had to fight for its survival. The seductiveness of contemporary Darwin lifestyles belies a history of failed attempts that date from 1824 when Europeans attempted to establish an enclave in this harsh, unyielding climate. The original 1869 settlement, called Palmerston, was built on a parcel of mangrove wetlands and scrub forest that had changed little in 15 million years. It was not until 1911, after it had already weathered the disastrous cyclones of 1878, 1882, and 1897, that the town was named after the scientist who had visited Australia’s shores aboard the Beagle in 1839. During World War II it was bombed more than 60 times, as the harbor full of warships was a prime target for the Japanese war planes. Then, on the night of Christmas Eve 1974, the city was almost completely destroyed by Cyclone Tracy, Australia’s greatest natural disaster. It’s a tribute to those who stayed and to those who have come to live here after Tracy that the rebuilt city now thrives as an administrative and commercial center for northern Australia. Old Darwin has been replaced by something of an edifice complex—such buildings as Parliament House and the Supreme Court all seem very grand for such a small city, especially one that prides itself on its casual, outdoor-centric lifestyle. Today Darwin is the best place from which to explore Australia’s Top End, with its wonders of Kakadu and the Kimberley region.
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Hualien
Keelung (Chilung)
Panoramic Cabin
- Heated wall in the bathroom (e. g. for towels and wet parkas)
- Rain shower
- Free mini bar (soft drinks)
- Coffee machine
- Separable beds
- Extensive infotainment with live broadcast and recordings of expert presentations, forward-view camera, navigation chart, films and much more
- Binoculars
- Nordic Walking poles
- 24-hour cabin service
- There is one cabin with fully accessible layout and equipment (cabin 404)
Amenities
- Room Service Available
- TV
- Coffee Machine
- Safe
- Hair Dryer
- Telephone
- Desk
- Double or Twin Configuration
- Lounge Area
- Free Mini Bar
- Media/Entertainment Station
- Shower
Ship features
Accomodation
Inspired by nature
In the cabins and suites, curved lines, natural colours and premium materials come together in a harmonious room concept that promises – and delivers – pure relaxation.
Features of all cabins and suites
- An ocean view with even more: exclusively outside cabins and suites, almost all with balconies or French balconies
- Spaciously designed – enjoy a relaxing stay in rooms from 21 m²/226 ft² up to 71 m²/764 ft² in size
- Exceptionally equipped – for example, with binoculars, Nordic Walking poles, air conditioning, coffee machine and mini bar (free of charge) and 24-hour cabin service
- Separable beds
- Rain shower and heated wall in bathroom (e.g. for towels and wet parkas)
- Extensive infotainment with live broadcast and recordings of expert presentations, forwardview camera, navigation chart, films and much more