Follow The Voyage

West Papua, Raja Ampat & Micronesia | Darwin to Yap

21 August 2024 – 6 September 2024

Jump To: Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5| Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9| Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day 14 | Day 15 | Day 16

Day 3: At Sea

23 August 2024

Our day began with a refreshing stretching class led by Chrissy, followed by Sandra’s insightful talk on marine mammals, which was so engaging that even some of our crew joined in. Guests enjoyed a bridge tour before Dawn introduced the Palau excursion options and shared plans for the following day, including an exciting cooking class.

In the afternoon, our chief engineer John gave an interesting talk, and Dawn introduced the Patchwork Challenge, where guests reassembled image tiles into a larger format—about a dozen guests participated. Later, we hosted a lively pub quiz with bar service, and after dinner, we ended the day with a screening of the fascinating documentary BBC Spice Trail.

Day 4: Tual

24 August 2024

Our early arrival in Tual marked the start of our expedition, with seamless CIQ clearance thanks to the excellent communication from ground crew Oswald and Josh. Despite this being our first visit, we experienced a secure landing and a warm Indonesian welcome, complete with musicians. After a short walk to the buses, a few guests made a quick stop at the ATM before we arrived at the picturesque village of Kampung Taar. There, two of our guests graciously accepted a gift from the village chief—a beautiful copper band and a batik-style scarf. The walk through the village was pleasant and flat, with a highlight being a stop at the local school, where children played harmonious and tranquil tunes on traditional bamboo instruments called Angklung, with Sundanese roots. The morning concluded with heartfelt speeches by both the village chief and the mayor of Tual, followed by local snacks and dancing, leaving everyone with a smile. The afternoon was equally engaging with photography talks by Alesha and Jarryd, a briefing on the next two days, and a fascinating talk by our Indonesian guide Abam on the Spice Islands. We rounded off the day with an engine room tour, drinks, and dinner.

Day 5: Banda Neira

25 August 2024

As predicted, the weather wasn’t on our side this morning as we approached the island, with heavy rain coming down. Despite the downpour, we had an exciting experience with the Kora Kora racing us into the channel, marking a vibrant start to our visit to Banda Neira.  We reached Zonnegat by 9:00 AM ready for our first water activity of the trip, the famous lava flow snorkel and dive.

Divers completed their checkout dive while snorkellers enjoyed the morning before returning to the ship for lunch. After lunch, Jake led a second dive near a small island at the northern entrance, where divers spotted plenty of triggerfish. In the afternoon, we began our first transfers to town, where our guests received a warm welcome and a generous spice donation. The walking tour of historic Banda included stops at the museum, church, Cilu Bintang, Square Fort, and the palace.

We ended the day on a high note with sunset drinks at Fort Belgica, and overall, the guests seemed to enjoy their day.

Day 6: Hatta

26 August 2024

Our early recce showed that the beach landing for the shore excursion wasn’t ideal, so we adapted by offering a water-based experience from a more sheltered part of the reef to the west. Both Xplorers anchored in about 5 meters of water, and guests navigated the gentle current along the reef wall beautifully, following our guidance to stay closer to the island for a more protected swim. The reef was full of life, with guests spotting hundreds of red-tooth triggerfish and enjoying the vibrant colours of the marine landscape. The divers explored about 400 meters along the reef wall with the support of our zodiacs, and Matt, our new deckhand, did a fantastic job assisting everyone out of the water. After a refreshing morning on the water, guests had time to relax with a shower and morning tea. Later, Abam captivated everyone with a talk on the conservation of the Land of Four Kings, and guests also enjoyed engine room tours and an insightful discussion by Bia on reef ecology. The day wrapped up with a lively cocktail-making session hosted by the hotel staff, followed by dinner and a delightful evening movie.

Day 7: Misool

27 August 2024

Although we had an overcast morning at Misool, the stunning scenery still shone through. We began the day with both Xplorers docking along the jetty to offload guests for their chosen activities—a hike to Celestial Hill or a snorkelling adventure. A small group of guests opted to stay on board for a longer cruise before returning to the jetty. Many energetic guests hiked all the way to the top of Celestial Hill, where they were rewarded with breathtaking views of the limestone landscape—truly a stellar sight to behold! Snorkellers enjoyed their time exploring from the rafted Xplorer, and Jake led a great introduction session. With the falling tide, we carefully managed our timing to ensure smooth departures. The first Xplorer set off with about 30 guests, checking the depth as we exited, and the second Xplorer followed safely with a perfect margin. Afterward, we spent a delightful 45 minutes cruising into the area with the guidance of a local expert, enjoying the serene environment even at low tide. Over lunch, Jake scouted the next site, and we found a wonderful sheltered bay to raft both Xplorers. Here, guests had the opportunity to snorkel, dive, kayak, or simply relax on the water, making for a calm and enjoyable afternoon. The day wrapped up with drinks on Deck 7 as the ship gently departed the area, and after dinner, we featured a special Banda-themed film on Netflix.

Day 8: Wayag

28 August 2024

We had fantastic conditions this morning as we arrived at the magical island of Wayag. After breakfast, we began our day with a scenic cruise into the channel at NW Wayag, where we passed near jungle-draped karst limestone cliffs dipping into turquoise, reef-fringed waters. The cruise was made even more special by a sighting of an eagle ray leaping out of the water right in front of our Xplorer! We anchored off the point with both vessels for what turned out to be the best snorkel of the trip so far. The conditions were perfect, and guests enjoyed exploring the vibrant reef ledge for over an hour. Our divers also experienced their best dive of the trip here. After lunch on board, we headed back out for a beach adventure filled with kayaking, snorkelling, diving, and a hike to the top of Pindito. Everyone made it up and back safely, rewarded with commanding views of the island from nearly 100 meters above sea level. Throughout the afternoon, we had transfers back to the ship and set up a delightful beach drinks experience on a tiny island with spectacular views, plenty of shade, natural seating, and quiet spots for relaxation. Changing the location for sunset drinks was a great decision, offering a fresh perspective and adding to the day’s excitement. We returned safely to the ship by 6 pm for an early dinner, followed by a fun-filled games night where Katie hosted “Celebrity Head.”

Day 9: Sorong

29 August 2024

Our visit to this beautiful location left us wishing for more time, especially to explore the enchanting old-growth forest fully. Despite the tight timeline, our dedicated team, including the bridge and deck crew, worked seamlessly to make the most of our day. The journey began with a scenic 30-minute bus ride to a lush, dense tropical forest, where we were warmly welcomed by the Moi tribe, adorned in traditional Ikat attire and cassowary feather headdresses. After the welcoming ceremonies, we ventured into the shaded forest canopy to learn about the tribe’s local honey production using native stingless bees and to sample some of their delicious local foods, including yam, curried fish soup, and a unique delicacy called Papeda. The hospitality of the Moi tribe made our short visit truly memorable.

Our return to the port was slightly delayed by a vibrant political procession for the upcoming election, adding a lively touch to our journey back. Nevertheless, we made it back to the ship in good time and are on schedule for our next destination, Palau. The afternoon continued on board with Bia’s insightful talk on whale sharks, followed by a chef Q&A with Andy. Dawn then hosted a photo recap of the past two days and shared information about the origin of the Indonesian flag. Around 5 pm, we crossed the equator, and we’re looking forward to celebrating this moment with some fun activities on our upcoming sea day. We wrapped up the evening with a screening of the movie “Knives Out,” bringing a perfect end to our eventful day.

Day 10: At Sea

30 August 2024

We are making excellent progress toward our arrival in Palau, and we’ve filled the day with a variety of engaging activities. The morning began with an insightful presentation by geologist Russell Penney, who captivated us with his talk on plate tectonics and the Ring of Fire. Following this, we had a lively and entertaining Crossing the Equator ceremony. Jacob and Chrissy stole the show dressed as King and Queen Neptune, while Naomi and Dawn embraced their roles as pirates. The back deck on Level 4 was set up with viewing chairs arranged in an arena style, creating a fantastic atmosphere. The chefs joined in on the fun by preparing big buckets of slops, and the guests thoroughly enjoyed watching the newer crew get hooded and slopped in true maritime tradition.

After lunch, Captain Andrew delivered an informative talk on navigation, offering great insights into the art and science behind guiding our journey. Later in the afternoon, Dawn gave a quick briefing before guests enjoyed a fun games session hosted by Naomi, Katie, and Jake. We ended the day on a high note with a screening of the documentary “BBC Earth: The Deep,” providing a perfect conclusion to our full and entertaining day.

Day 11: Palau Arrival

31 August 2024

Our day at sea was filled with engaging activities, starting with a refreshing morning stretch led by Chrissy, followed by an informative talk on the Japanese Zero fighter aircraft by Jake. After a short break, Sandra captivated us with a presentation on Palau’s rich history. Lunch provided a nice mid-day pause, and soon after, we found ourselves approaching our arrival. Dawn gave a briefing on the plans for tomorrow and highlighted the remainder of the trip through to our arrival in Yap.

The evening was a delightful mix of entertainment, drinks, and dancing, providing a perfect respite from our days at sea. We also had the option to dine off the ship at the resort, with the final transfer back to the ship at 22:00.

Day 12: Palau

1 September 2024

This morning, we adjusted our transfer plans to make the most of the conditions, successfully delivering guests via rafting the boats in the calm waters near the headland. As the day progressed, the weather brightened significantly, allowing us to revert to our original plan of using the jetty by lunchtime. The sun emerged, setting the stage for a beautiful afternoon where all tours departed on schedule.

Both the snorkelling and cruising excursions were outstanding, with each snorkelling site offering unique and memorable experiences. The highlight was the shipwreck, where guests enjoyed diving down to explore the openings of the Japanese vessel. The atmosphere was peaceful, especially as we cruised through the picturesque rock islands. Jake reported that the certified divers had a great dive, exploring the vibrant underwater world.

After a fulfilling day, we enjoyed the BBC documentary “South Pacific: Ocean Volcanoes” after dinner, rounding off an excellent day of exploration and discovery.

Day 13: At Sea

2 September 2024

Our final sea day was pleasant with reasonable weather. The morning began with a briefing on Yap, covering waivers and menu choices for the turnaround day. We then conducted a drill, which intrigued some guests who were interested in learning about the lifeboats and their mechanisms.

Bia delivered an engaging talk on the cultural craftsmanship of Yap and Micronesia, which was well-received. After lunch, photographers Jarryd and Alesha presented a session on enhancing phone photography, offering valuable tips and insights. Katie wrapped up the day with a fun trip quiz in the Bridge Deck Lounge, which brought lots of laughs. We ended the evening by screening the movie “The Castle.”

Day 14: Yap

3 September 2024

We were greeted with wonderful weather this morning as we docked. The divers set off early, followed closely by the other two groups, each enjoying a unique experience for the day. The snorkellers loved the calm and clear waters at their site, while the cultural bus tour visited the men’s houses, the Stone Money Museum, and concluded at a village where children, dressed in vibrant colors, performed songs and dances. The tour was particularly interesting for history enthusiasts, with a chance to walk around some downed Zero fighters in the forest.

The divers reported having two of their best dives of the trip, with a stunning wall dive offering over 40 meters of visibility. Although no mantas were spotted, the second dive was equally impressive with over 40 meters of visibility again.

All guests were back on board by 17:00, and we departed the dock well before the planned 18:00 departure. After dinner, we enjoyed the screening of “Oceans of Volcanoes.”

Day 15: Ulithi Atoll

4 September 2024

We were blessed with fantastic weather as we approached the anchorage, with views of the low-lying, palm-fringed atoll chain. The clear water and bright sunshine made for a perfect morning. After the Captain and the guide met with the chief to request permission to visit, we had the explorers land the guests on the designated shore. We gathered in front of the men’s house, where the chief welcomed us to the island and shared their customs and guidelines for our visit.

The village walk was fascinating and accessible for all, with stops at the cemetery, notable for its almost inhumanly large stone slabs atop the tombs, the women’s house (viewed from a distance), and the school. At the school, we experienced one of those golden life moments that will stay with us for years. Set under the canopy of breadfruit trees and coconut palms, the open-air classrooms were filled with primary and middle school children, divided into four grades. They wore only their traditional wraps in bright blue, magenta, and red, barefoot and pure, with some girls in grass skirts symbolizing their coming of age. The teachers, simply dressed in grass skirts and necklaces, taught algebra, blending English with the local language. It was a beautiful example of simplicity and community, free from modern distractions.

The afternoon was equally wonderful, with snorkeling, diving, and swimming on the healthy reef to the north of the island. The divers enjoyed a zodiac transfer to the outer bommie, where we had a great dive on the outer reef in super warm and clear water, with fascinating coral growth even at the surface. We returned to the ship after a fantastic afternoon in the water. Following Dawn’s talk outlining the plans for tomorrow, Thomas, our agent, gave an engaging presentation on Micronesia during pre-dinner drinks. It was a lovely way to wrap up a great day.

Day 16: Sorol Atoll

5 September 2024

Today was truly amazing, and I almost agree with Cara when she said we saved the best for last. We began with an early reccy to shore to check the landing, which was perfect on the high tide. Guests enjoyed a relaxing morning beachcombing on the main island and exploring Bird Island via tender rides across the flooded channel. Some of us even swam across the channel, adding to the fun. With two zodiacs handling transfers smoothly, nearly all the guests enjoyed swimming in the shallows despite the warm weather. We wrapped up the morning and returned to the ship for lunch.

After lunch, we set off for one of the best snorkels of the trip in a clear lagoon with glassy conditions and stunning bommies that everyone loved—a definite spot to return to. The certified divers had an excellent dive along the deep edge of the wall, with visibility reaching 30 meters and sightings of pelagics swimming nearby. That afternoon, I held a charter flight briefing and addressed any questions.

In the evening, Naomi did a great job selecting photos for the slideshow, highlighting many guests. We ended with the captain’s speech, followed by my speech, before enjoying the final dinner of the cruise.