Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.
Introducing Silver Nova – the twelfth ship to join our fleet. Our newest vessel will join us in summer 2023, and will be a home away from home for up to 728 guests. Silver Nova's innovative asymmetrical design introduces the world like never before, offering an immersive destination experience to our guests. With a gross tonnage of 54,700 tons she will offer a space-to-guest ratio of 75 GRT-per-passenger becoming one of the most spacious cruise ships ever built. What's more, Silver Nova will be our most environmentally friendly, and thanks to her groundbreaking technological solutions, she will propel Silversea into a new era of sustainable cruising. It's the Nova way to travel.
Silver Nova preserves all our trademarks and delivers a new way of luxury cruising. Her revolutionary horizontal design ensures outstanding public areas, which fuse seamlessly together. Silver Nova will introduce a brand new selection of superb, spacious suites, many of which promise a 270° view from sea to sky. Nine dining venues and an unprecedented choice of bars complete the experience, offering delicious drinking and dining at any time of the day.
Cruise ID: 30046
Diverse dining between sea and sky
You'll be spoilt for choice with Silver Nova's outstanding range of dining venues and bars. Enjoy casual cocktails under the stars in The Dusk Bar, tasting destination specific recipes in S.A.L.T. Kitchen, savouring French fine dining in La Dame or why not relax with a pizza and beer in Spaccanapoli? Silver Nova's ten bars and eight restaurants are perfect for enjoying your favourite drink or dish, with your favourite people. Come for the food and stay for the views.
Setting sail on Silversea promises peace of mind from start to finish. That means no worrying about tipping the butlers or staff. Our crew-to-guest ratio of almost 1:1 ensures flawless service from pole to pole, but with us, you never have to think about who should get a tip, how much you should give and when. It's all included! We believe that not having to deal with tipping helps make your luxury cruise even more special and stress-free. And that is worth every penny.
Date | Time | Price * | Booking |
---|---|---|---|
15 October 2024 | 22:30 | €17,711 | Call us to book |
* Price based on lowest available cruise only fare for double occupancy. Subject to change at any time.
The Silver Suite is a Silversea favourite. It's one of the Venetian Society's favourite choices, and we can see why! The Silver Suite aboard Silver Nova offers an innovative design layout that will unlock full sea views from both the living room and bedroom, while the spacious living area allows for comfortable relaxing. A generous dining area makes cosy nights dining in veritable experiences in themselves. The suite features a generous walk-in closet as well as a bathroom with whirlpool bath, a walk-in shower, double vanity and separate lavatory.
One bedroom: 63 sq.m. including veranda
Two bedroom: 96 sq.m. including veranda
Wheelchair accessible suites: 6022, 7018
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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Silver Nova's Junior Grand Suite is a comfortably sized home away from home. Spaciously proportioned at 54-58 m2 or 581-624 sq. ft, including 6 m2 or 64 sq. ft of balcony, the Junior Grand builds on the success of the Grand Suite. It has inherited the best features of the Grand Suite by being positioned in the top bow position, offering spectacular views of the destination. The interior layout features a spacious living and dining area, as well as a secluded bedroom. The large bathroom features a double vanity, whirlpool and walk-in shower.
One bedroom: 54-58 sq.m. including veranda
Two bedroom: 87-91 sq.m. including veranda
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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With features similar to our best-selling Medallion Suite, the Premium Medallion has an optimal placement at the aft. The Medallion Suite design builds on the phenomenal success of our iconic Veranda suite, while offering the comfort of a generous interior and balcony (49 m2/527 sq. ft. and 8 m2/86 sq. ft respectively). Additionally, the suite features a large bathroom with a double vanity, a spacious bathtub and separate shower, as well as a secluded bedroom area with king-size bed.
One bedroom: 49 sq.m. including veranda
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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A mark of distinction, the Medallion Suite boasts a sumptuous and spacious living area, complete with rich textures and panoramic views from your large private veranda (8 m2 or 86 sq. ft.) Nestle up under plush bed linens for one of the best night's sleep of your life, or rejuvenate after a busy day of exploring onshore in the cosy indoor sitting area (49 m2 or 527 sq. ft.) The large bathroom with double vanity, spacious bathtub and shower is the perfect place to soak the day away. Relax with ease in the Medallion Suite, as the grandeurs of this stateroom surround you with distinguished luxury.
One bedroom: 527 ft² / 49 m² including veranda
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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A Silversea signature, the Veranda Suite offers elegant décor, a stunning marbled bathroom with a luxurious double vanity and sumptuous walk-in shower or large bathtub. Located now in the top aft location, the Premium Veranda will offer a comfortable interior. Additionally, an ample sitting area provides a generous expanse of interior comforts. Four suites (one on each deck) will offer spacious interiors adapted for guests with disabilities which will be located in the ideal mid-ship position. A new iteration of our iconic and perfect suite configuration.
One bedroom: 33 sq.m. including veranda
Wheelchair accessible suites: 6045, 7037, 8031, 9041
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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Whether you are preparing for a dynamic day on shore, primping for a romantic dinner on board, or settling down for a quiet evening in-suite, you will be enveloped by the Deluxe Veranda Suite's warm touches. Located in the ideal mid-ship position, the Deluxe Veranda Suite offers a comfortable 33 m2 of interior luxury. But perhaps this suite's finest asset lies just outside, as floor-to-ceiling glass doors open onto a furnished private teak 5 m2 veranda offering sweeping views of your destination.
One bedroom: 33 sq.m. including veranda
Two bedroom: 33 m² including veranda
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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Well situated at the front and back of the ship, the 28 m2 interior of the Veranda Suite is only the beginning. The 5m2 teak balcony makes each spectacular sunset feel like it is yours alone. From beautiful bed linens to sumptuous furniture, our Superior Veranda suites are luxurious inside and out! Whether enjoying some down time with the state of the art entertainment system or taking in dinner in-suite, the Superior Veranda is the cosiest home away from home on the high seas.
One bedroom: 33 sq.m. including veranda
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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Located at the bow and aft of the ship, the Classic Veranda Suite will offer travellers a taste of our famous on board luxury. After a busy day of exploring, welcome home to the haven of the Classic Veranda Suite. With butler service, a queen size bed (which can be separated on demand) and beautiful marble bathroom, you won't want to leave! However, the best part of our Classic Veranda suite is by far the large (5m2) private, teak veranda which offer sweeping views of the destination. Pure bliss.
One bedroom: 33 sq.m. including veranda
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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The Otium Suite is one of our newest and finest suites. Located in the premium aft corner position, the Otium Suite has a total size of 123 m2 (1,324 sq. ft.), including a 40 m2 (431 sq. ft.) balcony, which comes complete with a whirlpool. Features include a spacious living room area, a luxurious walk-in closet, a separate large bedroom, plus a bathroom with a whirlpool and walk-in shower. The crowning glory of the Otium Suite however must surely be its unprecedented 270 degree view, giving you some of the best views of your destination possible.
One bedroom: 123 sq.m. including veranda
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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The eponymous Owner's Suite is a Venetian Society favourite. So, why not travel in this stylish suite and get a taste of the ultimate in luxury lifestyle. The suite's total size is a huge 98 m2 or 1055 sq. ft., which includes 16 m2 (172 sq. ft.) of balcony making for comfortable outdoor living. The favourite mid ship position gives incredible views from both the dining area and bedroom. A luxurious bathroom with double vanity, plus a whirlpool and walk-in shower, bidet, lavatory and guest restroom perfect the in-suite experience.
One bedroom: 98 sq.m. including veranda
Two bedroom: 131 sq.m. including veranda
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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If you have ever wanted to indulge in one of our epitomes of ultra-luxury cruising, then the Grand Suite is perhaps the answer. Situated at the front of the ship, the Grand Suite offers sophistication and style for serious travellers. Thanks to an innovative design, the Grand Suite is one of the most luxurious and spacious suites aboard Silver Nova, offering sweeping sea to sky views on your destination from all living areas. A luxurious bathroom with double vanity, whirlpool and walk-in shower, plus a guest restroom complete.
One bedroom: 85 sq.m. including veranda
Two bedroom: 118 sq.m. including veranda
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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This new suite category is exclusive to Silver Nova. The Master Suite is stately, commanding and majestic and perfect for relaxing after a days' exploring on shore. Located in the premium aft corner position, the Master Suite has a total size: 67-77 m2 (721-826 sq. ft) and includes 22-31m2 (233-330 sq. ft.) of balcony. The incredible floor-to-ceiling glazing surrounding the living room and bedroom area will offer outstanding 270° views on your destination, regardless of whether you are in the world. A sumptuous bathroom will feature sweeping views of the destination.
One bedroom: 67-77 sq.m. including veranda
Two bedroom: 100-110 sq.m. including veranda
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
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Another exclusivity for Silver Nova. The Signature Suite is one of our most distinctive new suites, offering unparalleled destination immersion through unobstructed views from all interior areas. The Signature Suite is one of the most spacious suites on board totalling 65 m2 or 700 sq. ft., including 16 m2 or 172 sq. ft. of balcony for superlative outdoor living. The innovative layout will feature a large dining and living room area, as well as a secluded bedroom. The large bathroom features a double vanity, whirlpool and walk-in shower and lavatory is completed by a guest restroom.
One bedroom: 65 sq.m. including veranda
Images are intended as a general reference. Features, materials, finishes and layout may be different than shown.
Please note the 3rd guest will sleep on a comfortable sofa bed in the reception area of suites that have 3rd berth capacity.
Essentials
Characteristics
Furniture
Media & Communication
Onboard Services
Amenities
Day 1 Tokyo, Japan
Lights, sushi, manga! Sprawling, frenetic, and endlessly fascinating, Japan's capital is a city of contrasts. Shrines and gardens are pockets of calm between famously crowded streets and soaring office buildings. Mom-and-pop noodle houses share street space with Western-style chain restaurants and exquisite fine dining. Shopping yields lovely folk arts as well as the newest electronics. And nightlife kicks off with karaoke or sake and continues with techno clubs and more. Whether you seek the traditional or the cutting edge, Tokyo will provide it.
Day 2 Cruising
Day 3 Kagoshima, Japan
Kagoshima city is the capital of Kagoshima prefecture and also Kyushu's southernmost major city. This city is often compared to its Italian sister city Naples, due to its's similarities such as mild climate and active volcano, Sakurajima. Sakurajima is one of the most renowned active volcanos not only in Japan but also in the whole entire world. This smoking Sakurajima is centred in Kinko Bay and is one of the main symbols of this prefecture. We cannot talk about Sakurajima without the history of continuous eruption. Sakurajima used to be an isolated island; however, the land has banded together with Osumi peninsula from the eruption in 1914. You may have a chance to see the smoke coming from the top of Sakurajima depending on the weather condition. Not only does the scenery of Sakurajima represent the beauty of Kagoshima City but Senganen garden is also symbolic to elegance in the Kagoshima region. This Japanese garden was constructed by a feudal lord, Mitsuhisa Shimazu, as a guest house of the Kagoshima castle which attracts many visitors for its splendid view.
Day 4 Cruising
Day 5 Incheon, South Korea
Day 6 Incheon, South Korea
Days 7-9 Cruising
Day 10 Hong Kong, Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Island skyline, with its ever-growing number of skyscrapers, speaks to ambition and money. Paris, London, even New York were centuries in the making, while Hong Kong's towers, bright lights, and glitzy shopping emporia weren't yet part of the urban scene when many of the young investment bankers who fuel one of the world's leading financial centers were born. Commerce is concentrated in the glittering high-rises of Central, tucked between Victoria Harbor and forested peaks on Hong Kong Island's north shore. While it's easy to think all the bright lights are the sum of today's Hong Kong, you need only walk or board a tram for the short jaunt west into Western to discover a side of Hong Kong that is more traditionally Chinese but no less high-energy. You'll discover the real Hong Kong to the east of Central, too, in Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, and beyond. Amid the residential towers are restaurants, shopping malls, bars, convention centers, a nice smattering of museums, and—depending on fate and the horse you wager on—one of Hong Kong's luckiest or unluckiest spots, the Happy Valley Racecourse. Kowloon sprawls across a generous swath of the Chinese mainland across Victoria Harbour from Central. Tsim Sha Tsui, at the tip of Kowloon peninsula, is packed with glitzy shops, first-rate museums, and eye-popping views of the skyline across the water. Just to the north are the teeming market streets of Mong Kok and in the dense residential neighborhoods beyond, two of Hong Kong's most enchanting spiritual sights, Wong Tai Sin Temple and Chi Lin Nunnery. As you navigate this huge metropolis (easy to do on the excellent transportation network), keep in mind that streets are usually numbered odd on one side, even on the other. There's no baseline for street numbers and no block-based numbering system, but street signs indicate building numbers for any given block.
Day 11 Hong Kong, Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Island skyline, with its ever-growing number of skyscrapers, speaks to ambition and money. Paris, London, even New York were centuries in the making, while Hong Kong's towers, bright lights, and glitzy shopping emporia weren't yet part of the urban scene when many of the young investment bankers who fuel one of the world's leading financial centers were born. Commerce is concentrated in the glittering high-rises of Central, tucked between Victoria Harbor and forested peaks on Hong Kong Island's north shore. While it's easy to think all the bright lights are the sum of today's Hong Kong, you need only walk or board a tram for the short jaunt west into Western to discover a side of Hong Kong that is more traditionally Chinese but no less high-energy. You'll discover the real Hong Kong to the east of Central, too, in Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, and beyond. Amid the residential towers are restaurants, shopping malls, bars, convention centers, a nice smattering of museums, and—depending on fate and the horse you wager on—one of Hong Kong's luckiest or unluckiest spots, the Happy Valley Racecourse. Kowloon sprawls across a generous swath of the Chinese mainland across Victoria Harbour from Central. Tsim Sha Tsui, at the tip of Kowloon peninsula, is packed with glitzy shops, first-rate museums, and eye-popping views of the skyline across the water. Just to the north are the teeming market streets of Mong Kok and in the dense residential neighborhoods beyond, two of Hong Kong's most enchanting spiritual sights, Wong Tai Sin Temple and Chi Lin Nunnery. As you navigate this huge metropolis (easy to do on the excellent transportation network), keep in mind that streets are usually numbered odd on one side, even on the other. There's no baseline for street numbers and no block-based numbering system, but street signs indicate building numbers for any given block.
Days 12-13 Cruising
Day 14 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam's largest city and the engine driving the country's current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it's a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city's traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they're still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city's headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene's The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina's most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city's war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists' fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city's Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future.
Day 15 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Romantically referred to by the French as the Pearl of the Orient, Ho Chi Minh City today is a super-charged city of sensory overload. Motorbikes zoom day and night along the wide boulevards, through the narrow back alleys and past vendors pushing handcarts hawking goods of all descriptions. Still called Saigon by most residents, this is Vietnam's largest city and the engine driving the country's current economic resurgence, but despite its frenetic pace, it's a friendlier place than Hanoi and locals will tell you the food—simple, tasty, and incorporating many fresh herbs—is infinitely better than in the capital.This is a city full of surprises. The madness of the city's traffic—witness the oddball things that are transported on the back of motorcycles—is countered by tranquil pagodas, peaceful parks, quirky coffee shops, and whole neighborhoods hidden down tiny alleyways, although some of these quiet spots can be difficult to track down. Life in Ho Chi Minh City is lived in public: on the back of motorcycles, on the sidewalks, and in the parks. Even when its residents are at home, they're still on display. With many living rooms opening onto the street, grandmothers napping, babies being rocked, and food being prepared, are all in full view of passersby.Icons of the past endure in the midst of the city's headlong rush into capitalism. The Hotel Continental, immortalized in Graham Greene's The Quiet American, continues to stand on the corner of old Indochina's most famous thoroughfare, the rue Catinat, known to American G.I.s during the Vietnam War as Tu Do (Freedom) Street and renamed Dong Khoi (Uprising) Street by the Communists. The city still has its ornate opera house and its old French city hall, the Hôtel de Ville. The broad colonial boulevards leading to the Saigon River and the gracious stucco villas are other remnants of the French colonial presence. Grisly reminders of the more recent past can be seen at the city's war-related museums. Residents, however, prefer to look forward rather than back and are often perplexed by tourists' fascination with a war that ended 40 years ago.The Chinese influence on the country is still very much in evidence in the Cholon district, the city's Chinatown, but the modern office towers and international hotels that mark the skyline symbolize Vietnam's fixation on the future.
Day 16 Cruising
Day 17 Singapore, Singapore
The main island of Singapore is shaped like a flattened diamond, 42 km (26 miles) east to west and 23 km (14 miles) north to south. Near the northern peak is the causeway leading to West Malaysia—Kuala Lumpur is less than four hours away by car. It is at the southern foot where you will find most of the city-state's action, with its gleaming office towers, working docks, and futuristic "supertrees," which are solar-powered and serve as vertical gardens. Offshore are Sentosa and over 60 smaller islands, most uninhabited, that serve as bases for oil refining or as playgrounds and beach escapes from the city. To the east is Changi International Airport, connected to the city by metro, bus, and a tree-lined parkway. Of the island's total land area, more than half is built up, with the balance made up of parkland, farmland, plantations, swamp areas, and rain forest. Well-paved roads connect all parts of the island, and Singapore city has an excellent, and constantly expanding, public transportation system. The heart of Singapore's history and its modern wealth are in and around the Central Business District. The area includes the skyscrapers in the Central Business District, the 19th-century Raffles Hotel, the convention centers of Marina Square, on up to the top of Ft. Canning. Although most of old Singapore has been knocked down to make way for the modern city, most colonial landmarks have been preserved in the CBD, including early-19th-century buildings designed by the Irish architect George Coleman.
Day 18 Singapore, Singapore
The main island of Singapore is shaped like a flattened diamond, 42 km (26 miles) east to west and 23 km (14 miles) north to south. Near the northern peak is the causeway leading to West Malaysia—Kuala Lumpur is less than four hours away by car. It is at the southern foot where you will find most of the city-state's action, with its gleaming office towers, working docks, and futuristic "supertrees," which are solar-powered and serve as vertical gardens. Offshore are Sentosa and over 60 smaller islands, most uninhabited, that serve as bases for oil refining or as playgrounds and beach escapes from the city. To the east is Changi International Airport, connected to the city by metro, bus, and a tree-lined parkway. Of the island's total land area, more than half is built up, with the balance made up of parkland, farmland, plantations, swamp areas, and rain forest. Well-paved roads connect all parts of the island, and Singapore city has an excellent, and constantly expanding, public transportation system. The heart of Singapore's history and its modern wealth are in and around the Central Business District. The area includes the skyscrapers in the Central Business District, the 19th-century Raffles Hotel, the convention centers of Marina Square, on up to the top of Ft. Canning. Although most of old Singapore has been knocked down to make way for the modern city, most colonial landmarks have been preserved in the CBD, including early-19th-century buildings designed by the Irish architect George Coleman.
Day 19 Cruising
Day 20 Semarang, Indonesia
Semarang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, situated on Java's north coast between the shore of the Java Sea and a small ridge of mountains. Ceded to the Dutch West India Company in 1677 by King Amangkurat I in payment of his debts, it became their headquarters and the seat of the Dutch governor of the northeast provinces. Semarang's usefulness as a port waned due to the gradual silting up of the harbor; by the 19th century, Surabaya had eclipsed Semarang as Java's premier port. With a population of over one million, a third of whom are thought to be of Chinese extraction, Semarang is the largest city in Central Java and its administrative capital. The city consists of two parts: the coastal lowland where most of the commercial activities are found; and the hilly residential area. Although more a business center than a city for tourists, Semarang serves as a popular gateway to the mountainous interior of Central Java and to fabled Borobudur.
Day 21 Cruising
Day 22 Benoa, Bali, Indonesia
Bali really is as alluring as everyone says. This island, slightly bigger than Delaware, has it all: beaches, volcanoes, terraced rice fields, forests, renowned resorts, surfing, golf, and world-class dive sites. But what sets Bali apart from other nearby tropical destinations is Balinese tradition, and villagers dedicated to celebrating it. The hundreds of temples, dances, rituals, and crafts linked to their ancient Hindu faith aren't a show for tourists, but a living, breathing culture in which visitors are warmly received by the Balinese, who cherish their own identities.
Day 23 Lembar, Lombok, Indonesia
Day 24 Cruising
Day 25 Komba Island, Indonesia
On the approach to Pulau Komodo, a tiny island just 36 km (22 miles) long and 16 km (9 miles) across at its widest point, it's hard to imagine that this is the home of the fearsome dragons described by late-19th-century explorers. The island, in the Indonesian region of Nusa Tenggara, lies between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores at the heart of the Komodo National Park, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders of Nature. At first look, steep hillsides of parched, golden grasses slide down into topaz bays covered in glass-clear waters, and white-sand beaches hem quiet shorelines. But then you remember that this innocent-looking island is inhabited by 13-foot-long, 220-pound ora, as Komodo dragons are known locally. Don't be frightened: Although stories of people disappearing run rampant, a trip here is quite safe—as long as you stay with a park guide.While Komodo dragons are the main attraction, several other large species also reside here. Dark-brown deer and small buffalo nibble the grasses of the high plains, macaques peer through the trees, and wild pigs crash through the underbrush. More than 150 types of birds also inhabit the island, including cockatoos, imperial pigeons, sea eagles, and mound-building megapodes. Offshore in the marine reserve, you might spot dolphins, dugong (a relative of the manatee), sea turtles, manta rays, and even whales, as well as more than 1,000 species of fish.Lodging on Pulau Komodo was nonexistent until 2012, when a modest, eco-friendly resort and diving club opened, providing a rare opportunity for scuba divers and snorkelers to explore this pristine habitat's extensive coral reefs and extraordinary marine life. Travelers can also find comfortable lodging and a convenient base from which to explore the many natural wonders of the Komodo National Park in Labuan Bajo, on the island of Flores (East Nusa Tenggara).
Days 26-27 Cruising
Day 28 Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
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.
Day 29 Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
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.
Days 30-32 Cruising
Day 33 Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia
Day 34 Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Tourism is the lifeblood of Cairns (pronounced Caans). The city makes a good base for exploring the wild top half of Queensland, and tens of thousands of international travelers use it as a jumping-off point for activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling trips to the Barrier Reef, as well as boating, fishing, parasailing, scenic flights, and rain-forest treks.It's a tough environment, with intense heat and fierce wildlife. Along with wallabies and grey kangaroos in the savannah and tree kangaroos in the rain forest, you'll find stealthy saltwater crocodiles, venomous snakes, and jellyfish so deadly they put the region's stunning beaches off- limits to swimmers for nearly half the year. Yet despite this formidable setting, Cairns and tropical North Queensland are far from intimidating places. The people are warm and friendly, the sights spectacular, and—at the right time of year—the beachside lounging is world-class.
Day 35 Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Tourism is the lifeblood of Cairns (pronounced Caans). The city makes a good base for exploring the wild top half of Queensland, and tens of thousands of international travelers use it as a jumping-off point for activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling trips to the Barrier Reef, as well as boating, fishing, parasailing, scenic flights, and rain-forest treks.It's a tough environment, with intense heat and fierce wildlife. Along with wallabies and grey kangaroos in the savannah and tree kangaroos in the rain forest, you'll find stealthy saltwater crocodiles, venomous snakes, and jellyfish so deadly they put the region's stunning beaches off- limits to swimmers for nearly half the year. Yet despite this formidable setting, Cairns and tropical North Queensland are far from intimidating places. The people are warm and friendly, the sights spectacular, and—at the right time of year—the beachside lounging is world-class.
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