Voyages to the ends of the earth
From Japan’s spring blossom to the dreamy islands of the Philippines
LAND OF THE DRAGONS
ALL ABOARD: Armoured dragons, rusty-red volcanoes and a crescent beach the colour of pink Angel Delight: Komodo National Park is a fantasy land for adventure lovers.
Its 6,000 native Komodo dragons (giant lizards) grow up to three metres long — the largest in the world.
You’ll spend two days at the park on the new Eastbound Bali route from Star Clippers, which anchors at some of Indonesia’s most spectacular islands. Some are tiny — you can walk the perimeter of Gili Meno in 90 minutes — but there’s a world to be discovered underwater, too, with top-notch snorkelling and diving.
SHORE THING: Marvel at the huge saltwater crater lake which floods the centre of volcanic island Satonda.
SHIPSHAPE: Star Clipper is just 360ft long but that doesn’t mean it isn’t plush. Evening meals are a five- course affair in the elegant dining room, and there’s an Edwardian-style library with a Belle Epoque fireplace.
TOP TIP: Turn the absence of direct flights to Bali to your advantage by spending a few days in the shiny metropolis of Singapore.
HERE’S HOW: Star Clippers ( starclippers.co.uk, 0845 200 6145) offers a seven-night cruise from £1,32pp based on a May 20, 2017, departure.
REMOTE RUSSIA
ALL ABOARD: Long overlooked by tourists, Russia’s Far East is still one of the least visited places on the planet. But Silversea’s cruise through the Sea of Okhotsk shines a light on this fascinating coast.
Brown bears and Arctic foxes roam the geothermal wonderland of vast tundras, towering volcanoes and there are remnants of what was once a forest.
One of the only places the agile ship can’t dock is Tyuleny Island, as tens of thousands of Northern fur seals cover its every inch.
SHORE THING: Brush up on your facts with the on-board historian before you arrive at Okhotsk town, where Communist monuments include a giant statue of Lenin.
SHIPSHAPE: Not many can say they’ve experienced fine dining and butler service in one of the most remote corners of the Earth, but you and the 100 or so other guests on board Silver Discoverer will be able to do just that.
TOP TIP: Hit the deck when you reach Chirpoy Islands as orca ( killer) whales are often spotted here.
HERE’S HOW: Silversea ( silversea.com, 0844 251 0837) offers the 18- day Sea of Okhotsk cruise in Far East Russia from £8,850pp, departing on August 29, 2017, in a round trip from Japan’s northern tip, Otaru.
SOUTH PACIFIC ON SONG
ALL ABOARD: Bookended between Australasian icons Sydney and Auckland is this itinerary of lesserknown South Pacific islands.
It’s tranquil, but Aussies and Kiwis don’t tend to lounge about. On this Royal Caribbean cruise you can immerse yourself in land, sea and sky by kayaking, mountainb ik i n g, para- sailing and scuba-diving.
It’s a multi- cultural experience too. You can dine on French food at Noumea and meet the Maori inhabitants of the Bay of Islands — New Zealand’s enclave of more than 140 subtropical mini isles.
SHORE THING: Swim with dolphins in the Bay of Islands, which has the warmest waters in New Zealand.
SHIPSHAPE: Royal Caribbean’s high-tech ship Ovation of the Seas features the first skydiving simulator at sea, and North Star — a clear capsule that lifts you 300 feet above the ocean.
TOP TIP: Read The Life Of Captain James Cook before you go. You’ll visit one of the islands he stumbled upon during his 18th- century adventures — Tauranga — which he named the Bay of Plenty.
HERE’S HOW: Royal Caribbean ( royalcaribbean.co.uk, 0844 493 4005) offers the 12-night South Pacific & New Zealand trip from £1,188pp based on two sharing, all-inclusive (except alcohol). Price is based on departing January 28, 2017.
JAPAN IN BLOOM
ALL ABOARD: Every spring, pink colours Japan when miles of cherry trees come into bloom. This floral fantasia of a cruise takes you to see the blossom in its full glory, as well as the rainbow colours of the Tonami Tulip Fair in Toyama.
It starts with three nights in Tokyo, where you’ll be taken to Mount Fuji to see the city at 8,000ft, and ride the 200mph Bullet Train.
Then it’s all- aboard 13- deck Diamond Princess to explore the culture-rich coast including Akita, Toyama and the Buddhist temples of South Korea’s southern tip.
SHORE THING: Wallow in the largest hot spring- fed spa in Asia, Heosimcheong Spa, 10km north of Busan. SHIPSHAPE: Snuggle up each night for Movies Under The Stars, where you munch popcorn in front of blockbuster films on a huge open-air LED screen. TOP TIP: Temperatures plunge at night, so bring woollies to wear on deck. HERE’S HOW: Iglu Cruise ( iglucruise. com, 02037335313) offers the 14-night Cherry Blossoms, Tulips & Mt Fuji
from Tokyo cruise, from £2,199pp, departing April 16, 2017. Includes return flights to UK and full-board.
INDIAN OCEAN AHOY
ALL ABOARD: A five-star Hapag-Lloyd ship sails through a bucket- list itinerary of the Seychelles, Maldives, Reunion and Mauritius, starting at Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo. Each island has its own charms, from wildlife-packed Praslin to La Digue, both in the Seychelles, where bizarre granite formations protrude from the sand and taxi journeys are by ox-drawn cart. SHORE THING: Take the helicopter flight over Reunion for a birdseye view of its hilly rainforests.
SHIPSHAPE: Twinkling evening entertainment for Europa 2’s 500 guests includes a jazz club, a piano bar and a state-of-the-art theatre.
TOP TIP: Eat your way around the aromatic street food in the Maldives’ capital, Malé. Alcohol is banned but saj, a traditional sweet tea, might make a delicious replacement.
HERE’S HOW: Hapag-Lloyd ( hl-cruises. com) offers the 13-night Dive Into Paradise cruise from Colombo to Mauritius from £5,653pp, departing April 17, 2017.
HAWAIIAN FEAST
ALL ABOARD: Leaving primped Los Angeles for the rainforests and waterfalls of laid-back Hawaii is a distinct culture change. Luckily, you’ve got five days at sea to get acclimatised before you don your flower garland and relax under the palms, coconut drink in hand.
You’ll tour the Pacific state’s most legendary islands on this Carnival cruise, exploring the 10,000ft Haleakala volcano in Maui (home of the Hawaiian gods), fabled beaches of Waikiki and the Pearl Harbour memorial on Honolulu, with a final stop at Mexico’s culinary capital, Ensenada.
SHORE THING: Excursions include rainforest hiking in Maui and climbing Mount Kilauea — the Land of Frozen Fire — to watch its repeated eruptions.
SHIPSHAPE: Carnival Miracle is big in both size (it’s 960ft and hosts 2,000 guests) and personality. It’s themed by fictional icons: there’s the twodeck disco called Dr Frankenstein’s Lab, and The Mad Hatter’s Ball — a plush lounge bar decorated with sparkling red hearts.
TOP TIP: Grab your snorkelling gear at Maui: it’s famous for its rainbowcoloured fish and friendly sea turtles.
HERE’S HOW: Carnival Cruise Line ( carnival.co.uk, 0843 374 2272) offers a 15- day cruise from LA to Hawaii from £1,408pp, departing December 2, 2017.
PHILIPPINES FROLIC
ALL ABOARD: Weaving through the Philippines’ Hundred Islands is a dreamy experience — the 123 islets have been eroded into mushroom shapes and it seems as if you could almost bounce between them. This two- week cruise from Seabourn grazes the Philippines’ west coast for six days, contrasting the ancient landscapes ( Hundred Islands is believed to be two million years old) with the shiny skyscrapers of Hong Kong, Singapore and Xiamen.
After sailing through the South China Sea, the ship heads west to Kota Kinabalu in Borneo, where street markets and mosques are bordered by rainforest.
SHORE THING: Catch the free ferry from Aberdeen Promenade to feast on dim sum at Hong Kong’s Jumbo Floating Restaurant. The complex seats 2,300 diners and is built in the style of an ancient Chinese imperial palace.
SHIPSHAPE: All of the rooms on-board Sojourn — christened by the model Twiggy — are suites and have their own living areas and fridges stocked with drinks. It’s five-star service for the 450 guests: staff will even bring a tray of suncream as you catch some warming rays.
TOP TIP: Cool down with the Filipino cocktail Weng Weng, which contains five spirits — the perfect precursor for a nap on the beach.
HERE’S HOW: Seabourn ( seabourn. com, 0843 373 2000) offers a 14-Day China & Philippine Archipelago cruise from £3,698pp, departing in January and February 2017.