Year: 2026

With only words. Divers and snorkellers were excited to head off to Lava Flow for their first encounter with a living reef. The volcano erupted in 1988 and destroyed the existing reef but the rich volcanic lava has ensured wonderful regeneration and growth. So yes it was pristine and eye popping but unlike many in…

This humble little fruit once had a value that surpassed gold. The nutmeg tree was indigenous to these tiny Banda islands. The Dutch fought a brutal war to control its production in the 1600s. The British broke the monopoly by introducing it to other areas like Sri Lanka Malaysia and Singapore. While the spices are…

It’s lovely to be welcomed to Banda Neira by traditional long boats called Koras. One in green and one in white. Full of eager loud rowers rowing to the even beat of a drummer and encouraging the splashing of water as the rowers lift their oars. The island lies in the tranquil Banda Sea. On…

One of the pleasures of being at sea is that it can be a positive catalyst to socialising. It’s not a big ship with thousands on board so we often find ourselves sharing a lunch or dinner with other guests and it is the perfect time, over a few drinks, to hear their story. Well…

After a sea day crossing the Timor Sea we have arrived in Yamdena, the largest island in the Tanimbar Islands of Indonesia. Saumlaki, the largest town is on the southern tip of the island. We went to shore on our Xplorers. A colourful wharf. Off to Tumbur. A village some 30 mins away where we…

Where on earth is this place. I confess to never having heard of it before David Attenborough’s Ocean and some information received by the cruising company. It’s an area located off the tip of West Papua, an island archipelago with extraordinary marine biodiversity. The Four Kings refer to four main islands and it is known…