Your voyage starts in Darwin, a tropical city at the crossroads of Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. With its rich history, diverse culture, and stunning natural beauty, Darwin offers a unique experience. 

After arriving, board your 6-star Discovery Yacht, the Scenic Eclipse II, and the crew warmly welcomes you. As you settle into your spacious suite, you can enjoy the personalized service, with up to 228 passengers on board for an intimate and engaging voyage. You can ask your butler to bring a glass of Champagne to your suite and raise a toast to the beginning of an unforgettable journey from your private verandah.

Please book your flight to arrive in Darwin before 02:00 PM.

Today is a day to relax and enjoy at your own pace. Your butler can bring you a leisurely breakfast on your verandah. You can also begin with a workout in the gym or join a class in the Yoga and Pilates studio.

You can take your time to explore the luxurious Discovery Yacht, from the Sky Bar and outdoor Vitality Pool on Deck 10 to the calming Senses Spa on Deck 6, which features steam rooms, saunas, a plunge pool, and a KLAFS Salt Therapy Lounge. You can also visit one of the nine bars and lounges on board or relax with a book in the library of the Observation Lounge. Be sure to check the daily program for lectures or discussions offered by the Discovery Team to learn more about upcoming ports, wildlife, and activities available.

The Banda Islands have long fascinated travelers for more than 700 years. Once known as the Spice Islands, this legendary cluster of exotic ports was a thriving trading hub for rare spices like nutmeg and mace. In 1512, Portuguese explorer Francisco Serrao completed an arduous round-the-world journey and became the first European to set foot on Banda Neira. For the next three centuries, these tiny volcanic outcrops were highly prized and fiercely fought over by every great colonial power. This intriguing history is woven into the fabric of the island, with grand Portuguese, Dutch, and British architecture lining the streets and imposing forts looking over the harbor. Explore the town, hear its colorful stories, and get an insight into its tumultuous past.

Offshore, the snorkeling around Banda Neira is some of the best in Indonesia. Scenic’s selection of water toys, like stand-up paddle boards and kayaks, makes it easy to enjoy the activity.

Arrive this morning in the capital of the Maluku Islands, Ambon. The most populous island of the group, Ambon, is lush and mountainous, surrounded by sparkling turquoise seas. Come ashore at the busy town of Kota Ambon, also known as ‘Ambon Manise,’ meaning beautiful Ambon.

This island has drawn seafaring merchants and traders since the 14th century, eager to purchase the exotic spices that grow here. Ambon was one of the first places in Indonesia to be occupied by colonial powers, with the Portuguese and Dutch establishing trading companies. This legacy persists today, and the Ambonese people have a rich cultural heritage that mixes Islamic and Christian traditions. Kota Ambon is a sophisticated and stylish city overlooking the bay, its leafy streets lined with interesting shops and trendy coffee houses.

Away from the city, the beaches of Ambon are some of the best in Indonesia. Powdery white sand that feels like flour is flanked by crystal clear water and vivid green jungle.

You can spend a lazy morning on board today as Scenic Eclipse II won’t arrive in port until after lunch. Enjoy breakfast in the sun on the Yacht Club Terrace, dip in the Vitality Pool on the Sky Deck, or book a treatment at the indulgent Senses Spa.

Then, it’s time to go ashore on the island of Ternate, a bustling city perched on the side of an active volcano in the North Maluku Islands. These islands were once the world’s only source of cloves, and the spice trade helped find powerful Islamic sultanates and wealthy trading ports in the Middle Ages. Away from the city, you can swim at beaches lined with glittering black volcanic sand where colorful fishing boats bob gently offshore.

Scenic Eclipse II will sail south through the Maluku Islands this morning. Ask your butler to bring coffee to your suite so you can admire the view from your private verandah or take a closer look at the passing islands through the Swarovski telescopes on the Observation Terrace. Arrive in another remote outpost at midday, the small Pulau Joronga, which hangs off the southern edge of the large Halmahera Island.

Fishing was central to the local culture, and you can still see their traditional stilt houses lining the shoreline. This little island is home to more picture-perfect white sand beaches, making for exceptional snorkeling, diving, and swimming. The beautiful reefs are made up of huge hard corals and are home to a dazzling array of reef fish. You can spend this afternoon soaking up the serenity of an undiscovered paradise.

Today, sail into the otherworldly splendor of the Raja Ampat Islands. With over 1,500 sparsely populated islands peppered across the ocean north of West Papua, this isolated archipelago is often called ‘the last paradise on earth.’ Also known as the world’s most biodiverse marine region, 75% of the world’s known coral species can be found here, and the waters are home to more than 1,600 species of fish. Yet because of its remote location, Raja Ampat is largely untouched by mass tourism. During your four days cruising here, you may not see another cruise ship and only occasionally spot small villages or barefoot beach resorts tucked into quiet coves.

Today, you can explore Gam Island. With its hilly interior, sharp limestone cliffs, and thick jungle, the interior of Gam is all but impassable. A few villages sit on the coast, with no roads or paths across the island. It’s known for its incredible bird life, including the red birds of paradise, western crowned pigeons, palm cockatoos, and the ground-dwelling maleo.

Waigeo Island sits north of Gam Island, and Aljui Bay is on its remote west coast. As Scenic Eclipse II sails into the bay, witness the dramatic sea cliffs clustered around the entrance. The long bay is distinctly fjord-like, unique from any other island port.

Another unique feature that can be found here in Aljui Bay is the pristine water and tidal flows, making it the ideal location for a pearl farm. Atlas Pearls has been farming here for over 25 years, using an environmentally friendly and sustainable model to cultivate some of the world’s finest South Sea pearls. You can visit the farm to see the process and even pick up a shimmering souvenir to take home.

The bay’s many coves and inlets make for good snorkeling or scenic cruising by Zodiac. The calm waters are also ideal for exploring under your own steam, so set out for the day in one of Scenic Eclipse II’s kayaks or stand-up paddleboards.

Scenic Eclipse II will sail north overnight, bound for one of the northernmost islands in Raja Ampat. Uninhabited and breathtakingly beautiful, Wayag is one of Indonesia's most recognizable sights, the star of many television commercials and billboards. White sand beaches fringe crystal clear waters, and dramatic karst islands sprout from the sea. Even seasoned travelers will be dazzled by its natural beauty.

There are no landings on the island, but you can enjoy a picturesque sightseeing spot offshore on board your luxuriously appointed Discovery Yacht. Fitted with a state-of-the-art GPS Dynamic Positioning system, Scenic Eclipse II can hold her position without dropping anchor on ecologically sensitive seabeds.

Take this idyllic time to explore on excursions for swimming, snorkeling, and wildlife spotting, cruising through the sapphire seas on a Zodiac. You can spend a whole day here, giving you time to explore everything Wayag offers and soak in this pristine paradise's splendor.

Cruising back south, straight through the center of Raja Ampat, you arrive at Misool Island this morning. One of the four largest islands of the group, known collectively as the Four Kings, it has a permanent population of around 5,000 scattered around a few villages. It’s also home to a handful of resorts – look out for the overwater bungalows clinging to the coast as you pull in.

In a spectacular biodiversity region, Misool stands above the rest of Raja Ampat. It is surrounded by one of the most pristine reef systems left on earth and is one of the few places where biodiversity is improving rather than declining. The gin-clear waters are home to a dazzling array of corals and fish, and you can spot whales, sharks, and dolphins frolicking in the open ocean. Enjoy more swimming, snorkeling, and watersports in an unforgettable location today.

Scenic Eclipse II will spend the night here, bobbing peacefully in the calm waters off Misool Island. Enjoy a leisurely dinner, then head to the Sky Deck for some stargazing that will take your breath away.

This morning, you wake up in paradise. Scenic Eclipse II will spend this morning at Misool Island, giving you another opportunity for fun in the water.

A Zodiac cruise can take you through the dramatic karst rock formations in search of ancient petroglyphs. These mysterious rock carvings are estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old. No tradition of such carvings exists among the people of Raja Ampat, so there is speculation that other early visitors may have created them to the area from Papua or even Australia.

After one last swim, go back on board Scenic Eclipse II at lunchtime for a long cruise to the Kai Islands. This afternoon could be a great opportunity to stretch your muscles in the Yoga & Pilates Studio or soak in the revitalizing properties of the KLAFS Salt Therapy Lounge.

There are millions of beaches in Indonesia, yet the ones you see today might be the most beautiful in the country. The Kai Islands are part of the Maluku Province and are made entirely of white sand and coral. Talcum powder beaches are lapped by the strikingly blue waters of the Banda Sea and fringed with lush rows of palm trees. Despite their jaw-dropping beauty, these islands remain far off the tourist trail.

Spend this afternoon living out your castaway fantasies on a deserted island, swimming and snorkeling in the warm water, or just lazing on the sand.

You can spot land early this morning, the remote Tanimbar Islands. One of Indonesia’s most far-flung outposts, this archipelago of 65 islands sits just a few hundred kilometers north of Darwin. The islands range from densely forested hills to low-lying swamplands and deserted beaches. Scenic Eclipse II will be making two stops today, both on Yamdena Island, the largest in the group.

Spend a few hours at Sangliat Dol Village. Many of these smaller villages on the island have retained their unique cultural traditions, including music, dance, and crafts. Sangliat Dol is famous for its ancient stone stairway from the beach to a boat-shaped platform for ancestor worship ceremonies.

A short cruise will take you to the capital, Saumlaki, a bustling city home to around 20,000 people. The Tanimbar Islands are also famous for the rare birds that inhabit the untouched forests, making it a popular destination for ornithologists. Be sure to listen closely as Scenic Eclipse II glides silently by.

Spend the final day of your cruise reveling in the luxury of Scenic Eclipse II with a relaxing day at sea. Today could be the perfect time to relax and recharge in the indulgent Senses Spa on Deck 6. Inside this luxurious retreat, you can be pampered with a range of ESPA treatments, including massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, and alternative therapies like Tibetan bowl sound healing. After your treatment, cool off in the Vitality plunge pool on the Senses Spa Pool Deck or warm up in the exclusive KLAFS Salt Therapy Lounge, where heated beds have special healing properties. Exhale in the saunas and steam rooms, or refresh with therapeutic pressure showers and a hair and beauty salon within the spa complex.

Once you’re ready to venture out, watch the world slip by as you relax in a cabana on the Sky Deck before taking a dip in the Vitality Pool with a refreshing drink. Read a book in the Observation Lounge library, or take one with you and find the hanging egg chairs on Deck 7. Alternatively, ask your butler to bring afternoon tea or cocktails to your suite to enjoy on the private verandah while marveling at the endless ocean ahead of you.

Your cruise ends in Darwin, giving you another chance to explore this captivating capital of the north. After an unforgettable voyage, it’s time to farewell your fellow guests and the Scenic Eclipse II crew. Take fond memories of the places you have seen, once-in-a-lifetime moments, and the unrivaled ultra-luxury experience on board Scenic Eclipse II.

Please book your flight to depart out of Darwin after 12:00 PM.