The harbor town of Cairns is situated on Australia's northeast coast and is washed by the Coral Sea. It's a popular spot for locals and visitors to stroll, swim, and picnic along the seafront esplanade, shaded by palm trees. The hills around Cairns serve as the entryway to the Queensland Rainforests, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site due to their rich wildlife and plant life from the Gondwana era.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to relaxation in the spa or stay in shape at the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, shop in the boutique, or meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. It is an enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.

Alotau became the provincial capital of Milne Bay in 1969 and today has a population of approximately 16,000. It serves as your port of entry into Papua New Guinea. Missionaries, miners, pearlers, and Japanese and American warships contributed to the History of Milne Bay. Perhaps the most significant history surrounds the Battle of Milne Bay. Here, the invading Japanese army suffered their first land defeat in the Pacific War in 1942. A memorial park at the battle site commemorates the event. The warm and welcoming local people resulted in one of the most relaxed, secure, and easy-going towns in Papua New Guinea. Join your expedition team to tour the town markets and WWII memorials.

They are often described as the "Scandinavia of the tropics." The spectacular Tufi "fiords" plunge over 90 meters deep and rise over 150 meters vertically above the water, making for a spectacular backdrop. The traditional way of life plays an important role amongst the villagers, who live in isolated areas along Cape Nelson's coast and on Mount Trafalgar's slopes. The area is known for producing tapa cloth, which is made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree and skilfully decorated. Guests will travel into the ancient mangrove forests of the Fiords to witness one of the most colorful traditional performances in all of Papua New Guinea. There is also the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the clear waters of Kamoa Beach.

The Tami Islands (Kalal, Wanam & Idjan) are a small group of uplifted coral atolls, with two main villages on the two larger islands and many smaller reefs and cays. In the center is a beautiful, crystal-clear blue lagoon with abundant marine life and stunning coral formations. The islands in Morobe Province, not far from Finschaffen, are seldom visited. Tami Islanders are renowned artisans who are most famous for their intricately decorated bowls.

Madang Township was once known as the "prettiest town in the South Pacific." Its peninsula setting is a show-place of parks, waterways, luxuriant shade trees, and sparkling tropical islands. The diverse geographical nature of Madang province is reflected in the 170 different languages that are spoken. This diversity is showcased in the Madang festival with its colorful displays of "sing-sings" performed by numerous cultural groups from across the Madang Province. Today, you can also be treated to cultural performances showcasing the coastal, midland, and highland communities' local customs, costumes, and dances.

The people of the Sepik region speak more than 250 languages and are knitted together in trade and cultural interaction systems. Kopar village's location at the mouth of the Sepik River makes it an important trading point for surrounding villages. Here, the crocodile is worshiped as the water spirit. As is customary in all Sepik societies, the men's house is where important decisions regarding the village are made, where boys are initiated and become men, and ceremonies to please the spirits are performed. Guests will be welcomed ashore with a ceremony and cultural performance, including the famous "dragon dance." There will be an opportunity to walk around the village of Kopar and experience traditional life in Lower Sepik.

Jayapura City is the provincial capital of Papua province, Indonesia. It is a modern industrial city that contrasts markedly with the surrounding hinterland, where Papuan tribes live a subsistence lifestyle. Most Jayapurans are transmigrants from western Indonesia who control most of the region's industry and economics. Leaving the city behind, guests will travel to the traditional village of Asai on Lake Sentani. They can enjoy a cultural performance and witness life in a traditional Papuan village here. Asai is famous for its production of Tapa cloth.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to relaxation in the spa or stay in shape at the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, shop in the boutique, or meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. It is an enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.

Cenderawasih Bay is located at the western end of New Guinea Island, southeast of the Bird's Head Peninsula. Covering more than 1.4 million hectares, the bay is home to an abundant array of uninhabited islands, pristine coral reefs, and the world's largest fish, the Whale Shark. Over the years, the whale sharks have learned the habits of local fishermen who catch baitfish at night in nets lowered from fishing vessels known as "Bagans." The Whale Sharks are now regular visitors feeding on the baitfish that spill from the nets at the surface. Cenderawasih Bay is part of the Bird's Head seascape, the center of marine biodiversity at the heart of the coral triangle. Take the chance to discover these multicolored reefs and extraordinary marine fauna. Depending on the conditions, you may also have the opportunity to snorkel and swim with Whale Sharks.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to relaxation in the spa or stay in shape at the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, shop in the boutique, or meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. It is an enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.

North of Triton Bay, in the Indonesian province of West Papua, lies the Bomberai Peninsula and Sebakor Bay. A real paradise for divers, this protected, authentic, and wild area boasts exceptional biodiversity. Here, you can admire the superb Kitikiti Waterfall, where you can enjoy a swim or snorkel surrounded by lush nature, both on land and underwater.

Triton Bay is one of three regions in Indonesia’s West Papua province that comprise the Bird’s Head Seascape (the other two are Raja Ampat and Cenderawasih Bay), which marine biologists now consider to be the epicenter of the Coral Triangle. It contains more fish and coral species than anywhere else on the planet. Its unparalleled marine biodiversity and endemism, habitat richness, and relatively intact nature of its ecosystems are unique. Join your expedition team for a zodiac voyage through the spectacular rainforest-capped karst islands. Later in the day, enjoy the opportunity to explore the richness of the underwater realm.

The Kei Islands have kilometers of stunning yet almost empty, white-sand beaches and a deeply hospitable population. Beneath the mostly Christian facade, Kei culture is fascinatingly distinctive. Local history holds that ancestors of contemporary Kei islanders came from Bali, part of the expanding Hindu Majapahit kingdom from the western archipelago. Enjoy a day of swimming and snorkeling on an idyllic, uninhabited picture postcard tropical island.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to relaxation in the spa or stay in shape at the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, shop in the boutique, or meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. It is an enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest, and entertainment.

Darwin is in Australia’s Northern Territory, known as the “Top End.” It is the capital city and the most populated town of the Northern Territory. Darwin is a beautiful tropical city, a melting pot of people and cultures; over 50 different cultures live and work side by side, that prides itself in its unique and friendly laid-back lifestyle. Discover the town’s still recent history through its emblematic buildings such as the new Parliament House, opened in 1994, a magnificent example of tropical architecture or Admiralty House declared a heritage place, a tropical-style home elevated on stilts that have survived two cyclones and numerous air raids.