Secrets of Bali Hai - 5 Night Luxury Vanuatu Cruise
Vanuatu, South Sea Islands
You’ll get more than a taste of Vanuatu, you’ll enjoy an absolute feast of ‘Tales of the South Pacific’ scenery, castaway beaches, authentic culture and amazing true stories. Our ship cruises the eastern coast of Santo, then crosses the Straits to Maewo and Ambae. Underlying your experience is the knowledge that you’re voyaging where few travellers have gone before.
Mountainous and exotically beautiful, Santo has done much for the mystique of the South Pacific. It embraces two contrasting tropical worlds: the western side of the island is wild and untamed with tall volcanic peaks and thick jungle, while the eastern side is a gentle paradise of lush farmland and coral coast. Santo produces copra, cocoa and coffee. It is also famous for its premium beef.
Daily Itinerary
East Coast of Espiritu Santo - days 1 to 3
Your cruise departs at five in the evening. As the ship heads around Million Dollar Point, named for the vast amount of American war machinery under the waves, the coast of Santo beckons. We anchor off Aese Island for a sundown dinner. Next morning there’s the opportunity to snorkel over a fabulous coral reef that’s only metres from the ship. It’s an unforgettable experience - we’ll take you up current in the tender, so that you can drift over gardens of coral inhabited by a myriad of tropical fishes. On the same day you’ll venture up the Riri River in a dugout canoe to discover the miraculous blue holes – deep, clear freshwater springs that bubble up into the river. You’ve never seen the colour blue quite like this. A refreshing swim is almost compulsory!
On to Champagne Beach
While the ship moves to Hog Harbour for the night, you can fish for dog tooth tuna, wahoo and mahi mahi. Angling off our fishing boat as the ship moves up the coast has the potential to be extremely exciting, because the local game fish are very lively. Your success will make our chef very happy! On the last day, Champagne Beach (said to be the most beautiful beach in the world) promises the bluest water, whitest sand and greenest jungle – it’s just breathtaking. You can sunbathe, snorkel and chat to the local pareu sellers. The day comes to a splendid close with the Captain’s Dinner. Tonight we cross the straits to explore Maewo and Ambae.
Maewo and Ambae - days 4 to 6
You’ll get more than a taste of Vanuatu, you’ll enjoy an absolute feast of ‘Tales of the South Pacific’ scenery, castaway beaches, authentic culture and amazing true stories. Our ship cruises the eastern coast of Santo, then crosses the Straits to Maewo and Ambae. Underlying your experience is the knowledge that you’re voyaging where few travellers have gone before.
Local way of life
We’re welcomed into the village of Asanvari, which is situated above a beautiful lagoon at the southern end of Maewo. This intriguing settlement has a charismatic leader known simply as ‘Chief Nelson’. We’ll say no more about the chief, in case it spoils the surprise! In Asanvarai you’ll get a look at the ni-Vanuatu way of life. You’ll also get to know their sense of humour, because smiling and laughing are major pastimes here. You can watch a custom dance, chat with the locals, learn how to cook lap-lap, walk to the village gardens, visit a beautiful waterfall or snorkel in the protected lagoon. And make sure you check out the Asanvari Yacht Club. When you arrive back on board, it’s time for the Captain’s Cocktail Party.
Secrets of Bali Hai
After the extensive tropical banquet that we call breakfast, the ship makes her way to Devil’s Rock off the island of Ambae. This island was the ‘Bali Hai’ of James Michener’s tales, where women and children were kept safe during the Battle for the Pacific. At the centre of the island is Manaro - a large, active volcano. The anchorage at Devil’s Rock is spectacular – vertical volcanic cliffs and deep emerald-green water. You’ll enjoy a day of kayaking, swimming and deckchair-lazing before we move to our final anchorage. Dinner is served under the stars while you swap stories of the day’s adventures. We visit Pentecost on selected trips during the short land- diving season, so that guests can view this extraordinary spectacle.
One last swim
We cruise through the night to arrive with the sunrise at our Aore anchorage. The idyllic plantation island is a beautiful place for your final swim or snorkel. If you get up early enough, there might even be time for one last snooze in a deckchair. You’ll disembark in Luganville from 10am. |
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Area and Information Map
Discover life in paradise with Island Escape While Pulitzer-winning novelist James Michener was stationed in Vanuatu during WWII, he travelled from island to island learning about local culture and hearing stories from the people. Michener developed an idea for a book of short stories and spent his nights tapping it out on an old typewriter, using the backs of letters, old envelopes and official Navy stationery. Tales of the South Pacific, which later became the musical South Pacific, was published in 1947.
Land diving on Pentecost
Pentecost Island is famous for an ages-old ritual called the naghol or land- diving, which inspired the extreme sport of bungy jumping. Between April and June every year, men in the southern part of the island jump from tall towers (around 20 to 30 metres high) with vines tied to their feet. The stretchy vines bring their leap to a sudden stop, just inches from the ground. The ritual has two purposes – to ensure a good yam harvest and to mark the passage of boys to manhood. Land diving was first given international exposure when David Attenborough and a BBC crew filmed the ritual during the 1950s. Island Passage visits Pentecost on selected trips during the short land-diving season, so that guests can view this extraordinary spectacle.
Food from heaven
Provisioning Island Passage involves visiting local markets and growers to get the very best of Vanuatu’s local produce. As you can imagine, our menu features lots of tropical fruit and fresh seafood. You can also look forward to local Santo beef – so good, it’s exported to Japan.
Hooked on fishing
Think big when you’re fishing in Vanuatu. Towing a lure from our fishing tender, you can hope for a catch of dog tooth tuna, yellow fin tuna, wahoo, mahi mahi or GT (giant trevally). From a purely scenic perspective, you might also encounter flying fish, sailfish, dolphins and pilot whales.
Climate
The warm south-east trade winds prevail over the islands of Vanuatu. Island Passage calls Vanuatu her home from May to September each year. Average daily temperature is 27°C. The sea temperature is usually in the mid 20s, making swimming enjoyable all year round.
Language
Bislama for beginners
tank yu: thank you
alo: hello
freswoto: fresh water
mi glad tumas: I am very happy |
lukim yu: see you
nambawan: the best
sori tumas: very sorry
lukim yu: see you later |
fulap: filled to capacity
weit smol: a short wait
wanem: what is that?
hamas: how much? |
5 Night Secrets of Bali Hai Luxury Cruise Rates 2010
Rates are in NZ dollars per person. For single supplement rates an additional 50% will be applied. Triple bedding is based on 3 passengers.
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Cabin Layout*
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Cabin Names
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5 Night
Triple / Twin / Double ($NZD)
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Expedition Cabin
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Triple Beds |
Tiri Tiri
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$2,995
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Expedition Cabins
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Twin/Queen |
Waimate, Jellicoe, Colville
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$3,690
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Staterooms Cabins
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Twin/Queen |
Pakatoa, Kawau, Motutapu
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$3,950
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Owners Stateroom
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Queen |
Rakino
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$4,195
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Bridge Deck Suites
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King |
Runaway, Reinga
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$4,475
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Secrets of Bali Hai Cruise rates include:
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Luxury accommodation
All onboard chef prepared meals
Juices and water
Shore excursions
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Snorkel equipment
Kayaks and small boat exploration
Onboard expedition leader
Fishing equipment and our guides.
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To book or for more information, please contact your Travel Agent or Enquire Online »
© CHESHER