Australia's Queensland & Indonesia Cruise

Day 1 - Sydney

Arrive: Fri 14 February 2025 / Depart: Fri 14 February 2025 at 17:00

Sydney is a cosmopolitan, multicultural city surrounded by golden sand beaches, World Heritage areas, lush national parks and acclaimed wine regions. Sydney owes much of its splendor to its magnificent harbor. Arriving by ship provides an unequaled impression, showing off the city's famous landmarks: the dramatic white sails of the iconic Opera House and the celebrated Harbor Bridge, looming over the skyline.

Day 2 - At Sea

Day 3 - Moreton Island, Australia

Arrive: Sun 16 February 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Sun 16 February 2025 at 22:00

At 23 miles long and 72 square miles in area, Moreton is the third-largest sand island in the world. It is part of a sand barrier system that includes the larger Fraser Island, and separates Moreton Bay from the Coral Sea about 27 miles north of Brisbane. Moreton Island National Park encompasses 98 percent of the island, where visitors flock to experience activities such as “sand-tobogganing” down the slopes of 920-foot Mount Tempest, the highest stable coastal sandhill on earth. They also enjoy fishing, kayaking, surfing and snorkeling over the Tangalooma Wrecks offshore. Tangalooma is the largest of four small towns on the island’s west coast. It was an active whaling station from 1952 until 1962. There are no roads on Moreton Island, so visitors get around by 4WD vehicles or ATVs. A popular site to visit is the picturesque red-and-white Cape Moreton lighthouse, built in 1857 and Australia’s oldest.

Day 4 - At Sea

Day 5 - At Sea

Day 6 - Townsville

Arrive: Wed 19 February 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Wed 19 February 2025 at 18:00

The unofficial capital of North Queensland, Townsville is tucked inside the Great Barrier Reef in the northern tropics. Its municipal beach, The Strand, is consistently rated among Australia’s cleanest. Take a ferry to Magnetic Island, an unspoiled UNESCO World Heritage Site just offshore, or visit the Billabong Sanctuary wildlife reserve.

Day 7 - Cairns

Arrive: Thu 20 February 2025 at 08:00 / Depart: Thu 20 February 2025 at 17:00

A cosmopolitan city flanked by pristine rainforests and golden beaches, Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda, and the Daintree rainforest, a World Heritage protected area. The city was recently renovated to enhance its image and provide a relaxing place for visitors and locals to congregate and have fun. Cairns Esplanade, once a huge grassy park, now features an excellent facility incorporating an outdoor amphitheatre, a sandy swimming lagoon, walking tracks, shops and restaurants, and an environmental interpretation center.

Day 8 - Great Barrier Reef

Arrive: Fri 21 February 2025 / Depart: Fri 21 February 2025

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest single structure ever created by living organisms. It consists of 2,900 separate reefs and 900 islands, and stretches 1,400 miles along the Queensland coast in the Coral Sea, and is clearly visible from space. The reef was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. The organisms in question are tiny coral polyps. There are some 400 species of hard and soft corals inhabiting the Barrier Reef. Reefs grow slowly, by means of the deposit of a calcareous remnant of a polyp. Living polyps have zooxanthellae algae living in their tissues in a symbiotic bond whereby the coral supplies materials needed for the algae to photosynthesize, and the algae in turn supply materials needed by the polyps. The algae also gives the corals the colors that we find so enchanting. The reef that mesmerizes us with its myriad colors and shapes, and which supports a fabulous variety of other life forms, is the result of millions of years of such growth. Its survival is believed to be severely threatened by a number of affects, most of which are directly attributable to human activities.

Day 9 - At Sea

Day 10 - At Sea

Day 11 - Darwin, Australia

Arrive: Mon 24 February 2025 at 11:00

Despite its small size, Darwin is a modern, multi-cultural city, and its proximity to Asia makes it ideal for travel. Named after the famous scientist, Charles Darwin, the area was originally settled by the Larrakia Aboriginals. The Dutch arrived and mapped the land in the 1600s, followed by the British in 1939, when the town was given its English name. Darwin has a beautiful coastline, as well as numerous parks and gardens, making the city a top spot for outdoor activities.

Day 12 - Darwin, Australia

Depart: Tue 25 February 2025 at 18:00

Despite its small size, Darwin is a modern, multi-cultural city, and its proximity to Asia makes it ideal for travel. Named after the famous scientist, Charles Darwin, the area was originally settled by the Larrakia Aboriginals. The Dutch arrived and mapped the land in the 1600s, followed by the British in 1939, when the town was given its English name. Darwin has a beautiful coastline, as well as numerous parks and gardens, making the city a top spot for outdoor activities.

Day 13 - At Sea

Day 14 - At Sea

Day 15 - Komodo Island

Arrive: Fri 28 February 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Fri 28 February 2025 at 16:00

This island national park isn’t the only place the large (up to 10-foot) monitor lizards known as “Komodo Dragons” live. But they are protected here, and flourish as they have in the region for millions of years. Follow your guide and listen carefully to his instructions, because despite their torpid appearance, these giants can really move when they want to, and they apparently aren’t picky about what sort of prey they pursue.

Day 16 - Lombok

Arrive: Sat 01 March 2025 at 11:00 / Depart: Sat 01 March 2025 at 22:00

Lombok means honesty in the local language, your first clue to the essence of this unspoiled locale. On this mountainous island you can see how Bali was in the old days: non-commercialized and uncrowded. Agriculture is the main industry and the hillsides are terraced with pineapple, bananas, corn and tobacco plants. The island of Lombok also produces the most potent cloves, nutmeg, pepper and coriander. Above these gentle foothills rises the sacred volcano of Mount Rinjani, at 12,300 feet the second highest peak in all of Indonesia's 13,700 islands.

Day 17 - Benoa, Bali

Arrive: Sun 02 March 2025 at 07:00 / Depart: Sun 02 March 2025

Located on the southeastern coast of Bali is the small village of Tanjung Benoa. Still considered a fishing village, Benoa has developed over the past 20 years into a major player in the tourism sector. The calm waters and the beautiful white sand beaches have made Benoa the prime water sport area of Bali. Being a peninsula that is only accessible from one direction, Tanjung Benoa is still relatively quiet with a more relaxed feeling.