A Snob's Guide to Cruising the Islands
There are few travel sensations quite as stirring and elemental as approaching an unknown island by sea—and knowing you’ll get to do it again tomorrow. Here’s how to channel your inner mariner.
Indonesia
Few island groups are as in vogue as Indonesia, which is now home to a small flotilla of expedition ships. Explore the underwater wonderland of Raja Ampat and its karst islets from the barefoot-luxury megayacht Aqua Blu, which has 15 cabins and menus by Australian chef Ben Cross. Search for dragons on Komodo Island and snorkel off the Komodo archipelago’s coral-pink beaches from the beautiful 12-passenger phinisi Tiger Blue, also ideal for private charter—as is the exquisite 164-foot expedition yacht Kudanil Explorer, on which 16 guests are attended by 21 crew members (in Komodo, the Spice Islands, and Raja Ampat). Or cross the entire region, a kaleidoscope of cultures and landscapes, in 20 days on Lindblad’s National Geographic Orion: from Bali to the Solomon Islands via Papua New Guinea.
Caribbean
No boat of your own? No problem. The French-owned three-mast Le Ponant, recently completely refurbished, has the feel of a swish private yacht, with just 16 suites, one crew member for every guest, and a new tie-up with Relais & Châteaux (the first sailing yacht to get the imprimatur). You’ll sail from Martinique to such yachtie spots as St. Lucia’s Pigeon Island, St. Vincent, the Tobago Cays, and tiny Bequia, where the most beautiful sweep of sand is named after the late Princess Margaret, who swam here off the royal yacht Britannia.
South Pacific
A 14-night trip around the Marquesas, Tuamotus, and Society Islands on the Paul Gauguin, which has the insider knowledge 26 years of sailing here brings, is an excellent way to experience the region’s dramatic contrasts, from Bora Bora’s aquamarine shallows to the Marquesas’ waterfalls and green cliffs. You’ll have a Polynesian BBQ at Motu Mahana, a private islet. Diver alert: The ship has a fully equipped dive center. Silver Cloud’s 14-night voyage from Fiji to Papeete, Tahiti, throws in Tonga and the dreamy Cook Islands. Snorkeling among technicolor shoals of fish is a given, but because this is an expedition ship (converted from Silversea’s “classic” fleet), there are also hiking, cultural visits, birdwatching, and 4X4 junkets in the rainforest.
Seychelles
The Australian-owned superyacht Emerald Azzurra (max. 100 passengers) heads to the Seychelles in late 2024, stopping at six Indian Ocean islands in one week. All are different: Curieuse has giant tortoises; Aride, birds; La Digue has Anse Source d’Argent, supposedly the most photographed beach in the world—a vision of giant granite boulders, white sand, and turquoise sea. The ship has its own water sports marina platform, with paddleboards, kayaks, and Seabobs—powerful underwater scooters that can dive or whizz you through the water like a dolphin.
It’s best to book a cruise through a specialist. Our go-tos: Mary Jean Tully (maryjean@tullyluxurytravel.com) and Tom Baker (tom.baker@cruisecenter.com), who both specialize in luxury ships of all sizes, and Ashton Palmer, the guru of small ship expedition cruises (ashton@expeditiontrips.com).
This story appears in the December 2023/January 2024 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW
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