Your Ship: Westerdam
Superbly refreshed, Westerdam cruise ship features an excellent bar, entertainment and dining venues, plus completely reimagined suites. Westerdam is a fascinating destination in her own right and has won multiple Best Cruise Ship awards. On board, enjoy live entertainment with Music Walk™, including Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King’s Blues Club and Billboard Onboard. Feel immersed on your cruise with regional cooking demonstrations and food and wine tastings with EXC Port to Table. Enrich your travel experience at the new Exploration Central atop the ship.
GUESTS: 1964 LENGTH: 936 ft. WIDTH: 105.8 ft.
Itinerary
Day 1: 3 JAN 2023 DEPARTS 06:30 PM – Sydney
The famed harbor is among the top sights—home to twin icons the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it is the stepping-off point for some of the city’s best cultural attractions and sightseeing. In one day you can sail around the harbor, get a behind-the-scenes tour of the opera house and climb the bridge, with time to spare for people-watching over a flat white at a waterfront café.
Speaking of water, when you plan what to do in Sydney, you will want to include the iconic beaches, where surfers, office workers and tourists alike converge on some of the most gorgeous shoreline scenery anywhere. Bondi, Bronte and Clovelly are all within easy reach of the Central Business District, as is Manly, a charming seaside town located a short ferry ride from Circular Quay. Beyond the city you’ll discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the chance to encounter Australia’s cuddliest wildlife—a perfect way to round out your envy-inducing Sydney photo collection.
Day 2: 4 JAN 2023 Arrive 08:00 Departs 05:00 PM – Newcastle
A cruise to New South Wales brings passengers to Australia’s gleaming Sapphire Coast. New South Wales, the country’s southeastern state, is home to vibrant Sydney and its many iconic attractions. But there’s much to see (and taste) just beyond the big city environs. Visitors are treated to an endless reel of pristine, sun-bleached shores caressed by jewel-blue waters. These nutrient-rich seas draw an abundance of whales, bottlenose dolphins, seals and penguins. Go inland to the Blue Mountains to gaze at staggering ridges cloaked in native shrubbery and to encounter the world’s most adorable creatures, like kangaroo and koalas. All of that, and New South Wales has a remarkable food scene. Those who appreciate an excellent bivalve will find heaven on the Oyster Trail, where a string of unassuming eateries serve the freshly shucked mollusks with beer and wine.
Day 3-4: 5 JAN – 6 JAN 2023 Day at Sea
Enjoy cocktails and ocean views while listening to live music.
The gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the tropical north of the country, Cairns sits on the east coast of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland. This laid-back city is popular with travelers who depart from here for days of sailing, diving, snorkeling and trekking through nearby parks—a celebrated launching pad especially for those who want to explore the reef, the Daintree Rain Forest and other attractions of this part of Queensland. And what better place to start one’s adventure? The residents of Cairns are welcoming, the beach life fantastic and the climate consistently sunny and warm.
Wend your way due east of Cairns, and you’ll find yourself on the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s longest coral reef and also the world’s largest living organism. Famously visible from outer space, it’s often been described as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Kuranda Scenic Railway is a different sort of wonder—an engineering marvel from the 19th century that passes through rain forests on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites before reaching the village of Kuranda. Green Island, a 6,000-year-old coral cay, is an easy day trip from Cairns with opportunities to snorkel and swim; Port Douglas, an hour north of Cairns, is a favorite with visitors thanks to its top-notch restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. Finally, hop on a six-person cable car known as the Skyway Rainforest Cableway for a bird’s-eye view of the stunning natural appeal of the region.
Day 7: 9 JAN 2023 – At Sea (Great Barrier Reef)
The world’s largest coral reef is staggeringly beautiful. As you cruise along the Queensland coastline, you’ll start to understand why the Great Barrier Reef was named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Above the water are hundreds of coral cays and sun-soaked, white-sand islands, while the thousands of reef systems below water are home to a mosaic of marine creatures. The great reef stretches for 2,300 kilometers (more than 1,400 miles)—about as far as the distance from Vancouver to Tijuana, Mexico. Due to its immense size, it’s the only living thing on Earth that is visible from space.
The Great Barrier Reef is a haven for a huge variety of plants and animals. Take time to explore this wonderfully diverse ecosystem by diving, snorkeling or swimming among the colorful coral and marine life. Look for the rich array of flora and fauna on the islands’ beaches and in the rain forests. At night, gaze up in wonder at the multitude of stars that shine crystal-clear in the southern sky. Seeing this UNESCO World Heritage Site up close will be an experience you’ll never forget.
Day 8: 10 JAN 2023 – At Sea (The Far North Region)
New Zealand’s far north, called Northland, is so remote and untouched that it feels like it’s the end of the world. And, in fact, it almost is: The Maori—who occupied Northland for hundreds of years before Abel Tasman, the Dutch explorer, sailed there in 1683—believe Cape Reinga to be the gateway to their afterworld. Northland also happens to be New Zealand’s only subtropical zone, and the region where the Treaty of Waitangi, which gave New Zealand proper British-colony status, was signed in 1840.
If you’re one of the few lucky travelers to make it north of Auckland and Coromandel to sail around Northland, you’ll be blessed with some incredibly picturesque and interesting sights: Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, a pending UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s bliss for divers; the breathtaking Cape Brett Peninsula, which juts out into the Pacific Ocean; the Bay of Islands, an area of inland towns and over 140 islands; Cape Reinga, at the very tip of the country; and just south of Cape Reinga on Northland’s western coast, the famous Ninety Mile Beach which, though spectacular, is only 88 kilometers (55 miles) long.
Day 9: 11 JAN 2023 – At Sea
Day 10: 12 JAN 2023 – Arrive 07:00 Departs 04:00 PM Darwin Australia
Surrounded on three sides by the turquoise Timor Sea, the Northern Territory’s capital is closer in both distance and temperament to Southeast Asia than it is to most of Australia’s major cities. The lifestyle here is tropical, which means a relaxed atmosphere, balmy weather, fabulous fusion food and vibrant outdoor markets.
This cosmopolitan city has fewer than 140,000 residents, but they include some 50 nationalities. After heavy bombing in World War II and a disastrous cyclone in 1974, Darwin has been largely rebuilt, and it’s modern and well planned. In the downtown area you’ll find everything from great shopping to a crocodile park. You can trace the region’s dramatic history at innovative museums and gallery-hop to see indigenous art. After your sightseeing stroll, have a late lunch at one of the many excellent restaurants. The food options range from authentic Malaysian dishes like laksa, a spicy noodle soup, to a plethora of fresh seafood—mud crab, barramundi and more.
You may find it hard to leave this laid-back lifestyle, but there’s much more to see close by. Darwin is the gateway to two famous national parks, Kakadu and Litchfield, as well as the spectacular Aboriginal-owned Tiwi Islands. Make sure you take the time to “go bush,” as they say in Australia—that is, get out of town and relax. There’s no better place to do it than this glorious part of the country.
Day 11: 13 JAN 2023 – At Sea
Explorations Central (EXC®) offers local insights, activities and cultural encounters that make your journey more engaging, vivid and meaningful.
Indonesia is easily one of the most exotic destinations on Earth. But coming into port in Komodo—located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores, in the eastern part of the Indonesian archipelago—feels like arriving on an entirely different planet. The major draw here is, of course, Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and biosphere reserve since 1992. The region is home to roughly 5,700 Komodo dragons, which are, in fact, lizards—and the largest lizards in the world at that, growing to lengths of three meters (almost 10 feet).
The dragons are best seen during tours that head to the islands of Komodo and Rinca, which along with the island of Padar make up the park. In addition to marveling at the feeding habits of the dragons (they can often be seen preying on Komodo’s native Timor deer and water buffalo), visitors are impressed by the diversity of Komodo’s landscapes. On the one hand, there are pristine white-sand beaches and even pink-hued ones, lapped by clear blue water. Offshore coral reefs are home to over 1,000 species of tropical fish as well as whales, dolphins, dugongs, manta rays and sea turtles. But there are also rugged and sheer cliffs here and hot and dry regions with savanna-like grasses. Prepare to feast your eyes on one of the world’s truly special untamed places.
Day 13: 15 JAN 2023 – Arrive 10:00 Departs 11:00 PM Lembar, Lombok Indonesia
While the distance between the Indonesian islands of Bali and Lombok is small, 35 kilometers (22 miles), the islands are worlds apart. The former is lush and green, the latter drier and scrubbier. Bali is mostly Hindu; Lombok, like most of Indonesia, is predominantly Muslim. Even the animals and birds are different on the two islands, as they sit on opposite sides of the Wallace Line (discovered by the 19th-century naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, it marks the boundary between areas populated by Asian and Australian fauna). For the traveler, an essential difference is that while Bali welcomes thousands of visitors each year, Lombok remains largely under the radar, offering a look at Indonesian life on an island without large resorts or tour buses.
Mataram, Lombok’s largest town, has a few sights, the most notable being the temple-mosque complex of Pura Lingsar. Dominating the entire island is Indonesia’s second-largest volcano, Gunung Rinjani, and even if you don’t attempt to reach its summit, a walk along its trails offers glimpses of birds and monkeys and views of the entire island. Finally, the beautiful Gili Islands, even smaller and more off the beaten path than Lombok itself, are worth the journey to reach them.
Day 14: 16 JAN 2023 – Arrive 07:00 Departs 05:00 PM Benoa (Denpasar) Indonesia
Indonesia is made up of more than 13,000 islands, but even with all that competition, Bali manages to stand out. Beautiful temples and shrines of all sizes are spread across the island, tucked down narrow alleyways, hidden within the jungle or serenely presiding over scenic locations, like the dramatic Pura Tanah Lot atop a rock formation just off Bali’s western coast.
Bali is well known for its arts—traditional music and dance, painting, wood and stone carvings, silver jewelry and ikat and batik textiles. The island’s artistic center is the village of Ubud, and its art markets and boutiques carry beautiful Balinese pieces to take home.
When it comes to dining, whether you’re craving a burrito or satay, you can find a restaurant that serves it. Don’t leave the island, however, without sampling Balinese cuisine. Local cooking, which reflects Chinese and Indian influences, uses blends of aromatic spices to season grilled meats (though not beef—Bali is an island of Hindu culture in mostly Muslim Indonesia), fresh seafood, rice and vegetables with delicious results.
Day 15: 17 JAN – 18JAN 2023 – At Sea
City-states are rare in the present day—and none are quite like Singapore. In the 20th century, the Southeast Asian nation hurtled itself into the modern world, and it continues to expand its state-of-the-art transportation system and build its edgy skyline. Yet Singapore’s urban plan wisely maintained its intimate neighborhoods, many with streets lined with colorful shophouses (a type of building unique to parts of Asia, with businesses located on their ground floors and residences above). Add the city’s mix of ethnic groups—mainly Malays, Chinese and Indians—and you get a vibrant cultural scene that attracts a cosmopolitan, international community.
Singapore’s food scene—which is arguably the world’s most dynamic and runs the gamut from beloved street hawkers to Michelin-starred venues—would merit a trip alone, as would its never-ending shopping options. But the city is also packed with world-class museums, many designed by celebrated architects, and it hosts many major international events, such as the Formula One Grand Prix. Yet only about half of the 720-square-kilometer (278-square-mile) island is developed, which leaves plenty of room for parks and open spaces such as the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, where an old-growth forest still thrives.
Day 17: 20 JAN 2023 – Singapore to Australia Major Airport
Make your own way to Singapore airline to catch your flight home
