Sojourn, Orchid Isles & The Queensland Coast ex Hong Kong to Sydney

Details

26 Night cruise sailing from Hong Kong to Sydney onboard Seabourn Sojourn.

26 Night cruise sailing from Hong Kong to Sydney onboard Seabourn Sojourn.

The second of Seabourn’s new class of ships, Seabourn Sojourn, was also built at T. Mariotti yard in Genoa. Her debut was on June 6, 2010 in the middle of the River Thames in London. Seabourn Sojourn’s godmother was the English fashion icon and actress Twiggy. Like her sisters, Seabourn Sojourn enchants her guests with an array of public areas scaled to encourage a relaxed sociability. One of the most unusual features of Seabourn Sojourn and her sisters is Seabourn Square, an ingenious “living room” that replaces the traditional cruise ship lobby with a welcoming lounge filled with easy chairs, sofas and cocktail tables. An enclave in its center houses knowledgeable concierges discreetly seated at individual desks, ready to handle all sorts of business or give advice and information. The ship’s shops are conveniently located just off the Square and it has its own open terrace aft.

The Spa at Seabourn is the largest on any ultra-luxury ship, 11,400 square feet encompassing indoor and outdoor space over two decks. A variety of open terraces are scattered over seven decks, offering places to gather with a few friends or spend an isolated hour with a book. Seabourn Sojourn offers six whirlpools and two swimming pools, including the Pool Patio, with a pair of large whirlpool spas and a “beach” style pool, a casual Patio Grill and the Patio Bar. On the sun deck above sits Seabourn’s popular open-air Sky Bar. High atop Deck 11 is a Sun Terrace with 36 tiered double sun beds. Just aft of that is The Retreat, with shuffleboard courts and a nine-hole putting green. The panoramic Observation Bar on Deck 10 offers 270° forward views over the sea. The Club is a lively spot for dancing before and after dinner, while the larger Grand Salon is used for dancing as well as lectures, production vocal shows, cabaret performances and classical recitals.

Highlights of this cruise:

Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. It is a major tourist destination as well as being one of the world's major business centres. It is also a bustling port and commercial centre with many luxury hotels and a highly developed transport system.

Places worth visiting include Tsimshatsui complex – shops, restaurants and a space museum, the harbour and its magnificent skyline, The Peak – take a tram to the 'top' of Hong Kong Island for exceptional views and the Peak Tower, night markets, Ocean Park, with performing dolphins and killer whales, the floating restaurants, Repulse Bay, with the Tin Hau Temple overlooking the beach, Stanley Market, the New Territories countryside, the Chinese markets; Miu Fat Monastery, Chinese temples, Aberdeen, Lantau Island and the splendid Po Lin Monastery. There are delightful beaches on the islands of Lantau, Lamma and Cheung Chau.

Hundred Islands, Philippines
There are actually 124 islands in this Philippine National Park, and they are the remnants of an ancient coral reef, exposed by lowering sea levels and eroded into fanciful mushroom shapes. Now covered with vegetation, they make a pleasing maze through which to thread in a small boat, either for snorkeling or to watch for some of the many forms of wildlife including crab-eating macaques, civets, dolphins, occasional dugongs and a number of sea turtle species.

Puerto Princesa, Philippines
This independent city occupies the mid-section of Palawan island in the southern Philippines. It is a center for eco-tourism in the archipelago, with notable coral reefs offshore including one, Tubbataha Reef, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most famous of its sites is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a national park and the longest navigable underground river in the world. A boat ride into the karst limestone passages, lined with dramatic stalagmites and stalactites, is a must when visiting the island. The river was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 and recently was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

Benoa
The port of Benoa is located on the island of Bali, Indonesia. It provides easy access to nearby Kuta, the best known resort area of the island. Other nearby towns and villages include Seseh (6.4 nm), Denpasar (4.5 nm), Ujung (1.8 nm), Pesanggaran (2.0 nm), Kedonganan (2.9 nm) and Tuban (1.0 nm).

Kuta is known internationally for its long sandy beach, varied accommodation, many restaurants and bars. Outside of Kuta visitors can visit nearby Seminyak, Sanur, Nusa Dua and further out, the quaint town of Ubud.

Komodo Island, Indonesia
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.

Darwin
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, it is a cosmopolitan yet casual city, named after the naturalist Charles Darwin. East of Darwin, the Kakadu National Park is famous for its stunning Aboriginal rock art and its abundance of bush wildlife.

Darwin's parks, harbor, and tropical climate make it lovely for strolling during the Dry. The city heart is the Smith Street pedestrian mall. One street over is the Mitchell Street Tourist Precinct, with backpacker lodges, cheap eateries, and souvenir stores. Two streets away is the harbor front Esplanade. In the old Wharf area, a walk from town, are a couple of tourist attractions, a jetty popular with fishermen, and a working dock. Cullen Bay Marina is a hub for restaurants, cafes, and expensive boats; it's about a 25-minute walk northwest of town. Northwest of town is Fannie Bay, where you'll find the Botanic Gardens, sailing club, golf course, museum and art gallery, and casino.

Cairns
Cairns is the gateway to tropical north Queensland and is a popular travel destination because of its tropical climate and proximity to many attractions. The Great Barrier Reef is only one-and-a-half hours away by boat. The Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation, about 130km north of Cairns, are popular areas for experiencing a tropical rainforest. It is also a starting point for people wanting to explore Cooktown, Cape York Peninsula, and the Atherton Tableland.

Cairns city itself is a modern, sophisticated city in the heart of the tropical north, with international standard restaurants, boutique shopping, modern art galleries and classy nightclubs to keep visitors entertained. Cairns also boasts outstanding hotels, offshore island resorts, big Reef-cruise catamarans in the harbor, and too many souvenir shops. The only beach right in town is a man-made 4,000-sq.-m saltwater lagoon and artificial beach on the Esplanade.

Sydney
Sydney is located on the south-east coast of Australia. It is the largest and most populated city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. The city is built on hills surrounding Sydney Harbour where the Sydney Harbour bridge and the Sydney Opera House are located. The region features many bays, rivers, inlets and beaches including the famous Bondi Beach. Within the city are many picturesque parks including Hyde Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens.

The most well-known attractions include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Other attractions include Royal Botanical Gardens, Luna Park, some 40 beaches and Sydney Tower. The Rocks precinct includes the first colonial village of Sydney and some great shops, cafes and galleries are located here. Sydney also has several popular museums, such as the Australian Museum (natural history and anthropology), the Powerhouse Museum (science, technology and design), the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Australian National Maritime Museum.