Picture where you would rather be right now. There’s a good chance it might involve sea, sand, palm trees, maybe music, a good book and a refreshing drink. If you think you’ve left an island holiday booking too late this summer, here’s some good news.
That salty air is still within reach right now on cruises that take in idyllic islands through the South Pacific.
Take Moorea in French Polynesia, known for its volcanic mountains, beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters. On a 13-day Norwegian Spirit South Pacific cruise departing Sydney on March 28, 2024, one of the highlights is a Motu Beach Escapade excursion in this tropical paradise. Imagine a day sailing through the clear lagoon on a small boat, then anchoring for a barbecue lunch (with live local music) on a white sandy islet. You’ll have three hours to take in all the surrounding scenery and loll in the water among colourful fish. The cruise also visits Noumea, Mystery Island, Lautoka, Dravuni, Pago Pago and Raiatea before docking in Papeete.
Prefer to explore the Fijian islands in depth? Captain Cook Cruises Fiji has a three-night Mamanuca and Southern Yasawa Islands cruise available, sailing on February 3, 2024, on the newly commandeered MS Caledonian Sky.
On this sailing, guests will visit a new island or coral reef every morning and afternoon. Choose from diving (with qualified instructors), snorkelling, kayaking or taking a glass-bottomed boat tour to explore the marine life. The cruise includes a tour of idyllic Monuriki, which was where Tom Hanks’ 2000 movie Cast Away was filmed.
There’s also a visit to the magnificent Waya Island where the ship’s crew pays tribute to the forefathers of Fijian culture and performs the sevusevu (gift-giving) ceremony before guests can explore more coral gardens and aquamarine lagoons.
In Western Australia, Coral Expeditions’ 12-night Abrolhos Islands and the Coral Coast itinerary departs from Broome on February 20, 2024. The expedition takes in incredible diving sites at the Muiron Islands, about 10 nautical miles off the North West Cape. These isles are well known for their reef, colourful soft corals, an abundance of turtles, schools of fish and even sightings of manta rays. At nearby Serrurier Island, guests can discover seagrass beds that feed the local dugongs.
The cruise takes in some of the 122 isles that make up the Houtman Abrolhos Islands where the array of wildlife includes Australian sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, and more than 90 species of seabird. The itinerary includes three days exploring this area, visiting all three main groups: Pelsaert (Southern), Easter Group and the Wallabi Group. Along the way you’ll also learn the fascinating shipping history of this area.
The islands are infamous for many shipwrecks over the centuries, the most notable being the Batavia in 1629, whose Dutch crew swam ashore only to experience a brutal mutiny.
Originally published as Island escapes you can still book this summer
