67 New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the Philippines and Japan. “One of the most exciting itineraries starts from Guadalcanal in the Solomons and ends in Jayapura, on the Indonesian side of Papua,” said Zito. “It’s a 12-day cruise in very remote areas. The interest is historical – Guadalcanal was the site of one of the most important battles of World War II – but also anthropological. In a single voyage you can encounter Polynesian, Melanesian and Indonesian civilisations.” Other voyages explore West Papua and the Indonesian islands of Raja Ampat, known for its pristine reefs and abundant marine life. “Raja Ampat is very isolated, allowing us to explore remote islands that are truly spectacular,” says Zito. “It’s real expedition-style travel.” From there, SH Minerva will sail north into the Philippines and onwards to Japan. The cultural and historical narrative remains central to the journey. “In the Philippines we’ll visit the Bataan peninsula, while in Japan we’ll call at tropical islands like Amami Oshima, Kagoshima and, of course, Okinawa, infamous for one of the largest battles of the war. Then we will sail up the west coast to Otaru. This is the side of Japan people don’t usually see – fishing towns and rural contrasts far from the big cities.” For Swan Hellenic, this is not just a one-off experiment but the start of a longterm presence in the region. “SH Minerva will also operate in the Asia-Pacific 2027, with an even stronger programme,” says Zito. “We’ll add a semicircumnavigation of Antarctica – a 35-day voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina, through the Ross Sea to subantarctic islands. Our ships are designed to Polar Class 5 standards, one of the highest grades of ice-strengthening short of an icebreaker, allowing us to go deep into the ice, visit historic sites like Robert Scott’s hut, and then continue north to New Zealand, Vanuatu and the Solomons.” “ In a single voyage you can encounter Polynesian, Melanesian and Indonesian civilisations” Photo: UnSplash/Bob brewer Guests will be able to encounter Polynesian, Melanesian and Indonesian civilisations during Swan Hellenic’s Asia-Pacific cruises
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